Bach Partita No 3 E Major (Preludio)

So I have some more violin music for you tonight! I don't believe I have posted any Bach at all, and so I need to change that.

Have you ever been around a person or event that has such "good vibrations" (to quote the Beach Boys) that you can't help but catch onto them and become absorbed in that energy? That's how this prelude makes me feel mostly. There is no doubt of the boundless energy that this music possesses; the perpetual sixteenth notes and joyful energy push it forward without a single glance back to past events.

However, the part I really enjoy about this piece of music is that it does not only embody sheer happiness, but also finesse and refinement. Like a person who is undiscriminating to whom they share their jollity with but is also elegant and mentally aware in social and academic standings.

Nathan Milstein was an accomplished violinist of the twentieth century and learned all of the Bach 6 sonatas and partitas for violin solo when he was still in his teens. Milstein was most known for his performances and interpretations of these works. So please indulge with me in this beautifully refined, yet vivacious interpretation of Bach's preludio in E Major.


Partita No. 3 in E
I. Preludio

Bruch Concerto 3rd Movement

Hello there everyone!

After quite a break from the blog, I am back. I guess it's been about three weeks from the last time I posted since I have been moving and settling into college (exciting, exciting!)

Well, I wanted to post a piece of music that would celebrate a "new chapter of life" (yes, very cliche expression... sorry) I first thought that perhaps an overture would be fitting, since it is the beginning of an opera and therefore would make metaphorical sense as the beginning of a journey. I did have a couple overtures in mind: The Marriage of Figaro and Overture from The Royal Fireworks. However, I instead changed my mind, as I often do. :P

This performance is probably my most favorite musical performance right now, and while I'm not sure if I would call this concerto my favorite composition, I still love it a lot. Kyung Wha Chung made quite a name for herself when she first debuted with the Tchaikovsky Concerto when Itzhak Perlman canceled a performance and she took his place as the soloist. She was only eighteen at the time, and this performance is from shortly after, during her time spent touring and performing with the London Symphony Orchestra.

What I love about this performance is that Ms. Chung really works the orchestra, with the help of Maestro Previn. The communication between the soloist and the orchestra is phenomenal. One certain strength Chung is known for is her dynamic range and her ability to convey emotion through her playing; the energy put into this performance really makes it stand out against others.

So here is Kyung Wha Chung playing the Bruch Violin Concerto with the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Andre Previn
III. Allegro Energico

Enjoy!

The Maple Leaf Rag

As a classical violinist, I think I'd have to say that my guilty pleasure is ragtime music. I really do like ragtime, and I'm well aware that many people find it annoying and say that it all sounds the same, but I like it anyway :)

I picked the Maple Leaf Rag to talk about tonight, it's pretty much the staple of ragtime music, and you've probably heard it before, probably several times before. I know the ice cream truck that comes around my neighborhood plays it! What I like about this piece though, is that it isn't trying to be anything, it's just a simple tune in the usual ragtime form. There is no heavy statement or meaning attached to it, it's just a rag- good to dance to, if you like or chat over.

The Maple Leaf Rag was composed by Scott Joplin, the most well known composer of ragtime music.
Here is Scott Joplin himself playing on an old pianola roll!
But I also wanted to find another, more modern recording...
So here is one! Unfortunately this person did not leave their name, so I cannot credit them properly, but I like the tempo of this recording a lot!
Hope that's enough syncopation for you tonight, folks!

Finlandia

In 1899, a Finnish composer, Jean Sibelius wrote Finlandia: A Tonal Poem for Orchestra as a salute to his country. The first few minutes of this music is turbulent and disruptive representing the country's struggle for peace. Eventually, the music becomes peaceful and joyous with just as much energy as the beginning of the music. This composition was later reworked into a hymn and had lyrics written for it, and is now one of the most important patriotic songs to Finland.

Although Sibelius was a composer of the modern era, he preferred to compose his music in the older romantic style. I generally just love music of the romantic era, but I think that this style also fits well as a patriotic song.

Because I like both recordings:

Here is a very energetic and bright recording of the Evergreen Symphony Orchestra led by Lim Kek-tjiang.

This recording of the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra led by Sakari Oramo starts of a little darker, but has an equally fantastic finish.

Mozart Piano Sonata No. 11, Movement 3

So, if we've established that the first movement was like morning, and the second movement was afternoon- this movement seems like an evening out to me. The first time I heard this a couple weeks ago, I instantly imagined a dance at a dinner party. It's not often that images so clear like this one was come into my mind while listening to music, but it's exciting when they do.

I love the way Mitsuko Uchida interprets this movement, the sort of light, tip-toeing theme smoothly transitions into a grand, happy statement but it still is quite a contrast. My favorite part of this movement, however, is the ending. I love the bubbly happiness that is prevalent in the first movement that mixes with one of the themes from the last movement, and just like the first movement, the sonata ends with a clean, understated cadence. I suppose this is Mozart's way of letting us know that this music is just to be taken lightly. :)
III. Rondo alla Turca

Mozart Piano Sonata No. 11, Movement 2

If we think of the first movement of this piano sonata as a quiet, thoughtful and reflective morning kept to oneself, then this second movement is sort of like the day/afternoon. The happy theme that the movement begins with seems to illustrate the normal, happy interactions with others in everyday life. This theme (don't laugh :P) reminds me of playing pokemon on a gameboy when you are walking around a town and the chipper music is playing in the background.
However, not everyday can be completely pleasant. When you walk through the grassy sections in a pokemon game, you can be called into a battle by a wild pokemon, and the music changes to the battle music. The chipper happy beginning theme of this movement sometimes takes a turn into A minor, perhaps representing a little drama or problem amongst everyday life- but, like a pokemon battle, it isn't major drama and is quickly resolved.

So there you have it- Pokemon: Inspired by Mozart!
Well, just kidding about that.... but you never know...
Again, Mitsuko Uchida with movement 2: Menuetto

Mozart Piano Sonata No. 11, Movement 1

The introspective, yet mainly optimistic feel to this piano sonata is a real treat to listen to. This first movement is played as a theme with six variations that follow it. The main theme which everything is based off of is simple, quiet and reflective.

The first variation is a more bubbly and bright version of the theme and leaves the listener satisfied. The second variation is still more bubbly that the original theme with perpetual sixteenth notes, but keeps the same introspective quality of the beginning. The third variation takes a turn into A minor and is a little darker, but is kept moving by perpetual sixteenth notes again. The fourth variation is similar to the first variation in the fact that is also bubbly, but the fourth variation also sounds very springy. The fifth movement is also optimistic, but also is usually played a bit slower and has the same reflective element from the original theme and sounds more lyrical than the other variations. Now, if we were to combine the reflective quality of the original theme, the bubbly feeling of the first variation and the springiness of the fourth variation- plus a little extra pizazz, I think we end up with the sixth variation which finishes this movement with a simple cadence.

A friend of mine once said that Mozart's music is: simple plus elegant with a touch of fun. I think that this piece of music embodies that description exactly.

Here is Mitsuko Uchida's interpretation of this sonata:
I. Allegretto Grazioso Part 1
I. Allegretto Grazioso Part 2
Please stay tuned for the second and third movements (: