Works that I do my best to write about (at least once a week, usually on Thursdays). For collections of pieces, check out the Series link above.
the above performed by Alexei Cherkasov, piano, USSR Central Television and All-Union Radio Symphony Orchestra under Alexander Nekrasov (the recording I listened to) performed by the BBC Scottish Symphony under Jerzy Maksymiuk, Stephen Coombs, piano And thus we begin something like a … Continue reading Anton Arensky: Piano Concerto in Fm, op. 2
performed by Christophe Sirodeau https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/zheDyAzSVM0&source=uds So Samuil Feinberg was an extremely talented pianist, known for his transcriptions of Bach, as well as a complete recording of the Well-tempered Clavier. He studied at the Moscow Conservatory under Alexander Goldenweiser, a composer I’ve been meaning to get around to exploring. He won the Stalin Prize in 1946, and composed in his career twelve sonatas, as well as fantasies and other works for piano, some including voice, and three piano concertos, which Wikipedia also notes are not standard in the repertoire… I haven’t even heard them yet. I seem to recall not being … Continue reading Samuil Feinberg Piano Sonata no. 2, op 2
performed by Vladimir Ashkenazy part 2 here He’s my go to for Scriabin. This is a measly post, because I’m sick… As much as I enjoy his first sonata (I’m more familiar with it than this one, actually), it was … Continue reading Scriabin Piano sonata no. 2 in G#m, op. 19 ‘Sonata-fantasy’
performed by Alfred Brendel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jla4qNIPF_s Back to Schubert and back to the piano. We did Schubert and Mahler symphonies a while back, and I feel like a more appropriate follow up to those two would have been like, Schubert’s string quartet no. 14, Death and the Maiden, a work which Mahler himself was interested in (and would have related to at certain times in his life, I’m sure) but I am terribly underprepared for anything that logical. Also, we are back to piano for the next few weeks or so (and wonderfully have an interview with a pianist coming up next … Continue reading Schubert: Wanderer Fantasy
performed by the Los Angeles Philharmonic under Zubin Mehta or below with Leonard Bernstein and the Bavarian Radio Symphony: Part 2 here Part 3 here (please note that these parts are not arranged in any relation to the movements, just 15 … Continue reading Charles Ives: Symphony no. 2
(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 Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra under Neeme Järvi Let me just say I love the fact that Nielsen was playing in the second violins for the premiere of this piece. How cool is that? We’re getting back around to symphonies, probably for at least the next month or so. I … Continue reading Nielsen Symphony no. 1 in Gm, op. 7
performed by Vladimir Ashkenazy with the London Symphony Orchestra under Andre Previn I really like Mr. Ashkenazy. He’s such a nice guy, it seems. There seems to be not an ounce of pride or ego in the man, just a … Continue reading Prokofiev Piano Concerto no. 1
performed by Vladimir Ashkenazy (this is the first of a few parts. Click through for the rest of the piece). Ashkenazy is my man for the Scriabin sonatas. That Decca sound might be a bit noticeable in its tinny, slightly … Continue reading Scriabin piano sonata no. 1 in Fm, op. 6
performed by the London Symphony Orchestra under Valery Gergiev (this is not the studio recording I am familiar with here, but it’s the same ensemble and conductor) Another one of my favorites, this one. I am compiling a list that … Continue reading Prokofiev symphony no. 7 in C#m, op. 132
performed by the Cleveland Philharmonic under George Szell, or the below video of Sir Georg Solti and the Chicago symphony I mentioned in a tweet the other day that Schubert feels like the gateway drug to classical-era music, at least … Continue reading Beethoven symphony no. 1 in C, op. 21
performed by the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields under Sir Neville Marriner (Below is the Failoni Orchestra under Michael Halasz) https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/n2fxg3ncs5s&source=uds There is a tenuous connection to one of the characters in this week’s “on this day” series. Although he may not be a name many casual fans of classical music would recognize, Antonio Salieri played a large part in the development of the young Schubert and his musical education. Salieri’s influence was greatest in opera, which he wrote in three languages. He was apparently one of the most respected, sought-after teachers of his era, and aside from … Continue reading Franz Schubert: symphony no. 1 in D (D. 82)
performed by the Gothenburg Symphony under Neeme Järvi (below is Järvi with the Orchestre de Paris) Quite a nice first symphony, from a composer whom I’ve come to really enjoy. He has a distinct voice among the late Romantic composers … Continue reading Sibelius Symphony no. 1 in Em, op. 39
Performed by the Lasalle Quartet Oh, Mr. Zemlinsky (von Zemlinsky?), what a life you must have had, but how few people know of you now. This piece we will talk about today, the fourth and final of your string quartets, was dedicated to a student of your student, Alban Berg, whose piano sonata we recently talked about. It is the only piece of yours I own or have heard, but I am intrigued and interested in what else you have to offer, and for the third and final part of our music-I-enjoy-and-appreciate-but-don’t-really-understand-so-can’t-say-anything-terribly-constructive-or-educational-or-useful-about-so-take-this-with-a-grain-of-salt series, we end up here. I am interested … Continue reading Alexander von Zemlinsky: String Quartet no. 4
performed by Glenn Gould https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/QNk_A4ZoI30&source=uds (also, don’t watch this… just listen to it) Welcome to part two of three of our music-I-enjoy-and-appreciate-but-don’t-really-understand-so-can’t-say-anything-terribly-constructive-or-educational-or-useful-about-so-take-this-with-a-grain-of-salt series. The first in this series a few weeks ago was Schoenberg’s Verklärte Nacht, which thankfully had a … Continue reading Alban Berg: piano sonata in Bm, op. 1
https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/vmUPl7Pv0Zg&source=uds performed by the Seoul Philharmonic under James Judd, Valentina Lisitsa, piano (I wanted to find a video or recording of her performance here in Taipei from back in October 2013, but the best I could do was this rather useless ad) Can you think of any other piano concerti in Am? Schumann? Very good. What about Mrs. Schumann? Also very good. The first one is the more important, and while Grieg had it in mind (to some extent or other) during the composition of his own piano concerto (both of them having only written one piano concerto, Grieg not … Continue reading Edvard Grieg: Piano Concerto in Am, op. 16
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. performed by the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra under Leonard Bernstein I believe the recording above is the same as the one I listened to from this box set by Deutsche Grammophon. If not, go check out that recording, because it’s the one I want. Hello again, Mahler. Hello, not-so-old friend. It’s been not-so-long. To this day, if I need to get in the kitchen and cook or clean … Continue reading Mahler Symphony no. 1 in D, ‘Titan’
performed by The London Symphony Orchestra under Claudio Abbado Martha Argerich, piano (from the Great Pianists of the 20th Century collection by Philips) I couldn’t find the above recording on YouTube, but this is Ms. Argerich with the Berlin Radio Symphony (this version is almost as good as the one I have become accustomed to listening to) “Das versteht ihr alle nicht, haha!” (None of you understand this, haha!) Or at least how some say begins the opening of the first movement of this concerto. (It fits rhythmically). Regardless, this twenty-minute piece in four movements is one hell of a ride. … Continue reading Franz Liszt: Piano Concerto no. 1 in Eb
performed by Idil Biret (from her box set on Naxos of Chopin’s complete works) there are also these, more for comparison than anything else: –A 1968 performance by Vladimir Horowitz in Carnegie Hall that everyone seems to love –This performance by … Continue reading Post #50: Chopin: Ballade no. 1 in Gm, op. 23
performed by the Chicago Symphony orchestra under Pierre Boulez Anatol Ugorsky, piano (for Deutsche Grammophon) Allegro Andante Allegro moderato or the Czech Philharmonic under Libor Pesek, Garrick Ohlsson, piano There’s nothing like really good straightforward music. It’s interesting how sometimes … Continue reading Alexander Scriabin: Piano Concerto, op 20
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 … Continue reading Brahms Symphony no. 1 in Cm, op. 68
performed by whoever plays it in the following videos: Section 1Section 2Section 3 Julius Reubke was a student of Franz Liszt, his favorite pupil at one point, as Liszt himself apparently stated. It shows. While the previous piece I wrote about is a concerto dedicated to the memory of a man whose life was at its end, and written in his style, this piece, dedicated to the composer’s teacher, shows heavy direct influence from the man himself, even quotes directly from Liszt’s piano sonata in a place or two. The sonata was written in 1857, when the composer was 23, … Continue reading Julius Reubke: piano sonata in Bb minor
Fugue for Thought 