A collaboration of: “The Classic Music Mafia”
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.
Ludwig van Beethoven- Symphony no. 7 in A major, Op. 92
Director-Leonard Bernstein
Orquesta Filarmónica de Viena
Ópera Estatal Viena – 1979
00:31 Mvt. I: Poco sostenuto – vivace
15:08 Mvt. II: Allegretto
24:15 Mvt. III: Presto
33:24 Mvt. IV: Allegro con brio
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3wcIGA9Tww
Gentle On My Mind
Okay, this one is going to be fun.
As a native North Carolinian, I have an affinity for Blue Grass music. Fiddles, banjos, guitars, bass, dobros, mandolins and harps produce a unique and beautiful sound played together. Now, mind you, I have stacks of Blue Grass vinyl albums, and an untold number of Compact Discs of some great Blue Grass – which is not to say that I am an expert on the matter, because I am not.
My reason for stating so is because I want to introduce you to some “newer” Blue Grass as opposed to the music of The Dillards, Flat and Scruggs, and on and on.
This group comes from the Ozarks – Branson, MO to be exact. They go by their family name which is The Petersens. They perform regularly in Branson and always pack the house. You can read about the individuals here:
https://www.petersenband.com/bandbios/
Briefly, the matriarch of this incredibly talented and intelligent family, is Karen Petersen on bass. Eldest daughter Katie Petersen sings, writes and plays fiddle. Second oldest daughter Ellen sings, and plays banjo, next eldest Matt sings, and plays the guitar. The baby of the family is the cute dimpled Julianne who sings, and plays mandolin.
In 2017 their friend Emmett Franz joined the band. He plays the dobro, and by many accounts, he may well be perhaps, the best dobro player in the country. His playing is meticulous, clean, smooth and at times, almost mind blowing. Emmett also has a classical Blue Grass voice. Their Dad is Lt. Col. Jon Petersen M.D.. The band was his idea, and he plays piano on their Wednesday Gospel Shows.
Now, they have written a number of original tunes, but I’m going to stick to their covers this week. Maybe I’ll “circle back” to their originals in the future.
So, I’ll get this started with their cover of a great song written by John Hartford, and made famous by Glen Campbell. In their rendition of “Gentle On My Mind,” the “cute as a button” Julianne sings and plays mandolin.
Carolina In My Mind
I told you she’s a button.
Next they perform an old James Taylor piece titled “Carolina In My Mind”.
Katie takes the lead, and is fantastic.
Carolina In The Pines
I’ll follow that up with Michael Martin Murphy’s “Carolina In The Pines.”
Ellen likewise, has a voice fit for The Grand Ole Opry and gives her banjo a workout while Matt and Julianne harmonize so well.
Emmett and Katie both have good dobro and fiddle solos respectively here.
Red-Headed Stranger
Next, they play an old Willie Nelson piece titled “Red-Headed Stranger.
Emmett shines on this one.
Smoky Mountain Rain
Next up The Petersens play an old Ronnie Milsap piece titled “Smoky Mountain Rain.”
Matt takes the lead on vocals and is excellent.
Amarillo By Morning
Lastly, they play a bit of George Strait or Chris Ledoux – take your pick. I’m guessing that a certain bovine healer will like this one. “Lookin’ for eight when they pull that gate.”
Emmett rocks this too.
Take Me Home Country Roads
Okay, one last one made popular by the late great John Denver.
“Take Me Home Country Roads.”
Just some great acoustical music that I hope y’all enjoy.
Thanks for listening
I hope you like this.
Debussy: Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune
hr-Sinfonieorchester (Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra)
Andrés Orozco-Estrada, Dirigent
Alte Oper Frankfurt
12. Dezember 2014
Mi-Bémol Saxophone Ensemble
Les Misérables selections
Three selections from this wonderful Japanese Saxophone Ensemble.
At the End of the Day.
Master of the House.
On My Own – Do You Hear the People Sing?
From Izumi Hall in Osaka, Japan.
Mi-Bémol Saxophone Ensemble
Another selection from this Japanese Saxophone Ensemble.
New Cinema Paradise
Note the conductor (the guy with the yellow shirt and glasses) playing a soprano straight sax on the left.
From Osaka, Japan.
The Classic Music Mafia – Adding some class to this joint one Sunday at a time.
Heaven help us…
One of the most beautiful melodies ever written. Thanks, Stuck.
Stucky – That’s very nice.
I added it to your addition of the Flash Mob on May 2nd.
Many thanks.
This almost certainly does not fall in with the spirit of classical music.
But, Russia has been talked about a lot here lately …. and the Russian women in the vid are beautiful … and I actually enjoy the music … and it’s under 3 minutes.
I gotta say…. those covers songs were not good. I hate to pour cold water on your efforts, because you are all doing a fine thing posting this each week. The originals just are too important to be covered in such fashion. Those songs have meaning to me, and were famously performed by true greats. These young folks seem talented enough, and I like bluegrass. Stomping on my memories is no way to my heart.
One (of many) things I admire about you is your fearlessness in speaking your mind. You don’t give a Rat’s Ass about thumbs down, hurting someone’s feewings, being politically correct, or ANY of that crap.
Heck, everyone knows you and I are good pals — but you even give me big shit beat-downs when you think I deserve it! The whole world would be a far better place emulating you, and the principles you hold. I’ve learned much from you over the years, in ways you don’t even know.
Thanks Stuck. I get in a bit of trouble, as you imagine.
This blog is about commentary. So I comment, without fear or favor. If people post things here just wanting applause and attaboy, well, they have come to the wrong place. I do appreciate the efforts, but if they post stuff that offends my delicate sensibilities, and I am really really sensitive as everyone knows, I will tend to say so.
What you said means a lot to me.
Go suck a crusty old constipated crocodile’s cock.
Nice alliteration!
Some folks just do not appreciate constructive criticism. But I do note that there are not hundreds of posts applaudingwhat went up this week. Maybe Big Chief Know It All that Sucks Croc Crank may be onto something.
Plus I cared enough to post. How about all those that didn’t?
Keep up the (mostly 🤡) good work. Not everything posted is loved, but I love the posters.
Damn! can’t a person have his personal preference in music without being accused of being Hillary Clinton. I mean Satan. Sometimes(not often) I disagree with Llpoh but always respect.
Llpoh,
First, I want to thank you for your comment. Personally, I find your direct talk refreshing.
I also want to let you know that nkit’s additions are often different from Peter’s and mine, but that doesn’t mean that they are something that doesn’t belong.
I give him the freedom to explore other areas such as Irish music, movies, folk, etc. He gets more comments each week than either Peter or I do so I guess it’s working. Sometimes people really like what he posts, other times some people probably don’t. nkit works very hard at this and I wouldn’t want you to think otherwise.
Basically, I chose the featured symphony, and Peter and I each chose a short to go with it, although sometimes, as I did this week, I choose some saxophone edition.
If I have something from another contributor I add that right after the featured symphony and credit them for it.
You are free to pick and choose what you like and to skip over whatever you don’t. That’s just how it works.
You, on the other hand, are free to post just as you did.
I’m glad that you are enjoying our weekly Sunday edition. I hope that you will continue to do so.
Keep your comments coming. We learn from all of them…
Thanks very much, Steve. I’ll not let Heckyl and Jeckyl’s comments bother me. They enjoy dumping on someone’s work. That’s who they are.
Are you talking about me? Seriously, are you?
Nkit – seriously, that is absurd. You know what this place is. We comment on what goes up. Dumping on your work? What, you do it just for attaboys? You think what you post is not to be commented upon in any way other than if we applaud? That is not this place. I have previously thanked you and the others for these threads, and in case you didn’t notice I did so again in my critique. I sincerely do appreciate the effort. But if you post something, I will comment as I see fit.
When something like music is posted, you have to expect that there will be a great variance of opinion. No one has the same taste in music.
You want to be loved, get a dog. You want to post music then expect there will be folks that think some of it is crap. If you think that we should keep such opinions to ourselves, you have come to the wrong place. But you know that already.
I think those covers were crap, and did a disservice to the originals. Don’t like that opinion? Tough titty.
Oh, and it is the fact that I comment as I do, or as Stuck does, that gives these threads life. Without that, this thread would have died with perhaps nary a comment. But I appreciate the efforts made, so I commented. I try to do my bit to support the thread. That you do not see it that way is unusual in my book.
I did not dump on it. Quite the fucking contrary. I supported this thread, and applauded the effort.
Thanks Steve – I do not have the extensive knowledge that you have so I rely on your judgement in presenting our suggestions. I am most grateful for your wonderful ability to get all this together each week – it’s a lot of work and I am sure the many who don’t comment enjoy it too. 🙂
Here is a bit from a classical guitarist I have heard live many times. He is a great guitarist, with lots up on the net.
Thanks for that Llpoh.
I will add it to our May 30th edition and credit you for it.
And from a totally different perspective …. elegant in its simplicity, imho.
This is for Stucky — A Russian Lass with a difference –
Thanks for that DougL.
I’ll add it to our June 6th edition and credit you for it.
Wow. LOVELY!! Both the music and the young lady (who looks very Irish, actually.) Nice to add another group to my music-favorites toolbar.
Don’t be mad at me ….. but, I like this one even better.
So. I learned something new!
“Wellermen” is is a well-known whaling song, circa 1860. It refers to supply ships owned by the British Weller brothers who emigrated to New Zealand.
Sometimes these types of songs are known as “sea shanty, or chantey” — a genre of traditional folk song that was once commonly sung as a work song to accompany rhythmical labor aboard large merchant sailing vessels.
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I found this because it was right under the song Doug L posted for me. As soon as I saw it I went “WOW” because I have always loved that song even back in the days of my ute. I would sing the song in my head … all damn day long.
Which brings me to another suggestion only be considered since my last idea was so awesome …… how about a Sunday, or a portion thereof “Songs You Can’t Get Out Of Your Head”. We ALL have them, right … like 16 tons, which will be in my head until tomorrow.
Hey, it’s just an idea. I got tons of them (pun intended).
No doubt, he sang it the BEST of all!!
Here is a rather funny version … South Park and working at an Amazon fulfillment Center.
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There’s even a German version!