Grand Canyon
Keeping with our theme of Americana, Ferde Grofe’s Grand Canyon Suite is a nice slice for us to taste. Born Ferdinand Rudolph Von Grofe IV, Ferde was a fourth generation classical musician. However, Grofe was famous because of his jazz. …
Hardcore Americana
November is a month that requires some hardcore Americana. For some reason I associate this month with America more than any other. I suppose it is the combination of Veteran's Day and Thanksgiving. Many countries have independence days but thanksgiving …
MP3
Classical music on MP3 is a mixed blessing. Lest we forget, some classical music audiophiles haven't accepted CD's because they compresses the sonic spectrum. An MP3 compresses CD quality. You can imagine the outrage. The biggest drawback I can see …
Operatic Requiem
Mozart's Requiem may be the piece of music I value over all others but Verdi's Requiem is by far my favorite Requiem. After it's premiere, many thought it was sacrilegious and better suited for the theater and opera stage than …
Atomic Requiem
Mozart's Requiem is one thing and Berlioz's is quite another. Mozart's score calls for 7 pieces of brass and 1 set of timpani along with woodwinds, strings and chorus. Berlioz's score is for 20 pieces of brass, 16 sets of …
A Requiem for Innocence
When push comes to shove and someone demands that I name the piece of classical music I value over all others, I always go with Mozart's Requiem. The opening requiem aeternam has a solemnity that declares Mozart's innocence has died. …
Goat Love: Trick or Treat?
For Halloween, there's always Mussorgsky's Night on the Bald Mountain. The initial inspiration was a short story by Nikolai Gogol based on Russian folk myths. The story in the music is about a mountain without trees, bald, near Kiev. Legend …
Hopped up on Opium
Halloween is upon us which can only mean one thing. Hector Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique: Episode in the Life of an Artist. The artist is a young man (Berlioz himself) who has a series of opium induced visions. Think Jim Morrison. …
The Children
At the San Diego District Metropolitan Opera Auditions this year, three out-of-town sopranos were put through to the regional round in Los Angeles. I want to make it clear that this not an audition but a competition that is open …
Chuckee's Evil Twin Sister
As I mentioned, I went the the local Met Auditions on Saturday at the Birch North Park Theater. I want to make it clear, this is NOT an audition. It is a competition that is called an audition. Nobody knows …
Comfort Music
With the all the rain, I decided to seek out some comfort music. Traditionally, for me, that is Russian Sacred Choral Music. It is simultaneously melancholy and mystical and that combination does it for me on a rainy day. I …
My Pants were on, so what was the Big Deal?
On Saturday, I went to the Metropolitan Opera National Auditions, San Diego District. That's just a fancy way of saying singing contest. Contestants must have a total of 5 opera arias prepared and there must be three different languages. This …
A Bikini on the Floor of The Senate
I decided to go back and listen to the the beginning, middle, and end of classical music. That would be Beethoven's 5th Symphony. Argue all you want about periods, styles, or historical accuracy. What comes to mind when you think …
Bruckner's 8th and Kissing
Anton Bruckner's 8th Symphony is a colossal piece of music. After listening, one may imagine having been to Alpine heights and the soulful depths of a saintly man. Bruckner fanatics, yes they're out there, will go on for hours about …
The Beast with Two Backs
If you've listened to classical music and never blushed at the blatant sexuality these composers are flaunting, then you may want to listen a little closer. As we might imagine, the Italians make it most clear but the Russians run …
Music and Art
Samuel Barber's Adagio for Strings may be America's greatest contribution to the world of classical music. The point can be argued and discussed so feel free. What is unique about the Adagio is that it's passion is tinged with melancholy …