DCCCLXXII. VAN de VATE, Nancy: Chernobyl

DCCCLXXII. VAN de VATE, Nancy (1930-2023)

Chernobyl (1987)
Polish Radio and Television Symphony Orchestra
Szymon Kawalla, cond.
(12:55)

DCCCLXXI. SAINT-SAENS, Camille: Carnival of the Animals

 DCCCLXXI. SAINT-SAËNS, Camille (1835-1921)

Carnival of the Animals (1886)
1. Introduction (0:59)
2. Royal March of the Lions (1:34)
3. Hens and Roosters (1:28)
4. Wild Asses (0:49)
5. Tortoises (2:00)
6. The Elephant (2:00)
7. Kangaroos (1:35)
8. Aquarium (2:41)
9. People with Long Ears (1:13)
10. The Cuckoo in the Depths of the Forest (1:59)
11. Aviary (1:25)
12. Pianists (1:48)
13. Fossils (1:38)
14. The Swan (3:47)
15. Finale (2:16)
Peter Schickele, narrator
Ralph Markham, piano
Kenneth Broadway, piano
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
Yoel Levi, cond.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Poems by Schickele.

DCCCLXX. NANCARROW, Conlon: Study for Player Piano #7

DCCCLXX. NANCARROW, Conlon (1912-1997)

Study for Player Piano #7
(7:15)

DCCCLXIX. HAYDN, Franz Joseph: Baryton Trio #28 in D Major

DCCCLXIX. HAYDN, Franz Joseph (1732-1809)

Baryton Trio #28 in D Major
1. Adagio
2. Allegro
3. Minuetto
Esterhazy Ensemble
(11:09)

DCCCLXVIII. STRAVINSKY, Igor: Septet

DCCCLXVIII. STRAVINSKY, Igor (1882-1971)

Septet (1952-53)
1. 1/4-note = 88
2. Passacaglia, circa 1/4-note = 60
3. Gigue, dotted-1/8th = 112-116
Emilio Ferrando, clarinet
Julio Pallás, bassoon
Amadeo Catalám, French horn
Juan Carlos Segura, piano
Victor Parra, violin
Carlos Seco, viola
Zsolt G. Tottzer, cello
Juan José Olives, cond.
(14:37)

Stravinsky goes 12-tone! This period of his life was always talked about like it was such a big deal when I was growing up in the 60's and 70's.

In fact -- a lot like Berg -- he used the rigid systems of serialism to explore and diversify his omnipresent love of all things classical -- thus neo-classicism.

The final movement is fugues and double fugues, with the series notated above the parts, and a tapestry of connections with previously-heard music.

First movement

Second movement

Third movement

DCCCLXVII. HAYDN, Franz Joseph: Symphony #86 in D Major

DCCCLXVII. HAYDN, Franz Joseph (1732-1809)

Symphony #86 in D Major (1786)
1. Adagio -- Allegro spiritoso
2. Capriccio: Largo
3. Menuetto: Allegretto
4. Finale: Allegro con spirito
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Colin Davis, cond.
(26:23)

First movement

After an appropriately royal adagio introduction, Papa immediately pulls a fast one!

 

using a secondary dominant (B -- V/ii) for his opening phrase; these little surprises that quickly resolve appear throughout ... but he then barks out a tutti -- the orchestra playing three 1/8th-notes, while the first violins fill the 1/8th-rst with a few 16ths ...

Nothing particularly noteworthy in the development and recap. A very militant D Major.

Second movement

In the dominant G Major, Haydn begins with yet another simple arpeggio.

but Haydn gives the simple tonality grace and foundation with the combination of 16ths and 32nds ...

Third movement

Menuet

and Trio:

Fourth movement

Con spirito, indeed. Still decorating arpeggios with passing tones, at this tempo  the music is moving along.

These

DCCCLXVI. DEBUSSY, Claude: En blanc et noir

DCCCLXVI. DEBUSSY, Claude (1862-1918)

En blanc et noir (1915)
1. I
2. II
3. III
Martha Argerich, piano
Iddo Bar-Shai, piano
(17:10)

This is some of Debussy's greatest work. It is amazing what our geniuses created during periods of intense suffering.

Inside and out. He had cancer and had decamped to Normandy -- and his country was at war with a seriously deranged enemy ...

The title certainly references the keys of the piano, but Debussy added an additional explanation in his correspondence:

"These pieces need to draw their colour, their emotion, simply from the piano, like the 'grays' of Velázquez, if you understand me."

Each movement is preceded by a literary quotation.

1. I

Qui reste à sa place
Et ne danse pas
De quelque disgrâce
Fait l'aveu tout bas
    -- Barbier & Carré, Romeo et Juliette (Gonoud)

2. II

Prince, porté soit des serfs Eolus
En la forest ou domine Glaucus
Ou privé soit de paix et d'espérance
Car digne n'est de posséder vertus
Qui mal vouldroit au royaume de France
  -- Villon, Ballade contre les ennemis de la France

Quotes the Lutheran hymn Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott.

3. III

Yver, vous n'este qu'un villain
  -- Charles d'Orleans