Category Archives: 20th century

Dmitri Shostakovich – Prelude and Fugue in f sharp minor

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Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975) was a Soviet Russian composer, pianist, and one of the most important musical figures of the 20th century.  A lot of his music is dissonant, melancholy, and has elements of the grotesque about it.  A lot of the grotesqueness in Shostakovich’s music is put in there on purpose to get back at Stalin and the communists which made Shostakovich’s life and millions of other people’s lives hell.

Despite all of the hardship that the composer experienced, he did compose some very beautiful music.  The Prelude and Fugue in f sharp minor is quite beautiful.

Here is a recording of the Prelude and Fugue in f sharp minor by Dmitri Shostakovich. It is played by Tatiana Nikolayeva.

Here is a link to the website http://www.amazon.com where you can buy a recording of the complete preludes and fugues by Shostakovich played by Tatiana Nikoloyeva.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Tatiana+Nikolayeva+plays+Shostakovich

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.

 

 

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.