jmc's classics
I was at the October 5th Coffee Concert. The program included two works: Beethoven's Sixth Symphony "Pastoral" and Berlioz's work "Herald In Italy". The later is a symphony or symphonic poem with a viola continuo. Bramwell Tovey was the guest conductor and Beth Gutman Chu was the soloist. Gutman Chu is the principal violist with the Saint Louis symphony Orchestra.
Tovey is a British conductor and composer. he has been most recently the music director with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. Previously he was with the Luxembourg Philharmonic. The Sixth Symphony(Opus#68) by Beethoven is not as known as his Fifth and Ninth. It contains five movements instead of the standard four movements. The word 'pastoral' means in the country or having to do with nature. The symphony was meant to invoke being in the countryside. Beethoven had an affinity for nature. The five movements are: Allegro; Awakening of cheerful feelings on arriving in the country, Andante molto mosso; Scene by the brook, Allegro; Merry gathering of country folk, Allegro; Thunderstorm, Allegretto; Shepherd's song and happy feeling after the storm. It lasts around 40 minutes. The word 'pastor' is latin for shepherd. The version of Beethoven's sixth that I have is Von Karajan with the Berlin Philharmonic on the Deutsch Grammophon label. I do not have a copy or Harold in Italy. Berlioz (1803-1869) was a Frenchman . He wrote Harold in Italy (Opus#16) in 1834. It is based on a poem by Lord Byron. it was commissioned by Italian violinist Nicolo Paganini. it is a symphonic work where the viola would play the protagonist. I am not familiar with lord Byron's works. Tells the story of a young man who travels the Mediterranean basin to escape his melancholy life. It is four movements: Harold in the Mountains, March of the Pilgrims, Serenade of an Abruzzi Mountaineer and Orgy of the Brigands. it lasts around 43 movements.
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