My girlfriend has been practicing this every night right behind my head. Gorgeous song I'd never heard before. His stuff is always so happy and upbeat. Rimsky-Korsakov is one of those composers that continues to amaze, the more obscure things you find by him. Shostakovich is another, but I've posted a lot by him in this thread already.
My girlfriend has been practicing this every night right behind my head. Gorgeous song I'd never heard before. His stuff is always so happy and upbeat. Rimsky-Korsakov is one of those composers that continues to amaze, the more obscure things you find by him. Shostakovich is another, but I've posted a lot by him in this thread already.
I don't see why you shouldn't post more of it anyway, all the more so since I don't intend to post any Russian music in the foreseeable future. There are plenty of fine works of Shostakovich still unposted, not to speak about other Russian and Soviet composers. But it is not really my metier.
However, since you present the most admirable Rimsky-Korsakov I will precede my main course of the day with his piano concerto which may not be so well-known as some of his other compositions. It is not much more than a trifle compared to some of the gargantuan works in the same genre by some of his contemporaries, but nevertheless charming.The name of the soloist, orchestra and conductor is on the video, and it is the same recording that I own myself - I have all the 57 volumes so far published in this series.
Link to video.
And so the daily Beethoven. I have come to his first "great" symphony, No.3 named Eroica. We all know that story about Napoleon and the torn-up title leaf. I couldn't care less. Program or not, this is a remarkable work. Don't be surprised if I will repost it with some other ensemble later.
Symphony No.4 suffers the inconvience of being crammed between heroism and fate. Furthermore, it commits the sin of being cheerful, which fits ill with the romantic image of the suffering artist. But to be serious, one should not skip it over. it is a mighty fine work which has a certain Haydnesque quality about it, and that is no little compliment.
And on tonno.5
If there are any of Beethoven's symphonies which don't need an introduction, this would surely be the one. It would make a candidate for the most well-known work of classical music ever, and have been recorded umptillion times. Which is not to say that all those versions are good, of course (far from it).
It was mentioned before in this thread that this was Beethoven's most "powerful" symphony. I am not sure about that, even more so since I don't know what that means in this context. Anyway, I would hesitate to call it his greatest. But it is forsooth a riveting experience to hear it , especially performed by such an exquisite ensemble.
Symphony no.6 'Pastoral'
So we are presented with no less than a brook, happy country folk, a thunderstorm and a merry and thankful shepherd. Or not. Personally I never cared for that sort of thing, so I listen to it as non-programmatic and jolly good music. But some do. So also here to each her/his own is at its place.
I don't see why you shouldn't post more of it anyway, all the more so since I don't intend to post any Russian music in the foreseeable future. There are plenty of fine works of Shostakovich still unposted, not to speak about other Russian and Soviet composers.
This is Waltz No. 2 from Shostakovich's Second Jazz Suite. Lovely song, with that lovely spookiness that so dominates Russian music, and especially his.
Prokofiev's Scythian Suite is a four-part barrel full of awesome. It excellently conveys the sense of wild and chaos that characterizes the Pontic Steppe in the ancient imagination. The first movement in particular evokes to me a shooting circle, and the chaotic flowing in battle of the sort of masses of mounted archers anyone fighting the Scythians might have encountered.
Thanks a lot. That waltz enjoys a well earned degree of fame, but the Scythian Suite deserves to be better known. Perhaps I will change my mind and post some works from undeservedly neglected Soviet abd GDR composers later, but for the moment I will stick to something less new, and tonight I have the pleasure to present what is the highlight for me among Ludwig's 9; symphony 7. This is echt Beethoven; vivacious, forceful , dramatic yet also humorous, sophisticated and with restraint where that is needed.Not to speak of originiality, of course. Mind caviar if there ever was any.
Thanks a lot. That waltz enjoys a well earned degree of fame, but the Scythian Suite deserves to be better known. Perhaps I will change my mind and post some works from undeservedly neglected Soviet abd GDR composers later
I would love to hear some GDR composers. I don't know any.
This is my favorite by Shostakovich, his 10th Symphony. It's got everything. I had owned it for a while, but the first time I heard it was during a terrible snow storm while I lived in this little cottage in the middle of nowhere by myself. It was earth-shattering, I listened to it almost every day for the rest of the winter after that. It's been a personal favorite ever since. We all in this thread know that there is a certain property to music that we understand, but cannot speak of. This symphony has that for me, I identify with it.
The second movement I believe holds some level of fame. Solomon Volkov described it as "a musical portrait of Stalin, roughly speaking." Shostakovich wrote 10 shortly after his second denunciation, and so it represents the sort of quiet "rebellion" as well as stylistic shift that his far more famous 5th Symphony does for identical reasons.
First of all, the main course; symphony No.8, which has the ungrateful task to be situated between to giants. As far as I remember, Beethoven himself called it his "little" symphony.
However, it is not by any means a trifle. Well-structured, full of clean fun and with memorable themes.
Link to video.
In any case, a lot of this music is hard to come by, but I have in my possession a wonderful 5-CD boxset with symphonic works and a handful of recordings with music by Eisler, Dessau, Katzer, Wagner-Regeny et alt. I will see what is available on when I have finished Beethoven.
This is my favorite by Shostakovich, his 10th Symphony. It's got everything. I had owned it for a while, but the first time I heard it was during a terrible snow storm while I lived in this little cottage in the middle of nowhere by myself. It was earth-shattering, I listened to it almost every day for the rest of the winter after that. It's been a personal favorite ever since. We all in this thread know that there is a certain property to music that we understand, but cannot speak of. This symphony has that for me, I identify with it.
Yes it is a terrific work. What you tell here is something I have experienced myself a few times, with particular pieces, typically in more extreme situations. It goes to show the power and benefit of music.
The second movement I believe holds some level of fame. Solomon Volkov described it as "a musical portrait of Stalin, roughly speaking." Shostakovich wrote 10 shortly after his second denunciation, and so it represents the sort of quiet "rebellion" as well as stylistic shift that his far more famous 5th Symphony does for identical reasons.
Yes. I also seem to remember that it should have some connection to one of his students, a certain Nazirova, but as already stated I have little interest in programmatic music. In any case I have a high opinion about Shostakovich, I happen to believe that he will increase in relevance in the time to come , so I guess I should show more interest in his music again. I confess a slight disinterest in Russian music, but I have some 200-300 discs with that as well (i have lost count long time ago regarding my music collection), and I have three versions of this symphony (Skrowaszewski/Halle Orchestra, Haitink/Concertgebouw - that is from a boxset with all of S's symphonies and Mravinsky/Leningrad Philharmonic). As far as know the legendary performance by the USSR State Orchestra and Svetlanov was released last year on the Ica label, and that is really the one to have.
And of course, as a curiosity, you have this version...
All good things have to end, and here comes No.9. For many, the highlight.
Personally I have mixed feelings about it. The first three movements are but sublime. However...
I really don't know if I am so happy with that choral finale. The more I think about it, the more I am not. But it can never been said too often; to each her/his own.
Link to video.
While there hasn't been any feedback on these symphonies, I hope that they have been interesting nevertheless. For what it is worth, I regard it as the second best Beethoven cycle I have ever heard.
In any case, here is a link with more information:http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/album.jsp?album_id=192358
I've had the pleasure of playing this song on trombone. I'm not that fond of Bernstein's general body of work, but this song is fun to play and to listen to.
While there hasn't been any feedback on these symphonies, I hope that they have been interesting nevertheless. For what it is worth, I regard it as the second best Beethoven cycle I have ever heard.
I didn't comment on your posts, because I own that CD set myself. So I had already heard all the recordings before...
I have a couple of other Anima Eterna recordings as well. For instance Hector Berlioz' Symphonie Fantastique is excellent as well. The CD also has the overture to Le Carnaval Romain on it.
Something completely different now, a track from the latest CD by the wind band that I play in. Maybe not per sé "classical music": it's a transcription of a song called "The Witch of Westmerlands" by Scottish folk singer Archie Fischer:
Wind bands are definitely widespread in many parts of Europe, and especially in the Low Countries (but also Spain, Germany, Norway, ...). The band I play in is a particular type of wind band called "fanfare orchestra" in Dutch (only brass - dominated by flugel horns -, saxophones and percusion). With a few exceptions, they only exist in The Netherlands and Belgium.
You are right though about the "under-appreciated" part. Many people see our movement as a folkloric thing. But we will keep trying to prove them wrong
(p.s. I'm the 2nd person on the left at 1:42 ;-) )
I've had the pleasure of playing this song on trombone. I'm not that fond of Bernstein's general body of work, but this song is fun to play and to listen to.
I didn't comment on your posts, because I own that CD set myself. So I had already heard all the recordings before...
I have a couple of other Anima Eterna recordings as well. For instance Hector Berlioz' Symphonie Fantastique is excellent as well. The CD also has the overture to Le Carnaval Romain on it.
I have that one too. Never been a Berlioz-fan, but Gardiner and Immerseel gave me a new understanding of his music. Even if I had to get used to yhose erards instead of bells in the Witches Sabbath...
Something completely different now, a track from the latest CD by the wind band that I play in. Maybe not per sé "classical music": it's a transcription of a song called "The Witch of Westmerlands" by Scottish folk singer Archie Fischer:
And since we have been talking about GDR composers and wind instruments, here is a favourite of mine from both cathegories; Georg Katzer's Concerto for Harpsichord and Wind Quintet.
Wilhelm Furtwängler may be most known as an eminent conductor, but he regarded himself first and foremost as a composer. His second symphony, arguably is best work, should indeed be performed more often. Here is recording from 1954, conducted by the great man himself.
And now for something completely different - Massenet's piano concerto.
One does associate this composer mainly with opera , but he did actually start out as a pianist. This work was started when Massenet as a young and very promising musician lived in Italy after having won the prestigious Prix de Rome, but only finished in 1902, when the composer was 60. It is not profound in any way, but elegant, frivolous and with a riveting last movement.And as expected by Massenet, with cathcy melodies.
Seems like this thread is in need of some pre-Bach as well as vocal music, so let us start up with a real gem which fits in both cathegories.
A while ago I presented a piece written by a 9 year old composer. Now I am going to the other extreme with Heinrich Schütz' Deutsches Magnificat (SWV 494), written when the composer was at the tender age of 86.
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