skip to main |
skip to sidebar
Resolutions and Such
Ah, the first blog post from a long winter's break. Now it's back to the music, and I couldn't be happier! My resolution with this blog is to bring you more of what I already do--great music from young composers and great performances by young ensembles.
In addition to reviewing awesome new music (and their writers and champions) I will also cover the awesome venues that regularly (or only) offer new music concerts. I will try to find a venue in each state in the U.S. from New York to North Dakota, new music will be yours! (Or something like that, if I can find places in ND). Also, maintaining that Pinterest profile where I gather as many images as possible for those pieces that conjure places people, and visual eye candy.
So far, going on this musical journey has been incredibly fun, and who knew new music could be fun?! OK, so maybe I strongly suspected it, but discovering so much great music being made near and far and that doesn't clash with the other songs on my phone was surprising. Cheers to a the new year and keeping our resolutions!
Classically Yours
winter playlist 2014
There are some pieces that are so idyllic of a certain moment. Here are a few of my favorite pieces, both new and old, that are staples for me for a winter playlist. Hopefully, you'll think of snowball fights and reunions with these, too. Included are movements from the "Dumky" Trio by Antonin Dvorak. The textures of that sonata perfectly embody the images and textures of winter, and I strongly recommend hearing all of it. I also added Timo Andres' You Broke It, You Bought It, which I only recently discovered in the past month. I want to know the meaning behind the name, because what I imagine when I hear that phrase and how this piece sounds are so different. I love the interaction between the acoustic guitar and marimba (and I just plain love the acoustic guitar and marimba!). The interplay simply magical. The latter half seems almost an afterthought but rounds out nicely ending the same way it began--with the quiet shimmer of cymbals.
I'll probably end up adding that track to my lazy summer playlist, too.
After listening to Steampunk admittedly a bunch of times, I wanted to find some similar sounding pieces. In that search I came across Concerto 4-3 written by Jennifer Higdon. It could equally work well in that alternate Victorian universe.
Now, I recognized Hidon's name from a chat with a friend who told me to write about her. (This post is just for you!) But I don't want to post something so similar to the last piece, though you're welcome to click on the link for some epilogue worthy ear candy.
Instead, I'll feature two other pieces from the Brooklynite. Let me first say Jen is praised as one of the most performed living American composers, with her Blue Cathedral piece for orchestra being performed over 400 times since its premier in 2000. I didn't know she was that popular, but after listening to recordings of her music, I'm not surprised. A lot of her stuff sounds really good while being technically challenging.
Ironically, I chose to feature two woodwind-centric pieces when her 2014 concert schedule is percussion and string heavy. Of all her performances next year, I'm especially especially excited for Skyline. Also, you can hear Blue Cathdedral performed by the Waynesboro Symphony Orchestra 22 February.
But on to the two pieces that I chose because isn't that what this post is about? First up is Calmly for its mix of jazz and classical (jazzical?). Also, saxophone is under-represented in classical music and this is one piece that I can see becoming a classical standard. Don't be fooled by the calm introduction. This piece goes places and is deceptively busy despite its title. If you're looking to switch up your playlist for any seasonal party with friends, add this one. The other piece is Autumn Reflection, which has a French impressionist feel with some serious Debussy-esque goings on in the piano.
.jpg)
