Busy times

Sorry folks... Haven't have much time to write anything here. Hopefully I'll have much more time to write something by my trimester break somewhere in November & December.

At the same time, I've actually been on a "pilgrimage" on classical these past few months, I've listened to MANY pieces and so many more composers since the last post I have made here.

I sincerely hope I get the time to blog as I've many pieces I'm itching to talk about.

The Art of Finger Dexterity

Have a listen to this piece, an etude by Carl Czerny who was a prolific composer known for his books on etudes as well as composing etudes for piano, the particular piece is the 12th etude from a series of etudes called "The Art of finger Dexterity" Op. 740.

Video made an uploaded by yours truly! :)

On a side note: The Rach3 page is in progress!

Firebird Suite

The Firebird Suite (1919 version)
Igor Stravinsky

Perhaps one of Stravinsky's most well known piece. The suite originates from the ballet of the same name, and is about well... the firebird! which originates from Russian folk lore.

This piece is INCREDIBLE, I find myself literally riddled with goosebumps upon every listening of the piece. From its quiet and peaceful opening the piece progresses ever so serenely as though to depict the peaceful forest in spring. Flowers are blooming, tress are growing, seeds are sprouting. Absolutely calm... Suddenly, the piece escalates with a shocking BANG! all of a sudden everything is hectic and loud the music starts to get aggressive and violent (but in a good way!)

And than, the piece dies down back to its calm origins but this time the music becomes melancholic and gloomy, but is soon to be followed by a glorious flurry of triumphant themes (the brass section here is unsurpassed!) signifying the rebirth of the firebird.

The Firebird Suite has been used prominently in Disney's "Fantasia 2000" which is probably where it got its popularity from. However, one aspect that seems unsatisfying would be the fact that the firebird itself was portrayed as an evil entity, which completely contradicts Stravinsky's original idea.

The Return

I'm pleased to announce that my blog will be up and running again, my apologies for the recent decline of this blog, I've been really busy with my current education in university but as of now, I am free for 3 weeks and will be updating this blog almost daily! and boy do I have lots of pieces and classical related topics and articles to write about!

Expect the following articles to be written soon:

A new list of Violin Concertos
Symphonies
Film music & Classical music
A list of Piano Concertos

And so forth.

regarding the so far illusive (I know... I'll get to it one way or another...) Rach 3 page. It is currently in the pre-production stages in which I am currently studying the recording I've acquired (40 recordings so far), please be patient with me on this!

And lastly, in an attempt to boost visits and views on this little blog, I'll be trying my best to upload music using imeem service for the sake of the listeners after all, whats a music blog without media to listen to? however I won't be uploading the whole piece of a music but rather a few minutes excerpt of the piece.

Symphonic Masterpiece Vol II

Just thought that I'd drop i little list (with small descriptions) of some symphonies that I've come to know and love recently.

Earlier list of symphonies I wrote up a year ago.

UPDATE: (27th May 2008), 2 more symphonies have been added on the list.

Symphony No. 2 in E minor, Sergei V. Rachmaninov
This piece is stone cold proof that Rachmaninov, wasn't just confined to pianism and piano concertos but is also proof that the man is an accomplished symphonists. The highlight movement I'd like to share is the Adagio or the 3rd movement of this wonderful symphony, with pure sweeping and arch romantic melodies enough to make you shed a tear from the sheer beauty of it's climax. I always loved all the climaxes of Rachmaninov's pieces. Again, do try to listen to Ashkenazy's recording of the symphony.

Symphony No. 2 in G major, Vadim Salmanov
This symphony is indeed an interesting piece to listen to, Salmanov was famous for this symphony. the piece comes in 4 movements, the highlight movement for me is the 2nd movement entitled "Call of Nature", the whole symphony is about forests, the motif and context of the whole symphony (that being; set in a forest) really comes out on the 2nd movement which has quite an explosive and loud climax, I can't really explain this but the music really fits with sceneries of forests. The music itself kinda reminds me of Stravisnky, and Prokofiev weird but perhaps because of Salmanov's clever and sparingly use of dissonance. Evgeny Mravinsky has recorded the full cycle of Salmanov's symphonies, the 4th symphony was dedicated to Mravinsky.

Symphony No. 3 "Symphony of Sorrowful Songs", Henryk Górecki
I recently found out about this magnificent symphony from a classical forum. Gorecki's 3rd symphony has an interesting history behind it, the motif and topic of the piece was always perceived to be about the pain and sorrow of the victims of the Holocaust, Gorecki being a Polish composer further perpetuated that notion. However the piece is actually dedicated to Gorecki's Wife and the composer himself states that:

"Many of my family died in concentration camps. I had a grandfather who was in Dachau, an aunt in Auschwitz. You know how it is between Poles and Germans. But Bach was a German too—and Schubert, and Strauss. Everyone has his place on this little earth. That's all behind me. So the Third Symphony is not about war; it's not a Dies Irae; it's a normal Symphony of Sorrowful Songs."

The piece is mainly dominated by the string section which plays the theme loudly, each movement is accompanied by a female soloist singing out several polish texts. The music is religious as is most of Gorecki's late works which strangely drifted away from is extremely dissonant and atonal style of his early pieces. A touching and extremely sorrowful piece, which to me, is comparable to Mahler's Adagietto, and perhaps even more so than Barber's Adagio for strings.


Symphony No. 3 major, Jean Sibelius

Sibelius' "Eroica" if you will, the turning point of Sibelius' mature style in his symphonies starts from the 3rd symphony, which is a good natured and positive sounding symphony. The music is very pleasant and light on the ears, and as usual, I recommend the finale (Sibelius' finales are wonderful!) as well as the 1st movement, which really brings out the majestic and epic features of Sibelius' music!

Trivia: the opening horn call (which is prominent in most of Sibelius' music) of the finale is used as the opening sound of the score writing software "Sibelius".

Symphony No. 15 in A major, Dmitri Shostakovich

Shostakovich's final symphony, it is also his most playful and light symphony said to have portrayed his naive and childish side. In this symphony, Shostakovich (who was also a humorist!) had several of his works quoted and alluded in the symphony, including the famous tune from Rossini's William Tell Overture! an interesting and humorous listen for Shostakovich fans alike. A word of advice however, this piece is not exactly suited for beginners of classical as the symphony is very heavy in dissonance.

Temporarily Inactive

Blog will be inactive until mid-may due to tight schedule.

Michael Tilson Thomas

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mctpTyIBt_I

Check out this performance of the exciting finale to Tchaikovsky's 4th Symphony. With Conductor Michael Tilson Thomas with the San Fransisco SO. One of the most exciting performance of the piece I've ever heard!

This performance is truly amazing and blood boiling experience especially when the horn section plays the opening theme of the 1st movement with such triumph and potency. A powerful powerful performance indeed!

One thing the puzzles me however, is that most conductors tend to perform this piece as fast as humanly possible like theres some kind of contest to see who can conduct this piece the fastest or something...