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!
Sunday, December 16, 2007
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.
Friday, November 23, 2007
More Spanish Music
I just found out that YouTube has tons of clips of musicians playing entire pieces (instead of just excerpts that I've been linking to on the previous blog-entries). This was a gold-mine for me and I spent several hours looking up this and that pianist playing pieces I'd wanted to hear them play. My CD wish list just decreased because I have no need to buy a lot of them now!
Anyway, today in 1876 was the birthday of Manuel de Falla, one of Spain's most important composers of the 20th century. One of his most popular pieces is the "Ritual Fire Dance" from his ballet, "El amor brujo" (Love, The Magician). Watch Artur Rubinstein (a pianist to whom de Falla had dedicated other works) play a piano transcription of the piece here and decide for yourself if the name fits the piece's character.
Anyway, today in 1876 was the birthday of Manuel de Falla, one of Spain's most important composers of the 20th century. One of his most popular pieces is the "Ritual Fire Dance" from his ballet, "El amor brujo" (Love, The Magician). Watch Artur Rubinstein (a pianist to whom de Falla had dedicated other works) play a piano transcription of the piece here and decide for yourself if the name fits the piece's character.
Thursday, November 22, 2007
I'm thankful for classical guitar music
Today in 1901 was the birthday of Spanish composer Joaquin Rodrigo. Apparently he was a pianist, but the only music I've heard of his is written for the guitar. His most famous work is the Concierto de Aranjuez, for solo guitar and orchestra. I've never purchased a recording of it, yet I think I've heard it about 10 or 15 times on the radio alone. My brother also got a copy of the sheet music and we've played through a lot of it (me playing the orchestra part on the piano), but it is so incredibly difficult, we kind of fizzled out before getting too far. Listen to excerpts from movements 1, 2, and 3, taken from here. It's a superb piece of music in many ways. Hummable melodies, striking harmonies, catchy rhythms, impressively difficult guitar passages... and the list goes on. Probably the best classical guitar concerto ever written (although I don't know many).
Apparently Rodrigo was blind since the age of 3. Pretty amazing to be such an accomplished composer and musician in spite of not having vision. Though I suppose being deaf from the age of the 3 would probably be worse. He lived to a ripe old age of 97, leaving this world just 8 years ago.
Apparently Rodrigo was blind since the age of 3. Pretty amazing to be such an accomplished composer and musician in spite of not having vision. Though I suppose being deaf from the age of the 3 would probably be worse. He lived to a ripe old age of 97, leaving this world just 8 years ago.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Happy Birthday to the Father of American Music
Today is the birthday of two special composers. The first is Johann Nepomuk Hummel, born in 1778. When I was in my teens, I accompanied my brother on piano as he played Hummel’s Trumpet Concerto, a very fine piece which is a regular part of the trumpet repertoire (click here for the source of the excerpt). Now that I look at his wikipedia entry, I feel gypped because I realize he wrote so much piano music I never knew existed. Sigh… as Rachmaninoff said, “Music is enough for a lifetime, but a lifetime is not enough for music.”
The second is Aaron Copland, born in 1900. He grew up in a time when classical composers were alienating themselves from the mainstream concert-going public with their heavy modernist styles that only the “elite” music lovers would go for. In his early life, Copland conformed to the strict modernism of the time, but he eventually became disgusted with the breach between the mainstream public and the elitist crowds. He abandoned his approach and wrote simply so that all people would understand and be able to enjoy the classical music of the day. However, his previous hard work and training wasn't at all wasted - his more accessible music is teeming with very complex rhythms and well-placed dissonances, aspects which he learned and mastered during his early compositional experimentation.
Copland’s music really resonates with me. Some of his most memorable compositions are based on a “rural America” theme:
- Fanfare for the Common Man
- Hoedown from Rodeo
- Appalachian Spring, excerpt 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
(Click here and here for the sources of these excerpts)
The Appalachian Spring suite is one of my favorite pieces of all time and a MUST-listen. It consists of several american folk-themes strung together in a suite about 25 minutes long. Probably the most famous melody, based on the Shaker hymn "The Gift to be Simple", comes near the end, and Copland’s treatment of it and the other themes is breathtakingly beautiful and nostalgic. I'm moved to tears every time I hear certain parts of this suite, and I’m even getting a little misty-eyed as I write this just thinking about it.
To hear Copland’s influence on other composers, listen to the theme from the movie “Apollo 13” (composer James Horner), also very beautifully nostalgic and truly American in its sound (excerpt taken from here).
The second is Aaron Copland, born in 1900. He grew up in a time when classical composers were alienating themselves from the mainstream concert-going public with their heavy modernist styles that only the “elite” music lovers would go for. In his early life, Copland conformed to the strict modernism of the time, but he eventually became disgusted with the breach between the mainstream public and the elitist crowds. He abandoned his approach and wrote simply so that all people would understand and be able to enjoy the classical music of the day. However, his previous hard work and training wasn't at all wasted - his more accessible music is teeming with very complex rhythms and well-placed dissonances, aspects which he learned and mastered during his early compositional experimentation.
Copland’s music really resonates with me. Some of his most memorable compositions are based on a “rural America” theme:
- Fanfare for the Common Man
- Hoedown from Rodeo
- Appalachian Spring, excerpt 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
(Click here and here for the sources of these excerpts)
The Appalachian Spring suite is one of my favorite pieces of all time and a MUST-listen. It consists of several american folk-themes strung together in a suite about 25 minutes long. Probably the most famous melody, based on the Shaker hymn "The Gift to be Simple", comes near the end, and Copland’s treatment of it and the other themes is breathtakingly beautiful and nostalgic. I'm moved to tears every time I hear certain parts of this suite, and I’m even getting a little misty-eyed as I write this just thinking about it.
To hear Copland’s influence on other composers, listen to the theme from the movie “Apollo 13” (composer James Horner), also very beautifully nostalgic and truly American in its sound (excerpt taken from here).
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