Einojuhani Rautavaara: Symphony No. 1 (2003 edition)
(I have written an updated article on this symphony in the few years since this original article. It can be found here, and I’d suggest reading it at least in addition to if not in place of what is below. For posterity, I’ve kept the original article as is.) Performed by the National Orchestra of Belgium under Mikko Franck (2006) This is far more modern than most other music I own or have listened to. It is Mr. Rautavaara’s first symphony, and according to the page about this album (Book of Visions) (there isn’t even a Wikipedia article about this … Continue reading Einojuhani Rautavaara: Symphony No. 1 (2003 edition)
Robert Schumann: Symphony no. 3 in Ebm, op. 97
This article has been marked as in need of a revisit. That’s where I feel like I didn’t do the piece justice or have more to say (usually because I didn’t know it nearly well enough or didn’t have the right perspective). I’ll keep the original article for posterity, but publish a new version that will eventually be linked here for my new take on it. Performed by the Cleveland Orchestra under George Szell I kinda loved this. I generally try to read up on the history of the piece before or as I am listening, but leave any artistic … Continue reading Robert Schumann: Symphony no. 3 in Ebm, op. 97
Sergei Rachmaninoff: Symphony no. 3 in Am, op. 44
This piece has been revisited, and an updated article has been written. Please read it here. I’ll keep the original article (below) for posterity, but I would suggest reading the new article instead. USSR Ministry of Culture Symphony Orchestra under Gennady Rozhdestvensky (from a live performance) I love Rachmaninoff, or what I have heard of his. His two piano sonatas and the four concertos (far more familiar with 2 and 3), Paganini variations, and his second symphony. I’m not hugely familiar with a lot of his other works, but all of what I’ve heard sounds nice. I think even if … Continue reading Sergei Rachmaninoff: Symphony no. 3 in Am, op. 44
Carl Nielsen: Symphony No. 5
This article has been marked as in need of a revisit. That’s where I feel like I didn’t do the piece justice or have more to say (usually because I didn’t know it nearly well enough or didn’t have the right perspective). I’ll keep the original article for posterity, but publish a new version that will eventually be linked here for my new take on it. performed by Gothenburg symphony orchestra under Neeme Järvi I like this from the beginning. The beginning of the first movement is very pleasant. I am a sucker for bassoons, and I love how the … Continue reading Carl Nielsen: Symphony No. 5
Nikolai Myaskovsky: symphony No. 2 in C#m
Performed by the USSR State Symphony Orchestra, Yevgeny Svetlanov conducting. (This piece has been ‘revisited’ since I felt the article below to be [beyond] inadequate. For the updated article, click here.) Do not be deceived; although a two-movement work, at … Continue reading Nikolai Myaskovsky: symphony No. 2 in C#m
Daily music: Day 1
I have some general background in music, but I could not play “name that tune” with music from the last few hundred years and do very well, even with the more commonly heard composers or pieces. I am fascinated with this type of music, not only because it is enjoyable, but also because there is virtually no end to the study of classical music. It embodies not only the obvious things such as music theory and culture, but people’s individual stories, struggles, history, politics, business transactions, good and bad decisions, the human experience. I went to the symphony just last … Continue reading Daily music: Day 1
Fugue for Thought 