jmc's classics
Alexander Scriabin (1872-1915) was one of the individuals that I have previously mentioned. I especially like his Piano Concerto (Opus#20). He was a Russian. He died tragically before the Revolution. One of His nephews was a bishop and noted theologian in the Russian Orthodox Church. Scriabin was interested in and involved in mysticism. Often He was compared with Chopin. Scriabin wrote some orchestra music including five symphonies and The Poem of Ecstacy (opus #54).
He was influenced by the music of Frederick Chopin. However Chopin wrote mostly for solo piano. He wrote a Piano trio and a cello sonata. I am not as familiar with Chopin's music. I like the ending of Scriabin's Fourth Symphony. He was interested in the works of German philosopher Frederick Nietzsche (1844-1900) and in theopsophy and other strange doctrines. he had an interest in a "Mystical Chord". In 1969 the Yale Physics Department created a project passed on the mystical chord. Scriabin was Russian however he spent time abroad in the early years of the 10th century. He lived in Brussels from 1909-1910. and did spend some time in America. His most famous work is the piano concerto. I especially like the second movement. there are many excellent versions of this work. I have the version of Vladimir Ashkenazy on the piano with Lorin Maazel and the London symphony Orchestra. It is coupled with the Poem of Esctacy and Propethius on the London Label. I have the Second Symphony coupled with the Symphonic poen in D with the Moscow Symphony Orchestra and Igor Golovschin conducting. It is on the Naxos label. Naxos is a good deal for CDs.
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In my previous post, I mentioned two works of Charles Marie Widor (1844-1937) he was a Prominent French Composer, organist and teacher. Among his students was the great humanitarian Albert Schweitzer (1875-1965). And yes, Marie was his middle name.
His main compositions is the toccata from his Organ Symphony number Five. Which is played at weddings he wrote 10 organ symphonies, three symphonies for organ and orchestra and two symphonies for orchestra (Opuses 16 and 54). He wrote a violin concerto and a cello concerto (opus#41) which I have mentioned and I like. He wrote two piano concertos (opuses 39 and 77) Choral and sacred music including a setting of the Catholic Mass. he is remembered as an organist and teacher. He had assisted Camille Saint seans as organist at the Church of The Madeleine (St. Mary Magdenin) in Paris. In 1870 he became the organist at the famous church of St. Sulpice in Paris which he held until 1937. He was one of the more prominent organists in France. I am not that much in to organ music. I think that pipes are ugly. I do like some organ music. I Think that Widor's other music needs to be played more. It is tragically overlooked. I have recoredings of both of his orchestra symphonies. Both are on the Dutton label with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra conducted by Martin Yates. The Second symphony is coupled with his Cello concerto and Les Pecheurs de Saint Jean. The First is coupled with his Violin concerto and la Nuit de Walpurgis (Opus#60). These are the only recordings of these works that I can find. I hope that other orchestras soloists etc may play and record these works in the furture! Sometimes the final part of the last movement of a work is the best and most dramatic. Some are in my opinion Beethoven's Piano Concerto #5 "Emperor" Opus #73) and Violin Concerto (Opus #41), Schubert's Ninth Symphony (d944), Charles Marie Widor's Cello Concerto and Le Puchers De St. Jean, Alexander Scraibin's Second Symphony (Opus #29), Sibelius' Second Symphony (opus# 43) and Carlos Chavez's Fourth Symphony. All are Dramatic. Sibelius was known for his finales of his works.
Lieder is another term for art songs from the 19th or 20th century. "Lied" is German for sing. I don't speak German. They are usually based on poetry. They are usually for a soloist and piano. Opera arias are not considered songs although some of the arias have hit the pop charts. Schubert, Beethoven and Hugo Wolf wrote lieder. So did Mahler. he wrote numerous song cycles.
Much of Mahler's music is depressing. I find a lot of Country Music songs also to be depressing. They deal too much with being down on your luck etc. Growing up in St. Louis and going to college in Springfield, MO, am used to country Music. I do like some of it. Country Music has its origins in the American south and can be traced to songs and music from Scottish and Scotch-Irish settlers in the 17th and 18th centuries. Lieder or art songs were also popular in France. Berlioz and Lalo wrote lieder or melodies in the 19th century. "Melodie" is the French term for lieder. I am familiar with both composers' music and have written about them. On Exploring the Music last week Bill McLaughlin had an interesting series on berlioz. He stated that 19th century Poetry is Purple to me" Whatever that means. I listen to this radio show sometimes. It ahs some interesting commentary. A lot of the poems from the 19th century are difficult to understand for a lot of people. I have noticed that most rock and pop songs are four minutes or less. American Pie by Don McLean is an exception it lasts eight minutes. Many movements from great symphonies, string quartets, concertos etc. last at least ten minutes. I am not in to disco or some of the Buble Gum music from the 70's
Everybody probably remembers the song "whiter Shade of pale" from the "Summer of Love" 1967. It was recorded by the British rock group Procol Harum. I like that song and still listen to it. Procol Harum has now faded in to obscurity although they have had some other hits. Both Sammy Hagar and Anne Lenox have recorded that song.
It is classified as "Baroque Pop". This sub-genre of rock and roll was popular in the 1960's and early 70's it makes use of string quartets, harpsichords, oboes and French Horns. The Beatles and the Left Bank among others dabbled with Baroque Pop. This genre has not been as popular in recent years. The song Whiter Shade of pale has influence from J.S. Bach. It was listed as the Most played song in the U.K. As of now it has sold over 10 million copies world wide. The words to me do not make since. I do not know what the song is about. There is much speculation of it. The song has sort of a melancholy sound. It almost sounds like a dirge. it is predominantly in the C Major key and has influence of Bach's orchestral suite #3(BWV10680) There are a lot of other songs that have had influence from Bach. IT also make use of orchestra. I like this song. I listen to it on You Tube. I wish that they had You Tube 30 years ago when I was in college. This goes to show that Classical music has infiltrated in to Pop Music and Rock and Roll. Especially Bach. His music and melodies are still present today in a lot or popular songs. for more information on this song, I found an interesting article on line from the British magazine "The Guardian". I am not going to print it but it does have some good insight on this song. This is independence Day. What I am wondering about is what is the fascination with the British Royal Family? We are not part of England or the Commonwealth. We had the Revolution and the War of 1812 to keep them out of America. There are other European royals that are more interesting.
England and the Episcopal Church has had a good tradition of Choral music. Not just Rock and Roll Music from the British Invasion. I have spoken of the movie Pavarotti. Edison invented the phonograph in 1877. However recordings of music did not become common until around 1900. I have heard many of the recordings of that time on CD. They were originally made on wax cylinders. The recordings of that time are more primitive compared with what we have today.
I personally do not think that the singers of that time stack up with the ones of today. Most of them who were not American had heavy accents in their voices. They also had a different quality than the ones of today. They had good voices. That said, if they were around today, they probably would not make it. |
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