2015-08-10: Funk bass meets electric banjo, hilarity ensues
Today’s musical selection courtesy of our very own Paul the Fossil!
2015-08-08/09: Moonlight
Of course, the first movement of this sonata is the famous one, but I think it pales in comparison to the second and third. I like Barenboim’s recordings of these sonatas because I think they’re well balanced. They’re warm but not overly sentimental, virtuosic (obviously) without being flamboyant. Compared to other recordings I’ve heard, they might be a bit “dry”, but I actually prefer that.
I hope you found something you liked this week.
2015-08-07: Gloria
If you enjoy choral music, check out Russian religious music from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Kastalsky isn’t exactly a household name, but he’s worth checking out.
2015-08-06: “Margrave” sounds like a Dr. Who villain
Back to the Baroque with Bach (and light alliteration). Again, I couldn’t find the recording I wanted, but this one is a pretty good substitute. A lot of renditions of this piece are much slower and “stately,” which I’m really not into. They will tend to lose one of the things I like most about it: the gradual build-up and then exuberant release of musical tension, which happens several times throughout.
I could talk about Bach all day. But I won’t. Not today, anyway.
2015-08-05: The stars at night are big and bright
Jumping ahead about 150 years, here’s some Schumann. Choral music isn’t what people most associate with Schumann, but I’ve always particularly liked this song. The lyrics (with English translation) are poignant, too, as Schumann suffered from some sort of mental illness and looks to the stars or heavens for peace.
2015-08-04: A dance you probably won’t dance to
Surprisingly, I couldn’t find the recording I wanted on Youtube. It’s a touch slower than this one, so it comes off as a little moodier and more melancholy. And it has harpsichord on continuo, so the sound is a little richer. For me, this is a pretty good second choice, though.
2015-08-03: Have mercy
If there were a Monster Hits of Renaissance Polyphony CD (actually, there are probably a number of them), this would definitely be on it. In other words, you probably couldn’t claim to be a Renaissance music hipster if you admit to liking this. I think I could listen to it all day, though.
If you’re into this sort of thing, the Tallis Scholars will be performing in Chicago next spring. Details here.
2015-08-01/02: There is time to kill today
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