tumblrbot asked: WHAT IS YOUR EARLIEST HUMAN MEMORY?
Being in a rowing boat with my parents at age 4. It was a family holiday somewhere in England. I think there is a photo somewhere!
I love to have you over. There's beer in the fridge and a nice wine chilling!
I've even tidied the place for you so come right on in!
Discover composers well-known and more obscure! Nice way of browsing YouTube videos of their music!
Dmitri Shostakovich: Suite from Hamlet for small orchestra (1932)
(Source: topofobia)
May sees this year Classic Brit Awards Vote and win!
The awards includes nominations for the Classic FM Album of The Year. Classic FM being the UK’s major commercial classic radio station.
I thought I would give some of the discs a listen to see what is being recognised and started with Andre Rieu’s Moonlight Serenade. This is not what I would usually listen to as light waltzes don’t really grab me. His shows are very spectacular though and they call him “The King of The Waltzes”. Hmm - “King of Hyperbole” perhaps?
I think there is a place for showmanship in classical music although I prefer to focus on the music, rather than the spectacle!
Here’s an example of one of his shows:
Chopin Nocturne Op.9 No. 2—Arthur Rubinstein
I thought this was interesting and it brings up the subject of diversity in Classical Music. I think this program to engage with a wider group than is perhaps, traditionally involved with classical music is a good thing. I think I would generally support efforts to widen the appeal of classical music.
Vanessa-Mae plays Toccata & Fugue (via benn93z28)
Since the Eighties there has been a school of thought that says that Bach did NOT write the Toccata and Fugue in D Minor.
It just doesn’t sound like Bach;
It’s easier to play on the Violin (if you are a violinist!) - so they conclude it was written for the violin and transcribed by Bach!
Here’s Vanessa Mae showing us how it should be played in the Violin!
tumblrbot asked: WHAT IS YOUR EARLIEST HUMAN MEMORY?
Being in a rowing boat with my parents at age 4. It was a family holiday somewhere in England. I think there is a photo somewhere!
Ballade for violin & piano in F minor, Op. 69
Composer: Arthur Foote
Performers: Members of the Arden Trio; Suzanne Ornstein (Violin), Thomas Schmidt (Piano)
This piece was written in 1910. I know I’ve posted info on Foote before, but, in case you missed it or simply don’t remember, here is some info on him from Wikipedia:
Arthur William Foote (5 March 1853 in Salem, Massachusetts – 8 April 1937 in Boston, Massachusetts) was an American classical composer, and a member of the “Boston Six.” The other five were George Whitefield Chadwick, Amy Beach, Edward MacDowell, John Knowles Paine, and Horatio Parker.
The modern tendency is to view Foote’s music as “Romantic” and “European” in light of the later generation of American composers such as Aaron Copland, Roy Harris and William Schuman, all of whom helped to develop a recognizably American sound in classical music. In some sense, then, he is to music what American poets were to literature before Walt Whitman.
Foote was an early advocate of Brahms and Wagner and promoted performances of their music. Foote was an active music teacher and wrote a number of pedagogical works, including Modern Harmony in Its Theory and Practice (1905), written with Walter R. Spalding. It was republished as Harmony (1969). He also wrote Some Practical Things in Piano-Playing (1909) and Modulation and Related Harmonic Questions (1919). He contributed many articles to music journals, including “Then and Now, Thirty Years of Musical Advance in America” in Etude (1913) and “A Bostonian Remembers” in Musical Quarterly (1937).
The Grove Music Encyclopedia says:
“In his finest works Foote was a memorable composer. His style, firmly placed in the Romantic tradition, is characterized by lyrical melodies, expressive phrasing, and clear formal structure. He excelled in writing for strings and achieved particular popularity in his lifetime with the Suite in E major, Op. 63. and A Night Piece for flute and strings. Of his works for full orchestra, the Four Character Pieces after the Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám, Op. 48 is noteworthy for its colourful instrumental writing …”.
A good part of Foote’s compositions consists of chamber music and these works are generally among his best. The Chamber Music Journal, discussing Foote’s chamber music, has written, “If his name is not entirely unknown, it is fair to say that his music is. This is a shame. Foote’s chamber music is first rate, deserving of regular public performance.” His Piano Quintet, Op.38 and Piano Quartet, Op.23, are singled out for special praise. With regard to the Piano Quintet, the author writes, “Each of the movements is a gem. The Scherzo is particularly fine and the rousing finale beyond reproach. I believe that the only reason this work never received the audience it deserved and deserves is because it was written by an American who was ‘out of the loop.’” As for the Piano Quartet, the opinion is that “it is as good as any late 19th century piano quartet.” (via)
Toccata & Fugue in d minor (BACH, J.S.) (via cphayles)
Sydney Town Hall has a fantastic organ that was installed in the 1890’s.
Here’s what The City Of Sydney say about it:
“During the 19th century in England, it was customary for civic halls in England and the colonies to be provided with grand organs, imposing symbols of a city’s pride and its aspirations. It is therefore not surprising that plans for Sydney Town Hall included an organ of very grand dimensions.The original plans for the organ were drawn up in 1879 under the direction of Messrs. William Hill and Son of London. Their design provided for an instrument of fifty nine speaking stops, at a cost of £5,000 but was considered too modest for the city.
An Organ Committee of Sydney was then established to supervise the preparation of specifications and tendering. Their recommendation called for an instrument of unprecedented proportions with five manuals and pedals and one hundred and fifty stops.
William Hill and Son submitted the successful tender for the manufacture of the organ, its freight and installation and twelve months maintenance, at a cost of £14,241. Their design included a new feature of a full length 64 foot pedal stop, never previously attempted. When the organ was completed, a number of prominent organists were invited to test it, including the organist of Westminster Abbey, Dr Bridge, who considered it to be “the finest organ ever built by an English organ builder”. The organ was then dismantled and sent by ship to Sydney.
The organ case was also designed by William Hill and Son to complement the architectural character of the Town Hall, despite opposition from the City Architect who believed that the case should be modern in design. Hill’s design however ensured that Sydney would have an organ which in splendour, beauty and tone, could be compared with the greatest organs in the world.
The opening of the Grand Organ was held in Sydney Town Hall on Saturday August 9, 1890 before an audience of 4,000 prominent guests. Mr W.T. Best, the City Organist of Liverpool, considered to be the finest concert organist in the world, was invited to play at the opening. Best stayed on to play a at eleven further public recitals, thrilling his audiences with classical and operatic pieces, selections from Bach’s organ works and his own compositions.
The concerts were a resounding success and the organ hailed by the Sydney Morning Herald as “the special attraction of the city right now”. A City Organist, Auguste Wiegand, from Belgium was appointed. His successor, Arthur Mason, was appointed in 1901, beginning a long tradition of Australian organists to hold the post. The current City Organist, Mr Robert Ampt has held the position since 1978.
In 1973, the Council undertook a major restoration program to restore the Grand Organ which had begun to experience mechanical problems. The firm of R H Pogson Pty Ltd was appointed to manage the project and their craftsmen worked tirelessly for almost a decade to return the organ to its former splendour and tone.
Today, free organ recitals are held throughout the year for visitors to Sydney Town Hall to enjoy. Information about performance times can be obtained by calling Sydney Info on 02 9265 9007.
How does this beast sound? Pretty damn good actually and if you don’t believe me then perhaps a listen to Kurt Ison playing Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D Minor may convince? Doesn’t that make the hairs stand up on the back of your neck? It does mine, particularly that booming single D note!
Did you know that there’s doubt that Bach actually wrote this at all? They say it might have been written for the violin and Bach only transcribed it.
I think it’s one of the essential classical music works. What are yours?
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