Silly Sheep: Messiah (2 of 3)
Of the three sections of The Messiah I think my favorite is the beginning of the second. This section is based on the passion or sacrifice of Jesus but once again, only a small section of text is taken from …
Handel's Messiah isn't Christmas (1 of 3)
It's time for Handel's Messiah to appear. Why? I'm not sure. The Messiah has become a Christmas tradition but of the three sections, only the first is related to Christmas. The text for the ever famous Hallelujah Chorus is about …
Thanksgiving Playlist
Here's a playlist for Thanksgiving. Not all the composers are American. Ralph Vaughan Williams' Symphony No. 3: Pastoral Vaughan Williams is always a good choice, except for opera. His Third Symphony was written in grateful remembrance of those killed in …
Mediocrity Kills
One of the pieces The New City Sinfonia played was Schubert's Symphony No. 8: Unfinished I recently used Schubert's Eighth as a justification for a Camus quote. The quote was, "Idleness is fatal only to the mediocre." -- Albert Camus …
New City Sinfonia: Bad does Good
What does one write when a group is doing a good thing but they're not very good--at all? That was my experience of The New City Sinfonia this last weekend. I loved the group and their attitude. They were an …
All Free
There are some community concerts this weekend that might be worth checking out. On Friday at 7:30 pm, The New City Sinfonia is playing Schubert's Symphony No. 8 Unfinished along with music by Mozart and Faure. The concert is free …
Borrowed Borodin
One of my favorite musical movies is Kismet. There isn't much of a plot but I enjoy the music, Howard Keel, and Vic Damone. Imagine my surprise, nay--outrage--when I discovered that most of the melodies were sampled from Russian composer …
San Diego Symphony: Mahler Keeps It Real
As the orchestra stood on Saturday night and Jahja Ling walked to the podium, some of the players projected a sense of anticipation. It was as if they couldn't wait to get the concert started. Their anticipation was justified, as …
Sisyphus or Not
If you have any interest, at all, in living a fulfilling life, go to Mahler's Ninth Symphony this weekend at The San Diego Symphony. If you want to continue pushing your rock up the same mountain every day in the …
San Diego Symphony: Top Shelf
We saw the best of professionalism on Sunday at The San Diego Symphony. Pianist Stephen Hough played both of the piano concertos by Hungarian composer Franz Liszt. Liszt is most known for his virtuosic piano music and Mr. Hough happens …
Kittens and Dilettantes
I stated that amateurism is more important than professionalism. Having thought about it, I'm not sure that's always the case. However, both are preferable to dilettantism, which I'd like to discuss. Is there anything more annoying than a dilettante? Perhaps …
La Jolla Symphony: Caribou for Dinner (2 of 2)
After intermission, Le sacre du printemps was ready to assert itself. When The Rite of Spring was first performed, it nearly caused a riot. Now I understand why. This music must be experienced live. Recordings are useless. The electrical divide …
La Jolla Symphony: Where's the Dominance? (1 of 2)
I have never understood Stravinsky. He's one of the those composers who just hasn't done it for me. Prokofiev? Got it. Ravel? Totally. Shostakovitch? For sure. Mahler? All day. Why has Stravinsky eluded me? I know I'm supposed to get …
Addendum
I have been convinced to create an addendum to I am Woman (3 of 3)* in order to clarify the text and the YouTube clip. The text of the final movement of the Gorecki is taken from a folk song …
Weekend Preview
This weekend is a little thinner than last for classical music. However, The La Jolla Symphony is opening its season of Stravinsky. It's a novel idea and I like it. There will be several concerts throughout the season that feature …
Grossmont Symphony: I am Woman (3 of 3)
Gorecki's Symphony No. 3: Symphony of Sorrowful Songs is a feminine composition. It is necessary to go over the "sacred masculine" and "sacred feminine" characteristics in order to reach a deeper understanding of this music. Sacred Masculine /Sacred Feminine History …
Grossmont Symphony: I am Woman (2 of 3)
Carl Nielsen's Symphony No. 2: The Four Temperaments isn't necessarily about women or men. It's about--temperaments. The traditional four temperaments are based on four fluids of the body. Yellow Bile: choleric temperament. Phlegm: phlegmatic temperament. Black Bile: melancholic temperament. Blood: …
Grossmont Symphony: I am Woman (1 of 3)
On Friday evening, The Grossmont Symphony put together a solid concert of 20th Century music. The theme was "I am woman" and the opening piece of music was Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman No. 1 by Joan Tower. This fanfare …
Local Yokels
This coming weekend carries some quality concert opportunities to hear local artists. For Friday, The Grossmont Symphony has prepared a concert for those who love and appreciate the sacred feminine. Local soprano Anna Belaya joins the orchestra for Gorecki Symphony …
Symphony Plays Concert in Reverse
Local choral impresario, Krishan Oberoi, invited me to the symphony on Saturday night. I accepted. The concert started off heavy and maneuvered to increasingly buoyant pieces of music. Richard Strauss composed Metamorphasen: A Study for 23 Solo Strings, in the …