Welcome to a Free Musical Journey!

Select your own favorite composers, genres and individual musical selection: Then listen/download for free. No joining or registration. My hope is that this site will provide a broad introduction to ‘newbies’ – and that real aficionados of Classical music will find plenty of interest too.

One of the best features of the site is the Long Playing selections.

They allow you to listen uninterrupted to 25 – 70 minutes of music. You can find them on the side menu under Blog Titles (Long Playing); or at the top bar in LP’s: But just to be sure… I’ve put the link right here in front of your nose! http://jimsclassicalmusic.com/?page_id=2744

Re: Comments and requests: I love to get them!

Help!

Please help me to identify this piece of music. (click on: Comment on Help! … just below the title Help)

Thanks,

Jim

http://jimsclassicalmusic.com/wp-content/uploads/Bach-MYSTERY-PIECE.mp3Right Click to Download

In Praise of Haydn

This is from a review of Haydn’s piano trios on Amazon.

In a letter Brahms says something to the effect `Nobody seems to understand Haydn nowadays. For years he gave us all our music’. Whatever precisely Brahms meant, it seems to me that the complete transformation in the idiom of music that made the music of Mozart and everyone since so astoundingly different from the music of Bach was Haydn’s achievement, and his alone.

What Brahms wrote – … ‘he gave us all our music’ – seems to imply what a  huge trans-formative influence he had on the great Classical composers who followed.

Here’s a piece I’ve just been listening to. It floats my boat! Hope it does yours too.

Horn Concerto #1 / second movement

http://jimsclassicalmusic.com/wp-content/uploads/D-major-H.-7d3-II.-Adagio1.mp3Right Click to Download

Medtner for Ben

This is the first appearance of Nikolai Medtner (b 1880 – d1951) on this site.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikolai_Medtner

My cyber friend and spiritual comrade Ben, in California, urged me to investigate his music. Since he was admired by Rachmaninoff (and actually collaborated with him) I was motivated to find and listen to more (I had only one piece by him in my library) After listening to a number of pieces I’ll stick with his buddy Rachmaninoff, when I want that Russian melancholy, wistful and nostalgic stuff! They do sound very close in the overall mood they generate.

Forgotten Melodies op38 (1) Sonata-Reminiscenza- Allegretto tranquillo

This Dilettante!

As a self confessed Classical Music dilettante I continue to discover large gaps in my ‘knowledge-base’ The one I found the other day was so big you could drive a Queensland road train through it!

My brother in law, with whom I frequently discuss music, casually mentioned John Field (b1782 – d1837) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Field_%28composer%29

To discover that he studied with Clementi, collaborated with Hummel, Chopin admired his nocturnes and Liszt made a fuss about them too; was just another small humiliation for this dilettante, not having heard his music before.

Here’s part of what Liszt said, None have quite attained to these vague eolian harmonies, these half-formed sighs floating through the air, softly lamenting and dissolved in delicious melancholy. Nobody has even attempted this peculiar style, and especially none of those who heard Field play himself, or rather who heard him dream his music in moments when he entirely abandoned himself to his inspiration.

Bottom line: These piano pieces are very easy on the ears. Simpler in their construction than Liszt or Chopin, but certainly charming and appealing. The strong ostinato element in the pieces makes me wonder if modern minimalist composers of the ilk of Phillip Glass may not have found inspiration here.

*In music, an ostinato (derived from Italian: “stubborn”, compare English: obstinate) is a motif or phrase, which is persistently repeated in the same musical voice. An ostinato is always a succession of equal sounds, wherein each note always has the same weight or stress. The repeating idea may be a rhythmic pattern, part of a tune, or a complete melody in itself.^[1]

Here are his nocturnes 1 – 7 (about 28 minutes worth)

And Again! Bach

I purposely did not do any research for this post; deciding not to read what the critics had to say about the Brandenburg Concertos. I think you only need an ear (or two) and a heart to appreciate how great they are!

Brandenburg Concertos #1 and 2 (about 28 minutes)

http://jimsclassicalmusic.com/wp-content/uploads/Brandenburg-conc.-1-and-2.mp3Right Click to Download

More Bach

As promised!

Here’s the Suite number 2 in B minor, BWV 1067 the Ouverture

Faure Nocturnes

The French composer Gabriel Faure (1845-1924) was one of the foremost French composers of his time.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gabriel_Faur%C3%A9

Here are a couple of his beautiful piano nocturnes.

We’re sitting in a piano bar way-station nibbling tasty hor dourves and watching the runway. The room is full of cultured wealthy philanthropists and spiritual seekers; awaiting the shuttle flight to Heaven: Level 3/room 16

Nocturne # 4

http://jimsclassicalmusic.com/wp-content/uploads/Nocturne-No.-4-in-E-Flat-Major_-Op.-36_-Andante-molto-moderato.mp3Right Click to Download

Nocturne #3

http://jimsclassicalmusic.com/wp-content/uploads/Nocturne-No.-3-in-A-Flat-Major_-Op.-33_3_-Andante-con-moto.mp3Right Click to Download

Not enough Bach

In my ongoing musical education J.S. Bach somehow got sidelined. This was due to several factors: Extensive research into the piano masters of the past (especially as regards Chopin interpretations) A focus on wind instruments, fairly in-depth investigations of Haydn and Brahms; and most recently an obsession with Beethoven.

Even 5 or 6 years ago when I began my Classical Music Quest I glossed over Bach. I’ll try to include more of his music on this site in the future.

Concerto #4 in A major for Oboe D’Amore and Strings

http://jimsclassicalmusic.com/wp-content/uploads/Bach_-Concerto-in-A-1-Allegro.mp3Right Click to Download

Beethoven Cello and Piano

The following quote is from an article by cellist Steven Isserlis titled, ‘How I fell in love with Ludwig.’ Here’s the link: http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2007/jan/12/classicalmusicandopera

In the article he comments on this second movement: The last sonata, in D major, takes off in other new directions. After the dramatic opening movement, Beethoven gives us, for the first time in these works, a full slow movement, a prayer that must surely be the most beautiful movement ever written for cello and piano.

‘the most beautiful movement ever written for cello and piano’ Wow. And that’s praise from a guy who plays the cello.

Beethoven’s 5th (and last) Cello Sonata in D maj. / second movement

http://jimsclassicalmusic.com/wp-content/uploads/Sonata-5-in-D-Op.-102-.mp3Right Click to Download

How wonderful Hummel

Today I was listening to my iPod to a playlist that contains a lot of my favorites. I was only listening with half an ear but kept thinking it was probably Beethoven. Each time the gentle, melodic and lyrical riff appeared (the one that starts the piece) I thought … aaahh yeah it probably is him. (*NOTE: Serious Beethoven lovers please forgive this dilettante!) Still in all I have listened to a lot of Beethoven and he’s my favorite. It must say something for Hummels’ mastery as a composer.

Here’s Hummel’s Fantasie op. 18 Larghetto e Cantibile

http://jimsclassicalmusic.com/wp-content/uploads/03-Corni-Giuliana-Fantasie-op-18-3.-Larghetto-e-cantabile.mp3Right Click to Download

For more on Hummel (how he was a fellow student with Beethoven and when B appeared it nearly destroyed H’s confidence!) see this posting

http://jimsclassicalmusic.com/2010/12/20/hummel-redux/

Haydn – love that horn

Haydn’s Horn Concerto number one. A beautiful piece of music, and when the deep horn tones kick in at about two minutes, it’s time to kick back! What is it about the wind instruments? They get right inside you. Where inside? Methinks somewhere around the heart/solar plexus region.

Enjoy. The second movement of Haydn’s horn concerto #1

http://jimsclassicalmusic.com/wp-content/uploads/D-major-H.-7d3-II.-Adagio.mp3Right Click to Download

Beethoven – a revelation (for Richard and Ben)

Ben to go with your double whiskey and Richard because I’m thinking about you

According to Wikipedia, Beethoven’s 6 Late String Quartets are …  widely considered to be among the greatest musical compositions of all time. This movement from the 13th String Quartet (the Cavatina) was chosen as the last piece to be played on the “golden record“, a phonograph record containing a broad sample of Earth’s common sounds, languages, and music sent into outer space with the two Voyager probes.

Jeremy Siepmann, a music critic, provides some background to this piece of music.

Beethoven wept.

String Quartet No.13 in B flat major, Op.130 – Cavatina: Adagio molto espressivo

http://jimsclassicalmusic.com/wp-content/uploads/Beethoven-wept-.mp3Right Click to Download

Another time on the ABC radio – Bubble Bath Music!

This is the third program I’ve done for the local ABC radio station here in Central Victoria, Australia. The theme for this one was ‘mellow/relaxing/meditative’ pieces.

Apologies for the static sound in the Ravel piece.

http://jimsclassicalmusic.com/wp-content/uploads/bubble-bath-music-jims-classical-music-250711.mp3Right Click to Download

Love the Horn

Beethoven thought Cherubini was the greatest. Here is his Horn Sonata #2 in F major / Largo – Allegro moderato (6:45)

http://jimsclassicalmusic.com/wp-content/uploads/Horn-sonata-2-in-F-major-Largo-Allegro-moderato.mp3Right Click to Download

Jim on the radio – focus on Female composers

I’ve been on the local ABC radio here in Victoria, Australia twice. This second broadcast from late June focuses on Female composers.

* For more entries on this topic click on “Women” in the Blog Title drop down menu