Beethoven thought Cherubini was the greatest. Here is his Horn Sonata #2 in F major / Largo – Allegro moderato (6:45)
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Composers
Farrenc Female Composers Mendelssohn, Fanny Radio Shows Schumann, Clara Women!
Jim on the radio – focus on Female composers
Posted on July 3, 2011I’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
Beyond Mellow. Somebody took a chill pill Brahms Clarinet
Beyond Mellow. Somebody took a ‘chill pill’
Posted on June 27, 2011Brahms clarinet sonata no. 1 in F minor op. 120 Andante un poco Adagio
As Alfred Einstein writes in Mozart: His Character, His Work (and as excerpted in the notes to a Kennedy Center performance), his only completed string trio (there are fragments) shares with most divertimenti this six-movement format, but from that no lightness of tone should be understood – rather, “it is a true chamber-music work, and grew to such large proportions only because it was intended to offer … something special in the way of art, invention, and good spirits. … Each instrument is primus inter pares, every note is significant, every note is a contribution to spiritual and sensuous fulfillment in sound.” Einstein called it “one of his noblest works.”
Mozart’s Divertimento in E-flat major is “one of a kind,” according to the notes to an Emerson Quartet performance. “It is not only Mozart’s only finished composition for string trio – it also appears to be the first such work by any composer.” Though probably the first substantial work for the combination, it is not the first work written for string trio; there were works for violin, viola and cello written at least five years earlier, by Wenzel Pichl, and works for two violins and bass, probably based on the trio sonata, written much before that.
Movement 1 Adagio (approx. 12 min.)
2nd – 11 min.
third – 5 min.
fourth – 7 min.
fifth – 5 min.
sixth – 6 min.
Someone gave me a CD of Charles Avison’s music (1709 -1770) Whilst listening, the label “lightweight” came to mind. The music is pleasant enough, easy to listen to, and that reminded me of a contemporary of Avisons’ – Johann Stamitz – whos music I found to be similar in it’s easy listening quality. http://jimsclassicalmusic.com/2010/03/14/easy-listening/
So what is it that separates these two from the likes of Handel, Rameau, Telemann and of course JS Bach? Not enough notes?! Uninteresting interaction between themes/melodies? For want of a better word (remember I’m only a classical music dilettante, not a real critic) I would call their music shallow … or ‘thin’
Here’s Avison’s concerto in A major opus 4
To do your own listening comparison you can scroll through the composer drop down menu on the right and listen to some Handel et. al. Actually part of the reason I made this post was to get back at Avison for being critcal of Handel! How dare he!
Louise Ferrenc – who one critic proclaimed the greatest female composer. I’m listening to her more often these days and always come away with the feeling that she truly is a great composer. Here are 3 complete compositions.
Farrenc Sonata #1 in 3 movements
Farrenc Sonata #2 in 4 movements
Farrenc: Variation concertantes sur une melodie suisse Op. 20 in 8 movements
If you haven’t already seen this posting http://jimsclassicalmusic.com/?p=2855 … check it out. Some very interesting material about the discrimination towards women in Classical music.
You might also want to listen to the Long Play selection of her music. http://jimsclassicalmusic.com/?p=3773
Thanks Ian for putting me on to Francois-Adrien Boieldieu; even though this is the only composition of his that I’ve listened to so far! What a lovely combination – horn and harp.
Solo for Horn with Harp Accompaniment
As a self confessed dilettante, regarding my real knowledge of Classical music, I tend to go on jags. A week obsessed with Brahms, two weeks on Handel, a week or two on Schubert, Scriabin and so on. I’ve just revisited my Handel jag and may have had a ‘revelation’ (if dilettantes are capable of musical revelations!)
Here it is: Handel’s music gives one the distinct feeling that something important / significant is happening. Sometimes it’s obvious what that significance is; as in the case of Music for the Royal Fireworks. In some other compositions it’s probably best left to the imagination of each listener as to what that Significance is. But you can certainly hear and feel it.
Handel medley
| Sonata a 5 (HWV 288): III – Allegro | 03:47 |
| Concerto grosso Op. 3 No. 2 in B-flat major: III – A | 02:15 |
| Concerto grosso Op. 3 No. 3 in G major: II – Adagio | 01:02 |
| Concerto grosso Op.3 No. 5 in D minor: V – Allegro | 02:44 |
| Music for the Royal Fireworks #5 Menuet | 03:00 |
One of the world’s greatest compositions, Beethoven’s 5th piano concerto (the Emperor), played by Glenn Gould on piano – Leopold Stokowsky conducting The American Symphony Orchestra 1966.
My friend Richard admires Glenn Gould so much, I’ll go ahead and post this work, which may or may not be “perverse” and “heretical”!
Here is a review of this recording on Amazon.
Both Glenn Gould and Leopold Stokowski were often iconoclasts, with musical interpretations that some considered eccentric or even heretical. That’s certainly the case with this piece, which some critics have labeled as “perverse”. So fair warning, purists often despise this recording.
Not me. Of all all the other versions I have heard, this is the one I keep returning to. The 2nd movement as played by Gould is one of the most beautiful and moving pieces of music I’ve ever experienced. Stokowski’s orchestra is lush and sonorous, Gould’s playing is fluid and singing, and even the humming somehow works.
It’s true that Stokowski and Gould sometimes seem to have different ideas about the music (particularly in the first movement). Listening closely, one can detect inconsistencies between the approach of the conductor and pianist. But somehow that doesn’t matter, and the end result is a glorious musical triumph. Other recordings may be truer and more accurate, but to me they sound pale and bland next to this. Regardless of its eccentricities and heresies, it’s still one of my top 10 favorite recordings. Ever.
First movement – Allegro
Second Movement – Adagio Un Poco Mosso
Third Movement Rondo- Allegro Ma Non Tanto
Beethoven Devienne Haydn Hummel Its About Time LONG PLAYING SELECTIONS Mozart Schumann, Clara Women!
It’s About Time
Posted on April 7, 2011About time that I posted some full compositions. You may have noticed that I tend to only present one movement from a Concerto or Symphony or Sonata; rather than all the movements. Invariably it’s the second movement – due to my preference for slow, melodic, thoughtful, melancholic!, peaceful etc. I suppose in a way it’s not really fair to the composer not to present his/her entire statement.
Recently a person in my town asked if I ever posted entire compositions. He didn’t ask the question in a judgmental fashion, just politely inquired. It has “niggled” at me ever since. So… Istvan … here’s a post for you!
(* I’ll place this posting in the Long Playing sections)
Francois Devienne (1759 – 1803) was known as “The French Mozart”
Francois Devienne – Bassoon sonata I in C major, Op. 24
Beethoven – Piano Sonata no. 23 Appassionata
Johann Nepomuk Hummel: One of the greatest of the ‘ignored and forgotten’ composers!
Hummel – Sextett Fur Blaser In F Major
Haydn – Symphony No. 104 In D Major (”London”)
Mozart – Piano Sonata No- 13
Clara Schumann, Robert’s wife – who decided late in life she just didn’t have what it takes to be a composer!
Hmmm … I beg to differ!
Clara Schumann Drei Romanzen, Op 22
I love the way he kind of sneaks up on you in this prelude. Slowly lulls you whilst building to a crashing, smashing mid section, and then sneaks away again! On the whole a very ‘poetic’ piece. Played by the great Sviatoslav Richter.
Rachmaninoff Prelude no. 10 Op.32 in B minor. Lento
Who can do “Dreamy” better than Chopin? Maybe nobody. Let’s listen!
His Nocturne in B #17. Two versions. One by Garrick Ohlsson, until 1970 the only American to win the International Chopin Competition. And then a more recent winner of the Competition (2005) – Rafal Blechacz; who was proclaimed so superior to all the other entries that they couldn’t award a second prize! (check out Rafal – a fine young man without much of an Ego! A great “New” breed of pianist) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rafa%C5%82_Blechacz
and a wonderful interview http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bYVX8BEl7Y&feature=related
By Ohlsson
By Blechacz
Arab World Turmoil - a theme song? Chopin Piano
Arab world turmoil – theme music?
Posted on February 21, 2011Dedicated to the brave, frightened and determined masses takin’ it to the streets throughout the Arab world. Chopin gives a sound backdrop to this turmoil in his Revolutionary Etude. Played here by the bright young star Valentina Lisitsa.
Chopin Etude op. 10 #12 – The Revolutionary Etude
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gi5VTBdKbFM&feature=related
Brahms Clarinet Trio In A Minor Op-114-02 Adagio
I wonder how many of us knew this very familiar piece (Morning Mood) was by Grieg?
I didn’t!
Peer Gynt Suite No. 1 Morning Mood
Six Norwegian Mountain Melodies: 2. Lullaby from Valdres
And one to play on New Years’ Day!
Melodies of Norway, EG 108: I Went to Bed So Late