jmc's classics
When we think of "Walton" we usually think of the 1970's TV show or Wal-Mart and Sam's. There is then the British composer William Walton (1902-1983) who I spoke of in my last article. I do not like Wal-Mart or Sam's. They do not treat their workers right and destroy competition. I don't like Amazon either for the same reasons. Sir William Walton like Svendsen wrote two symphonies and one each concerto for the violin and for the cello. He also wrote a viola concerto. He is remembered for his First Symphony, his cantata Belshazzar's Feast and the viola concerto. In addition he wrote an opera Troilus and Cressida which is based on Geoffrey Chaucer' Epic poem about the Trojan WAr. Chaucer was an English writer and poet who lived in the 14th century. As well as music for several films.
Belshazzar's Feast is based on The Book of Daniel and Psalm 137 about the Jews exile in Babylon. I am not familiar with that work. It was dedicated to his friend and benefactor Lord Beners. it was first performed in 1931. it is for soloists and chorus. He briefly lived in Italy after getting married. His wife was from Argentina and 24 years his junior. she lived until 2010. England and Argentina were at war over the Falkland islands in 1982. His music was considered to be old fashioned. However he experimented with the altonism with a string quartet in 1921. Altonism was a movement in music where notes were not on the chromatic scale. He wrote another string quartet in 1945-46. I have not heard these pieces. I so not like Wal-Mart. maybe there should be a store called Svendsen-Mart and Widor-Mart. I like the web site people of Walmart. peopleofwalmart.com this is funny! Charles-Marie Widor (1844-1937) was a French organist anad composer. He also wrote two symphonies and one each violin and cello concerto. I have a CD of his Second Symphony and Violin Concerto and the Scapino Overture. with Andrew Litton conducting the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra on the London Label. It features Tasmin Little on the Violin. The Second is in three movements: Allegro Molto, Lento assai and Passacaglia. I recommend this recording. Walton was also working on a third symphony but he scraped the project. Svendsen also worked on a third symphony. Several parallels between the two!
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Archives
May 2024
Categories |