Petite Piano Pieces
(cover image by Celia Spenard-Ko) It’s July again, and you know what that means. Actually, you probably don’t. Just another series, not really any different from all the other stuff I do, except that I pick themes along a different line. … Continue reading Petite Piano Pieces
Mozart String Quartet no. 8 in F, K. 168
performed by the Amadeus Quartet, or below by the Festetics Quartet (cover image by Rachel Lynette French) Well, here we are again, continuing to slog away at Mozart’s enormous catalogue of works. Just kidding; it’s not a chore. It’s just … Continue reading Mozart String Quartet no. 8 in F, K. 168
The French Symphony in Review
(cover image by Christin Hume) Apologies in no particular order to: Charles-Marie Widor Jacques Ibert Rameau Cécile Chaminade Tristan Murail André Jolivet Pierre Capdeveille Jean Rivier Francis Poulenc Andre Gedalge Paul Le Flem Yves Ramette Henri Sauguet …among many others, … Continue reading The French Symphony in Review
Gérard Grisey: Vortex Temporum
performed by the Ensemble Risognanze under Tito Ceccherini, or as below, with the Ensemble Recherche under Kwam Ryan We are musicians and our model is sound not literature, sound not mathematics, sound not theatre, visual arts, quantum physics, geology, astrology or acupuncture. … Continue reading Gérard Grisey: Vortex Temporum
Nicolas Bacri: Symphony no. 4, op. 49 ‘Classique Sturm und Drang’
performed by the Tapiola Sinfonietta under Jean-Jacques Kantorow (available on this album on Spotify) My music is not neo-Classical, it is Classical, for it retains the timeless aspect of Classicism : the rigour of expression. My music is not neo-Romantic, it … Continue reading Nicolas Bacri: Symphony no. 4, op. 49 ‘Classique Sturm und Drang’
Serge Nigg: Jerome Bosch Symphonie
performed by the Orchestre Radio Symphonique de Strasbourg under Charles Bruck (this work isn’t on YouTube, but this performance, perhaps the only one in existence for now, is on Spotify. It can be found here.) (cover image by Hieronymus Bosch, … Continue reading Serge Nigg: Jerome Bosch Symphonie
Dutilleux Symphony no. 1
performed by the Seattle Symphony under Ludovic Morlot, or as below with the Orchestre National de l’ORTF under Roger Albin (cover image by John Towner) (this piece is featured on a list of pieces I heartily recommend to music directors for inclusion … Continue reading Dutilleux Symphony no. 1
Jean Martinon: String Quartet no. 1, op. 43
performed by the Quatuor Ravel (cover image by Jose Tebar) Jean Francique-Étienne Martinon was born on January 10, 1910 in Lyon. He studied at the Paris Conservatoire with Albert Roussel for composition, Charles Munch for conducting, and harmony under … Continue reading Jean Martinon: String Quartet no. 1, op. 43
Revisit: Messiaen’s Turangalîla-Symphonie
performed by Yvonne Loriod, Jeanne Loriod, and the Orchestre de la Bastille under Myung-Whun Chung, or as below with Roger Muraro, Valérie-Hartmann Claverie, and the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, also under Chung (cover image by Kai Oberhauser) I asked … Continue reading Revisit: Messiaen’s Turangalîla-Symphonie
Elsa Barraine: Symphony no. 2
performed by the Orchestre National de la RTF under Jean Martinon, or below by somebody under Manuel Rosenthal The music of Elsa Barraine wins over its listeners by a contrapuntal independence of line, virtuosity, and expressive intensity through motivic and rhythmic … Continue reading Elsa Barraine: Symphony no. 2
Albert Roussel: Symphony no. 3 in Gm, op. 42
performed by the Orchestre National de France under Charles Dutoit (cover image by Soroush Karimi) Albert Charles Paul Marie Roussel was born on April 5, 1869, and turned to music only as an adult, after seven years as a midshipman. … Continue reading Albert Roussel: Symphony no. 3 in Gm, op. 42
Milhaud Little Symphony no. 6, op. 79
performed by the Orchestre de Radio Luxembourg under the composer’s baton (cover image by Kawin Harasai) So this one really tops them all, I think. What do you to to top off a symphonic cycle, even if it’s just a … Continue reading Milhaud Little Symphony no. 6, op. 79
Milhaud Little Symphony no. 5, op. 75, ‘Tentet’
performed by the Orchestre de Radio Luxembourg under the composer’s baton (cover image by Samuel Zeller) Here we are at Milhaud’s op. 75, the opus number right after his fourth. It was composed in 1922. As the previous little symphony was … Continue reading Milhaud Little Symphony no. 5, op. 75, ‘Tentet’
Milhaud Little Symphony no. 4, op. 74
performed by the Orchestre de Radio Luxembourg under the composer’s baton (cover image by Daria Shevtsova) The fourth little symphony was completed in 1921, the same year as the third. It’s longer than the previous works, at about six minutes, of … Continue reading Milhaud Little Symphony no. 4, op. 74
Milhaud Little Symphony no. 3, op. 71 ‘Serenade’
performed by the Orchestre de Radio Luxembourg under the composer’s baton (cover image by Aaron Burden) As you can see, we’ve moved forward a bit in this third post on this Monday in the middle of the year. The third little … Continue reading Milhaud Little Symphony no. 3, op. 71 ‘Serenade’
Milhaud Little Symphony no. 2, op. 49, ‘Pastorale’
performed by the Orchestre de Radio Luxembourg under the composer’s baton (cover image by Lisa Hobbs) Well, here we are again in record breaking time for our second article of the day, and for a work with such a similar subtitle … Continue reading Milhaud Little Symphony no. 2, op. 49, ‘Pastorale’
Milhaud Little Symphony no. 1, op. 43 “Le Printemps”
performed by the Orchestre de Radio Luxembourg under the composer’s baton (cover image by Trevor Cole) I apologize in advance. Today and tomorrow, there will be three posts each. You’ll see why. Beginning in 1917, in his mid-twenties, Darius Milhaud … Continue reading Milhaud Little Symphony no. 1, op. 43 “Le Printemps”
Charles Koechlin: String Quartet no. 2, op. 57
performed by the Ardeo Quartet (cover image by Daniil Kuzelev) Charles-Louis-Eugène Koechlin was born on November 27, 1867 in Paris, the youngest of a large family. His father died when he was 14. His family hoped he would be an … Continue reading Charles Koechlin: String Quartet no. 2, op. 57
Florent Schmitt: Piano Quintet in Bm, op. 51
performed by the Stanislas Quartet and Christian Ivaldi (cover image by Easton Oliver) Florent Schmitt was born on September 28, 1870 in Meurthe-et-Moselle, and entered the Paris Conservatoire at the age of 19, studying with Fauré, Massenet, Dubois, and Lavignac. … Continue reading Florent Schmitt: Piano Quintet in Bm, op. 51
NSO’s 1905
featuring Michael Roll, piano Dare I say this is one of the finest performances I’ve heard from the NSO out of all their concerts I’ve ever attended. I brought along another first-timer this evening, who was able to sit in … Continue reading NSO’s 1905
Théodore Dubois: Symphonie Française
performed by Les Siècles under François-Xavier Roth, interviewed in the video below, with the piece itself available on Spotify (cover image by Bruno Abatti) François-Clément Théodore Dubois was born on August 24, 1837 in Rosnay in Marne. He studied with, among … Continue reading Théodore Dubois: Symphonie Française
Fugue for Thought 