Monthly Archives:

January 2010

Brahms cigar smokers’ anthem?

Posted on January 31, 2010

I was put off a bit by Brahms during my initial ‘musical education’ because of some bombastic riffs I’d encountered. Over the past weeks I’ve been obsessing on his music. Listening to a lot and reading commentary/critiques. Learning about his life and musical influences. (*note: there is now a Long Playing Brahms)

In this, the second movement of his third piano sonata, I think Brahms is inviting us to drift away. Perhaps he felt like this when he smoked his cigar and watched the sun set.

02 – Piano Sonata No.3 in F min, Op.5 – Andante espressivo

Afterthought: For those of you who might not know … Brahms was a cigar smoker. I’ll just betcha this was one of his smoking tunes!

LONG PLAYING SELECTIONS Schubert

Schubert long play

Posted on January 26, 2010

Schubert long play (38 minutes)

Arpeggione Sonata in A minor, D821 Allegro moderato

String Quartet no. 14 in D minor D810 Andante con moto

Rosamunde – Entr’acte No. 3

Brahms Piano

Beautiful Brahms Piano

Posted on January 20, 2010

Intermezzo 118 number 2

Brahms intermezzo 118 no. 2

And another

Brahms Intermezzi, op117 Andante moderato

Haydn Hummel LONG PLAYING SELECTIONS Torelli Trumpet

Trumpet

Posted on January 20, 2010

In the post “Trumpet Synaesthesia” I made a half joking attempt to sum up the sound of the trumpet. In this post I’ll admit to being stumped … as to how one could describe the Trumpet’s Beauty in words. (* only an idiot tries to describe music with words!) Anyway here’s the beauty of the trumpet by a few Masters. (the player is darn good too! – Rolf Smedvig)

MergeTrumpet

Haydn: Trumpet Concerto in E-flat major: I.

Haydn: Trumpet Concerto in E-flat major: II.

Haydn: Trumpet Concerto in E-flat major: III. Finale

Hummel: Trumpet Concerto in E-flat major: I.

Hummel: Trumpet Concerto in E-flat major: II.

Hummel: Trumpet Concerto in E-flat major: III. Rondo

Torelli: Trumpet Concerto in D major: I. Allegro

Torelli: Trumpet Concerto in D major: II. Adagio

Torelli: Trumpet Concerto in D major: III. Allegro

Clarinet Mendelssohn Saint Saens Spohr Stravinsky

The Clarinet

Posted on January 19, 2010

It’s a beautiful instrument isn’t it?

Tchaikovsky Clarinet concerto Moderato

Mendelssohn Concert Piece in D minor for Clarinet, Basset-horn and piano Opus 114 Andante
Mendelssohn clarinet

Stravinsky 3 pieces for Solo Clarinet piece no. 1
Stravinsky clarinet

Saint Saens Clarinet sonata in E flat major op. 167 Allegretto
Saint Saens clarinet

Louis Spohr Clarinet concerto no. 4 in E minor Larghetto
Spohr clarinet

Brahms Cello Piano

Haunting Cello – Spooky Brahms

Posted on January 12, 2010

Brahms piano trio no. 1 in B major op. 8 / Adagio

03 – Piano Trio No- 1 In B Major Op-008-03 Adagio

Bassoon Devienne Flute LONG PLAYING SELECTIONS

Devienne

Posted on January 6, 2010

Francois Devienne 1759 – 1803

My brother heard some bassoon quartets on the radio and requested that some Devienne be put on the site. I wasn’t familiar with him so I went shopping! Here are a few snippets of what’s said about him:

“the elegant tone of Paris at the time… grace and balance – qualities which are associated with Mozart … explaining why Devienne was called the French Mozart.”

I got a bit carried away, and what was going to be a few pieces has turned into a Long Play selection! (nearly 40 minutes) I also realised there is very little flute on the site so welcome some Devienne flute. (he was a flautist)

Devienne Long Play

Trios for flute – Allegro Con Spirito – Trio En RÃ© Majeur

Symphonie Concertante for Flute and Bassoon /Andante

Bassoon sonata I in C major, Op. 24 All three movements

and Oboe sonata in G major opus 71 all three movements

Bach Violin You like solo violin?

You like solo violin?

Posted on January 5, 2010

Someone writing a review for an album on Amazon wrote:

The Bach solo string music is, of course, one of the landmarks of classical music. These are some of the greatest pieces of music ever written. They are the musical equivalent of the plays of Shakespeare.

Well … personally I’d have to say I’m not crazy about it (solo violin).Â I Much prefer the addition ofÂ piano which I feel softens what can sometimes be a grating intensity.

These few selections would have to be up there with the best of the best because afterall it is Bach,Â and its Hillary Hahn playing; whom “they“Â rave about!

From Bach’s violin partitas #2 and #3

08 Partita No. 2 in d, BWV 1004 – I. Allemande