BACH TO BOULEZ (pronounced 'back' to Boulez)
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.
Monday, November 29, 2010
Copland Billy the Kid....Concert Suite 1/3
Perhaps some fun music before the pain that may follow in the next posts that follow! This is great music and especially in the gun battle!
Boulez Pli Selon Pli
A great Twentieth Century masterpiece! It takes a lot of hearings to fully understand Boulez' language, so please be patient!
Boulez Sur Incises
If you appreciate the Piano Concertos of Bartok, you might be better able to understand this late masterpiece by Boulez. Give it a try!
Bartok Sonata for Two Pianos and Percussion(3)
Give this wonderful movement from the Sonata for two pianos and percussion a try....very exciting! The Sonata was later re-written as a concerto for two pianos, percussion and orchestra.
It won't hurt your ears!
Bartok Piano Concerto no.2
Lately I have been discovering the Piano Concertos of Bartok. For far too many years I have held these works in low esteem.....but now no more! I have discovered how much I truly love all the works of this great master and these concertos are really quite marvelous! It helps to understand his music from a Hungarian point of view. Common in Hungarian folk music is the use of the whole tone scale(i.e. c-d-e-f#-g#-a#-c) and Bartok took full advantage of this tone row. We are more familiar with our major and minor modes that are made up of eight tones(i.e. c-d-e-f-g-a-b-c[major mode]). Listening to Bartok's music without understanding the whole tone scale will leave the listener rather confused. Though the music sounds dissonant, Bartok never abandoned tonality. Getting to know his music is a very rewarding experience....perhaps the most rewarding of any Twentieth Century composer(with the possible exception being the works of the Second Vienna School[Schoenberg, Webern,Berg]).
Give this music a chance....it will not hurt your ears!
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
A favourite work by Martinu
This is a favourite work by Martinu.....but then again what Martinu work isn't a favourite!
Martinu Cello Concerto #1/1
I bought a Chandos recording of the Cello Concertos of Martinu. I have come to realize that these are not only my favourite cello concertos but most likely my favourite concertos written by anyone in the 20th century. Glorious music, especially in the second movement of this concerto!
Bartok Piano Concerto #1/1
I once said that the slow movement from this concerto is one of the most ugly pieces of music ever written......well, I'm wrong! I recently bought a recording of all the piano concertos of Bartok performed by Peter Donohoe and conducted by Sir Simon Rattle. What a difference a great recording provides in improving an appreciation of this music! This is very exciting music and after a few times listening to this concerto you may agree with me!
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Three favourite divinities.....Merman, Russell and Streisand
The following three movie clips are from three of my favourite films of all time. In each film stars three of my favourite divinities. They bring sparkle and wit to life and they do it so absolutely damn great!
I know it's silly but I love it
What a cast! Every comic actor in Hollywood at the time including the divine La Merman, as Cole Porter like to call her. It's silly but this is another of my very favourite films of all time!
Finest courtroom scene ever
"What's Up Doc" is one of my very fav movies of all time. This is the finest courtroom scene ever filmed. Barabra Streisand is absolutely divine!
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Hamilton Harty's Piano Concerto/1a
Sadly we have another rather unknown Piano Concerto by an English composer. Upon hearing it for the first time, I thought it reminded me of Rachmaninov, stylistically speaking. Many hearings later and I find this to be an original work. Listen to the opening theme and let it carry you away!
Discover and enjoy!
Frank Bridge's Piano Chamber Concerto/1
This is a beautiful and haunting work that sadly should be better known. Do give it a listen to and discover how very rewarding it is to get to know this work.
Discover and enjoy!
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Martinu's Symphony 1/1
As a whole, Martinu's Symphonies rank as one of my very favourite cycles of symphonies all time. Many symphonic cycles have good and bad points but the cycles of Martinu and Mahler, to name just two, have only great moments(face it, I'm picky). Every Martinu Symphony is a joy to listen to. This Symphony is however my favourite in the cycle....it is full of joy and delight.
Please listen, discover and enjoy!!
Martinu's Toccata e due Canzoni
Written about the same time Martinu wrote his wonderful and ever popular Fifth Symphony(1946). He wrote five magnificent Piano Concertos and in all but name, this work is also a concerto for piano and orchestra.
Prokofiev's fireworks for the piano....Sonata no.7
I still wish I could play like her because then I.....oh well, you know the story!
Prokofiev's Piano Concerto 3/1
Damn, can she play. I wish I could play like her then I wouldn't be sitting here typing away at this stupid key board. I love this concerto....really exciting!
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Schoenberg opus 16/1
This music that really should be known by everybody. It won't hurt your ears as it is quite expressive. Spend some time listening to this work, the rewards are plentiful!
Enjoy!
Monday, September 20, 2010
A Great recording of Piston's Second/1
This is one of the greatest symphonies written by an American! The recording made by Deutsche Grammophon back in the seventies is beyond reproach. It was released coupled with William Schuman's Violin Concerto performed by Paul Zukovsky. They are truly outstanding recordings of both works. Listen to the theme that starts at 2:04....damn, I love this work....great fun!
Please enjoy!
Friday, September 10, 2010
Gade's Seventh.....a Masterpiece
Just listen to this imaginative music from the pen of Niels Gade. This is one of my favourite symphonies of the Romantic Period!
A great Ninth from Denmark
I'll never understand how Langgaard's music is not better known. It is completely accessible and imaginative. I have been told that his music is hardly known in the composer's home country. This music should be better known by everyone who has an interest in Twentieth Century music! Denmark is a remarkable land that has given us Dietrich Buxtehude, Carl Nielsen, Niels Gade, Ludolf Nielsen and Rued Langgaard.
More great music form the pen of Rued Langgaard
As always: ENJOY and discover the music of this remarkable Danish master!
Thursday, September 2, 2010
A favourite Sanctus
The Requiem by berlioz has always been my favourite in the genre. Berlioz's work is a loud and bombastic as Faure's is quiet and gentle. The French certainly know how to write Requiems!
Gloriously civilized music!
The Agnus Dei from Faure's Requiem. Words fail to describe such heavenly music.
Enjoy!
Once hated but now loved
Until last week when I bought a CD of this work I basically hated Faure's Requiem. The recording features the full orchestra version of 1900 which I never knew existed. Now I adore the music and especially the Sanctus, Introit and Agnus Dei.
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