Monthly Archives: July 2013

Albert Ammons – Albert’s Special Boogie Woogie

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Albert Ammons (1907-1949) was an American pianist and boogie boogie player.  Boogie woogie was a style of blues piano that was popular during the late 1930s and into the middle 1940s.  In 1938 Albert Ammons did a performance at Carnegie Hall along with Pete Johnson and Mead Lux Lewis (two other boogie woogie pianists) and that event helped to popularize boogie woogie.  Throughout his career, Albert performed with various musicians including jazz greats Benny Goodman, Harry James, Mead Lux Lewis and Pete Johnson.  His playing had a wide influence on many pianists including the great Errol Garner.

Here is a recording of Albert Ammons playing a boogie woogie piece.  It is quite a lively number.  Enjoy.

Albert Ammons boogie woogie:

You can buy this recording on iTunes and eMusic. The links to these websites are listed on the youtube link I have posted. You can buy this piece as an mp3 on Amazon.com. Here is the

http://www.amazon.com/AlbertS-Special-Boogie-Woogie/dp/B005EP68LG/ref=sr_sp-atf_title_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1374786513&sr=8-2&keywords=Albert+Ammons%3A+Albert%27s+Special+Boogie+Woogie

Scriabin Piano concerto

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Alexander Scriabin (1872-1915) was a Russian composer and piano virtuoso.  His early compositional style was influenced by Chopin and Tchaikovsky.  The early compositions are very lyrical and even though they are more modern than Chopin and Tchaikovsky, they sometimes sound a bit like Chopin or Tchaikovsky.

Later on in his career, Scriabin’s compositions became gradually more dissonant and abstract.  Rhythmically the music became more complex.  Scriabin also had very big hands (like Rachmaninoff) and could stretch his hands a great distance across the keyboard.  His compositions continue to be very challenging for pianists.

Here is a recording of his Piano Concerto op.20.  This is an early work of Scriabin.  It was written in 1896 when the composer was 24 years old.  It is the first and only piece he wrote for orchestra, and his only concerto. Vladimir Ashkenazy is the piano soloist.

first movement

second movement

first half of third movement

second and final half of third movement

 

 

Suzanne Galer performs Daphne (William Walton)

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Sir William Walton (1902-1983) was an English composer.  He wrote music in many different styles and genres.  Walton composed his first songs when he was 16 years old, and continued to compose songs throughout his life.

His song Daphne comes from a set of three songs.  The music for the three songs is based on Sir William’s ‘Facade’ which is several poems by Edith Sitwell set to musical accompaniment by Sir William Walton.

I find this song to be very touching.  The piano and voice compliment each other well, and the text and music fit together very well.

Here is a recording of Sir William Walton’s song Daphne.  Enjoy.

 

 

Gypsy violinist Roby Lakatos – ‘Két Gitár’ (Music Show, ABC Radio National)

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Roby Lakatos  is a Hungarian violinist who was born into a family of well-known gypsy violinists descended from Jano Bihari (known as the ‘King of Gypsy Violinists’).  Roby Lakatos is an incredible virtuoso on the violin and is also very versatile.  He can play any type of music (classical, jazz, gypsy music).  Roby is also a composer and arranger.  He has performed all over the world in various music festivals and halls in Europe, Asia, and America.  He has performed with several major orchestras, various groups of musicians, and his own ensemble.

Here are two recordings of Roby Lakatos performing live at a radio station with a pianist who is as virtuosic on the piano and Roby is on his violin.  The pianist’s name is Frantisek Janoska.

Arvo Pärt – Spiegel im Spiegel (mirror in a mirror)

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Arvo Pärt (1935-)  is an Estonian composer.  The majority of his musical works are choral pieces.  He has also composed short instrumental pieces.  His music is simple but very beautiful.

Spiegel im Spiegel (mirror in a mirror) is a very simple and touching piece for violin and piano.  It has also been arranged for cello and piano.

Here is a recording of Spiegel Im Spiegel (Violin And Piano):

The recording begins at 0:37.

Beethoven – Fünf Stücke für Flötenuhr

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Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) was a German composer and piano virtuoso.  He is known by many classical music lovers as the composer of the famous 5th Symphony and the 9th Symphony with its ‘Ode to Joy.’

After Beethoven’s death, musicologists discovered five pieces by Beethoven for musical clock or mechanical organ.

Musical clocks were very popular in the 18th and 19th century among aristocrats.  J. Haydn, W.A. Mozart, and G.F. Handel also wrote music for musical clocks.

Here is Beethoven’s suite, Fünf Stücke für Flötenuhr:

  1. Allegro non più molto
  2. Allegretto
  3. Adagio assai
  4. Scherzo, allegro
  5. Allegro

Joseph Boulogne – Violin Concertos

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Joseph Boulogne (1745-1799), was a black violin virtuoso, swordsman, equestrian, composer and conductor who was an important musical figure in Paris during the second half of the eighteenth century.  He wrote music similar in style to his contemporaries W.A. Mozart and J. Haydn.  He was also known as le Chevalier de Saint-Georges.  Marie-Antoinette was very fond of his music.

Here is a recording of Joseph Boulogne’s Violin Concerto in D Major.  It is performed by the renowned early music ensemble Tafelmusik.  The violin soloist is Linda Melsted. This recording is from a DVD and CD set entitled “Le Mozart Noir, The Life and Music of Joseph Boulogne, Chevalier de Saint Georges.” The first audio file is the first movement of the concerto.  The second audio file is the 2nd and 3rd movements of the concerto.