Welcome to a Free Musical Journey!

Select your own favourite composers, genres and individual musical selection. And listen/download for free. No joining or registration.

My hope is that this site will provide a broad introduction to ‘newbies’ – and that real aficianados of Classical music will find plenty of interest too.

As from now (March, 2010) I’m going to focus on placing more Long Playing Selections on the site. It’s probably the best ’service’ I provide! It allows you to listen to 25 – 45 minutes uninterupted. Although you can access the Long Plays at the very top (LP’s), or on the side menu under blog titles; I’ve put it right here in front of your nose! http://jimsclassicalmusic.com/?page_id=2744

Re: Comments: When you enter a comment, sometimes it will not stay there. But it does go to my Comments section for approval and it will appear soon.

Radu Lupu – slower is better!

A musician friend visited my web site and listened to the second movement of Beethoven’s piano sonata number 8 (the Pathetique) played by Wilhelm Kempff, who was particularly well known for his Beethoven interpretations.  My friend then sent me a link to the same piece played by Radu Lupu. Incredible difference! The Kempff version runs 4:56 while Lupu’s goes 7:05! Have a listen to Kempff first, and then the slower, poetic and beatific version by Lupu.

Beethoven piano sonata 8 / 2nd movement by Kempff

by Lupu

After reading the article below and a few others about Radu I began seeking his music out and I’m now a real ‘fan.’ I was amazed that I hadn’t found him before, during my lengthy and exhaustive  searches and downloads, for the great pianist of the 20th century.  Unfortunately it so far appears that his recorded catalog is fairly small. After the link there are a few more examples of how ‘Slow is better’! Exquisite Brahms.

http://www.scena.org/lsm/sm13-4/sm13_4_lupu_en.html

Brahms intermezzo 118 second movement played by Idil Biret

Played by Radu

Brahms Intermezzi, op117 (1) Andante moderato played by Kempff

Played by Radu

Beethoven long play

This Long Play runs approx. 40 minutes

Beethoven Long Play

Piano Concerto #5 Second movement

Rondo e capriccio Op. 129 (Rage over a lost penny)

Paino Sonata no. 23 “Appassionata” 2nd movement

Moonlight Sonata

Duo for Clarinet & Bassoon in C Woo27 / third movement

Sextet / Adagio

Violin Sonata no. 3 Second movement

Haydn – the string quartet Master?

Someone reviewing a string quartet CD on Amazon wrote: The opus 20 string quarters are utterly sublime; there is a balance, a humanity, a humour, a joie de vivre and utter contentedness of being. All this and more. Haydn was a master of the string quartet and, in my view, he surpasses Mozart and Beethoven. I know this will be heresy for some, but Haydn is a man who is comfortable in his skin and it transmits to the music. Mozarts are a little too studied and serious at times whilst Beethoven appears uncomfortable in his skin and it shows in his great late string quarters….

String Quartet No. 28 in E flat major, Op. 20, No. 1, Hob.III:31 (Sun Quartets)

Haydn Quartet 28 / Affetuoso e sostenuto

Another almost unknown almost forgotten composer

I stumbled upon Anton Arensky when I went to a concert in my local small town. While introducing this piece, the pianist in the trio mentioned that Arensky taught Scriabin and Rachmaninoff. My ears perked up!

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

It so happened that my wife Tricia had painted the violinist and entered the painting in a prestigious Australian  art prize. We took it along and showed Niki.

http://www.dancingdust.com/large/niki.html

So many ignored and forgotten great composers. Now with the internet we all can find them much more easily!

Enjoy Arensky’s Trio in D minor, op. 32: Elegia – Adagio

The Nash Ensemble – Arensky- Trio in D minor, Op.32- Elegia – Adagio

Beethoven and Haydn

Beethoven IS  “The Greatest.” (IMHO)

Did Beethoven ‘inherit’(or use and transform to a higher level): Compositions from Haydn?

Did Beethoven rely on – or come back to Haydn for inspiration? … Haydn’s  humor, spontaneity and Joie de vivre? … and the ability to transform pure ’sweetness’ into a challenging/deeper probing? This a question for “Scholars”? Let’s just listen!

Well … Beethoven dedicated this piece to Haydn. (*played by Paul Lewis) You be the Judge. How much does Ludwig owe Haydn?!
Beethoven Sonata No. 2 in A major Op. 2 No. 2 III. Scherzo. Allegretto

How about watching a new ‘hot shot’ play the same piece? Rafal Blechacz.

Here’s one comment when Rafal Blechacz won all five first prizes! … at the 15th International Frederick Chopin Piano CompetitionWarsaw According to ABC News, one of the judges, Professor Piotr Paleczny, said that Blechacz “so outclassed the remaining finalists that no second prize could actually be awarded.”

Another judge, the distinguished Irish pianist John O’Conor, said “He is one of the greatest artists I have had a chance to hear in my entire life,” according to PBS. Blechacz was the first Pole to win the prize (given every five years) since 1975, when Krystian Zimerman^{[1][2][3][4][5]} won.

What a sweet, honest and straightforward man he appears to be!

Deathbed Request

Consider: What music would someone want to hear when they knew they were dying?

It’s especially fascinating to consider when that someone had devoted their entire life to music. She met and collaborated with some of the 19th Century’s greatest composers: Married and lived with one of those Great composers.

That was Clara Schumann – Robert’s wife – a musical heroine if there ever was one! (Google her to find out why she was such a Heroine, raising 8 children, touring Europe and taking care of her husband – it’s a great story)

She asked to hear this piece on her deathbed.

In March 1896, Clara Schumann suffered a stroke. Her friend Johannes Brahms canceled plans for an Italian vacation to wait for news of her improvement. On her deathbed, she asked her grandson Ferdinand to play her husband’s F-sharp major romance for her. That was the last music Clara Schumann heard. She died May 20, 1896. Brahms attended the funeral. He died eleven months later.

Robert Schumann: Romance in F# Op.28

Robert Schumann: Romance, Op.28 in F sharp

Why is this so familiar?

I just googled for way too long .. trying to tie this piece into a movie theme, because it sounds SO familiar I assumed it must be a movie or TV theme. Couldn’t find anything. Perhaps someone took the main theme and ‘popularised’ it?

Schumann’s Marchenbilder op. 113 no. IV

If you can help send me an email jimji@internode.on.net

Marchenbilder (Fairy Tales), Op. 113 IV. Langsam, mit melancholischem Ausdruck

Right on Amadeus!

“Neither a lofty degree of intelligence nor imagination nor both together go to the making of genius. Love, love, love, that is the soul of genius.”

Mozart

Worth a Repeat

This piece is already on the site (see: A Little Satie and then some more!) -  under Blog Titles.

I thought it was worth putting it out again on it’s own, instead of just part of a Satie medley. I like it a lot. How ’bout you? (*this version is played a bit faster and with more intensity than some I’ve found and it sounds “right” to me)

Did something Transcendent happen? … somewhere?

Eric Satie 5ieme Gnossienne Modere

Bubble bath music

With floating sandalwood candles and milk liquour. (Rubber ducky falls in, and very briefly makes a few waves, about two thirds through)

Pianist is one of the truly greats – Benedetti Michelangeli

Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G / Second movement / Adagio assai

Just another gorgeous Mozart piece!

Mozart piano sonata #12 – K332 / Adagio

Madmen of the piano redux

In an earlier posting titled “Madmen of the piano” I focused on composers. Here let’s focus on the pianists.

I’ve recently spent a lot of time updating my Chopin collection; seeking out the greatest pianists I can find.  The more I listen to these virtuosic dynamos … the more amazed I am that the human body can accomplish these feats. How can fingers move so rapidly? How can the rythym and timing of striking the right note go on and on … when it’s different between the two hands? – Sometimes a variable speed, rythm, reach and tone going on between the two hands. I don’t get it. I mean… they don’t all have a touch of Tourettes Syndrome do they!?

(*I remember reading that some Tourettes people have much faster reflexes and mechanical movements than normal)

Just listen to, and watch, what 10 fingers, 2 hands, 2 wrists and forearms can do!

(My vote for the “impossible” goes to Cziffra in the video)

Claudio Arrua plays Chopin’s Etude #1 op. 10

Georges Cziffra – Chopin Etude Op. 25 No. 2

Martha Argerich – Chopin prelude 16, op. 28

Vladimir Horowitz – Franz Liszt / Tarentella

You have to see this to believe it!

Amazing Music

Who cares that Hollywood was cluey enough to use it. That doesn’t detract one iota from this Masterpiece. After how many listenings? … does it still raise goosebumbs!

Thus Spake Zarathustra- Einleitung (Introduction)

Composed in 1896 by Richard Strauss (11 June 1864 – 8 September 1949)

Strauss Zarathustra

Schubert: spirituality and ‘inherent weirdness’!

Here’s what a music reviewer wrote about this late piano piece by Schubert:

I find it hard to account for the intensity of the spiritual response that the slow movements of late Beethoven and late Schubert produce in me…  the slow movement of D960, one of the last creations of a desperately ill 31-year-old-man who has lost his Catholic faith, is frightened out of his wits by the ordeal that lies ahead, and yet produces music of the most magical serenity.

Piano sonata #21  D960/ second movement

02 – Piano Sonata In B Flat Major D960-02 Andante Sostenuto

And this second piece with its ‘inherent weirdness.’ It fascinates me how accurate, poetic and articulate some music critics can be!

In the great Andantino movement of the A major , the pianist is alive to its inherent weirdness as Schubert sends a nostalgically beautiful melody off the deep end to fragmentation, then reassembles it into a broken shadow of itself.

Piano sonata #20 in A major second movement

Schubert PS 20 second movement

A new opera challenge

Here is a comment I just received today.

I recently found your website and have been listening to and enjoying some of your selections. Unlike most other genres of music it seems to be difficult to find classical music on the web without having to pay for the privilege. So your endeavours are much appreciated. It saddened me somewhat to read your “Opera Apology”. Although I’m not an avid fan of opera, it seems to me that you are missing out on so much beautiful music. I put my thinking cap on and thought if “The Evening Prayer” from Humperdink’s opera Hansel and Gretel doesn’t move you then you really must have a very deep phobia.

Here is the uTube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6Fr3I4fUAo

No Comment I say! Up to you dear listener. It’s your site!