jmc's classics
Labor Day is almost here and the new fall TV season will be here soon. When I start folowing a TV series it gets canceled.
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On Your Classical recently the had an article titled "Ten Great Symphonies you Should Know" it listed 10 monumental symphonies. I can't list the entire article. Most of them I agree with. However there are a lot more that are important symphonies that should be heard.
They symphonies are: Haydn's Symphony 104 ,Beethoven's Ninth, Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique, Saint-Saens' Third Symphony, Tchaikovsky's Fifth Symphony, Dvorak's Eighth Symphony, Amy Brach's Gaelic Symphony, William Grant Stills First Symphony, Demetri Shostakovich's Fifth Symphony and Alan Hovhaness' Second Symphony. The last four mentioned I am not Familiar with. It was no surprise about Beethoven's Ninth or Haydn's 104th. I am surprised that Beethoven's Fifth or Dvorak's Ninth were not listed. My favorites of Beethoven are his Seventh and Eighth Symphonies and of Dvorak his Sixth Symphony. Honorable mention is Schubert's Fifth, Eighth and Ninth Symphonies. Also Sibelius' Second and Eighth Symphonies. My favorites of Sibelius are his Second and Third Symphonies. Also should be some Bruckner's symphonies. My personal favorites of his are his Third and Seventh. The Seventh and Eighth might cut it but I don't think that the Third would. Probably some of Mahler's Symphonies but I am not familiar with his works. Some of Brahms' symphonies should get honorable mention. My favorite is his Fourth. Some of Tchaikovsky's late symphonies could get honorable mention. I like his early symphonies. These are just my humble opinions. Today is the Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. it is an important day in the Catholic and Orthodox Churches. In many countries where they are the predominant religions, this is a national holiday. The Opera I Pagliacci by Ruggero Leoncavello (1857-1919) is set on this day.
Today is the anniversary of the Woodstock Music Festival that took place in 1969 in Woodstock New York which is in upstate New York. It is still remembered today. Pagliacci, Which translated in to English means "the players" is about clowns and love gone wrong. The older clown has a young wife who is having an affair with a local man. The clowns are part of a local troupe of performers. There is a deformed clown in the troupe who is attracted to the older clown's wife. The older clown's wife is having an affair with a local man. The older clown kills both of them. The "Sobbing Song" Vesti la Guiba is one of the famous arias. It was used in a commercial for Best Buy in the 1990's. This opera is often paired with Pietro Mascagni's opera Calvaria Rusticana (Rustic Chivalry) both have similar themes. That of love gone wrong. They are both of one act and both are among the "one hit wonders" of opera and classical music. I like clowns. Unfortunately, in recent years clowns have gotten a bad rap. That is not fair. I enjoy being entertained by clowns. Woodstock was a monumental event of the late 1960's. It took place on a farm near Woodstock NY. There are a lot of towns called "Woodstock" in America. The Woodstock festival lasted from August 15-18 1969. Much has been written about it. There was some damage done to this farm. and many people got sick or passed out. there were a lot of drugs being used. There is a lot of Catholic and Orthodox hymns to the Virgin Mary. In these two faith traditions the Virgin Mary is important. In Italy, Greece, Russia and parts of Latin America this is am important day. Many Italian composers wrote music for the Catholic Mass and hymns to the Virgin Mary. August 10 is the anniversary of two of Mozart's most iconic works Ein Kleine Nachtmusic (aka a little night music) (K525) and His 41st Symphony "Jupiter" (K551) 9n 1778. He was a very prolific composer.
The Pulitzer Prize in Music is a prize for American Composers for outstanding music compositions. It is usually given to American composers. it is one of 23 categories for prizes. it is awarded annually. It was started by Joseph Pulitzer (1847-1911) founder of the Pulitzer Publishing Company. The decisions ae made by the Pulitzer board which meets semi- annually and usually at the Pulitzer Room at Columbia University. Notes are compared. Pulitzer and Hearst were fierce rivals at the turn of the last century.
There have been some famous works given this award. However, most of them I have never heard of. Most of composers who won this award are not famous as of now. Maybe at some point in the future some of these composers and their works will be famous. pulitzer.org. The prize is awarded in April each year. Some years a prize is not awarded in some catagories. |
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