Music by Ennio Morricone. Notice the play of major and minor harmonies, worthy of Schubert. Also notice that Morricone knows when to be silent. The harmonica music is a leitmotif, brimming with meaning, as the sequence makes clear. The clip
Listen to this: Rondo
As we discussed in a previous post on the Minuet, classical music doesn’t always have to be as hard as it seems to be. With some simple listening tips, the arcane (seeming) can often become clear. Let’s take a look
Video: The lighter side of classical music: Jacques Casterede’s ‘Menage a trois’
I love humor in music. This in on the broader side of the spectrum, but nonetheless it’s very well done and the music is snappy. Listen to Jacques Castérède’s “Ménage à trots” performed by Par Ibban Malonga, Loann Fourmental et Théa de
Audio: Beethoven Symphony No. 5, III. Allegro
Glenn Gould plays the scherzo from Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 in the transcription by Franz Liszt. Initially, Gould’s tempo may seem too slow, but it works quite well over the long haul I think.
Audio: Beethoven: Symphony No. 5, first movement
Here’s one of the earliest recordings of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, with Arthur Nikisch conducting the Berlin Philharmonic in 1913. Don’t let the primitive sound put you off; it’s a fascinating interpretation, notable for its extremely flexible approach to tempo. Carl
Amy Beach: 150
Today is the 150th birthday of pioneering American composer Amy Beach. Here is the first movement of her Symphony in E minor, “Gaelic,” written in 1896. Neeme Jarvi conducts the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Amy Beach, a Pioneering American Composer, Turns
Chopin meets Liszt
A scene from “A Song to Remember” (1944), with Cornel Wilde as Chopin, Stephen Bekassy as Liszt, and Paul Muni as Chopin’s teacher, Prof. Joseph Elsner. I laughed out loud the first time I saw this, many years ago. When
Classical cover: Schubert’s ‘Erlkonig’
I love a good cover song. The term usually applies to a pop or rock song — some of my favorites in that category include DEVO’s “Satisfaction,” Cake’s “I Will Survive” and The Clash’s “Brand New Cadillac.” But broadly speaking,
Video: Yekwon Sunwoo plays Mozart
https://youtu.be/pFPo1ZHNPPg I had the pleasure of talking the other day to Van Cliburn gold medalist Yekwon Sunwoo (article to come). Here he is playing Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 21 during the semifinal round of the competition. It’s beautifully done. He’ll
Video: Great moments in film music: ‘The Hudsucker Proxy’
The famous hula hoop sequence from “The Hudsucker Proxy.” Music by Aram Khachaturian.