Hi, sorry I wasn’t able to post for the past month or so; uni’s been killing me lately with all those academic requirements. I wish to inform you that, yes, I’m still alive and kicking (unfortunately for some 
.
Anyway, I’ve been posting my favorite pieces lately on my Multiply Web site. I made it so anybody can view those videos, so don’t hesitate to visit!
Is it classical music, or is it jazz? This week’s Classical Music Pick has become very popular over the years, with its creative and ‘jazzy’ melodies and rhythms. Presenting…
Rhapsody in Blue
George Gershwin
Featuring Isabelle David on piano. Conducted by Joseph Milo.
Oscar Peterson Hall, June 2007.
If you think Mozart’s music is all cheerful and bright, think again after hearing this one.
Symphony No. 25 is one of the two G-minor symphonies Mozart composed; the other being No. 40.
Performed by the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
This week’s Classical Music Pick is a waltz by Spanish composer Francisco Tárrega. At around 0:15, you will hear a popular tune — can you get what it is?
Gran Vals
Waltz for Guitar
Francisco Tárrega
Performed by: blndgtarst [@YouTube]
I was going to pick Beethoven’s Pathetique sonata this week, but I want to share with you a non-Beethoven piece this time. So here it is…
Piano Sonata No. 16 in A Minor, D. 845
Franz Schubert
I seem to have been concentrating on Beethoven too much. Oh well, here’s another one.
My pick this week:
"Zartliche Liebe" ("Ich Liebe Dich"), WoO* 123
Ludwig van Beethoven
MIDI Sequenced by: Jayjay Montalbo
» Download MIDI File
» Download Sheet Music for Voice (PDF)
Lyrics:
Ich liebe dich, so wie du mich,
Am Abend und am Morgen
Noch war kein Tag, wo du und ich
Nicht teilten unsre SorgenAuch waren sie für dich und mich
Geteilt leicht zu ertragen;
Du tröstetest im Kummer mich
Ich weint’ in deine Klagen,
In deine Klagen.Drum Gottes Segen über dir,
Du meines lebens Freude;
Gott schütze dich, erhalt dich mir,
Schütz und erhalt uns beide.Gott schütze dich, erhalt dich mir,
Schütz und erhalt uns beide.
Schütz und erhalt uns beide.
Schütz und erhalt uns beide.
*WoO = Work without opus number; "opus" means "work"
Symphony No. 1 in C Major, Op. 21
Ludwig van Beethoven
I figured, maybe, I should do a classical music pick of the week starting right now. Hopefully, I could keep this going for a long time – to share my taste for classical music to all my readers.
My pick of the week: Chopin’s Etude, Op. 10, No. 3
Performed by Freddy Kempf on the piano.
I’ve announced previously that the UP Symphonic Orchestra will be performing Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 on December 7. But I never got the answer as to whether the concert is free or not, until now.
Through an email to the UP Diliman Information Office, Chi Ibay confirmed that the concert is "free and open to the public. Seating will be on a first come,first served basis."
So there you go. Anybody interested can watch (I’m assuming from the reply that even non-UP people can watch); just make sure to come in early so you could be seated properly.
The latest What’s Up? newsletter announces that the University of the Philippines Symphonic Orchestra will be performing Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 in D Minor, Op. 125 “Choral” at the UP Theater on December 7, 9 PM 6 PM (Philippine time). As a big Beethoven and classical music fan, I’m really looking forward to watching it. I just hope it’s for free; well, even if it’s not, I’d try to save cash just to watch this. The concert is for free.
Here is the symphony, as conducted by Herbert von Karajan and performed by the Berlin Philharmonic. It may be worth noting that in this version, the exposition is not repeated (as it should have) in the first, second and third movements, so Karajan’s version is shorter than most renditions of the Ninth.
Here’s a Beethoven symphony you might never have heard before.
Sometimes called the “Little Symphony,” this is the David between the two goliaths that are the seventh and ninth symphonies. Contrary to the two the styles used in the seventh and ninth, which is obviously Romantic, this one is very Classical in approach (and the Minuet makes a comeback!)
Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony No. 8 in F Major Op.93
Conducted by Herbert von Karajan
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Beethoven’s Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Opus 36, was composed between 1801 and 1802, in probably one of the most depressing periods of his life. At this time, he began to realize that he was becoming deaf. This is also the period where he wrote the famous (or infamous) Heiligenstadt Statement. It reflects his despair over his increasing deafness and his desire to overcome his physical and emotional ailments in order to complete his artistic destiny.
It is worth noting that although this work was written during this testing times, the overall mood of the Symphony is blissful, calm and, to a degree, energetic. This shows his passion for his music cannot (and never did) succumb to his personal struggles in life. Although some of his works depict struggle, they almost always end with triumph and victory.
I have been in-love with Beethoven's Symphony No. 3 in C Minor (known as Eroica) eversince the notes touched my ears.
Wondering how it was composed the way it is now? Go to BeethovensEroica.Com and you might be surprised at how Beethoven managed to combine simplicity and complexity in this work.
"I am not satisfied with my work thus far. Hence, I shall take a new path." – LVB
