Musical History – The Double Read: Recent Episodes
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Copland Conducts Copland: Fanfare for the Common Man, Appalachian Spring, Rodeo, Old American Songs. Columbia Symphony Orchestra. I’ve been noodling with the idea of writing about what can be learned about a country from its composers’ music. To that end, … Continue reading →
Hanns Eisler is another one of those composers you think you’ve never heard of, but actually are sorta kinda peripherally acquainted with, in a “huh-well-that’s-useful-to-know-for-Trivial-Pursuit” kind of way. He’s the guy – well, one of the guys — you can … Continue reading →
Barber. Violin Concerto. Shostakovich. Violin Concerto No. 1 in A Minor, Op. 99. London Symphony Orchestra. Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg on violin. EMI Classics. 1992. So when I set out to write this post uhhhhhhhhhh like months ago? Yeah months, the plan … Continue reading →
Hoo, boy, the new wordpress media player sure doesn’t do all the things the old yahoo player did. Dear technology: sometimes, change for change’s sake isn’t good. Anyhow. I will try and go through all my old posts and update … Continue reading →
I started out listening to the seven CDs by Bach’s sons in dad’s collection with a bad attitude. I was like, this is going to suck, these guys are going to be mere … Continue reading →
Yeah, it’s been a while. What can I say? Three more Bach posts, though, and I’ll be on my happy way…to…well…Bach’s sons. Sigh. Anyhow, here’s the first of the LAST THREE POSTS. This is about the Musical Offering, a piece … Continue reading →
I have previously made clear that the harpsichord works of Bach are not my favorite. Yes, I am grateful to him for being the first to put the harpsichord center stage. James R. Gaines quotes Susan McClary in “Evening in … Continue reading →
You know the sound that dog makes in that viral YouTube video when his master tells him that the chicken covered with cheese and cat treats has been devoured by the cat? That’s the sound my brain makes when I … Continue reading →
Bach Block: A version of writer’s block (itself defined by the Free Dictionary as ‘a usually [ed comment: uh-oh] temporary psychological inability to begin or continue writing’) caused by Too. Much. Bach. I’ve got it, and it’s what’s behind the … Continue reading →
Albinoni & Vivaldi Wind Concerti. The King’s Consort. Director Robert King, Solo Oboe Paul Goodwin. Musical Heritage Society. Tomaso Albinoni. Six Concerti, Op. 9. Musical Heritage Society. Tomaso Albinoni is one of these pre-Bach guys that my 20th-century-music-loving self has … Continue reading →