jmc's classics
It is Memorial Day. Radio Stations are playing patriotic music - which I think is appropriate at this time. That includes American composers such as Copeland and Sousa etc. Memorial Day is supposed to be a somber day to remember those who gave their lives during the war. Not for celebrating and having wild parties.
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Some orchestras in the west are not playing the beloved Russian composers such as Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff etc. Some Russian performers are not welcome. Starbucks and Mcdonald's are pulling out of Russia. The Russian people should not suffer.
During WWl when America was at war with Germany, orchestras would not play German composers. During WWll the music of German composers was played. There are some interesting articles on it. In fact, during WWll the opening notes from Beethoven's Fifth were used as Moorse code for "V" as in victory. In some propaganda films Wagner's Ride of the Valkyries was used in scenes of the US bombing German cities. It is a known fact the Nazis liked and played Wagner's music. Much of Wagner's operas deal with German mythology and folk lore. Many German musicians another intellectuals left Germany during the rise of the Nazi party and went to America and elsewhere. Vladimir Putin is a tyrant. Stalin was much worse than Putin. The problem was that Stalin was our ally during WWll. So are most of the other Russian Oligarchs. This is a complicated situation. As I mentioned two months ago, the Russian people should not be made to suffer. I hope and pray that the situation gets better with Russia and Ukraine soon. And that there is a permanent peace. I have not been in any old concert halls in Europe. A lot of them have names of composers inscribed in them or on the outside. some of the composers listed have fallen out of favor. for example, the Paris Opera House in the front there are seven columns depicting seven composers who were popular in 1875, the year that it opened. Only Beethoven and Rossini are popular now. I am not familiar with the rest because their works are not popular now. There was an interesting article in Composer's Datebook about Dutch composer Alfons Diepenbrock (1862-1921) who I have never heard of and the Royal Concertgebouw Hall in Amsterdam. It lists about two dozen composers, and some are not known. Diepenbrock is listed in the Concertgebouw. This hall opened in 1888. I have been to Amsterdam but not that hall. I have several recordings of the Concertgebouw Orchestra.
Many composers of yesteryear have fallen out of favor, but their music should be played and listened to. I am grateful to labels such as Naxos, CPO, Bis and other labels along with the orchestras, performers etc. who have made recordings of some of these composers and their works. Hopefully in time many of these more obscure composers will become more popular. Many of the rock and roll bands of yesteryear have fallen out of favor. I remember the Song "The Boys are Back in Town" by the Irish band Thin Lizzy in the 1970's. This song has some themes from some of Haydn's symphonies. Especially in the instrumental parts.
Haydn was Called the "father of the symphony" he wrote over 100. He also invented the string quartet. He was also a friend and mentor to Mozart and a teacher of Beethoven. It is especially in his 99th and 101st symphonies that I hear similarities in this song. This song is still popular today. It is the Spring season now. I have not put much on recently. today is the anniversary of the premier of Hugo Alfven's Midsummer Rhapsody in 1904. I have spoken of this work recently. May 7th is the birthday of Brahms and Tchaikovsky who were born in1833 and 1840 respectively.
Christos Anesti!
Christ has Risen! I have purchased a new computer. The old one was too slow and outdated and it took too long. Every year there is new technology and old devices are obsolete. I hope that Arkive music is up again soon! |
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