Righteous Classical Music: Rhapsody in Blue by George Gershwin

Oh yeah! Something else a little different for a change! Rhapsody in Blue is a good deal more modern than a lot of classical music we've ranted about before, and the whole aesthetic is a lot different. The whole feel is very urban and jazzy, and holy shnikes! Is that some righteous piano action, or not? But the piano isn't the only instrument that totally gets to showcase in this song. The opening clarinet solo is one of the most famous beginnings in all of music! In this righteous little solo, the clarinet player actually performs a glissando, which is a real stunt on a woodwind! And then there's the brass! There is plenty for the brass to do, and they totally go nuts! It must be fun to be a trumpet player in this song!
The moods of the piece vary, and it travels through several different emotions. The crazy piano parkour is contrasted with a gentle and swelling middle section.


Next Up: Turkish Fragments: 'Caravan' and 'During the Rest' by Mikhail Ippolitov-Ivanov

Storage Room: Office Volunteering

I've done a bit of volunteer work at my orchestra's offices, and it's fun! Yeah, got to lug some string instruments to storage, and did a TON of music filing (which was cool, actually). It's pretty righteous. Sometimes office work gets a little tedious, especially when you have like, 15 cellos you have to drag to storage, but all in all, I think it was good work experience! And I got a comic idea out of it. ;)

If you can't read the writing, here's the script.

Rene: Allright, I'm here! Marisol! I didn't know you volunteered at the orchestra office!
Marisol: Yah! It's a good way to rack up favoritism points! So we have to sort through all these papers.
Rene: Last concert's program...
Marisol: Page nine of the Rhapsody in Blue score... someone's apple tart recipe, I think I'll keep this!
Rene: Fyodor Kovalchuck's Enemies List?!
Mr. Kovalchuck: Ooh, I was looking for that!
Rene & Marisol: .......

:)

La Cenerentola

We watched the opera version of Cinderella by Rossini last week, and it was such fun!
I don't really like opera that much (Though a few years ago we got tickets to see the Barber of Seville, and it was GREAT!), but this one was really fun! I think that I might actually like a few operas, but I've been turned off just because it's usually so hard to understand what the deuce is going on. Thankfully, somebody invented subtitles. XD
So anyway, the DVD we watched was of a live stage performance, and it was really good! The actors all gave very solid performances, especially the Stepfather and Cinderella herself (actually named Angelica in this version!). The lyrics and dialogue were very witty, and I laughed out loud frequently! The music was pretty good. My main issue with opera is that the music is just kind of all over the place. Like, all the songs are just extended cadenza for the diva to show off her soprano-ness. But I didn't mind it so much in this one. Angelica, the lead, is a Mezzo Soprano (Yay!!), so there isn't quite as much insanity music-wise. The music was very peppy and in some spots, absolutely charming. I have to say, I really liked this take on the Prince!
So all in all, this was fun to watch!

Righteous Classical Music: Trois Gymnopedies by Erik Satie

So! After all this intricately orchestrated music, I thought it would be fun to slow down and take a look at a Piano piece that is very quiet and low-key (And one that I can actually play with competence!). What better to fill that role, than Gymnopedie by Erik Satie, the poster child of eccentric French Impressionist composers!
So, there are 3 Gymnopedies. They are all basically the same melody, but each one is subtly different! The first one is 'Lent et Douloureux', or 'Slow and Painful, the second one is 'Let et Triste' (Slow and Sad),and the last is 'Lent et Grave' (Slow and Serious).
Erik Satie referred to his music as 'Furniture Music', meaning that he himself found his music to be very ambient and low-key. I really like the minimalistic nature of these pieces. It's very relaxing and kind of sends your mind on a little journey. It's pretty cool that there is so much emotion and depth in the simple-ness of these pieces. :)


Next Up: Rhapsody in Blue by George Gershwin

Happy Fathers Day!

Saint Joseph, ora pro nobis!

 

 

Righteous Classical Music: The Sorcerer's Apprentice by Paul Dukas

Oh yeah, who doesn't like The Sorcerer's Apprentice? Unlike some classical music, this piece is usually considered pretty accessible. Mostly due to it's use in Fantasia, but it was also very popular before that too.
Now, this piece is what we call a Scherzo (Italian for 'I Joke', or 'I Play'), and I think that is a really good way to describe it! The music ranges from very mysterious to light and playful, and eventually becomes dark and uncontrollable. This is of course, due to the piece's nature as a tone poem! We all know the story, which is basically about a young magician who decides to try out some of his master's tricks, and it eventually gets way out of hand.
In both terms of Mood and Technical stuff, this piece is tricky. On the Mood side, we have to create a playful, sometimes foreboding, always enchanting atmosphere. On the technical side, you have to deal with accidentals peppered all over the place, and time signatures like 9/16.
The orchestration for this piece is very good. There is a terrific part for Bassoon, and lots of action for the Percussion section, as well! Also a great part for our Chummy, the Piccolo. ;)

Next Up!: Gymnopedie by Erik Satie

Jean Valjean Appreciation Post

Sometimes we all get so enraptured by the boundless and interesting side characters in Les Miserables that we forget all about the main character. You know, Javert is cool, Enjolras is blonde and blue eyed all revolutionary-like, and Gavroche is just so dang cute. But aside from being as strong as the Hulk, is there anything fun about Jean Valjean? He's saintly and admirable, but is there any conflict in him? Is he even relatable? I've been giving it some thought (Yes, I waste my time thinking about stupid things, shush), and the answer is yes.
I'd say that the perception of Jean Valjean being a flat saint is mostly due in part to the musical *cough*bringhimhome*cough*. But even in the musical, Jean Valjean is a very interesting character. You see in the Prologue that he's hardened and bitter from 19 years in prison. Then that act of unexpected mercy from the Bishop of Digne turned his world upside down, we all know the story, right? Valjean's Soliloquy is a very dramatic song because it shows a change of character that happens in a very short time. Even though he makes his decision to try and live a good life, Valjean still struggles with temptation, just like all us. I mean, Who Am I anyone? This song is one of my favorites from the musical, and I love how at the beginning he's tossing around his options, but eventually realizes that he must do what is right. Of course, for the rest of the play, Jean Valjean's is pretty much French Santa Claus, being good and saintly.
It would have been interesting if Bring Him Home was more about Valjean begging God to give him the strength to do what's right, that way the audience could see him once more fight his way through temptation. In the book, Jean Valjean hated Marius even as he was carrying him through the sewers. It was very brave of him to do what he knew was right, even if he didn't particularly want to. But you know, Bring Him Home is pretty, so I guess that's okay too.
At the risk of sounding morbid, I'd just like to finish up here by saying that I like how the story ends with Jean Valjean's death. I know, it sounds weird, but hear me out. There are a ton of subplots, some bigger than others, but all serve the same purpose in the narrative, and that would be the furthering of Valjean's journey to eventual salvation. I think that the book (and musical) ending with Valjean's death makes for a lovely, complete, and ultimately satisfying end to his long struggle.
I think Jean Valjean is relatable, even though I'm not a sixty year old man who spent a heckuvalotta time in prison. He's relatable because he's a person who made some mistakes in the past, and is doing his best to overcome them. He's scrupulous, he's scared of giving into temptation. To some that might seem like self-righteousness, but c'mon. Self-Righteous is the last word I would use to describe Jean Valjean.
So! I guess that's it, I hope you enjoyed reading my gargantuan text bricks. :)