jmc's classics
There is a lot of classical music used in films. I have seen the recent film "Tesla" about the faomous Serbian inventor of the same name. It uses the third movement of Brahms Second Piano Concerto (Opus#85). THe movie stars Ethan Hawke as Tesla, Kyle MacLeach as Thomas Edison, James Gaffigan as George Westinghouse and Anne Hewson as Anne Morgan the daughter of J.P. Morgan.
I am not going to give a review of the movie. It mainly focuses on Tesla's rivalry with Thomas Edison. It talks about his invention of alternating current. It talks about his relationship with financier J. P. Morgan etc. Anne Morgan narrates parts of this movie. it does not make sense because she is in the hear and now. Nicola Tesla (1856-1943) was born in present day Croatia then part of the Austria-Hungary Empire to SErbian parents. He studied engineering etc. He was the son of a Serbian Orthodox priest who wanted for Nicola to also be a priest. The car company Tesla is named for him. He never married. Brahms wrote two Piano concertos. The Second is in four movements instead of the standard three movements that concertos: Allegro non troppo, Andante and Allegretto appassionato. It lasts about 50 minutes. Frequently it is considered "The greatest Piano concerto along with his First piano concerto(Opus#15). The others oar those of Beethoven, Chopin, Rachmaninoff and Tchaikovsky. The version I have of the Second is of Vladimir Ashkenazy conducting the London Symphony Orchestra on the London label. This is the same label the the Rolling Stones used. It dates from 1878-81. It is in the B Major key. There are several other excellent recordings of this work. The first is from 1855. it lasts around 50 movements: Maestoso, Adagio and Rondo: Allegro non troppo. It is in the D minor key. The version that I have is with Krystian Zimerman on the piano with Leonard Berbstein conducting the Vienna Philharmonic. This is on the Deutsche Grammophon label. Both concertos are very popular.
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Today is Leonard Bernstein's birthday. yesterday was the birthday of Adolphe Adam (1803-1856) He is best known for his Christmas carol " O' Holy Night" and his ballet Giselle. He was a French man.
This was one of the first ballets that I had heard of when I was a child along with Tchaikovsky's tells the story of a prince who falls in love with a peasant girl and she goes mad. The prince at the same time is engaged. There are several recordings of this available. Adam wrote other ballets and .operas. They are not popular. I have seen recordings on Arkiv Music for two of Adam's operas Le Postillon de Lonjemeau and Le Toreodor. Many other composers wrote ballets including Richard Strauss and Igor Stravinsky. A ballet is a set to music where it is danced to. It is accompanied by and orchestra. It like opera tells a story and has a plot and theme. many are based on novels and other stories. A ballad is a song or narrative set to music. Many of them are of a romantic nature. Some are tragic. Some of the more recent popular music or even Rock or country music can be considered to be ballads. As I have said I am not much in to country music. Many of the lyrics are depressing. Some ballads could also be considered as "art songs" similar to German leider. The word "leid" if German for "sing". They wrer written for voice and orchestra of piano. I was never in to choreography (which is dancing). I like ballet music. A choreographer directs the dane movement. A lot of operas have ballet scenes in them. One of the more famous choreographers was Russian born George Balanchine (1904-1983) Today is the feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. An important day in Orthodox and Catholic countries. It is the day the Opera I Pagliacci by Leoncovello is set.
Yesterday was the anniversary of the posthumous premier of Ricard Strauss' Opera "The Love of Danae" premiered in ``952. Three years after Strauss' death. During WWll Richard Strauss had fallen out of favor with the Nazi government. A color photo of Strauss holding the manuscript from 1945 exists. Kodak started marketing color film in 1936. He is known for his operas and his tone pomes especially Thus spoke Zarathustra which was used in the film score for the movie "2001 a Space Odyssey". My favorite works of his are not any of those. It is his earlier works however mainly his Violin concerto and his two early symphonies frim his late ten years that are my favorite works of his. There was looting in Chicago. I hope that things get better there. The looters need to go to jail. One of the things that Chicago is known for is their storied symphony orchestra.
It was founded in 1891 and is one of the "Big Five Orchestras". The other four are the New York Philharmonic, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra and the Cleveland Orchestra. They are all in the north east. The current director is Riccardo Muti. The controversial German conductor William Furtwangler (1886-1954) was offered the position as conductor but it was withdrawn. the Chicago Symphony orchestra was one of the first orchestras in America to have radio broadcasts which in 1925. They are still broadcasted today. They are known for their Ravina Music Festival in the summer which is the oldest outdoor music festival in America. I have numerous recordings of the Chicago symphony Orchestra which I enjoy listening to. They have been with various conductors and on various labels. Chicago has a storied history. I enjoy visiting Chicago and I am glad the Cubs won the world series. I hope that things simmer down there soon. This is the 59th birthday of violinist mark O' Connor who combines Classical, Fiddle concerto. As a teenager he toured with Chet Atkins, Doc Watson and Steve Mores Country, Bluegrass and Jazz. He is known for his Fiddle Concerto dating from 1995. he is originally from Seattle which is not known for Country Music. Bluegrass is a sub-genre of country music. It is called Blue Grass" because it originates in Kentucky the "Bluegrass State'.
he is also a music teacher and is known for his "O'Connor Method" for teaching the violin. The term "fiddle" is another term for violin. He has worked with other musicians and has various albums. This is a good example of Classical and country music fusion. I like some country music. However, I find that much of the lyrics in country music are depressing. It originated in Appalachia and the southern United States. Appalachia in the past, has been a very pore area of the country. I have heard the Fiddle Concerto. It is on an album with several other pieces by O'Connor. I do not have a copy of that album as of now. There are Excellent violin concertos by Roger Sessions (1896-1985) and Roy Harris (1898-1979). Harris is from Oklahoma which is part of the area where country music originated. He is mainly remembered for his Third Symphony. |
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