October 2013 - Classical Music

Bach, J.S.

• Nun ist das Heil und die Kraft (Now is come salvation and strength)
• Du sollt Gott, deinen Herren, lieben (You shall love the Lord your God)
• Bringet dem Herrn Ehre seines Namens (Give to the Lord the glory due to his name)
• French Suite No.6

Barber

• Hermit Songs
• Melodies Passageres
• Souvenirs (solo piano version, 2 movements only)

Beethoven - Piano Sonata No.30
Bridge

• Phantasm
• Rebus
• Todessehnsucht (string orchestra version)
• A Royal Night of Variety

Delibes - Coppelia
Dvorak - Cello Concerto
Faure - La chanson d'Eve
Faure - Barcarolle No.8
Haydn - Piano Trio No.30
Hindemith - Kammermusik Nos. 2 and 3
Janacek - Glagolitic Mass
Liszt - From the Cradle to the Grave
Mahler - Piano Quartet movement
Mozart - Symphony No.39
Mozart - Piano Sonata No.16
Poulenc

• Sextet
• Elegie for horn and piano
• Improvisation No.15

Rachmaninov - Piano Concerto No.2
Ravel - Sonatine
Ravel - Miroirs
Scarlatti, D. - Keyboard sonatas - K.1, 27, 283, 284, 443
Schubert - Piano Sonata in E, D.157 (unfinished)
Schumann - Kreisleriana
Schumann - Kinderszenen (Scenes from Childhood)
Vivaldi

• Beatus vir in B flat
• Laudate pueri in C minor
• Laudate pueri in A

I'm continuing to revisit the Vivaldi sacred music that I originally bought in 2011, with a more systematic approach. The C minor version of Laudate pueri (Psalm 113 or 112, depending on which denomination's Bible you're using), was a particular highlight. That's mostly thanks to the singing of Susan Gritton on the version that I have, which is incredibly beautiful, particularly in a couple of the slow movements.

Someone has put the whole performance on Youtube. I've only put the second half in here, partly because it happens to start with one of the movements that I find especially magical - it's just over 2 minutes of utter bliss. If you want to hear the whole thing, I'm sure you can manage it!

Some excellent Samuel Barber works were on the October listening schedule. Melodies passageres (which I think are his only songs not in English) was improved from all my previous listens simply because this time I had access to a translation!  But I like the Hermit Songs even better. They are in turns visionary and humorous.

But the things I probably listened to most enthusiastically, and several times over, were the Ravel piano works.  In my chronological revisiting of Ravel, I've reached works that really mark him, for me, as one of the great composers for piano. Sonatine is a piece of great clarity and beauty, showing Ravel's liking for combining old and new styles.  Miroirs is... well, it's a masterpiece.  Five wonderful pieces full of atmosphere, character and amazing harmonies. He turns a piano into fluttering moths, bird calls, a rolling ocean, a Spanish guitar, and tolling bells - and it all works.