Francis Poulenc was born today in 1899 in France. He was part of a group of French composers known as "Les Six", the name having been inspired by "The Five" Russian composers (see Jan 2 blog entry). The composers were Poulenc, Milhaud, Auric, Durey, Honegger, Tailleferre, and they were loosely associated with composers Satie and Cocteau as well. The music they wrote is seen as a reaction against Wagnerism and impressionism (mostly Debussy and Ravel), although I personally think Poulenc's music sounds impressionistic (at least the little of it I know).
I was introduced to Poulenc's music on hearing his wonderful little three-movement piano piece "Mouvements Perpetuals" and his lovely "Intermezzo in Ab Major", both pieces which I play now and love. Both have a light-hearted nature and are full of a wash of colors, yet also have deep feeling and introspection in places. Enjoy!
Monday, January 7, 2008
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Music to end the world
Two very different composers from the romantic era of music were born today. Max Bruch was born in 1838 in Germany. He is considered part of the more conservative tradition of German Romantic Classicism (along with Brahms) instead of the more radical experimentalists of the time, which included Liszt, Wagner, and Berlioz.
Bruch's most famous work is his Violin Concerto #1 in G minor, which is part of the standard violin repertoire. Listen to the 1st and 2nd movements here and here and 3rd movement here. It's quite an enjoyable piece of music, rightly deserving it's popularity.
Alexander Scriabin was also born today in 1872 in Russia. He studied piano with the same teacher as Rachmaninoff (who was 2 years younger), and wrote lots of piano music. In his early days, he injured himself playing Balakirev's Islamey (see previous blog entry). Scriabin had some very interesting beliefs that affected his music. He started out sort of Chopinesque in his style, but gradually his music became atonal. He had very grandiose mystical beliefs, and began work on a large orchestral/multi-media work called Mysterium that he planned on performing at the Himalayas that would bring about the end of our world. Fortunately for us who hadn't been born yet, he never completed the piece and the world didn't end.
Scriabin had a "Mystic chord" that he employed in some of his later compositions, made up of C F# Bb E A D, usually in inversions. He also associated the notes on a keyboard with colors.
A lot of his piano music (particularly the early stuff) is very interesting and beautiful. His many preludes, etudes, and 10 sonatas are very popular among pianists today, and some of them are quite difficult and are standard repertoire in competitions. Here are a few samples from his earlier period: Etude in D# minor, Op. 8 No. 12, probably his most popular piece (and quite difficult!), Etude Op. 2, No. 1, another very popular piece, Nocturne for the left hand, Op. 9 No. 2, a very beautiful piece that you wouldn't know was for the left hand alone if you weren't watching, and finally, his Sonata No. 2, Op. 19, 2nd movement.
From his middle period: Etude Op. 42, No. 5, another popular piece. It is still very romantic, and tonal, though perhaps edgier than the previous pieces. Also written during this time is the 4th piano sonata, Op. 30, a very jazzy and generally happy piece, though definitely pushing the limits of tonality more than before.
Finally, from his last period, one of his last piano works, "Vers la flamme" (Toward the flame), Op. 72. This is a rather disturbing piece, as are a lot of his later works. The name says it all - it starts out slow and cool, but gets hotter and hotter as it progresses, until by the end, the heat is actually quite uncomfortable. Listen to it here with pianist Vladimir Horowitz, one of the few to give this piece the proper fire. Horowitz is one of Scriabin's greatest intepreters and also interacted with him during his lifetime. Apparently Scriabin told Horowitz that this piece also could be called "Toward the Sun".
Bruch's most famous work is his Violin Concerto #1 in G minor, which is part of the standard violin repertoire. Listen to the 1st and 2nd movements here and here and 3rd movement here. It's quite an enjoyable piece of music, rightly deserving it's popularity.
Alexander Scriabin was also born today in 1872 in Russia. He studied piano with the same teacher as Rachmaninoff (who was 2 years younger), and wrote lots of piano music. In his early days, he injured himself playing Balakirev's Islamey (see previous blog entry). Scriabin had some very interesting beliefs that affected his music. He started out sort of Chopinesque in his style, but gradually his music became atonal. He had very grandiose mystical beliefs, and began work on a large orchestral/multi-media work called Mysterium that he planned on performing at the Himalayas that would bring about the end of our world. Fortunately for us who hadn't been born yet, he never completed the piece and the world didn't end.
Scriabin had a "Mystic chord" that he employed in some of his later compositions, made up of C F# Bb E A D, usually in inversions. He also associated the notes on a keyboard with colors.
A lot of his piano music (particularly the early stuff) is very interesting and beautiful. His many preludes, etudes, and 10 sonatas are very popular among pianists today, and some of them are quite difficult and are standard repertoire in competitions. Here are a few samples from his earlier period: Etude in D# minor, Op. 8 No. 12, probably his most popular piece (and quite difficult!), Etude Op. 2, No. 1, another very popular piece, Nocturne for the left hand, Op. 9 No. 2, a very beautiful piece that you wouldn't know was for the left hand alone if you weren't watching, and finally, his Sonata No. 2, Op. 19, 2nd movement.
From his middle period: Etude Op. 42, No. 5, another popular piece. It is still very romantic, and tonal, though perhaps edgier than the previous pieces. Also written during this time is the 4th piano sonata, Op. 30, a very jazzy and generally happy piece, though definitely pushing the limits of tonality more than before.
Finally, from his last period, one of his last piano works, "Vers la flamme" (Toward the flame), Op. 72. This is a rather disturbing piece, as are a lot of his later works. The name says it all - it starts out slow and cool, but gets hotter and hotter as it progresses, until by the end, the heat is actually quite uncomfortable. Listen to it here with pianist Vladimir Horowitz, one of the few to give this piece the proper fire. Horowitz is one of Scriabin's greatest intepreters and also interacted with him during his lifetime. Apparently Scriabin told Horowitz that this piece also could be called "Toward the Sun".
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
The Leader of "The Five"
In 1837 on this day, Mily Alexeyevich Balakirev was born in Russia. He was a very skilled pianist, and is known for organizing a group of Russian musicians/composers known as "The Mighty Handful" or "The Five", which included Balakirev, Cui, Mussorgsky, Rimsky-Korsakov, and Borodin. Although Balakirev was the only professional musician amongst them, they were influential in bringing about a "Romantic nationalism" in Russian music.
I'm apparently not alone in knowing only one piece by Balakirev. His music is not widely played, except for one piece, particularly popular with pianists, due to it's impressive difficulty - "Islamey: an oriental fantasy". You can view it here played by Russian pianist Boris Berezovsky. This piece is pretty crazy. Watch the fingers fly, especially during the last minute or so.
I'm apparently not alone in knowing only one piece by Balakirev. His music is not widely played, except for one piece, particularly popular with pianists, due to it's impressive difficulty - "Islamey: an oriental fantasy". You can view it here played by Russian pianist Boris Berezovsky. This piece is pretty crazy. Watch the fingers fly, especially during the last minute or so.
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Beethoven's Birthday!
Today in 1770, Ludwig van Beethoven was born in Germany. There's so much to be said about Beethoven, I feel overwhelmed. His music has so much beauty, emotion, depth and variety. Even his works that have immediate popular appeal (like the 5th symphony), when studied and listened to many times over, have so much depth and intellectual value. He was truly gifted by God.
I've decided that instead of writing more about his life (you can read that on the above link), I'll discuss some of my favorites works and link to youtube performances.
All of his 9 symphonies are amazing works, and listening to them multiple times bring many rewards. It's said that his odd-numbered symphonies (1,3,5,7,9) are more profound as a whole than his even-numbered ones, but I think they're all great. My favorite changes a lot, but I must say the 3rd symphony, "Eroica" (Heroic) is a masterpiece. The 2nd movement, a funeral march of sorts, is really the heart of the piece. Listen to it here. In contrast, his 6th symphony, or "Pastoral" is more light-hearted (but not frivolous), and shows Beethoven's love for nature, which he frequently turned to for inspiration. He would go for long walks in the woods, bringing a pencil and sketch pad with him to compose as he walked. Listen to the 1st movement here.
His 5 piano concertos are all gems, and again it's hard to pick a favorite. Probably the most famous is his 5th - the "Emperor" Concerto. It is grand in every way, yet full of very tender moments and unsurpassing beauty, especially in the 2nd movement, which is one of the finest moments in all of classical music. Listen here to the 1st and 2nd/3rd movements (the 2nd runs right into the 3rd).
He also wrote one violin concerto, in D Major. I think I would consider this piece the perfect violin concerto. It is also very "Pastoral" sounding, and has some of classical music's most spiritual and tender moments. Listen to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd movements here.
Beethoven wrote 32 piano sonatas, sometimes referred to as the "New Testament" for pianists (the "Old Testament" being Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier of 48 preludes and fugues). One of my favorites is "Les Adieux" (The Farewell), Op. 81a. He wrote this piece about a certain archduke that was leaving town whom Beethoven was loathe to see go and very excited to have return later. It begins with a tenderly beautiful melancholy chordal introduction (evoking Beethoven's drawn-out farewell to the archduke). This is followed by a faster theme that evokes the crack of the whip seeing the horse-drawn carriage take off (with the archduke inside). Lots of horn calls are heard throughout, echoes of the carriage sounding its horn as it travels off into the distance. This is the 1st movement, called "The Farewell", The 2nd and 3rd movements, called "The Absence" and "The Return", respectively, depict just that.
Beethoven also wrote a lot of chamber music. Five cello sonatas, 10 violin sonatas, 17 string quartets, many trios and so many others. Here is the 2nd movement of my favorite cello sonata (Op. 69 in A major). Here is the 3rd movement to his most difficult and amazing violin sonata ("Kreutzer").
Of special note are Beethoven's late string quartets. They are said to have inspired many later composers, even Schoenberg (who championed atonal "12-tone-row" music in the 20th century), because they were so forward-looking for their time. I resisted listening to them for a while because I thought they would be too weird. But I was pleasantly surprised. His Op. 131 in C# minor is one of his most deep, moving works, and I have heard said to have been Beethoven's favorite composition. It is in 7 movements, starting out with a slow, heart-felt fugue, moving into a more light-hearted quicker-tempo piece. There is a short interlude followed by the long central movement of a theme and variations. This is interrupted by a lightening-fast joyful, playful movement, then another interlude and finally the finale, a very driving, serious, at times wrathful piece. Listen to the first 10 minutes of the quartet here, and read more about it here.
Another one of his last pieces is the "Grosse Fuge" (Grand Fugue), written again for string quartet. Watch/listen here to the Alban Berg Quartet play the piece. This comment from a youtube listener sums it up pretty well - "One of Beethoven's most violent expressions. It is the clash of rhythms. Yet inside this turbulent storm of tones, one can find the sublime beauty." Originally it was supposed to be the 6th and final movement of one of his late string quartets, but his publisher convinced him to publish it as a separate piece because he thought it would ruin the quartet (of course he put it in a positive, diplomatic light to Beethoven!). Composer Igor Stravinsky was said to have commented that he didn't understand the piece at all (this coming from the composer of the "Rite of Spring", whose modern, clashing harmonies and rhythms enraged audiences in the early 20th century so much that they threw tomatoes at the conductor during the first performance!). Give the piece a chance. It is amazingly complex and grows on you as you listen more. The middle section of the piece is very calm and beautiful, lest you think it is all harsh and violent! Read more about this amazing piece here. Keep in mind that he completed his 9th symphony (probably his most popular and loved work) only about a year or two before this, and he was completely deaf during this period of his life.
OK, one more piece. This is actually a little bit of a musical joke, called Rage over a lost penny. Hope you enjoy it and I hope I haven't bored you too much with my love for Beethoven!
I've decided that instead of writing more about his life (you can read that on the above link), I'll discuss some of my favorites works and link to youtube performances.
All of his 9 symphonies are amazing works, and listening to them multiple times bring many rewards. It's said that his odd-numbered symphonies (1,3,5,7,9) are more profound as a whole than his even-numbered ones, but I think they're all great. My favorite changes a lot, but I must say the 3rd symphony, "Eroica" (Heroic) is a masterpiece. The 2nd movement, a funeral march of sorts, is really the heart of the piece. Listen to it here. In contrast, his 6th symphony, or "Pastoral" is more light-hearted (but not frivolous), and shows Beethoven's love for nature, which he frequently turned to for inspiration. He would go for long walks in the woods, bringing a pencil and sketch pad with him to compose as he walked. Listen to the 1st movement here.
His 5 piano concertos are all gems, and again it's hard to pick a favorite. Probably the most famous is his 5th - the "Emperor" Concerto. It is grand in every way, yet full of very tender moments and unsurpassing beauty, especially in the 2nd movement, which is one of the finest moments in all of classical music. Listen here to the 1st and 2nd/3rd movements (the 2nd runs right into the 3rd).
He also wrote one violin concerto, in D Major. I think I would consider this piece the perfect violin concerto. It is also very "Pastoral" sounding, and has some of classical music's most spiritual and tender moments. Listen to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd movements here.
Beethoven wrote 32 piano sonatas, sometimes referred to as the "New Testament" for pianists (the "Old Testament" being Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier of 48 preludes and fugues). One of my favorites is "Les Adieux" (The Farewell), Op. 81a. He wrote this piece about a certain archduke that was leaving town whom Beethoven was loathe to see go and very excited to have return later. It begins with a tenderly beautiful melancholy chordal introduction (evoking Beethoven's drawn-out farewell to the archduke). This is followed by a faster theme that evokes the crack of the whip seeing the horse-drawn carriage take off (with the archduke inside). Lots of horn calls are heard throughout, echoes of the carriage sounding its horn as it travels off into the distance. This is the 1st movement, called "The Farewell", The 2nd and 3rd movements, called "The Absence" and "The Return", respectively, depict just that.
Beethoven also wrote a lot of chamber music. Five cello sonatas, 10 violin sonatas, 17 string quartets, many trios and so many others. Here is the 2nd movement of my favorite cello sonata (Op. 69 in A major). Here is the 3rd movement to his most difficult and amazing violin sonata ("Kreutzer").
Of special note are Beethoven's late string quartets. They are said to have inspired many later composers, even Schoenberg (who championed atonal "12-tone-row" music in the 20th century), because they were so forward-looking for their time. I resisted listening to them for a while because I thought they would be too weird. But I was pleasantly surprised. His Op. 131 in C# minor is one of his most deep, moving works, and I have heard said to have been Beethoven's favorite composition. It is in 7 movements, starting out with a slow, heart-felt fugue, moving into a more light-hearted quicker-tempo piece. There is a short interlude followed by the long central movement of a theme and variations. This is interrupted by a lightening-fast joyful, playful movement, then another interlude and finally the finale, a very driving, serious, at times wrathful piece. Listen to the first 10 minutes of the quartet here, and read more about it here.
Another one of his last pieces is the "Grosse Fuge" (Grand Fugue), written again for string quartet. Watch/listen here to the Alban Berg Quartet play the piece. This comment from a youtube listener sums it up pretty well - "One of Beethoven's most violent expressions. It is the clash of rhythms. Yet inside this turbulent storm of tones, one can find the sublime beauty." Originally it was supposed to be the 6th and final movement of one of his late string quartets, but his publisher convinced him to publish it as a separate piece because he thought it would ruin the quartet (of course he put it in a positive, diplomatic light to Beethoven!). Composer Igor Stravinsky was said to have commented that he didn't understand the piece at all (this coming from the composer of the "Rite of Spring", whose modern, clashing harmonies and rhythms enraged audiences in the early 20th century so much that they threw tomatoes at the conductor during the first performance!). Give the piece a chance. It is amazingly complex and grows on you as you listen more. The middle section of the piece is very calm and beautiful, lest you think it is all harsh and violent! Read more about this amazing piece here. Keep in mind that he completed his 9th symphony (probably his most popular and loved work) only about a year or two before this, and he was completely deaf during this period of his life.
OK, one more piece. This is actually a little bit of a musical joke, called Rage over a lost penny. Hope you enjoy it and I hope I haven't bored you too much with my love for Beethoven!
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
The Ultimate Romantic
Hector Berlioz was born on this day in France in 1803. Berlioz is the epitome of what you think of as a romantic (a rather out-of-control romantic at that). He had a love for romantic literature, wept at readings of poetry and at musical concerts, had many love affairs, and held very strong views on matters of art in general. There's an account of him standing up in the middle of a concert while the orchestra was playing and quite loudly and fiercely taking issue with the interpretation. In another, scarier account of his behavior, his fiancee's mother wrote to him to tell she was breaking off the engagement and that her daughter would marry another man. This enraged him so much that he plotted to kill all three of them and very nearly carried out the plan, but decided against it at the last moment... only after purchasing all the necessary weapons/poisons and disguises and starting his journey toward the area that they were all residing. Yikes!
Yet he is considered one of the most important composers of his time, partly because of his forward-looking musical ideas. Along with Wagner and Liszt, he is one of the three composers that had the most profound effect on 19th century musical romanticism. Probably his most famous work is his Symphonie Fantastique, a 5-movement symphony with a pretty wild program that is somewhat autobiographical. Read the link for a really fascinating description of the piece, and watch/listen to the 4th and 5th movements. For the best listening, though, I'd really recommend a high-quality CD recording (like this one) played on a good speaker-system - it won't disappoint you! This work is really an amazing piece of orchestration, with many new and bold approaches to different textures and sounds.
Yet he is considered one of the most important composers of his time, partly because of his forward-looking musical ideas. Along with Wagner and Liszt, he is one of the three composers that had the most profound effect on 19th century musical romanticism. Probably his most famous work is his Symphonie Fantastique, a 5-movement symphony with a pretty wild program that is somewhat autobiographical. Read the link for a really fascinating description of the piece, and watch/listen to the 4th and 5th movements. For the best listening, though, I'd really recommend a high-quality CD recording (like this one) played on a good speaker-system - it won't disappoint you! This work is really an amazing piece of orchestration, with many new and bold approaches to different textures and sounds.
Monday, December 10, 2007
The perfect violin sonata
Today in 1822, Cesar Franck was born in Belgium. His Violin Sonata in A Major is, to me, the perfect violin sonata. Full of passion, drama, serene beauty, ranging from violent to tranquil, from heart-wrenching to perfect contentedness. I had the privilege of playing this fine piece with a good friend and distinguished violinist in college for a joint senior recital.
Watch/listen to the 2nd and 4th movements here. The 4th movement deserves a comment or two. Notice most of the piece is in a "canon" form, in which the piano starts the theme and the violin follows 1 measure behind with exactly the same notes (kind of like singing "row, row, row your boat" in a "round" with someone else). Part-way through the piece, the violin takes the lead and the piano follows. The complexity of the theme in this movement and how well it works as a canon is just sheer genius on the part of Franck. This is indeed one of classical music's finest moments.
Watch/listen to the 2nd and 4th movements here. The 4th movement deserves a comment or two. Notice most of the piece is in a "canon" form, in which the piano starts the theme and the violin follows 1 measure behind with exactly the same notes (kind of like singing "row, row, row your boat" in a "round" with someone else). Part-way through the piece, the violin takes the lead and the piano follows. The complexity of the theme in this movement and how well it works as a canon is just sheer genius on the part of Franck. This is indeed one of classical music's finest moments.
Saturday, December 8, 2007
Music from Finland and Bohemia
Today, in 1865, Jean Sibelius was born in Finland. Some of his most noteworthy compositions are Finlandia, his Violin Concerto, and his 7 symphonies. To be honest, I really only know the Violin Concerto, a rather stern, austere, yet beautiful and scenic piece, and one of my favorite violin concertos. It's easy for me to picture some cold, snowy, beautiful landscape when I listen to it. Watch and listen to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd movements, played by a very young Hilary Hahn.
In response to some rather harsh criticisms of his music in the mid 20th century, Sibelius was quoted as saying, "Pay no attention to what critics say. No statue has ever been put up to a critic." His words have proven true, as his music is widely played and loved today.
Also today, in 1890, Bohuslav Martinu was born in Bohemia. I have heard virtually none of his music, except for one very special piece. If you've ever heard the beginning and ending of Jim Sveda's program on KUSC (Classical Music, 91.5 FM in the greater Los Angeles area) starting at 7pm on weeknights, you'll hear a very interesting and slightly jazzy piece for piano and several strings. It starts with such playful tranquility, clarity, interesting jazz-like harmonies, syncopated rhythms, etc., then it kind of turns a little bit weird, and the music fades and the program begins. I loved that first 2 minutes so much, though, I had to find out what it was, and I got a CD of the whole piece. Well, that 2 minutes is really the best part - the rest of it is very modern and difficult for me to get into. I still hunted down the sheet music so I could play that one part. :) Watch and listen to the Archangelo quartet play the 3rd movement here.
In response to some rather harsh criticisms of his music in the mid 20th century, Sibelius was quoted as saying, "Pay no attention to what critics say. No statue has ever been put up to a critic." His words have proven true, as his music is widely played and loved today.
Also today, in 1890, Bohuslav Martinu was born in Bohemia. I have heard virtually none of his music, except for one very special piece. If you've ever heard the beginning and ending of Jim Sveda's program on KUSC (Classical Music, 91.5 FM in the greater Los Angeles area) starting at 7pm on weeknights, you'll hear a very interesting and slightly jazzy piece for piano and several strings. It starts with such playful tranquility, clarity, interesting jazz-like harmonies, syncopated rhythms, etc., then it kind of turns a little bit weird, and the music fades and the program begins. I loved that first 2 minutes so much, though, I had to find out what it was, and I got a CD of the whole piece. Well, that 2 minutes is really the best part - the rest of it is very modern and difficult for me to get into. I still hunted down the sheet music so I could play that one part. :) Watch and listen to the Archangelo quartet play the 3rd movement here.
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