jmc's classics
This time of the year is the birthdays of some important composers/ conductors: Richard Strauss June 11, 2864, Carlos Chavez June 13, 1869 and Leos Janacek July 3, 1854. Strauss and Janacek were also conductors. There are some recordings available if Struss conducting but I can't find any of Chavez conducting.
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There are some very long works. That are way over an hour in length. That does not include operas. It does include most of Mahler's works. It includes some works by obscure composers who I have not heard of. I am not much into very long works.
Powell Hall the home of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra is to be renovated at a cost of $100 million. I like Powell Hall. It was built in 1925 as the St. Louis Theatre and used to show movies. It was not intended as a concert hall. It was acquired by the SLSO in 1968. unfortunately, the adjacent Culver House will have to be demolished. It was built in 1886. I hope that this house can be saved. They can move it a few feet. It could be used for storage or as a museum for the SLSO or a restaurant. it would be a shame to see it go.
I am somewhat disappointed that as of now, I have not seen anything commemorating the 150th birthday of Ralph Vaughan-Williams (1872-1958) He was a Vritish composer. He is remembered mainly for His Fantasia on Greensleeves. which was written in 1934. The melody from the Christmas Carol "What Child is this" and the theme from the TV show Lassie are based on Greensleeves. My favorite work of his is his Six Studies in English Folk Songs for Cello and Piano (which I am listening to as I write this). It lasts about ten minutes. It is in six movements of about one and a half minutes each. The version that I have is on EMI with some of his other chamber works. it features Eileen Croxford on cello and David Parkhouse on Piano.
His birthday is October 12. Perhaps this fall we see seen more activity and commemorations of him. In The summer months especially in June there are a lot of outdoor concerts. The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra used to have concerts in The Symphony Music School in University City. I wish that they would resume.
The Compton Heights band has outdoor concerts in the summer. I do like outdoor concerts during the summertime. |
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