DXCI. STOCKHAUSEN, Karlheinz: Tierkreis

DXCI. STOCKHAUSEN, Karlheinz (1928-2007)

Tierkreis (1975/81)
Aión Dúo
Marina Alegre, dancer
(20:22)

The History of Tierkreis (Zodiac)

Musik im Bauch (Music in the Belly) was composed in 1975 for 6 percussionists and music boxes. (the 12 music boxes are for sale here at €310 each, or €3,720 for the complete set).

He then made a version for soloists, or duos. In 1977, he published a version for chamber orchestra and another for a trio of clarinet, flute/piccolo and trumpet.

Renamed SIRIUS, he arranged a new version for electronics, trumpet, soprano and bass clarinet.

This version was dedicated to Suzanne Stephens in 1981.

DXC. BERIO, Luciano: Naturale

DXC. BERIO, Luciano (1925-2003)

Naturale (1985)
Vicci Wardman, viola
Tim Williams, percussion
Prerecorded tape (singer)
(18:57)

Berio never let anything good and profound go to waste.

Thus, this work incorporates elements from his earlier Chemins (paths) series which he wrote for the great violist, Walter Trampler, and literal transcriptions from his more recent Voci (1984) for viola and orchestra.

The prerecorded tape features the singing of Peppino Celano from Palermo, singing the complex abbagnate (street vendor cries).

DLXXXIX. GLAZUNOV, Alexander: Raymonda, Op. 57

DLXXXIX. GLAZUNOV, Alexander (1865-1936)

Raymonda, Op. 57 (1898)
Irina Kolpakova, Raymonda
Sergei Berezhnoi, Jean de Brienne
Gennady Selutsky, Abderakhman
Orchestra of the Kirov Theatre
Viktor Shirokov, cond.
(2:11:24)

My interest in Glazunov (see Posts CDXLV, CXCVII, DXI, CDXVI, DLXXIV and CCCXXVI) was piqued when I discovered how much his student, Dmitri Shostakovich, adored his teacher and -- with some qualifications -- championed his "old-fashioned" music!

Glazunov studied with Rimsky-Korsakov, who taught him the art of orchestration. Since Rimsky literally wrote the book on the subject (and yours truly has studied since childhood), it cannot be denied that his student -- however stodgy his fuddy-duddy turn-of-the-century music seemed to others -- soaked up the ability to write dazzling, colorful orchestral music.

I own his complete works (available on Naxos) and consistently find them delightful.

Raymonda is a full-length ballet set in medieval Hungary. The title character is engaged to Jean de Brienne, who has been called away to the Crusades. She is also coveted by the Saracen knight Abderakhman, who plans to abduct her. The White Lady (Dame blanche), a guardian spirit of Raymonda's noble family, appears and prevents the abduction, and Abderakhman is killed in combat by Jean de Brienne. Thus the action ends with Act II. The third act honors the happy couple.

Introduction:

DLXXXVIII. BEETHOVEN, Ludwig van: Put round the bright wine, WoO 154, No. 6

DLXXXVIII. BEETHOVEN, Ludwig van (1770-1827)

Put round the bright wine, WoO 154, No. 6 (1812-13)
Thomas Allen, baritone
Elizabeth Layton, violin
Ursula Smith, cello
Malcolm Martineau, piano
(2:28)

George Thomson (1757-1851) was an English publisher who employed many famous composers to create trio arrangements for singers of popular folksongs. It was Haydn who recommended Beethoven for the gig, but Thomson had also employed Ignaz Pleyel, Leopold Kozeluch, Johann Nepomuk Hummel, Carl Maria von Weber, Henry Rowley Bishop, and Robert Archibald Smith.

There was a huge market for such music in upper-middle class families, where the children might be fairly gifted singers or instrumentalists.

One can see that the instrumental parts are not too difficult, and the poetry of the songs can rise to magnificence.

Beethoven set his folksongs in their original languages:

Put round the bright wine
For my bosom is gay
The night may have sunshine
As well as the day
Oh welcome the hours!
When dear visions arise
To melt my kind spirit
And charm my fond eyes
When wine to my head
Can its wisdom impart
And love has it promise
To make to my heart
When dim in far shade
Sink the spectres of care
And I tread a bright world
With a footstep of air

Yes, mirth is my goddess
Come round me, ye few
Who have wit for her worship
I doat upon you
Delighted with life
Like a swallow on wing
I catch ev'ry pleasure
The current may bring
The feast and the frolic
The masque and the ball
Dear scenes of enchantment!
I come at your call
Let me meet the gay beings
Of beauty and song
And let Erin's good humour
Be found in the throng

If life be a dream
'Tis a pleasant one sure
And the dream of tonight
We at least may secure
If life be a bubble
Tho' better I deem
Let us light up its colours
By gaiety's beam
Away with cold vapours
I pity the mind
That nothing but dullness
And darkness can find
Give me the kind spirit
That laughs on its way
And turns thorns into roses
And winter to May

DLXXXVII. PROKOFIEV, Sergei: String Quartet #2

DLXXXVII. PROKOFIEV, Sergei (1891-1953)

String Quartet #2 (1941)
1. Allegro sostenuto
2. Adagio
3. Allegro
State Borodin Quartet
(22:34)

In order not to get into Stalin-trouble in those days -- and be accused of writing formalist music -- Soviet composers were safe if they used popular Russian folksongs in their compositions.

Prokofiev removed himself to Nalchik, the provincial capital of the Kabardino-Balkar region. Here he incorporated local folk music of "oriental" character.

First movement

A rugged dance-like theme. Notice the stacked fifths -- from bottom to top: F/C/G/D/A/E!

Second movement

The opening theme is a Kabardin dance, and here Prokofiev imitates the sound of the kjamantchi, a Caucasian stringed instrument.

Third movement

A ravishing crazy dissonant dance:

DLXXXVI. BACH, J.S.: O liebe Seele, zieh die Sinnen, BWV 494

DLXXXVI. BACH, J.S. (1685-1750)

O liebe Seele, zieh die Sinnen, BWV 494 (1735-36)
Christopher Prégardien, tenor
Jaap ter Linden, cello
Ton Koopman, organ
(1:48)

Sacred songs and arias from Schemelli's Songbook.

O dearest soul, divert your senses
From base passions which are sensual and worldly
Thus cries your creator up on the battlements
Of the tall castle in the heavens
He will show you paths
And pleasant walks
On which you
May find nourishment which is good
And obtain those things
In which your soul finds peace

Thus, unlike other animals, God sought
To grace you with an upright countenance
And with understanding
Not in order that your soul and eyes
Should value highly the world
But that they should dwell
On what is heavenly
And that the glory
They should augment at all times
Of Him who made you in his image.

DLXXXV. STOCKHAUSEN, Karlheinz: Unsichtbare Chöre

DLXXXV. STOCKHAUSEN, Karlheinz (1928-2007)

Unsichtbare Chöre (1979)
Suzanne Stephens, clarinets
WDR Chör
(48:25)

INVISIBLE CHOIRS is incorporated into the opera THURSDAY from LIGHT.

There are four text sections:

Judgement Day (in Hebrew)

Then shall My reign begin
Over all My creatures
And then shall be the end of Satan
And when he goes, with him will go all sorrow

Because the LORD in Heaven will rise up
From his throne
And the earth tremble
The sun no longer give forth light
The points of the moon shatter
And the circuits of the stars be thrown into confusion
And thou mankind shall be content
And GOD shall raise ye up

The End of Time (in German)

In their time
Shall appear miraculous things
They shall see the world
That was first invisible to them
They shall also see the time
Still hidden
When they shall live in the heavens
Like the stars
Clothed in beauty
As splendid as the ligh
As brilliant as the rays of the sun

The End of Time (in Hebrew)

Healing shall fall like dew
And the pains and sighs of affliction vanish from mankind
And joy shall cover all the earth
The wild animals shall come forth from the forest
And allow themselves to be led by the small child

Hymn (in Hebrew)

The heavens shall rejoice
And the earth exult
And the clouds be glad
And HE shall open the gates of paradise
And cast away the frigthful sword
From mankind
And then shall rejoice
Abraham Isaac and Jacob
And I too shall rejoice
And all the saints will be arrayed in joy