SUNDAY MORNING CLASSICS ON TBP

A collaboration of: “The Classic Music Mafia”
SMC, nkit, Austrian Peter, and Steve C.

Every Sunday morning we present selections for our TBP family to enjoy.

We present symphonies, ensembles, quartets, octets, etc.

Not all of our music is strictly ‘classical’. We may stray a little, but we strive to make all of our selections ‘classy’.

We offer tips on proper ‘symphony etiquette’ and even some selections that are a bit light-hearted and fun aimed at a younger audience. Those pieces will be so designated, and might be a good way to introduce kids to a world of music that they might not have been exposed to or think of as old and ‘stuffy’.

A full symphony will run as long as it will. We don’t want to cut a symphony short. However, we also include some shorter pieces that we try to keep under fifteen minutes in length. You can sample each and hopefully find one or more that pleases you.

We hope that you enjoy our Sunday selections.

Haydn’s Symphony No. 94 in G Major – The ‘Surprise Symphony’

Franz Joseph ‘Papa’ Hayden wrote this symphony in 1791 and introduced it at the Hanover Square Rooms (sometimes called the Queen’s Concert Rooms) in London on March 23, 1792.

The name ‘Papa Hayden’ was one of endearment given to him by those that worked with him for his always sticking up for his musicians that had gotten themselves into some kind of trouble, including his friend Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

The wake-up call comes at the end of the second movement at 10:10.

Leonard Bernstein conducts.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3EQxl3cB-Q

This week we welcome back our brother, Sunday Morning Classical (SMC) to our little Classic Music Mafia. Our family is complete once again.

SMC’s musical contributions and background information and notes on classical music were sorely missed.

A concerto typically consists of three parts, each called a movement.

The tunes go by names, which I believe describe the speed tempo of the tune, and maybe the time length. Not sure, as I’m a novice, not a scholar, so these are my assumptions.

Allegro, the first tune is quite up-tempo, and longer, at 8-12 minutes.

Adagio is much slower. Lazy.

At times too sleepy and boring for non-enthusiasts.

Adagio times run 6-9 minutes.

Third tune in a concerto is Allegretto, or similar. Much shorter, at about 5-6 minutes, and the fastest tempo. Energetic.

However, all three movements work from the same key the concerto is composed in.

Another note: A concerto typically features a single instrument and soloist, enhanced with a smaller, not full symphony orchestra.

The 2nd movement to Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto in A, the Adagio.

In my offering below, the melodies are creative, peaceful and beautiful, because well, it’s Mozart.

One tune, highlighting the clarinet, backed by small orchestra.

I recommend the full concerto, but encourage you, dear listener, to go exploring, to find it, and perhaps even more gems out there.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QAAZ29cvfU&feature=youtu.be

Franz Schubert’s “Ave Maria” sung by the incomparable Elisabeth Kulman.

She sings with a powerful and beautiful voice in a seemingly effortless manner.

Although most often attributed entirely to Franz Schubert, the Ave Maria was actually a transformation of a song that he wrote called ‘Ellen’s dritter Gesang.’ The Vatican simply deleted his lyrics, took his music and overlaid an old prayer to the mother Mary. The end result was the ‘Ave Maria.’

Historically it’s not really clear whether Franz Schubert was involved in the transposition or not. He very well could have been. In a world full of spoiled and selfish music composers Franz Schubert was a real gentlemen and an old-fashioned nice guy. He always gave credit to others for their work and was always there with a helping hand to new comers.

Such transformations of existing work usually result in disaster though, even for the experienced. They have the potential to be a musical Frankenstein’s Monster. Not so this time.

Regardless of whom did the actual work to transpose Schubert’s original music they must surly have had the hand of God resting on their shoulder, as the end result was a miracle. The ‘Ave Maria’ is absolutely magnificent.

Enjoy.

Ave Maria Gratia plena
Maria Gratia plena
Maria Gratia plena
Ave, ave dominus
Dominus tecum

Benedicta tu in mulieribus
Et benedictus
Et benedictus fructus ventris
Ventris tui Jesus

Ave Maria
Ave Maria Mater dei
Ora pro nobis pecatoribus
Ora, ora pro nobis
Ora ora pro nobis pecatoribus

Nunc et in hora mortis
In hora mortis, mortis nostrae
In hora mortis nostrae
Ave Maria!

Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto n.1

Nikita Magaloff plays the Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto n.1. Karl Martin conducts the Rai Turin Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra Sinfonica di Torino della Rai) Turin, 1986

Sergey Rachmaninov was the last great representative of the Russian Romantic tradition as a composer, but was also a widely and highly celebrated pianist of his time. His piano concertos, the Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, and his preludes famously test pianists’ skills.

His Symphony No. 2, the tone poem Isle of the Dead, and his Cello Sonata are also notable. The passionate melodies and rich harmonies of his music have been called the perfect accompaniment for love scenes, but in a greater sense, they explore a range of emotions with intense and compelling expression.

Tchaikovsky, Waltz from Sleeping Beauty

Performed by the State Symphony of Russia and conducted by Terje Mikkelsen.

Russian born Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s beautiful Sleeping Beauty waltz (opus 66) is from his ballet of the same name.

First performed in 1890 and although not an immediate hit, it did finally receive its justified world acclaim in 1921 in London.

This one is for the ladies – especially those that love to dance.

To see a waltz with the women in their beautiful long gowns and to hear the swishing sound of their dresses as they swirl around the dance floor is in a class to itself.

Dancing is fun, but a waltz is pure romance.

May you live the dream girls…

The Classic Music Mafia – Adding some class to this joint one Sunday at a time.

Heaven help us…