Dead-Composers Society

[Lux Apollo]

On 12/13/2021 at 11:10 AM, AC Benus said:

You and I have spoken about Plentev before, and I think we agree how inspiring his interpretations are (especially with the much neglected CPE Bach). But as for recordings, I much prefer his 1989 studio setting of Haydn's c minor piano sonata. Perhaps you have the album as I do?

 

 

 

As you mentioned in your post, the expressiveness in this performances is wonderful to listen to

I agree it is a better performance, I've listened to it before. There's just something about live performances, though and being able to watch the pianist's hands that made me want to share the live video.

[Lux Apollo]

Now for something a little happier to cheer your day up - a mid-career Haydn symphony:

 

[AC Benus]

7 hours ago, Lux Apollo said:

Now for something a little happier to cheer your day up - a mid-career Haydn symphony:

 

I remember being 17 and sitting on a plane listening to their Classical stream, which repeated every hour, just ravished by La reine. It was my first taste of Haydn, and the opening of the first movement was mesmerizing. Which I knew whose performance it was... 

[Parker Owens]

Not sure why my ear is fixed upon this today - maybe it's the impending day of exam-grading coming up...

 

 

[AC Benus]

24 minutes ago, Parker Owens said:

Not sure why my ear is fixed upon this today - maybe it's the impending day of exam-grading coming up...

 

 

I've never heard this before. Listening, I can see the little innocent heads of your charges lined up to meet their mathematical doom!  *evil laugh* Whaaaa-whaaaa-wa

If you need some calm music to shake the gloom away, listen to this andante. The performance was made by Shostakovich's son (or grandson; I forget which...). It's stunning!

 

Edited December 17, 2021 by AC Benus

[AC Benus]

@Lux Apollo More Plentnev. The first movement has strong shades of Gottschalk

 

[Lux Apollo]

15 hours ago, AC Benus said:

@Lux Apollo More Plentnev. The first movement has strong shades of Gottschalk

 

Glinka's music is an oeuvre that I haven't explored very much. Thanks for sharing this delight!

[Lux Apollo]

A short, lyrical Prelude from Anatoly Lyadov, master of the miniature.

[Lux Apollo]

Let's get medieval!

 

[Lux Apollo]

J.S. Bach's monumental Christmas Oratorio. It was intended to be performed in 6 sections over several feast days, so this is a big listen but definitely worth it. Or worth coming back to!

 

[AC Benus]

Kathleen Battle, Leonard Slatkin and the Orchestra of Saint Luke's perform Un flambeau, Jeanette, Isabella. Merry (almost) Christmas!

 

 

[Lux Apollo]

Maybe an odd selection for Boxing Day, but here it is nonetheless: Paul Hindemith's Chamber Music #1

 

 

[Lux Apollo]

In honour of my guitar-playing brother's birthday, some Robert de Visée (though on theorbo, not guitar):

 

[Lux Apollo]

Nikolai Medtner (1880-1951) was a Russian composer of Volga German origins. While he languished in obscurity following his death, he is now starting to be recognized as one of the most significant Russian composers for the piano. His many Fairy Tales for piano are lovely, evocative pieces, including this delight:

 

[AC Benus]

16 minutes ago, Lux Apollo said:

Nikolai Medtner (1880-1951) was a Russian composer of Volga German origins. While he languished in obscurity following his death, he is now starting to be recognized as one of the most significant Russian composers for the piano. His many Fairy Tales for piano are lovely, evocative pieces, including this delight:

 

First of all, it was performed beautifully. The music is very interesting: like Gottschalk and C.P.E Bach had a baby! 

I will be seeking out more of Medtner's work; thank you   

[Zombie]

Incredibly, 2Cellos’ version of AC/DC’s Thunderstruck exceed one billion views in October. It’s fun to imagine “Doc” Brown’s early flux capacitor experiments going horribly wrong in the 1970s, propelling the Young brothers back in time to 18th century Europe with no way back.

What could they do? They can’t record. But they can still do live gigs… 

 

[Lux Apollo]

14 hours ago, AC Benus said:

First of all, it was performed beautifully. The music is very interesting: like Gottschalk and C.P.E Bach had a baby! 

I will be seeking out more of Medtner's work; thank you   

Here's an article on Medtner, providing some perspective on why he's not more widely known:

https://www.esm.rochester.edu/blog/2013/10/why-medtner-matters/

[Lux Apollo]

Kaija Saariaho isn't a dead composer, but I'm feeling this mood today.

[Lux Apollo]

Today I bring to you French composer Edgard Varèse's Ameriques, a fascinating early work inspired by his travels in America. Varèse placed heavy emphasis on timbre and rhythm in his music, thinking about music as 'organized sound', a crystallization of sonic masses into a greater whole.

 

 

[AC Benus]

Martha Argerich & Maria João Pires perform from Mozart's K. 521

 

Edited January 11, 2022 by AC Benus

[Parker Owens]

@AC Benus Even my phone with its tinny tiny speakers sounds magnificent!

Edited January 11, 2022 by Parker Owens

[Lux Apollo]

6 hours ago, AC Benus said:

Martha Argerich & Maria João Pires perform from Mozart's K. 521

 

This was a nice way to cap off the evening.

[Lux Apollo]

Mood.

[Lux Apollo]

Friedrich Kuhlau (1786-1832) was a Danish composer and pianist, a figure in the 'Danish Golden Age'. He introduced many of Beethoven's works to Danish audiences in Copenhagen. He had a considerable output of compositions, but sadly the true extent of his oeuvre is lost - everything unpublished was lost in a house fire, and thought to be a much larger output than the 200 published works he left behind for us to enjoy. He composed in many genres, including opera, but it is his piano sonatinas and sonatas that I know him best for - his music is fun, humourous and a joy to play for late intermediate and early advanced students.

 

Edited January 14, 2022 by Lux Apollo

[Lux Apollo]

Haydn wrote over a hundred trios for viola, cello and baryton, a member of the viol family with a set of sympathetic resonating strings. These trios represent one of the most explored and highly developed genres of his early career, and many were designed for performance for amateurs with shorter and less technically demanding movements than his later symphonies and string quartets. They are a delight for the ear.