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Mikiesboy Mythic Scribe

Mikiesboy

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Tim, these are some of the things I listen to if I'm 'wound up'. One person's music for relaxation is someone else's boring ;) so feel free to try and discard if you don't like it. :)

John Tavener: The lamb; Angels; God is with us

Henryk Gorecki: Totus tuus; Amen

Rachmaninoff: Vespers; Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom

Tchaikovsky: Orthodox church music

:)

Thanks, northie!
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AC Benus
AC Benus

I stumbled across this recoding yesterday. Paul Wranitzky (or, Pavel Vranický) was a Viennese composer, protégée of Antonio Salieri, and contemporary of Mozart, Haydn and Beethoven.   The first m

Mikiesboy
Mikiesboy

Oh man. Most of this is waaay over my head.    I started listening to classical music at the request of my psychiatrist. He thought it might soothe the mess that i was. It certainly helped. I still

AC Benus
AC Benus

Dead-Composers Society proudly presents 12 Days of Christmas 2017   Music to keep you merry and bright Please enjoy and happy holidays!   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  

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AC Benus Fabled Scribe

AC Benus

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Prokofiev's Piano Concerto 3

 

I had to think a bit before choosing this piece.  Since AC Benus's intention is to introduce classical music to new comers of the genre, so I am not entirely sure this piece is appropriate for the purpose.  BUT..., it's such an exciting piece to hear AND watch, from the Hitchcock-like first movement to the grand finale that's truly a technical tour-de-force.

 

I picked young Martha Argerich's performance for several reasons.  Despite I am like a big fan of Evgeny Kissin, but I picked Argerich instead because her performance exhibited the vivacious energy that I believe works better.  And you get to see her pompous air when she was young.  :D  Her more recent performances mature quite a bit, and you almost feel she was like, "I've only played this like for the 392nd time, not counting private performance," which is quite a marvel, because she played in such precision....  Kissin's performance is good (and he's Russian to boost), but it seems this piece can stumble even Kissin.  I own his recording, which is my favorite performance, but I've seen him screwed up once in a live recording that's posted on YouTube..., so yeah, even one of the greatest pianists alive can screw up the grand finale.

 

One of the YouTube clips I've seen (sorry I don't know where is it now), it shows the music sheet.  It makes you wonder what kind of schizophreniac genius wrote this....  Absolutely strange, tons of dissonance, and yet when all the music instruments played together, they work!  I've played piano a little bit in high school, though I am absolutely lousy at it, but I can appreciate how difficult it is to play such a piece where you have to watch out not be dragged by the syncopated sound of the orchestra.  And when you are practicing, you have no idea whether you played it right or wrong, unless you can imagine the orchestra playing along with you.  The dissonant piano sound by itself is not music, just bunch of crappy bangs.  If it's difficult to play, how fiendish it is to write this?

 

This is one of the songs you have to watch to appreciate.  See how she moved her fingers.  There are two ways to play the last couple minutes of the grand finale.  She used the traditional method, by playing each keys individually, using pure force and speed.  That's how the composer himself played it when he performed his own creation.  I doubt many people can do it.  That's why the knuckle method was invented to play a piece so fast, sometimes the video recording would just show motion blur if frame rate isn't fast enough.

 

If you don't have the patience to listening through the entire concerto, at least listen to the first few minutes and last five minutes. 

 

If this one is too radical for some of you, I do have other pieces I can suggest.  But please give it a chance.

Thank you, Ashi! This is the perfect piece to post, at least for me. I don’t know much Prokofiev, but I've certainly always enjoyed Andre Previn performances.

 

The soloist is amazing to watch. So much vitality, and verve (a nice way to describe her 60s ego ;) ), and it channels perfectly into the music.

 

You mention the way the composer preformed the work, and I wonder if you've ever ventured into recordings of him. Peter will be the first to display a little discomfort with these recordings, but piano rolls made with the Duo-Art system are remarkably high-fidelity, and certainly well worth listening to. Better than any acoustic or electronic recoding system in use during these composers' time.   

 

Thanks for posting this concerto; I love to be exposed to new music!

 

(I'm out of likes at the moment, but will be back)

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKuoyCDVckA

Edited by AC Benus
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AC Benus Fabled Scribe

AC Benus

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It's about time we introduced a woman into the proceedings ... This is a recording I was about to inflict on AC before he went 'public' with this thread. :)

 

 

I don't know much about this composer, except she lived through the trying times of revolution in Europe in the mid 19th Century. I bumped into a piano concerto of hers a few weeks ago, and then settled upon this overture from near the end of her life as intriguing and progressive (in a way I found her concerto not to be…)

 

Please listen if you have a few mins. Emilie Mayer – Faust Overture (1880)

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWGu3tntNoo

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AC Benus Fabled Scribe

AC Benus

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Smalin is a channel on Youtube that I absolutely enjoy. :D It's been around since pretty much the beginning of the website and in those eleven years, Stephen Malinowski has devoted his time to creating animated graphical scores for many compositions.

 

I've seen many of the videos and like them all! It's great you posted these.

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Mikiesboy Mythic Scribe

Mikiesboy

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I rather like male operatic voices for some reason, I never used to anyway .. this is a fav of mine.. the words, music and Bryn Terfel. It's Handel's Where e'er you walk. 

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AC Benus Fabled Scribe

AC Benus

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I rather like male operatic voices for some reason, I never used to anyway .. this is a fav of mine.. the words, music and Bryn Terfel. It's Handel's Where e'er you walk. 

Oh yay!!! I love Handel - Terfel's voice is very controlled, the number of course is beautiful.  

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dughlas Legendary Scribe

dughlas

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I rather like male operatic voices for some reason, I never used to anyway .. this is a fav of mine.. the words, music and Bryn Terfel. It's Handel's Where e'er you walk.

I am sitting in sun speckled shade in the garden listening to something I've no memory of hearing before ... thank you.

Edited by dughlas
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Mikiesboy Mythic Scribe

Mikiesboy

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I am sitting in sun speckled shade in the garden listening to something I've no memory of hearing before ... thank you.

I've heard often but they played it while I was on my way home, today. I love it. 

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J.HunterDunn Adept Scribe

J.HunterDunn

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I rather like male operatic voices for some reason, I never used to anyway .. this is a fav of mine.. the words, music and Bryn Terfel. It's Handel's Where e'er you walk. 

 

Beatiful voice and piece of music, tim.

 

Here's one of my favourite woman singers in a Händel-aria, because of the rhythm I never can keep my feet still when I hear this piece:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZZwZnlfDaU

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Mikiesboy Mythic Scribe

Mikiesboy

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Beatiful voice and piece of music, tim.

 

Here's one of my favourite woman singers in a Händel-aria, because of the rhythm I never can keep my feet still when I hear this piece:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZZwZnlfDaU

Oh i liked that.. i'll listen to it all .. thanks, Peter!

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Valkyrie Heroic Scribe

Valkyrie

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One of my favorite singers is Canadian Loreena McKennitt.  She takes classic poetry and other works, along with traditional Celtic/European songs/tales and sets them to music.  Her voice is beautiful and the accompaniment never fails to take my breath away.  I had the privilege of seeing her live several years ago and it stands out as probably the best concert I have ever attended.  Her ability to blend so many diverse instruments into a cohesive whole is quite amazing.  

 

This is one of my favorites of hers.  It's based on a piece written by Saint John of the Cross.  It's a letter written to God, but it also serves as a beautiful love song.  If I ever get married, this would be a song I would want played at my wedding.  I hope you all like it as much as I do.  

 

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Ashi Journeyman Scribe

Ashi

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Posted (edited)
Thank you, Ashi! You should list some here, I may not be alone, lol!

tim

 

 

 

Sorry for the late reply since I need to curate a bit and find clips from YouTube that I think best represent the music I posted.

 

Here are some of my favorite to sooth me and cheer me up (i.e., not many super heavy stuff).  They’re arranged by era.  I probably missed some great ones....

 

Some of these music/songs require further explanation that's too long to write it here.  I might or might not write a blog entry to each one of them (it can take a huge amount of time to write them).

 

Instrumentals:

 

Baroque

Classical

Romantic

  • Beethoven String Quartet No. 15, Opus 132, Mvm. III "Heiliger Dankgesang eines Genesenen an die Gottheit, in der Lydischen Tonart" (German.  In English it means "Holy Song of Thanksgiving by a Convalescent to the Divinity in Lydian Mode")  The story behind this song is too long to post it here.  I might write a blog about it.  This is one of the first (perhaps the very first) classical music Ashi exposed to he could remember.  https://youtu.be/PiZRq6sJKeg  The entire five movements are all very satisfactory, but obviously third movement is special enough Beethoven gave it a name.  Actually the entire Late Quartets ensemble is considered Beethoven's crowning achievement.
  • Beethoven - Piano Sonata No. 2, "Moonlight Sonata" (People already mentioned this, but all three movements are good)
  • Beethoven - Piano Sonata No. 8, Opus 13, "Pathetique," Mv II https://youtu.be/9SbvOKy9Z44
  • Chopin - Nocturne Op. 48 No. 1 https://youtu.be/107Iwx5RKSM
  • Chopin - Prelude Op. 28, No. 7 https://youtu.be/yLU4wgtpjGs (shortest music on the list, Chopin made a statement in its simplicity)
  • Franck - Prelude, Fugue, and Variation Op. 18 https://youtu.be/eOd1RvwqTps
  • Franck - Sonata for Violin and Piano in A Major https://youtu.be/TblEJdopikA (I know the link is for 1st mv only, but prescription is for the entire sonata. :P )
  • Schubert - String Quintet in C major, D. 956 Mvm. II Adagio (couldn't find a good version on YouTube.  If you could try Tatrai Quartet)
  • Schubert - Piano Trio No. 2 in Eb, Op. 100, D. 929 Mvm II Andante con moto https://youtu.be/e52IMaE-3As

Late Romantic

  • Rachmaninoff - Symphony No. 2, Mvm. III https://youtu.be/mO6nBOAvx3A (Eric Carmen took the melody and did his "Never Gonna Fall in Love Again" https://youtu.be/YVP-6eepYtY Ashi sings this one in shower once a while :D )
  • Rachmaninoff - Piano Concerto No. 2, Mvm. II https://youtu.be/xa7GhdVLg1c?t=11m38s Second movement ends at 23:46.  (Eric Carmen turned the melody into his "All by Myself.")  Rachmaninoff's slow movement often has a very "anal-retentive" orgasmic moment.  This particular movement the orgasm is at the last two minutes (Symphony No. 2's orgasm is in the middle).  I have a recording which perfectly torture you with "release (but not quite), stop, release (but not quite), stop" that I believe a perfect Rachmaninoff slow movement should have.
  • Rachmaninoff - Sonata for Cello & Piano in G minor, Op. 19 - III. Andante https://youtu.be/lXpI7xVIuRw
  • Satie - Gymnopedie https://youtu.be/S-Xm7s9eGxU
  • Debussy - Clair de Lune
  • Tchaikovsky - Serenade for Strings Op. 48 in C - I. Andante Non Troppo, Allegro Moderato https://youtu.be/xcR_TKWONBc

Contemporary/New Age (these composers are not quite dead!  :P)

 

Songs:

Edited by Ashi
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Mikiesboy Mythic Scribe

Mikiesboy

Posted
Posted

Sorry for the late reply since I need to curate a bit and find clips from YouTube that I think best represent the music I posted.

 

Here are some of my favorite to sooth me and cheer me up (i.e., not many super heavy stuff).  They’re arranged by era.  I probably missed some great ones....

 

Some of these music/songs require further explanation that's too long to write it here.  I might or might not write a blog entry to each one of them (it can take a huge amount of time to write them).

 

Instrumentals:

 

Baroque

 

Classical

Romantic

  • Beethoven String Quartet No. 15, Opus 132, Mvm. III "Heiliger Dankgesang eines Genesenen an die Gottheit, in der Lydischen Tonart" (German.  In English it means "Holy Song of Thanksgiving by a Convalescent to the Divinity in Lydian Mode")  The story behind this song is too long to post it here.  I might write a blog about it.  This is one of the first (perhaps the very first) classical music Ashi exposed to he could remember.  https://youtu.be/PiZRq6sJKeg  The entire five movements are all very satisfactory, but obviously third movement is special enough Beethoven gave it a name.  Actually the entire Late Quartets ensemble is considered Beethoven's crowning achievement.
  • Beethoven - Piano Sonata No. 2, "Moonlight Sonata" (People already mentioned this, but all three movements are good)
  • Beethoven - Piano Sonata No. 8, Opus 13, "Pathetique," Mv II https://youtu.be/9SbvOKy9Z44
  • Chopin - Nocturne Op. 48 No. 1 https://youtu.be/107Iwx5RKSM
  • Chopin - Prelude Op. 28, No. 7 https://youtu.be/yLU4wgtpjGs (shortest music on the list, Chopin made a statement in its simplicity)
  • Franck - Prelude, Fugue, and Variation Op. 18 https://youtu.be/eOd1RvwqTps
  • Franck - Sonata for Violin and Piano in A Major https://youtu.be/TblEJdopikA (I know the link is for 1st mv only, but prescription is for the entire sonata. :P )
  • Schubert - String Quintet in C major, D. 956 Mvm. II Adagio (couldn't find a good version on YouTube.  If you could try Tatrai Quartet)
  • Schubert - Piano Trio No. 2 in Eb, Op. 100, D. 929 Mvm II Andante con moto https://youtu.be/e52IMaE-3As
Late Romantic

  • Rachmaninoff - Symphony No. 2, Mvm. III https://youtu.be/mO6nBOAvx3A (Eric Carmen took the melody and did his "Never Gonna Fall in Love Again" https://youtu.be/YVP-6eepYtY Ashi sings this one in shower once a while :D )
  • Rachmaninoff - Piano Concerto No. 2, Mvm. II https://youtu.be/xa7GhdVLg1c?t=11m38s Second movement ends at 23:46.  (Eric Carmen turned the melody into his "All by Myself.")  Rachmaninoff's slow movement often has a very "anal-retentive" orgasmic moment.  This particular movement the orgasm is at the last two minutes (Symphony No. 2's orgasm is in the middle).  I have a recording which perfectly torture you with "release (but not quite), stop, release (but not quite), stop" that I believe a perfect Rachmaninoff slow movement should have.
  • Rachmaninoff - Sonata for Cello & Piano in G minor, Op. 19 - III. Andante https://youtu.be/lXpI7xVIuRw
  • Satie - Gymnopedie https://youtu.be/S-Xm7s9eGxU
  • Debussy - Clair de Lune
  • Tchaikovsky - Serenade for Strings Op. 48 in C - I. Andante Non Troppo, Allegro Moderato https://youtu.be/xcR_TKWONBc
Contemporary/New Age (these composers are not quite dead!  :P)

 

Songs:

Wow! Ashi, this is a lot of work! Only meant for you to add a couple! I'll defo listen though! Thank you!
AC Benus Fabled Scribe

AC Benus

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This is one of my favorites of hers.  It's based on a piece written by Saint John of the Cross.  It's a letter written to God, but it also serves as a beautiful love song.  If I ever get married, this would be a song I would want played at my wedding.  I hope you all like it as much as I do.  

I love to be exposed to new things. First of all, her voice and tone are very pure and beautiful. She's also lovely to follow as she sings, as I can make out most words. 

 

As for Saint John of the Cross, I can say I do not remember hearing about him, so the nature of the song (in perhaps a slightly more faithful translation) is super same-sex-love based. The tone and meaning of it is very recognizable to most guys who ever had to wrestle with feelings of inferiority because of the dogma of 'you should hate yourself' for whom you love, and I was pretty pleased to google 'Saint John of the Cross Gay' and see there are dozens and dozens of essays on the subject. 

 

As I say, I love to learn!

 

If you'd be interested, I can post a video I like of a gentleman who reconstructs ancient music. There's a particular Egyptian love song I think you may like.    

 

I'm glad you shared this, Val. :)

Edited by AC Benus
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Ashi Journeyman Scribe

Ashi

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Posted

@Ashi: wow. Agree with Tim. Thanks for your comprehensive listing (not Liszting).

 

Here is a favorite of mine, especially in this recording.  https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLDn2jWu8Cw

 

 

Wow! Ashi, this is a lot of work! Only meant for you to add a couple! I'll defo listen though! Thank you!

 

No problem.  I am very happy to do that for my friends.

AC Benus Fabled Scribe

AC Benus

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...it sucks to be chronically out of likes...there's SO much here to LOVE in fact!

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northie Master Scribe

northie

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Tim and Peter

 

Handel is one of those composers I can't live without, especially his vocal / choral music although I still have much work to do on his operas. I shall probably be making more than one selection as we progress.

 

This is Emma Kirkby singing 'Sweet bird' from his oratorio L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato

 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Pjqx8rUUklg

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Valkyrie Heroic Scribe

Valkyrie

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I love to be exposed to new things. First of all, her voice and tone are very pure and beautiful. She's also lovely to follow as she sings, as I can make out most words. 

 

As for Saint John of the Cross, I can say I do not remember hearing about him, so the nature of the song (in perhaps a slightly more faithful translation) is super same-sex-love based. The tone and meaning of it is very recognizable to most guys who ever had to wrestle with feelings of inferiority because of the dogma of 'you should hate yourself' for whom you love, and I was pretty pleased to google 'Saint John of the Cross Gay' and see there are dozens and dozens of essays on the subject. 

 

As I say, I love to learn!

 

If you'd be interested, I can post a video I like of a gentleman who reconstructs ancient music. There's a particular Egyptian love song I think you may like.    

 

I'm glad you shared this, Val. :)

Yes, please do!  I'd love to see the video.  Sounds fascinating :)

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Zombie Journeyman Scribe

Zombie

Posted
Posted

great thread :)

 

movie composers often get overlooked which is a shame. A while back an old French movie was on TV called La Nuit Americaine (Day for Night). The movie was fun, a bit weird, but I loved the soundtrack, composed by Georges Delerue

 

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northie Master Scribe

northie

Posted
Posted

great thread :)

 

movie composers often get overlooked which is a shame. A while back an old French movie was on TV called La Nuit Americaine (Day for Night). The movie was fun, a bit weird, but I loved the soundtrack, composed by Georges Delerue

 

 

Listening to that first made me think of Vivaldi, then Mozart and then shades of Michael Nyman. I certainly wouldn't have wanted to be that trumpeter at the end - stratospherically high and long, long notes.

 

Film music can be seen as the poor relation of all sorts of other musical genres.

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northie Master Scribe

northie

Posted
Posted

 

Here is a favorite of mine, especially in this recording.  https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLDn2jWu8Cw

 

This is not the sort of thing I would usually think of listening to. I did this time and though I can admire the technique and artistry of both composer and performer, it doesn't speak to me. Just my taste ... 

Parker Owens Mythic Scribe

Parker Owens

Posted
Posted

This is not the sort of thing I would usually think of listening to. I did this time and though I can admire the technique and artistry of both composer and performer, it doesn't speak to me. Just my taste ... 

This is part of the fun in such a forum thread as this; we get to discover one another through music. Like Ashi, my own taste is wide ranging. For today, let me share another piece that makes my heart sing...especially the third movement, which starts at 12.55.

 

 

 

Also fascinating to me were these two videos. Techies perk up!

 

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