Russian Composer Igor Stravinsky was born on June 17 in 1882. Stravinsky has been hailed as one of the most important and influential composers of the 20th century.
Of his contributions to music, one is his unusual use of rhythms. One musicologist has said that "Stravinsky is perhaps the only composer who has raised rhythm in itself to the dignity of art", and the composer Aaron Copland was very influenced by Stravinky's use of rhythms. Stravinsky also made use of polytonality, or musical lines in multiple clashing keys at the same time.
His early compositions can be seen as Russian nationalistic. The most famous are his first three ballets, The Firebird, Petrushka, and The Rite of Spring.
Here is an old video of the composer himself conducting part of The Firebird, which has a very late-romantic feel to it. If it sounds familiar to you, it may be because Fantasia 2000 has used some of the music from this ballet for its finale (the one about the spring sprite and elk vs. the "volcano bird").
The music I'd like to play of Petrushka is a piano version made by the composer himself of some pieces from the ballet. Here are the first and second movements - notice the competing rhythms in the two hands, clever chord patterns, and lightning fast arpeggios in the first piece; and in the second piece (starting at 2:33), the striking dissonances that resolve into ethereal flittings and floatings - this is really fascinating music! Finally, here's a fragment of Shrovetide Fair, which gives a taste of the relentless rhythmic drive and repetition of chords that is so often part of Stravinsky's music.
The Rite of Spring is probably Stravinsky's most famous (and most infamous) work. It has very interesting and beautiful moments, but mostly it is full of brutal dissonance and very complex rhythms. The 1913 Paris crowd listening to its premiere did not like it at all - there were boos, tomatoes thrown, and riots throughout! It's likely that both the dissonant music as well as the ballet was offensive to them, given that the work is about pagan rituals and human sacrifice. I think I'd rather avoid watching the ballet myself! Here is a link to a four-hands version, played by one person (he recorded the 1st part and plays over it with a special piano). This gets a bit thick at times (whereas the many different instruments of the orchestra and each unique timbre do the piece more justice), but it is interesting to hear some of it on piano if you're already familiar with the piece. Here is the version played for the original Disney Fantasia movie, Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3. I personally find this very interesting to watch - it seems to enhance the music for me, and is much more uplifting to me than Stravinsky's own program for the piece, which I find frankly disturbing.
All the above compositions were from Stravinsky's early period. His middle period of composition is termed Neoclassical. During this time, he wrote music which reinvestigated the compositional style of the classical period. One such piece is his Symphony of Psalms. Just prior to writing it, Stravinsky had a re-awakening of his Christian faith, and this is partly what inspired him to write the piece. Here is the third movement (Psalm 150) of the work.
Although I don't have any examples to play, his last period of composing featured music written with twelve-tone-row technique (serialism), in which the 12 half-steps of the chromatic scale are all treated equally and used in a certain order. The effect is atonality in music. This compositional technique was popularized by the Austrian composer Arnold Schoenberg, and will be explored here more on his birthday.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Composer of My Ancestry
The Norwegian Composer, Edvard Grieg, was born on June 15 in 1843. Much of his music draws largely from Norwegian folk music. Grieg was quite a gifted pianist, and had the opportunity to study in Leipzig, Germany. His piano music shows clear influences from Liszt, Schumann, and Chopin.
One of the most popular compositions (and rightly so) is his Piano Concerto in A minor. The piece is often compared with Schumann's Piano Concerto in the same key, which Grieg heard Clara Schumann perform in Leipzig in 1858 (he composed his own concerto 10 years later). The first movements of both pieces begin with a short piano cadenza leading into an orchestral introduction of the first theme, followed by a repetition of the theme in the piano. After this follows some quicker piano passage-work and eventually the second theme. I've also observed that Rachmaninoff's 1st piano concerto is clearly influenced by both of these concertos, with the same type of program at the beginning. Listen to the first movements of the Schumann, Grieg, and Rachmaninoff 1st piano concertos to see what I mean.
Here is the continuation of the Grieg 1st movement and the 2nd movement (starting at 4:20), and the third movement (starting at 0:45). The second movement of this piece is to me one of the most beautiful movements in all of classical music. I know that since I'm Norwegian, too, I'm probably biased, but it's not like I've ever even been to Norway or know any of the language or culture. But there is something so pure and wistful about the 2nd movement (clearly influenced by the 2nd movement of Beethoven's Emperor Concerto, another one of the most beautiful pieces in all of classical music).
Another very popular work by Grieg is the music he wrote for Henrik Ibsen's play, Peer Gynt. He put some of the music together into two Peer Gynt Suites, from which we get Morning Mood, Anitra's Dance, In the Hall of the Mountain King, and Solveig's Song among others. Although Grieg was influenced by a lot of the mainstream Romantic composers of his day, these last few compositions should give a taste of his unmistakable sound, probably because of the Norwegian folk music influence. I'm getting misty-eyed right now thinking about how my Grandmother used to ask me to play Solveig's Song for her on the piano all the time (she immigrated from Norway).
Grieg also wrote a lot of little piano pieces, many of which are included in his suites of Lyric Pieces, wonderful little gems, some profound and difficult, but most of them quiet little understated pieces. Here's a few: Wedding Day at Troldhaugen, March of the Dwarfs, The Butterfly, Melody, and Peace of the Woods. I've recently been playing through these and bought a 7-CD set of all of Grieg's piano works - delightful to listen to!
One of the most popular compositions (and rightly so) is his Piano Concerto in A minor. The piece is often compared with Schumann's Piano Concerto in the same key, which Grieg heard Clara Schumann perform in Leipzig in 1858 (he composed his own concerto 10 years later). The first movements of both pieces begin with a short piano cadenza leading into an orchestral introduction of the first theme, followed by a repetition of the theme in the piano. After this follows some quicker piano passage-work and eventually the second theme. I've also observed that Rachmaninoff's 1st piano concerto is clearly influenced by both of these concertos, with the same type of program at the beginning. Listen to the first movements of the Schumann, Grieg, and Rachmaninoff 1st piano concertos to see what I mean.
Here is the continuation of the Grieg 1st movement and the 2nd movement (starting at 4:20), and the third movement (starting at 0:45). The second movement of this piece is to me one of the most beautiful movements in all of classical music. I know that since I'm Norwegian, too, I'm probably biased, but it's not like I've ever even been to Norway or know any of the language or culture. But there is something so pure and wistful about the 2nd movement (clearly influenced by the 2nd movement of Beethoven's Emperor Concerto, another one of the most beautiful pieces in all of classical music).
Another very popular work by Grieg is the music he wrote for Henrik Ibsen's play, Peer Gynt. He put some of the music together into two Peer Gynt Suites, from which we get Morning Mood, Anitra's Dance, In the Hall of the Mountain King, and Solveig's Song among others. Although Grieg was influenced by a lot of the mainstream Romantic composers of his day, these last few compositions should give a taste of his unmistakable sound, probably because of the Norwegian folk music influence. I'm getting misty-eyed right now thinking about how my Grandmother used to ask me to play Solveig's Song for her on the piano all the time (she immigrated from Norway).
Grieg also wrote a lot of little piano pieces, many of which are included in his suites of Lyric Pieces, wonderful little gems, some profound and difficult, but most of them quiet little understated pieces. Here's a few: Wedding Day at Troldhaugen, March of the Dwarfs, The Butterfly, Melody, and Peace of the Woods. I've recently been playing through these and bought a 7-CD set of all of Grieg's piano works - delightful to listen to!
Sunday, June 8, 2008
The Poet Speaks
Robert Schumann was born on this day in 1810 in Germany. Schumann is a very interesting person to learn about in many ways. He was of a very passionate temperament, was mentally unstable, was a very well-respected music critic, and of course wrote lots of very beautiful music that has stood the test of time.
Schumann would also have been possibly considered a great pianist, but while studying piano with the great Friedrich Wieck, he injured his right hand permanently and so gave that up as a career and focused on composing instead. He did fall in love with Wieck's daughter, Clara, however, and eventually married her (after a long legal battle with her father, who was very much against their union). Clara turned into one of the greatest pianists of her day, and often showcased her husband's piano works after he composed them.
An example of this is his Piano Concerto in A minor. This piece is one of the most popular romantic piano concertos in the repertoire today. Many very beautiful themes, lots of spontaneity (typical of Schumann), and impressive pianism. It was first performed by Clara. Here is a performance by the great virtuoso Martha Argerich, who I'm sure could have rivaled Clara had she lived at that time: first movement, parts 1 and 2, 2nd movement, and 3rd movement.
Schumann's skills as a writer and music critic gave him the unique opportunity to assist other younger composers and musicians who greatly benefited from his generous encouragement and enthusiasm. Schumann helped both Felix Mendelssohn and Johannes Brahms in their careers as musicians. Brahms became very close to the Schumanns later in life. Although many writers have played up that he was in love with Clara and speculate about an affair, it is unlikely that anything untoward happened between them, although Clara and Brahms did become very good friends after Schumann died (in an insane asylum).
Here are some more of Schumann's best:
Toccata, Op. 7 - a monstrously difficult piece, requiring immense technique and endurance. It displays unbridled joy and passion, but has lots of light-hearted parts, too.
Carnaval, Op. 9. This work is a set of 20 short pieces, each of very different character, very spontaneously jumping between tender/slow and frantic/fast moods. Several pieces are written with certain people in mind, such as Clara Wieck (not yet his wife), a different love-interest (displaced by Clara), composer Chopin, composer Paganini, etc. It is a very likeable piece, and very passionate. Here are the opening few pieces.
Schumann also wrote 4 symphonies, all of which are quite good. Here is the opening movement of the 3rd symphony, "Rhenish".
Finally, probably his most well-known and loved little gems, the "Scenes from Childhood", Op. 15. They are little piano pieces in which the composer reminisces about his childhood as an adult. Here they are, pieces 1-8 and 9-13. By the way, the last piece in this set is entitled "The Poet Speaks", in case you were wondering about the title of my blog entry.
Schumann would also have been possibly considered a great pianist, but while studying piano with the great Friedrich Wieck, he injured his right hand permanently and so gave that up as a career and focused on composing instead. He did fall in love with Wieck's daughter, Clara, however, and eventually married her (after a long legal battle with her father, who was very much against their union). Clara turned into one of the greatest pianists of her day, and often showcased her husband's piano works after he composed them.
An example of this is his Piano Concerto in A minor. This piece is one of the most popular romantic piano concertos in the repertoire today. Many very beautiful themes, lots of spontaneity (typical of Schumann), and impressive pianism. It was first performed by Clara. Here is a performance by the great virtuoso Martha Argerich, who I'm sure could have rivaled Clara had she lived at that time: first movement, parts 1 and 2, 2nd movement, and 3rd movement.
Schumann's skills as a writer and music critic gave him the unique opportunity to assist other younger composers and musicians who greatly benefited from his generous encouragement and enthusiasm. Schumann helped both Felix Mendelssohn and Johannes Brahms in their careers as musicians. Brahms became very close to the Schumanns later in life. Although many writers have played up that he was in love with Clara and speculate about an affair, it is unlikely that anything untoward happened between them, although Clara and Brahms did become very good friends after Schumann died (in an insane asylum).
Here are some more of Schumann's best:
Toccata, Op. 7 - a monstrously difficult piece, requiring immense technique and endurance. It displays unbridled joy and passion, but has lots of light-hearted parts, too.
Carnaval, Op. 9. This work is a set of 20 short pieces, each of very different character, very spontaneously jumping between tender/slow and frantic/fast moods. Several pieces are written with certain people in mind, such as Clara Wieck (not yet his wife), a different love-interest (displaced by Clara), composer Chopin, composer Paganini, etc. It is a very likeable piece, and very passionate. Here are the opening few pieces.
Schumann also wrote 4 symphonies, all of which are quite good. Here is the opening movement of the 3rd symphony, "Rhenish".
Finally, probably his most well-known and loved little gems, the "Scenes from Childhood", Op. 15. They are little piano pieces in which the composer reminisces about his childhood as an adult. Here they are, pieces 1-8 and 9-13. By the way, the last piece in this set is entitled "The Poet Speaks", in case you were wondering about the title of my blog entry.
Friday, June 6, 2008
Armenian Folk Music
Today in 1903, Aram Khachaturian was born in Georgia (then Imperial Russia) to an Armenian family. He enjoyed music from a young age, but did not study formally or learn to read music until he was older.
He initially was a supporter of communism and its ideals, joining the party in 1943. But after writing his third symphony (which was intended to be dedicated to the communist party), he was denounced by communist leaders (who also attacked two other popular Russian composers, Prokofiev and Shostakovich). This attack shocked him and forced him to reconsider his positions.
Khachaturian was also very proud of his Armenian heritage, and he incorporated Armenian folk-music into his compositions. His most famous work of music is the "Sabre Dance" from his Ganaye ballet, which is played in all sorts of movies, cartoons, TV shows, etc. Here is an excellent performance of it.
Other than the previous piece, my main exposure to Khachaturian is through his Piano Concerto from 1936. It is modern and dissonant, but is full of very moving themes and dazzling piano passage-work. It is truly romantic at it's heart, despite the modern sounds throughout. The second movement is especially beautiful, and the whole piece is full of themes that sound like folk-music. Here is a recording of this piece, 1st movement parts 1 and 2, 2nd movement, and 3rd movement.
He initially was a supporter of communism and its ideals, joining the party in 1943. But after writing his third symphony (which was intended to be dedicated to the communist party), he was denounced by communist leaders (who also attacked two other popular Russian composers, Prokofiev and Shostakovich). This attack shocked him and forced him to reconsider his positions.
Khachaturian was also very proud of his Armenian heritage, and he incorporated Armenian folk-music into his compositions. His most famous work of music is the "Sabre Dance" from his Ganaye ballet, which is played in all sorts of movies, cartoons, TV shows, etc. Here is an excellent performance of it.
Other than the previous piece, my main exposure to Khachaturian is through his Piano Concerto from 1936. It is modern and dissonant, but is full of very moving themes and dazzling piano passage-work. It is truly romantic at it's heart, despite the modern sounds throughout. The second movement is especially beautiful, and the whole piece is full of themes that sound like folk-music. Here is a recording of this piece, 1st movement parts 1 and 2, 2nd movement, and 3rd movement.
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