Author Archives: Robert Jan Dukarm

Gilles Binchois: “Adieu, adieu, mon joileux souvenir,” “Triste plaisir et douleureuse joye”

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Gilles Binchois (1400-1460)

Gilles Binchois was a 15th century Franco-Flemish composer.  Along with Dunstable and Dufay, Binchois was one of the three leading musical figures of the first half of the 15th century.

The first important chanson composer was Machaut.  His chansons were written for a treble voice with two, three, or four parts, and were rhythmically iregular with ornamented melodic lines.  Then came the chansons of the Burgundian school with composers such as Dufay and Binchois.  Dufay and Binchois’ chansons are mostly about courtly love.  They are more refined than earlier chansons.  Later on in the 15th century the chansons of Dufay and Binchois became more homogeneous in texture.  About a third of the chansons by Binchois are written in four parts, which was standard by c.1500.

Here are two chansons by Gilles Binchois.  The first is called “Adieu, adieu, mon joleux souvenir,” and the second is called “Triste plaisir et douleureuse joye.”  The poem that “Triste plaisir” uses as its text is by Alain Chartier (1385-1433).  The musicians are Lena Susanne Norin (Alto), Randall Cook (viol’ da gamba/Vielle/fiddle) and Susanne Ansorg (Rebec/fiddle). 

Minor Swing – Ludovic Beier (accordion), Angelo Debarre (guitar)

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Minor Swing is a popular “gypsy jazz” tune by Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli. It was first recorded by Grappelli, Reinhardt, and the Quintet of the Hot Club of France in 1937.

Here is a recording of Minor Swing by Ludovic Beier (a “gypsy jazz” accordion virtuoso), and Angelo Debarre (a Romani “gypsy jazz” guitarist). Enjoy!

Mauro Giuliani – Sonata for Violin, Cello, and Guitar in A Major

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Mauro Giuliani (1781-1829)

Mauro Giuliani was an Italian composer, guitar virtuoso, cellist, and singer. He was one of the leading guitar virtuosos of the 19th century.

Giuliani taught guitar, performed on the guitar, and composed a rich and varied repertoire for the guitar. His compositions include three guitar concertos, sonatas, studies, variations, duos for guitar with flute of violin, quartets, and songs.

Here is a recording of a Sonata for Violin, Cello, and Guitar in A Major by Mauro Giuliani. It is played by Leonid Kogan (violin), Alexander Ivanov-Kramskoy (guitar), and Fyodor Lusanov (cello). Enjoy!

Astor Piazzolla – Milonga del Angel

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Astor Piazzolla (1921-1992)

Astor Piazzolla was an Argentinian tango composer, arranger, and bandoneon virtuoso (the bandoneon is a type of accordion).  He invented a modern style of tango music called tango nuevo (a style of tango that uses elements of jazz and classical music).

A milonga is a dance that is similar to a tango. It is usually a faster dance then the tango and there aren’t any pauses between steps. The dance is more humourous and rustic compared to a serious and dramatic tango.

Here is a milonga by Piazzolla called Milonga del Angel (Milonga of the Angel) I hope you enjoy it. The musicians are Astor Piazzolla (bandoneón), Fernando Suarez Paz (violín), Oscar Lopez Ruiz (electric guitar), Hector Console (bass), Pablo Ziegler (piano).

 

James Scott piano rags

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James Scott (1885-1938)

James Scott was an African-American composer of ragtime music.  He is one of the major ragtime composers and pianists along with Scott Joplin and Joseph Lamb.

Scott’s piano rags use a wide range of the keyboard and a melody is often stated and then repeated higher up on the keyboard in a “call and response” style.

Here are two of James Scott’s piano rags.  Unfortunately I do not know who is performing the rags because the person who posted the clip on youtube did not list the name of the pianist.  Enjoy!

(James Scott – The Great Scott Rag)

(James Scott- Ragtime Oriole)

Luiz Bonfa – Manha de Carnaval – The Rosenberg Trio

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Luiz Bonfa (1922-2001)

Luiz Bonfa was a Brazilian guitarist and composer.  He is known for the music he wrote for the film Black Orpheus.  He helped to bring Brazilian music to the world stage.

Here is a composition called Manha de Carnaval.  It is a bossa nova (a lyrical fusion of a samba and jazz).  Bossa novas were developed and popularized in the 1950s and 1960s.   It is played by the Rosenberg Trio (a solo guitar, rhythm guitar, and string bass).  Enjoy!

John Field- Nocturne no. 5 B Flat Major Andantino

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John Field (1782-1837)

John Field was an Irish composer and piano virtuoso.  His Nocturnes inspired Chopin.

Here is a recording of John Field’s Nocturne no.5 in B Flat Major played by the Irish pianist John O’Connor.  John O’ Connor has performed in many recitals and has played with many of the world’s top orchestras.  Enjoy!

G.F. Handel – Nine German Arias

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G. F. Handel (1685-1759)

Georg Frideric Handel was a German baroque organist, violinist, conductor, and composer who spent most of his working life in London, England.  He composed more than 40 operas, oratorios, sacred music, orchestral music, chamber music, and keyboard music.  Today Handel is known for works such as the oratorio Messiah, Water Music, and the Royal Fireworks Music.

Handel’s nine German arias are not from any of his 40 operas.  They are Da capo arias (an A section followed by a B section which is followed by the A section one last time).  This form (ABA) was a popular form of opera aria in the baroque period.

Here are the German arias by G.F. Handel.  Dame Emma Kirkby is the soprano. She is accompanied by the London Baroque.

Erik Satie – Trois Gnossiennes

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Erik Satie (1866-1925)

A French composer and pianist.  Satie was part of a group of composers known as Les Six.

In Satie’s early compositions, the music is reduced down to its bare essentials, and emotion and expressivity are strictly controlled.  The melody in each piece is modal.  The melodic lines flow seamlessly, and there is a simple chordal accompaniment of mildly dissonant, modal chord progressions that don’t resolve.  The accompaniment is straightforward (a sustained note followed by a blocked chord) and has a constant rhythm.  This constant rhythm gives the pieces a static feel.  The music is not divided up into measures.  Satie likes to take certain motivic structures and join them together randomly with other structures.  The use of modes makes the music sound archaic and at the same time very modern.

Here are the first three of Satie’s six Gnossienne.  They are played by Jean-Yves Thibaudet.  The Gnossienne were composed in 1890.