jmc's classics
I was at the May Third Coffee Concert. The program featured Samuel Barber's First Symphony (Opus#9), Jeff Beal's song cycle "Paper Lined Shack which was the world premier and Tchaikovsky's Sixth Symphony "Pathetic" (Opus#74). It was conducted by Leonard Slatkin the former conductor of the SLSO.
The first two composers are American. Samuel Barber (1910-1981) was born in Pennsylvania and was a nephew of operatic contralto Louise Homer. Jeff Beal (1963- ) is best known for his soundtrack for the TV show "House of Cards" which I have not yet seen. Barber is best known for his "Adagio for Strings" (Opus #11) which is taken from his only string quartet. It has a dirge like sound and was played on the radio at the deaths of Presidents Roosevelt and Kennedy and on September 11, 2001. Tomaso Albioni (1671-1751) also wrote an Adagio for Strings. Barber's first Symphony is in one movement and lasts about 20 minutes. it dates from 1936. Like the Adagio it dates form his 20's The opening them of this work is the glue for the rest of it. This is a very lyrical piece of music. Jeff Beal is contemporary. I had never heard of him before. This song cycle was commissioned by the SLSO in honor of Leonard Slatkin's 50th anniversary with the SLSO. It is based on some passages form his Great Grandmother's diary when she was unpacking boxes for a move. It is for soprano and orchestra. The soloist was Hila Pltimann. The final piece was Tchaikovsky's Sixth Symphony also known as "Pathetic" It was also his final work. I have a copy of this work with Charles Munch conducting the Boston Symphony orchestra. Which is coupled with Tchaikovsky's Romeo and Juliet overture. Tchaikovsky died a few days after the world premier of this work. He originally entitled it as "Passionate" It is one of a gloomy nature. It is in four movements" Adagio: Allegro non troppo, Allegeo con grazia, Allegro molto vivace and Adagio lametoso. The final movement is somewhat gloomy in nature. The cause of Tchaikovsky's Death is still unknown. There was a song in the 1940's by Mann Curtis and All Hoffman called "The Story of a Starry Night" which was popularized by Glenn Miller which has themes form the Sixth Symphony. This work also plays a role in British writer (E. M. Forster's(1879-1970) novel "Maurice".. It is also on the video Game Pandora's Tower. Overall I liked the concert. I am not familiar with the first two composers but am with Tchaikovsky. I like Sixth Symphony. However I like the Fourth and Fifth Symphonies (Oppuses 36 and 46) better. That is just my opinion.
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