Today's ears!
In the car on the way to and from work:
Smetana - Ma Vlast
Smetana - String Quartets
On my phone while walking:
Mozart - Piano Concerto K488
At work, on my earphones:
Ligeti - Le Grand Macabre
At home this afternoon:
Beethoven - Piano Concertos No.5 and No.2
Bach - Goldberg Variations
This evening:
Beethoven - Triple Concerto
No comments. That's it!
Wednesday, 30 September 2009
Tuesday, 29 September 2009
Tuesday 29th September 2009
In the car on the way to work:
Schubert - Symphonies 1-3
On my phone, while walking:
Bach/Rummel - Various piano transcriptions (see very first post for details).
At a friend's house, on the web:
Blumenfeld - Etude pour la main gauche seule (James Rhodes)
At friend's house, on my phone:
Shostakovich - Symphony No.10/II
On the way home from work:
Chopin - Piano Concerto No.1
This evening:
Beethoven - Triple Concerto
That's it!
Schubert - Symphonies 1-3
On my phone, while walking:
Bach/Rummel - Various piano transcriptions (see very first post for details).
At a friend's house, on the web:
Blumenfeld - Etude pour la main gauche seule (James Rhodes)
At friend's house, on my phone:
Shostakovich - Symphony No.10/II
On the way home from work:
Chopin - Piano Concerto No.1
This evening:
Beethoven - Triple Concerto
That's it!
Monday 28th September 2009
A more normal day for the ears!
In the car:
Beethoven - Piano Sonata Op.109
At home:
Chopin - Piano Sonata No.2 Op.35
Chopin - Etudes Op.25
Sibelius - Symphony No.2
Sibelius - Symphony No.3
Schumann - Symphonies 1-4
Beethoven - Triple Concerto
Quite symphonic & pianistic!
In the car:
Beethoven - Piano Sonata Op.109
At home:
Chopin - Piano Sonata No.2 Op.35
Chopin - Etudes Op.25
Sibelius - Symphony No.2
Sibelius - Symphony No.3
Schumann - Symphonies 1-4
Beethoven - Triple Concerto
Quite symphonic & pianistic!
Sunday 27th September 2009
A very quiet day. Just:
Bach - Christmas Oratorio (Parts 4-6).
That was all!
Bach - Christmas Oratorio (Parts 4-6).
That was all!
Monday, 28 September 2009
Saturday 26th September 2009
This was a very very special day for the ears!
It started normally enough with:
Beethoven - Triple Concerto
Brahms - Double Concerto
Schumann - Piano Concerto
Grieg - Piano Concerto
Handel - Fireworks Music and Water Music
Intermediate comment: Hadn't heard the Schumann for years, which I now realise was because the tape is missing (unfindable even after a lengthy search - if you see it, it has a red spine and the Grieg on the other side, do let me know). Spotify to the rescue. VERY VERY nostalgic.
Then, prompted by a tweet from @iamamro:
Bach - Christmas Oratorio, Parts 1-3
Out of season, very unusual choice for September, but the tweet meant that I had to do it.
Then, in the car:
Blur - Midlife (end of)
Muse - Black Holes & Revelations (about half of)
And then the real treat of the day, James Rhodes, live at the Tabernacle in Notting Hill.
Marcello arr. JSB - Adagio from Oboe Concerto in D Minor
Beethoven - Sonata No.30 Op.109
Moszkowski - Etincelles
Blumenfeld - Etude pour la main gauche seule
Chopin - Polonaise-Fantasie Op.61
Chopin - Etude Op.25/12
Chopin - Ballade No.4 Op.52
And then (if my memory serves me correctly):
Chopin - 2 songs, sung by Natalia Romaniw
Bellini - from La Somnambula, again sung by Natalia Romaniw
Chopin - Last mvmt from Sonata No.3
Chopin - Prelude Op.28/4 (may have been before Sonata).
Groovy version of "alla turca" rondo
I've spent the last 3 days trying to think of something to say about such an amazing gig, and have so far failed. I may think of words later. I'll keep you posted.
On the way home in the car, I couldn't go back to Muse, yet couldn't cope with silence while trying to stay awake on the M40, so we had:
Beethoven - Piano Sonatas Opp81a-109 (quite softly).
It started normally enough with:
Beethoven - Triple Concerto
Brahms - Double Concerto
Schumann - Piano Concerto
Grieg - Piano Concerto
Handel - Fireworks Music and Water Music
Intermediate comment: Hadn't heard the Schumann for years, which I now realise was because the tape is missing (unfindable even after a lengthy search - if you see it, it has a red spine and the Grieg on the other side, do let me know). Spotify to the rescue. VERY VERY nostalgic.
Then, prompted by a tweet from @iamamro:
Bach - Christmas Oratorio, Parts 1-3
Out of season, very unusual choice for September, but the tweet meant that I had to do it.
Then, in the car:
Blur - Midlife (end of)
Muse - Black Holes & Revelations (about half of)
And then the real treat of the day, James Rhodes, live at the Tabernacle in Notting Hill.
Marcello arr. JSB - Adagio from Oboe Concerto in D Minor
Beethoven - Sonata No.30 Op.109
Moszkowski - Etincelles
Blumenfeld - Etude pour la main gauche seule
Chopin - Polonaise-Fantasie Op.61
Chopin - Etude Op.25/12
Chopin - Ballade No.4 Op.52
And then (if my memory serves me correctly):
Chopin - 2 songs, sung by Natalia Romaniw
Bellini - from La Somnambula, again sung by Natalia Romaniw
Chopin - Last mvmt from Sonata No.3
Chopin - Prelude Op.28/4 (may have been before Sonata).
Groovy version of "alla turca" rondo
I've spent the last 3 days trying to think of something to say about such an amazing gig, and have so far failed. I may think of words later. I'll keep you posted.
On the way home in the car, I couldn't go back to Muse, yet couldn't cope with silence while trying to stay awake on the M40, so we had:
Beethoven - Piano Sonatas Opp81a-109 (quite softly).
Saturday, 26 September 2009
Friday 25th September 2009
And here are the ears for Friday!
In the car on the way to work:
Kasabian - West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum
On my phone while walking:
Beethoven - Spring Sonata
In the car on the way home from work:
Blur - Midlife
In the evening:
Beethoven - Triple Concerto
In the car on the way to work:
Kasabian - West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum
On my phone while walking:
Beethoven - Spring Sonata
In the car on the way home from work:
Blur - Midlife
In the evening:
Beethoven - Triple Concerto
Thursday 24th September 2009
Here are the ears!
On a few short car journeys the beginning of:
Kasabian - West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum
At home:
New Order - Substance 1987 (disc 1)
Scarlatti - Sonatas Kk 49-80, 82-87, 92-93
Miklos Rozsa - Viola Concerto Op.37, Hungarian Serenade Op.25
The Molotovs - And The Heads Did Roll (bought at gig previous night)
Passion Pit - Manners
Later, from Spotify:
Beethoven - Overtures: Coriolan, Prometheus, Ruins of Athens, Fidelio, Leonore x3, Egmont.
On a few short car journeys the beginning of:
Kasabian - West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum
At home:
New Order - Substance 1987 (disc 1)
Scarlatti - Sonatas Kk 49-80, 82-87, 92-93
Miklos Rozsa - Viola Concerto Op.37, Hungarian Serenade Op.25
The Molotovs - And The Heads Did Roll (bought at gig previous night)
Passion Pit - Manners
Later, from Spotify:
Beethoven - Overtures: Coriolan, Prometheus, Ruins of Athens, Fidelio, Leonore x3, Egmont.
Wednesday 23rd September 2009
A slightly late posting of Wednesday's ears - hopefully better late than never!
In the car on the way to work:
The Kills - Midnight Boom
Reverend & The Makers - The State of Things
On my phone while walking:
Britten - Death in Venice (latter part of Act I)
In the car on the way to Boxer Rebellion Gig:
The Boxer Rebellion - Union
Pendulum - In Silico
At the gig:
Sets by support bands Broken Links and The Molotovs
Set by The Boxer Rebellion:
These Walls Are Thin
Flight
Semi-Automatic
Evacuate
We Have This Place Surrounded
Cowboys & Engines
Soviets
Flashing Red Light Means Go
Both Sides Are Even (NEW!!)
Forces
Misplaced
The New Heavy
Watermelon
Great evening!!!
On the way home in the car:
Radiohead - Best Of
Elbow - Seldom Seen Kid
In the car on the way to work:
The Kills - Midnight Boom
Reverend & The Makers - The State of Things
On my phone while walking:
Britten - Death in Venice (latter part of Act I)
In the car on the way to Boxer Rebellion Gig:
The Boxer Rebellion - Union
Pendulum - In Silico
At the gig:
Sets by support bands Broken Links and The Molotovs
Set by The Boxer Rebellion:
These Walls Are Thin
Flight
Semi-Automatic
Evacuate
We Have This Place Surrounded
Cowboys & Engines
Soviets
Flashing Red Light Means Go
Both Sides Are Even (NEW!!)
Forces
Misplaced
The New Heavy
Watermelon
Great evening!!!
On the way home in the car:
Radiohead - Best Of
Elbow - Seldom Seen Kid
Tuesday, 22 September 2009
Tuesday 22nd September 2009
In the car on the way to work:
Green Day - American Idiot
On my phone while walking:
Britten - Death in Venice (Act I)
On the way home from work:
Bartok - String Quartets 1 & 3
This afternoon & evening:
Scarlatti - Sonatas Kk1-48
That's all folks!
Green Day - American Idiot
On my phone while walking:
Britten - Death in Venice (Act I)
On the way home from work:
Bartok - String Quartets 1 & 3
This afternoon & evening:
Scarlatti - Sonatas Kk1-48
That's all folks!
Monday 21st September 2009
Sorry folks, yet another late post. Struggling a bit to keep up with my own ears at the moment!!
Went for a day out in London. On the way there and back in the car we had:
Reverend & The Makers - French Kiss in the Chaos
The Dead Weather - Horehound
Arctic Monkeys - Favourite Worst Nightmare
The Streets - Everything is Borrowed
Elbow - Seldom Seen Kid
Bloc Party - Intimacy
On getting home I listened to:
Brahms - Violin Sonatas 1-3
Also heard all sorts of snippets in shops and so on!
Went for a day out in London. On the way there and back in the car we had:
Reverend & The Makers - French Kiss in the Chaos
The Dead Weather - Horehound
Arctic Monkeys - Favourite Worst Nightmare
The Streets - Everything is Borrowed
Elbow - Seldom Seen Kid
Bloc Party - Intimacy
On getting home I listened to:
Brahms - Violin Sonatas 1-3
Also heard all sorts of snippets in shops and so on!
Sunday, 20 September 2009
Sunday 20th September 2009
Today's ears are rather few - too much time asleep on the sofa!
Beethoven - Triple Concerto
Brahms - Double Concerto
Coldplay - X&Y
Muse - The Resistance
Now ending the day with:
Bach - Cantatas No.140 and No.80
That's all for today!
Beethoven - Triple Concerto
Brahms - Double Concerto
Coldplay - X&Y
Muse - The Resistance
Now ending the day with:
Bach - Cantatas No.140 and No.80
That's all for today!
Saturday, 19 September 2009
Saturday 19th September 2009
Here are today's ears, all at home in my study:
Beethoven - Diabelli Variations
Mozart - Die Entfuhrung aus dem Serail
Mozart - Symphonies No.39 & No.29
Faure - Requiem
Shostakovich - Symphony No.4 (promted by tweet from @5357311)
That's it! Quite a short post really.
Beethoven - Diabelli Variations
Mozart - Die Entfuhrung aus dem Serail
Mozart - Symphonies No.39 & No.29
Faure - Requiem
Shostakovich - Symphony No.4 (promted by tweet from @5357311)
That's it! Quite a short post really.
Friday 18th September 2009
A little late, but here are yesterday's ears!
In the car on the way to work:
Mozart - Clarinet Concerto, Bassoon Concerto, Oboe Concerto.
On my phone, while walking:
Dvorak - Symphony No.6
On the way home from work:
Schubert - Piano Trio D898
At home in the evening:
Nirvana - Nirvana
Later:
Mozart - Quintet for Piano & Wind K452 (recommended by @iamamro)
Comment: Dvorak's 6th Symphony. This is a great one for me, because I played it with an orchestra I used to be in (and was chairman of for a while), when I was in a particularly happy and stable state. One of the few times in my life where my income was almost enough to cover my expenditure, I had a rewarding job during the day, and a decent social & musical life outside of work time. Consequently, it's a very happy sort of a piece for me. Although the stability didn't last, the associations of that time with Dvorak 6 are still very much with me, which is, I think, why I keep it on my phone.
In the car on the way to work:
Mozart - Clarinet Concerto, Bassoon Concerto, Oboe Concerto.
On my phone, while walking:
Dvorak - Symphony No.6
On the way home from work:
Schubert - Piano Trio D898
At home in the evening:
Nirvana - Nirvana
Later:
Mozart - Quintet for Piano & Wind K452 (recommended by @iamamro)
Comment: Dvorak's 6th Symphony. This is a great one for me, because I played it with an orchestra I used to be in (and was chairman of for a while), when I was in a particularly happy and stable state. One of the few times in my life where my income was almost enough to cover my expenditure, I had a rewarding job during the day, and a decent social & musical life outside of work time. Consequently, it's a very happy sort of a piece for me. Although the stability didn't last, the associations of that time with Dvorak 6 are still very much with me, which is, I think, why I keep it on my phone.
Thursday, 17 September 2009
Thursday 17th September 2009
Here are today's ears!
In the car:
Mozart - Clarinet Concerto (1st Movement)
At home this morning, while demolishing my study:
Mozart - Flute Quartets in D, A, C and G, Sinfonia Concertante in Eb K279B
Mozart - Flute Concertos in G & D, Concerto for Flute & Harp
Handel - Music for the Fireworks, Water Music Suites 1 & 2
Schubert - String Quintet (several times)
This afternoon, on repeat, zillions of times:
Muse - The Resistance
I should imagine the Muse will be on until bedtime, so I can safely post this now!
In the car:
Mozart - Clarinet Concerto (1st Movement)
At home this morning, while demolishing my study:
Mozart - Flute Quartets in D, A, C and G, Sinfonia Concertante in Eb K279B
Mozart - Flute Concertos in G & D, Concerto for Flute & Harp
Handel - Music for the Fireworks, Water Music Suites 1 & 2
Schubert - String Quintet (several times)
This afternoon, on repeat, zillions of times:
Muse - The Resistance
I should imagine the Muse will be on until bedtime, so I can safely post this now!
Wednesday, 16 September 2009
Wednesday 16th September 2009
Here are today's ears!
In the car on the way to work:
Mozart - C Minor mass (nearly all)
At work, on youtube, tweeted about by @MMmusing:
Beethoven - Cello Sonata No.3, 1st mvmt (Ma & Ax)
During my walk - on my phone:
The Boxer Rebellion - Union
On the way home in the car:
Mozart - C Minor mass (end)
Mozart - Linz Symphony
At home:
Mozart - Flute Concertos in G, D. Andante in C, Flute & Harp Concerto
In an early bath:
Bach - St Matthew Passion (first 30 mins or so)
On Spotify following tweet & fb recommendation by @iamamro:
Vivaldi - Concerto for 2 trumpets in C Major RV537
Vivaldi - Concerto in Bb RV548
Vivaldi - Concertos Op.8 No.s 5 onwards.
Apologies for the lack of comments on ears recently. Been a bit busy, so just keeping up with what I've listened to has been all I've managed. Will try to return to slightly more interesting posts soon.
In the car on the way to work:
Mozart - C Minor mass (nearly all)
At work, on youtube, tweeted about by @MMmusing:
Beethoven - Cello Sonata No.3, 1st mvmt (Ma & Ax)
During my walk - on my phone:
The Boxer Rebellion - Union
On the way home in the car:
Mozart - C Minor mass (end)
Mozart - Linz Symphony
At home:
Mozart - Flute Concertos in G, D. Andante in C, Flute & Harp Concerto
In an early bath:
Bach - St Matthew Passion (first 30 mins or so)
On Spotify following tweet & fb recommendation by @iamamro:
Vivaldi - Concerto for 2 trumpets in C Major RV537
Vivaldi - Concerto in Bb RV548
Vivaldi - Concertos Op.8 No.s 5 onwards.
Apologies for the lack of comments on ears recently. Been a bit busy, so just keeping up with what I've listened to has been all I've managed. Will try to return to slightly more interesting posts soon.
Tuesday 15th September 2009
In the car on the way to and from work:
Haydn - Symphonies No.103 and 104
Mozart - Piano Sonata K457
Mozart - Piano Concerto K488
During my walk, on my phone:
Schubert - String Quintet Movements 1&2
Back home:
Schubert - String Quintet Complete (several times)
That's it!
Haydn - Symphonies No.103 and 104
Mozart - Piano Sonata K457
Mozart - Piano Concerto K488
During my walk, on my phone:
Schubert - String Quintet Movements 1&2
Back home:
Schubert - String Quintet Complete (several times)
That's it!
Monday, 14 September 2009
Monday 14th September 2009
Ears for today!
In the car while on wife taxi duty:
Haydn - Symphony No.102
At home, while failing miserably to get maths done:
Berlioz - Symphonie Fantastique (Norrington, LCP)
Schumann - Liederkreis Op.39, Frauenliebe und Leben Op.42 (Felicity Lott)
Schubert - Winterreise & Erlkonig (Fischer-Dieskau)
Berlioz - Harold in Italy, Rob Roy, Corsair overtures
Sibelius - Symphony No.2, Pohjola's Daughter, Swan of Tuonela, Lemminkainen's Return
Sibelius - Violin Concerto, Finlandia, Tapiola, Symphony No.7
So songs, Berlioz and Sibelius then!!
In the car while on wife taxi duty:
Haydn - Symphony No.102
At home, while failing miserably to get maths done:
Berlioz - Symphonie Fantastique (Norrington, LCP)
Schumann - Liederkreis Op.39, Frauenliebe und Leben Op.42 (Felicity Lott)
Schubert - Winterreise & Erlkonig (Fischer-Dieskau)
Berlioz - Harold in Italy, Rob Roy, Corsair overtures
Sibelius - Symphony No.2, Pohjola's Daughter, Swan of Tuonela, Lemminkainen's Return
Sibelius - Violin Concerto, Finlandia, Tapiola, Symphony No.7
So songs, Berlioz and Sibelius then!!
Sunday, 13 September 2009
Sunday 13th September 2009
A very quiet day today. Lots of snoozing and TV, so not much music. Just:
Handel - Fireworks Music, Water Music (both suites)
Beethoven - Piano Concertos No.5 and No.2
Did listen to the Handel several times, and the Beethoven's on for the second time now, but that's it I'm afraid!!!
Handel - Fireworks Music, Water Music (both suites)
Beethoven - Piano Concertos No.5 and No.2
Did listen to the Handel several times, and the Beethoven's on for the second time now, but that's it I'm afraid!!!
Saturday, 12 September 2009
Saturday 12th September 2009
The day started off with another online playing of:
Muse - The Resistance
Then continued with the whole of:
Ligeti - Le Grand Macabre
Then:
Scriabin - Symphony No.1
This evening:
The Last Night of The Proms
Oliver Knussen - Flourish with Fireworks
Purcell, arr. Henry Wood - New Suite
Purcell Dido and Aeneas – 'Thy hand, Belinda ... When I am laid in earth' (Dido's Lament); 'With drooping wings ye cupids come'
Haydn - Trumpet Concerto in E flat major
Mahler - Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen
Villa-Lobos - Chôros No.10, 'Rasga o Coração'
Arnold - A Grand, Grand Overture
Ketèlbey - In a Monastery Garden
Piazzolla - Libertango
Gershwin, arr. Barry Forgie - Shall We Dance'They can't take that away from me'
BBC Proms Inspire composers Fireworks Fanfares world premiere
Handel - Music for the Royal Fireworks – excerpts
Arne, arr. Sargent - Rule, Britannia!
Parry - Jerusalem
Elgar - Pomp and Circumstance March No.1
The National Anthem
If I have music in the bath a bit later on it will be:
Bach - St Matthew Passion
Muse - The Resistance
Then continued with the whole of:
Ligeti - Le Grand Macabre
Then:
Scriabin - Symphony No.1
This evening:
The Last Night of The Proms
Oliver Knussen - Flourish with Fireworks
Purcell, arr. Henry Wood - New Suite
Purcell Dido and Aeneas – 'Thy hand, Belinda ... When I am laid in earth' (Dido's Lament); 'With drooping wings ye cupids come'
Haydn - Trumpet Concerto in E flat major
Mahler - Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen
Villa-Lobos - Chôros No.10, 'Rasga o Coração'
Arnold - A Grand, Grand Overture
Ketèlbey - In a Monastery Garden
Piazzolla - Libertango
Gershwin, arr. Barry Forgie - Shall We Dance'They can't take that away from me'
BBC Proms Inspire composers Fireworks Fanfares world premiere
Handel - Music for the Royal Fireworks – excerpts
Arne, arr. Sargent - Rule, Britannia!
Parry - Jerusalem
Elgar - Pomp and Circumstance March No.1
The National Anthem
If I have music in the bath a bit later on it will be:
Bach - St Matthew Passion
Friday, 11 September 2009
Friday 11th September 2009
And now to today's ears.
In the car today going to and from work:
Handel - Acis & Galatea (end of)
Haydn - Harpsichord Concerto in D
Haydn - 'Hornsignal' Symphony
Haydn - 'Clock' Symphony
At work, from their facebook link:
Muse - The Resistance (first full hearing)
This evening:
Mozart - Church Sonatas (complete)
Beethoven - Choral Fantasia
Comments:
1. MUSE - LOVE IT. WANT IT. MONDAY!!!!!
2. Beethoven's Choral Fantasia is a crazy mixed up animal, but I love it anyway!
In the car today going to and from work:
Handel - Acis & Galatea (end of)
Haydn - Harpsichord Concerto in D
Haydn - 'Hornsignal' Symphony
Haydn - 'Clock' Symphony
At work, from their facebook link:
Muse - The Resistance (first full hearing)
This evening:
Mozart - Church Sonatas (complete)
Beethoven - Choral Fantasia
Comments:
1. MUSE - LOVE IT. WANT IT. MONDAY!!!!!
2. Beethoven's Choral Fantasia is a crazy mixed up animal, but I love it anyway!
Thursday 10th September 2009
Hello, here are the ears for yesterday!
In the car, bits of:
Handel - Acis & Galatea
At home:
Beethoven - Triple Concerto
Bach - Cantatas BWV 140 and BWV 80
Shostakovich - Symphony No. 10
In the evening, in the bath:
Bach - St Matthew Passion
A much shorter day than the 9th!!
In the car, bits of:
Handel - Acis & Galatea
At home:
Beethoven - Triple Concerto
Bach - Cantatas BWV 140 and BWV 80
Shostakovich - Symphony No. 10
In the evening, in the bath:
Bach - St Matthew Passion
A much shorter day than the 9th!!
Wednesday, 9 September 2009
Wednesday 9th September 2009
Well dear followers and readers of the ears, it has been a bit of a special day today!
The more numberly orientated of you will have noticed that today's date is 09/09/09, and a few weeks ago @DrGeoduck tweeted something along the lines of "Who's going to listen to nine ninth symphonies on 09/09/09?" So I thought I would. I believe several other tweeps were doing so too, including @Danksound, @MahlerFan2 and possibly @Wheresrunnicles.
Most of this post will therefore be about the ninth symphonies!
However, in the car I've heard snippets of:
Handel - Acis & Galatea.
Now to the nine ninth symphonies. They were:
Beethoven - in D minor Op.125 - Berlin Phil, Herbert von Karajan
Vaughan Williams - in E Minor - RLPO, Vernon Handley
Mozart - in C Major K.73 - Northern Chamber Orchestra, Nicholas Ward
Bruckner - in D minor - BBC Phil, Bernhard Klee
Schubert - in C D944 - LPO, Adrian Boult
Malcolm Arnold - Op.128 - National Symph Orch of Ireland, Andrew Penny
Shostakovich - in Eb Major Op.70 - WDR Sinfonieorchester, Rudolf Barshai
Mahler - Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Leonard Bernstein
Dvorak - Op.95 - Berliner Philharmonkier, Rafael Kubelik
And that was the order in which I listened to them. An order selected partly on familiarity - interspersing works with which I was very familiar (Schubert the most familiar of all - my little brother even used to rock his high chair to it when we were very small, and Malcolm Arnold the least familiar - my first ever hearing), and partly on trying to get contrasting works next to each other - the briefer works being generally juxtaposed against the weightier ones. I started with Beethoven because I knew I'd be missing my morningly Triple Concerto, and ended with Dvorak because I love it!
On the grounds that they were all "Symphony No.9", and because people may be interested, I decided to say which recordings they were. In general, I'm afraid, I choose my recordings often on the basis of price, because I simply can't afford to get all the expensive ones. Nor, generally do I own multiple recordings of very many pieces - if I'm to own a second recording of one piece, it often means there is something else I can't have at all, so multiple recordings come at the expense of more repertoire, and I generally go for more repertoire. In these days of Spotify and so on I do get chance to hear more recordings, so that's an improvement, but being a recording afficionado will have to wait until I have a little more spending money!!
In addition, I left the CDs on after some of the symphonies and heard:
Vaughan Williams - Fantasia on Greensleeves (played an arrangement for grade 5 viola!)
Mozart - Symphony No.10
Shostakovich - Symphony No.10
It was quite some experience listening to that much symphonic music, and quite so much "heavy romantic" music. So the ears then had a little rest!
To finish the day I moved onto something a little different:
Louis Armstrong - What a Wonderful World (recommended by @iamamro)
About 6 further tracks from the Album Louis Armstrong & Friends (on Spotify)
Early evening:
Amy Winehouse - Back to Black (with the extra bonus disc)
Really a very interesting way to have selected a day's listening. I'm wondering about possibilities for the future. Maybe listening to all the Op.1s I can get my hands on on New Year's day or some such. I'll keep you posted if I come up with anything jolly!
In the meantime, I thought today's little adventure merited a photograph:
The more numberly orientated of you will have noticed that today's date is 09/09/09, and a few weeks ago @DrGeoduck tweeted something along the lines of "Who's going to listen to nine ninth symphonies on 09/09/09?" So I thought I would. I believe several other tweeps were doing so too, including @Danksound, @MahlerFan2 and possibly @Wheresrunnicles.
Most of this post will therefore be about the ninth symphonies!
However, in the car I've heard snippets of:
Handel - Acis & Galatea.
Now to the nine ninth symphonies. They were:
Beethoven - in D minor Op.125 - Berlin Phil, Herbert von Karajan
Vaughan Williams - in E Minor - RLPO, Vernon Handley
Mozart - in C Major K.73 - Northern Chamber Orchestra, Nicholas Ward
Bruckner - in D minor - BBC Phil, Bernhard Klee
Schubert - in C D944 - LPO, Adrian Boult
Malcolm Arnold - Op.128 - National Symph Orch of Ireland, Andrew Penny
Shostakovich - in Eb Major Op.70 - WDR Sinfonieorchester, Rudolf Barshai
Mahler - Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Leonard Bernstein
Dvorak - Op.95 - Berliner Philharmonkier, Rafael Kubelik
And that was the order in which I listened to them. An order selected partly on familiarity - interspersing works with which I was very familiar (Schubert the most familiar of all - my little brother even used to rock his high chair to it when we were very small, and Malcolm Arnold the least familiar - my first ever hearing), and partly on trying to get contrasting works next to each other - the briefer works being generally juxtaposed against the weightier ones. I started with Beethoven because I knew I'd be missing my morningly Triple Concerto, and ended with Dvorak because I love it!
On the grounds that they were all "Symphony No.9", and because people may be interested, I decided to say which recordings they were. In general, I'm afraid, I choose my recordings often on the basis of price, because I simply can't afford to get all the expensive ones. Nor, generally do I own multiple recordings of very many pieces - if I'm to own a second recording of one piece, it often means there is something else I can't have at all, so multiple recordings come at the expense of more repertoire, and I generally go for more repertoire. In these days of Spotify and so on I do get chance to hear more recordings, so that's an improvement, but being a recording afficionado will have to wait until I have a little more spending money!!
In addition, I left the CDs on after some of the symphonies and heard:
Vaughan Williams - Fantasia on Greensleeves (played an arrangement for grade 5 viola!)
Mozart - Symphony No.10
Shostakovich - Symphony No.10
It was quite some experience listening to that much symphonic music, and quite so much "heavy romantic" music. So the ears then had a little rest!
To finish the day I moved onto something a little different:
Louis Armstrong - What a Wonderful World (recommended by @iamamro)
About 6 further tracks from the Album Louis Armstrong & Friends (on Spotify)
Early evening:
Amy Winehouse - Back to Black (with the extra bonus disc)
Really a very interesting way to have selected a day's listening. I'm wondering about possibilities for the future. Maybe listening to all the Op.1s I can get my hands on on New Year's day or some such. I'll keep you posted if I come up with anything jolly!
In the meantime, I thought today's little adventure merited a photograph:
Tuesday, 8 September 2009
Tuesday 8th September 2009
After yesterday's mammoth typing effort I've tried to listen to longer pieces today!
In the car, the opening of:
Handel - Acis & Galatea
At home:
Handel - Acis & Galatea (complete)
Beethoven - Triple Concerto
Brahms - Double Concerto
Wagner - Lohengrin (yes, all of it)
Mendelssohn - Elijah
Beethoven - Piano Concertos 5 & 2
I've got TV on at the moment, but if I listen to more music tonight it'll probably be the Beethoven Piano Concertos again. Unlikely though.
Watch out for tomorrow's post - should be a special one for 09/09/09!
In the car, the opening of:
Handel - Acis & Galatea
At home:
Handel - Acis & Galatea (complete)
Beethoven - Triple Concerto
Brahms - Double Concerto
Wagner - Lohengrin (yes, all of it)
Mendelssohn - Elijah
Beethoven - Piano Concertos 5 & 2
I've got TV on at the moment, but if I listen to more music tonight it'll probably be the Beethoven Piano Concertos again. Unlikely though.
Watch out for tomorrow's post - should be a special one for 09/09/09!
Monday, 7 September 2009
Monday 7th September 2009
Hello, here are today's ears!
Car music today:
Handel - Nisi Dominus
Home music today:
Beethoven - Triple Concerto (did you guess?)
Brahms - Double Concerto
Beethoven - Symphony No.3
Beethoven - Grosse Fuge (orchestrated)
Then a couple of old tape compilations that I happened to locate:
One I called "Music for Warm Afternoons"
Brahms - 1st mvmt of vln sonata No.1
Schubert - 2nd mvmt of string quintet
Brahms - 2nd mvmt of vln concerto
Haydn - 4th mvmt of symphony 31
Chopin - E Major prelude Op.28
Brahms - slow mvmt from Op.18 sextet
Tchaikovsky - slow mvmt from symphony 1
Schubert - 2nd mvmt D959 piano sonata
Beethoven - slow mvmt Symphony 7
Villa-Lobos - Aria Bachiana Brasiliera 5
The other I called "Slow Music for Wistful Moods"
Wagner - Prelude to Lohengrin
Mendelssohn - Op.44 No.3 slow mvmt
Liszt - Consolation No.3
Brahms - Symphony No.1 slow mvmt
Taverner - O Wilhelme Pastor Bone
Mozart - Linz symphony slow mvmt
Britten - Phaedrus dialogue from Death in Venice
Brahms - Funeral Hymn
Haydn - Op.76 No.5 slow mvmt
Beethoven - Slow mvmt from Pathetique sonata
Mozart - Slow mvmt from Gran Partita
Bruch - Kol Nidre (played by Huberman)
Pergolesi - Quando Corpus from Stabat Mater
Schumann - Dichterliebe no.s 10 & 12
Mozart - Masonic Funeral Music
Crumbs, that was rather more typing than I bargained for!
Then:
Tchaikovsky - Symphony No.6, Romeo & Juliet Overture, Symphony No.5, Capriccio Italien
The compilations both date from 1995. I used to be very keen on making such things. These days I tend to listen to whole works and don't really do odd movements in quite the way I used to. However, most of those pieces (even just the isolated movements) are such favourites of mine. I also find it quite interesting to know what I was listening to back then. These compilations are on cassette, so it would have taken me a bit of time to make them. I've also written every track on the outside of the box, which would have taken even longer.
Car music today:
Handel - Nisi Dominus
Home music today:
Beethoven - Triple Concerto (did you guess?)
Brahms - Double Concerto
Beethoven - Symphony No.3
Beethoven - Grosse Fuge (orchestrated)
Then a couple of old tape compilations that I happened to locate:
One I called "Music for Warm Afternoons"
Brahms - 1st mvmt of vln sonata No.1
Schubert - 2nd mvmt of string quintet
Brahms - 2nd mvmt of vln concerto
Haydn - 4th mvmt of symphony 31
Chopin - E Major prelude Op.28
Brahms - slow mvmt from Op.18 sextet
Tchaikovsky - slow mvmt from symphony 1
Schubert - 2nd mvmt D959 piano sonata
Beethoven - slow mvmt Symphony 7
Villa-Lobos - Aria Bachiana Brasiliera 5
The other I called "Slow Music for Wistful Moods"
Wagner - Prelude to Lohengrin
Mendelssohn - Op.44 No.3 slow mvmt
Liszt - Consolation No.3
Brahms - Symphony No.1 slow mvmt
Taverner - O Wilhelme Pastor Bone
Mozart - Linz symphony slow mvmt
Britten - Phaedrus dialogue from Death in Venice
Brahms - Funeral Hymn
Haydn - Op.76 No.5 slow mvmt
Beethoven - Slow mvmt from Pathetique sonata
Mozart - Slow mvmt from Gran Partita
Bruch - Kol Nidre (played by Huberman)
Pergolesi - Quando Corpus from Stabat Mater
Schumann - Dichterliebe no.s 10 & 12
Mozart - Masonic Funeral Music
Crumbs, that was rather more typing than I bargained for!
Then:
Tchaikovsky - Symphony No.6, Romeo & Juliet Overture, Symphony No.5, Capriccio Italien
The compilations both date from 1995. I used to be very keen on making such things. These days I tend to listen to whole works and don't really do odd movements in quite the way I used to. However, most of those pieces (even just the isolated movements) are such favourites of mine. I also find it quite interesting to know what I was listening to back then. These compilations are on cassette, so it would have taken me a bit of time to make them. I've also written every track on the outside of the box, which would have taken even longer.
Sunday, 6 September 2009
Sunday 6th September 2009
Here are today's ears.
First thing this morning:
Beethoven - Triple Concerto (yes, I KNOW you've had this before)
Brahms - Double Concerto
Then:
Beethoven - String Quartets Op.18 No.1, Op.59 No.1, Op.18 No.2, Op.18 No.6, Op.135, Op.18 No.3, Op.18 No.5, Op.95.
Apparently random order created by the way they've been arranged on my CD box set (Alban Berg Quartett). A bit bonkers I know.
This evening:
Schubert - Trout Quintet (and if I'm here late enough I'll get Death & The Maiden too).
Fairly simple apart from the crazy Beethoven quartet ordering. Must do something about that.
First thing this morning:
Beethoven - Triple Concerto (yes, I KNOW you've had this before)
Brahms - Double Concerto
Then:
Beethoven - String Quartets Op.18 No.1, Op.59 No.1, Op.18 No.2, Op.18 No.6, Op.135, Op.18 No.3, Op.18 No.5, Op.95.
Apparently random order created by the way they've been arranged on my CD box set (Alban Berg Quartett). A bit bonkers I know.
This evening:
Schubert - Trout Quintet (and if I'm here late enough I'll get Death & The Maiden too).
Fairly simple apart from the crazy Beethoven quartet ordering. Must do something about that.
Saturday, 5 September 2009
Saturday 5th September 2009
Finally, doing the ears on the correct day!
At home all day today. Started off with:
Beethoven - Triple Concerto (is this getting familiar?)
Brahms - Double Concerto
Then, prompted by a bunch of tweets last night from @wheresrunnicles, @_FK_, @Cigleris
Bach - The Art of Fugue (Walcha)
Bach - 18 Chorales of Diverse Kinds, Schubler Chorales, Chorale Partita "Sei gegrusset"
Then the prom broadcast on BBC2:
Purcell - Abdelazer suite: No.1 Overture; No.5 Minuett ; No.3 Aire (in D major); No.8 Hornpipe; No.4 Aire (in G major); No.2 Rondeau
Handel - Water Music Suite No.2 in D major - 1) Allegro; 2) Hornpipe; 3) Minuet; 4) Lentement; 5) Bourree
Haydn - Scena di Berenice
Mendelssohn - Symphony No.3 in A minor, 'Scottish'
Then, following from the Mendelssohn:
Mendelssohn - Symphony No.4 'Italian'
This evening:
The Beatles - Abbey Road
Quite a good day for the ears I'd say!
At home all day today. Started off with:
Beethoven - Triple Concerto (is this getting familiar?)
Brahms - Double Concerto
Then, prompted by a bunch of tweets last night from @wheresrunnicles, @_FK_, @Cigleris
Bach - The Art of Fugue (Walcha)
Bach - 18 Chorales of Diverse Kinds, Schubler Chorales, Chorale Partita "Sei gegrusset"
Then the prom broadcast on BBC2:
Purcell - Abdelazer suite: No.1 Overture; No.5 Minuett ; No.3 Aire (in D major); No.8 Hornpipe; No.4 Aire (in G major); No.2 Rondeau
Handel - Water Music Suite No.2 in D major - 1) Allegro; 2) Hornpipe; 3) Minuet; 4) Lentement; 5) Bourree
Haydn - Scena di Berenice
Mendelssohn - Symphony No.3 in A minor, 'Scottish'
Then, following from the Mendelssohn:
Mendelssohn - Symphony No.4 'Italian'
This evening:
The Beatles - Abbey Road
Quite a good day for the ears I'd say!
Friday 4th September 2009
Another day that's late, but I'm getting there!
In the car on the way to work:
Vivaldi - Concertos for Viola d'Amore & Lute, Mandolin, 2 Mandolins, Various things in C Major
Bach - Opening of Easter Oratorio
In the car on the way home from work:
Bach - Rest of Easter Oratorio
Handel - Dixit Dominus (to which I sang loudly because the traffic was slow & I was bored)
At home:
Handel - Chandos Anthems No.4, 5 and 6 (still feeling Handelian)
Then:
Beethoven - Triple Concerto (a bit keen on that at the moment)
Brahms - Double Concerto (on the same disc as the Triple)
Relatively straightforward day really. Should have been able to type it up last night, but somehow didn't manage it. At least I'm caught up now.
Comment: There's quite a lot going on in my life at the moment. I'm finding I'm reaching for old familiar music that I've known and loved for many years. Much of this is Baroque (my Mum is a bit of a Baroque music fan, so I grew up with lots of Handel, Bach, Corelli and stuff around).
One of the things that is interesting (well, I'm finding it interesting anyway, you're probably a bit confused by it), is the variation in what I listen to. Last weekend was all about Reading and Radiohead and so on, now I seem to have stepped back in time several hundred years.
In the car on the way to work:
Vivaldi - Concertos for Viola d'Amore & Lute, Mandolin, 2 Mandolins, Various things in C Major
Bach - Opening of Easter Oratorio
In the car on the way home from work:
Bach - Rest of Easter Oratorio
Handel - Dixit Dominus (to which I sang loudly because the traffic was slow & I was bored)
At home:
Handel - Chandos Anthems No.4, 5 and 6 (still feeling Handelian)
Then:
Beethoven - Triple Concerto (a bit keen on that at the moment)
Brahms - Double Concerto (on the same disc as the Triple)
Relatively straightforward day really. Should have been able to type it up last night, but somehow didn't manage it. At least I'm caught up now.
Comment: There's quite a lot going on in my life at the moment. I'm finding I'm reaching for old familiar music that I've known and loved for many years. Much of this is Baroque (my Mum is a bit of a Baroque music fan, so I grew up with lots of Handel, Bach, Corelli and stuff around).
One of the things that is interesting (well, I'm finding it interesting anyway, you're probably a bit confused by it), is the variation in what I listen to. Last weekend was all about Reading and Radiohead and so on, now I seem to have stepped back in time several hundred years.
Thursday 3rd September 2009
Finally, I'm going to try to catch up on the ears. So sorry I haven't posted for a couple of days. Now digging into memories and gathering up assorted post-it notes and CD boxes.
In the car:
Kasabian - West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum
Back home, at my desk:
Schubert - Piano Sonatas, D959, D784, D157 (as before)
Haydn - Both Cello Concertos on Spotify (tweeted by @iamamro)
Beethoven - Triple Concerto
Brahms - Double Concerto
Schubert - Trout Quintet
Schubert - Symphonies No.8 and No.9
In the car on the way to @inlight gig:
Corelli - Concerti Grossi Op.6 No.s 9-11
At the Jericho Tavern in Oxford (Live), sets by:
Alphabet Backwards (solo)
Inlight
The Family Machine
On the way home in the car:
Corelli - Concerto Grosso Op.6 No.12
Vivaldi - Lute Concerto
Comments:
1. Inlight were FAB, they did some new stuff, which was great. It was also great to be at the gig and meet up with a whole bunch of people I'd only previously known on Twitter. We've heard Inlight several times now & enjoy their stuff every time.
2. Schubert's Trout is one of my all-time faves. I pinched my Mother's cassette of it when I was about 12 and have been in love with it ever since. It was a total bonus for me when it was one of my set works to study for O-Level music. Bliss - at school, listening to Schubert in lessons. They call this work? I don't think so. I never thought so at college either when studying things such as Beethoven Piano sonatas in analysis classes. Never felt like work. Those were the days.
In the car:
Kasabian - West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum
Back home, at my desk:
Schubert - Piano Sonatas, D959, D784, D157 (as before)
Haydn - Both Cello Concertos on Spotify (tweeted by @iamamro)
Beethoven - Triple Concerto
Brahms - Double Concerto
Schubert - Trout Quintet
Schubert - Symphonies No.8 and No.9
In the car on the way to @inlight gig:
Corelli - Concerti Grossi Op.6 No.s 9-11
At the Jericho Tavern in Oxford (Live), sets by:
Alphabet Backwards (solo)
Inlight
The Family Machine
On the way home in the car:
Corelli - Concerto Grosso Op.6 No.12
Vivaldi - Lute Concerto
Comments:
1. Inlight were FAB, they did some new stuff, which was great. It was also great to be at the gig and meet up with a whole bunch of people I'd only previously known on Twitter. We've heard Inlight several times now & enjoy their stuff every time.
2. Schubert's Trout is one of my all-time faves. I pinched my Mother's cassette of it when I was about 12 and have been in love with it ever since. It was a total bonus for me when it was one of my set works to study for O-Level music. Bliss - at school, listening to Schubert in lessons. They call this work? I don't think so. I never thought so at college either when studying things such as Beethoven Piano sonatas in analysis classes. Never felt like work. Those were the days.
Wednesday, 2 September 2009
Wednesday 2nd September 2009
Hello! Here are today's ears.
In the car, for a couple of short trips to the bus stop and back:
Kasabian - West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum (first few tracks).
Other than that, all listening has been at my desk, in my study. It has been a day devoted to music for the piano. Just the piano.
Chopin - Ballades 1-4, Scherzi Opp.20 & 31 (Rubinstein)
Beethoven - Sonatas 2, 26, 32 (Garrick Ohlsson)
Bach, Beethoven, Chopin etc. - razor blades, little pills, big pianos as previously described (James Rhodes)
Brahms - Opp.116, 117, 118, 119, 79, 76, 24, 35 (Fantasias, Intermezzi, Rhapsodies, Variations on Handel & Paganini etc) (Kovacevich etc on Philips)
Schubert - Sonatas D959, 784, 157 (Lupu)
Highlights:
Last movement of Beethoven Op.111
Bach Chaconne from razor blades...
Brahms Pieces Op.119
Schubert - slow mvmt from D959
For some reason it has been that sort of day. The sort of day where I want to comment about it all, but words are woefully inadequate. The slow movement of the Schubert is a particular favourite of mine. I love that sonata SO SO much. That is all for tonight. If I listen to anything more it will be the Schubert disc again - it's still playing now in any case.
In the car, for a couple of short trips to the bus stop and back:
Kasabian - West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum (first few tracks).
Other than that, all listening has been at my desk, in my study. It has been a day devoted to music for the piano. Just the piano.
Chopin - Ballades 1-4, Scherzi Opp.20 & 31 (Rubinstein)
Beethoven - Sonatas 2, 26, 32 (Garrick Ohlsson)
Bach, Beethoven, Chopin etc. - razor blades, little pills, big pianos as previously described (James Rhodes)
Brahms - Opp.116, 117, 118, 119, 79, 76, 24, 35 (Fantasias, Intermezzi, Rhapsodies, Variations on Handel & Paganini etc) (Kovacevich etc on Philips)
Schubert - Sonatas D959, 784, 157 (Lupu)
Highlights:
Last movement of Beethoven Op.111
Bach Chaconne from razor blades...
Brahms Pieces Op.119
Schubert - slow mvmt from D959
For some reason it has been that sort of day. The sort of day where I want to comment about it all, but words are woefully inadequate. The slow movement of the Schubert is a particular favourite of mine. I love that sonata SO SO much. That is all for tonight. If I listen to anything more it will be the Schubert disc again - it's still playing now in any case.
Tuesday, 1 September 2009
Tuesday 1st September 2009
Hello there! Here are today's ears.
On the way to work in the car:
Pendulum - In Silico
At work on the computer:
Ben Folds - Not the Same (from This Reality Podcast)
Then, irresistibly drawn back to:
Radiohead - Reading coverage from BBC3 on iPlayer (twice)
Walk music, on phone:
Radiohead - In Rainbows
Then more from Reading:
Kaiser Chiefs
Little Boots
On the way home in the car:
Radiohead - Best of
At home:
Beethoven - Piano Sonatas No.2, 26, 32 (Garrick Ohlsson, recommended by James Rhodes - an excellent choice I might say, especially Op.111 which is fantastic & very moving).
Then a bit later, more from Reading:
Arctic Monkeys
And, prompted by tweets from @5357311 and @PianoGeek
Webern - Variations for Piano
Comments:
1. I had decided that after Reading I would stop constantly listening to Radiohead (you may have noticed that I've been working through their albums for a little while), and have a break. However, they've got inside my head and I can't get rid. I also have a load of really happy smiling memories from Sunday night, so they've become even better now! Hmmm! Might be another day or so before I can move on.
2. First met Webern in 2nd year at College. Couldn't make head nor tail of him. However, he's like olives. When I had my first olive I thought it was revolting, but after a couple of years of eating the little black & green things I decided I didn't mind them too much. 10 years later & I actually seek them out and enjoy them. Webern's a bit like that. Gone from WTF is that noise? to not unpleasant, and now, many years later, finally reached the stage where I actually listen & enjoy. He'll never be like Beethoven to me, but then olives will never be fillet steak either!
On the way to work in the car:
Pendulum - In Silico
At work on the computer:
Ben Folds - Not the Same (from This Reality Podcast)
Then, irresistibly drawn back to:
Radiohead - Reading coverage from BBC3 on iPlayer (twice)
Walk music, on phone:
Radiohead - In Rainbows
Then more from Reading:
Kaiser Chiefs
Little Boots
On the way home in the car:
Radiohead - Best of
At home:
Beethoven - Piano Sonatas No.2, 26, 32 (Garrick Ohlsson, recommended by James Rhodes - an excellent choice I might say, especially Op.111 which is fantastic & very moving).
Then a bit later, more from Reading:
Arctic Monkeys
And, prompted by tweets from @5357311 and @PianoGeek
Webern - Variations for Piano
Comments:
1. I had decided that after Reading I would stop constantly listening to Radiohead (you may have noticed that I've been working through their albums for a little while), and have a break. However, they've got inside my head and I can't get rid. I also have a load of really happy smiling memories from Sunday night, so they've become even better now! Hmmm! Might be another day or so before I can move on.
2. First met Webern in 2nd year at College. Couldn't make head nor tail of him. However, he's like olives. When I had my first olive I thought it was revolting, but after a couple of years of eating the little black & green things I decided I didn't mind them too much. 10 years later & I actually seek them out and enjoy them. Webern's a bit like that. Gone from WTF is that noise? to not unpleasant, and now, many years later, finally reached the stage where I actually listen & enjoy. He'll never be like Beethoven to me, but then olives will never be fillet steak either!
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