BACH TO BOULEZ (pronounced 'back' to Boulez)
Friday, December 24, 2010
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Ravel - Piano Concerto in g(first movement)
For far too many years I have disliked(but never heard all the way through) this work only to discover that I was wrong in my belief. This is great music! Furthermore, Ravel composed a concerto for the left hand and it is a HOOT! I'm finding the older I get the more I'm liking the music I once hated or disliked. I hated Bartok's piano concertos and now I adore them. For far too many years I have disliked anything Ravel wrote and NOW I find myself not only appreciating but loving his music! WHAT A SHOCK!With age comes wisdom.
Please ENJOY!
Hashimoto - Symphonic Suite 1/2
Just bought this Naxos CD featuring Hashimoto's First Symphony and a Symphonic Suite. Fantastic stuff...isn't it! The following two posts are from the same CD.
DISCOVER AND ENJOY!
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Bantock's "Pagan" Symphony 1/5
Don't be frightened by the title of this work. The early Christians were referred to as pagans by the ruthless and corrupted power brokers of the Catholic Church at the time of Constantine. The apostle Paul was a Gnostic and all Gnostics were labeled as pagans. Our traditional holidays such as Christmas and Easter are largely pagan based but not necessarily on Gnostic ideals. So don't let the title frighten you as we may all be more pagan that you think!
Discover and enjoy this masterpiece by Sir Granville Bantock!!
Bantock's "Celtic" Symphony 1/4
This is truly magnificent music that will NOT hurt your ears!! The music of the 20th Century is a troubled country that will delight and frighten you but with a little coaxing that fear can be transformed into great joy. Sir Granville Bantock's music may be at times rather derivative(Tchaikovsky, Vaughan Williams....etc) but it's immediate appeal is very irresistible. This music will delight and amaze you!
DISCOVER AND ENJOY!
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Stevan Hristic - The Legend of Ohrid 1/6
Yugoslavian composers are so poorly known outside of their homeland and unless you purchase recordings made by the German label CPO, there is not much chance you'll ever get to know what a treasure trove of fabulous music you are missing. Should you wish to purchase this CD, you can order it from Naxos as they distributor for the CPO label(at least in North America).
Stevan Hristic's music will definitely NOT hurt any one's ears! This is exciting and vibrant music that will amaze you!
DISCOVER AND ENJOY!!
Lilburn's Symphony No.1 1/3
If you like the Music of Vaughan Williams or Sibelius you should have no problem with Douglas Lilburn's glorious First Symphony. Lilburn is New Zealand's most recognized composer. If you like his music, there is a disc of all three symphonies on the Naxos label.
DISCOVER AND ENJOY!
Tubin's "Heroic Symphony" 1/3
Eduard Tubin is Estonia's most well known composer even though he is quite unknown to the rest of the world. His music is very accessible and for this reason it should be heard more often in the concert halls. This glorious work is the composer's Third Symphony. It will NOT hurt your ears!
DISCOVER AND ENJOY!
Friday, December 10, 2010
In Dulci Jubilo
Now this is the way that all Christmas songs should sound like. Horns blasting, beating drums, multiple choirs.....a battle cry for shoppers to get all they want before some other nuisance can get their grubby hands on the last item on the shelf. Still, this is the original version of this ever popular Christmas ditty. A battle cry not to praise Jesus but to call all to shop until you drop!
Delius Piano Concerto 1/2
Delius' music is as always immediately accesible and a total joy to listen to. This concerto is quite rare and sadly, too neglected.
ENJOY!
Martinu's first Piano Concerto(first movement)
I recently purchased the second volume of Martinu's Piano Concertos on the Naxos label. Highly recommended! This clip may encourage others to purchase this disc. Sadly, the last movement of this concerto is not available on YouTube and what a real hoot it is! One listen and you'll be hooked on Martinu. Martinu's music will NEVER hurt your ears!
Thursday, December 9, 2010
For Raul.....Delius' Florida Suite 1/3
Thank-you Raul for all your wonderful comments and encouragements!
Music for the atonally challenged
This glorious masterpiece by Schoenberg will NOT hurt your ears!
ENJOY!
Schoenberg's "Suite", opus 29, 1/4
If you love Schoenberg's Serenade, opus 24 as much as I do, this work should present no problems. There are commonalities of instrumentation as well as style of writing. If you don't know either works, do try to give this a hearing.....it is well worth it. Perhaps listen to the third movement....very accesible and great fun!
Bartok's fabulous Piano Concerto no.1
There are times when I listen to this movement that I am reminded of Stravinsky's Renard. It could simply be a matter of his use of ostinati but I hear commonalities between the two works. Renard was composed in 1916 and Barok wrote his Concerto in 1926. I am not accusing Bartok of anything, however I can't help wondering if Stravinsky's work had a greater influence than I previously assumed.
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