I write so much that I’ve developed a pain in my upper back and neck. It must have to do with a lack of ergonomic integrity in my desk arrangement. But I can’t, for the life of me, figure out how to correct it. So here I sit, with a blazing headache, writing and listening […]
Entries Tagged as 'Box 6: Quintets Quartets Trios'
Of Writing Music and…Meh (Quintets, Quartets, Trios, Box 6)
February 12th, 2010 · No Comments · Beaux Arts Trio, Box 6: Quintets Quartets Trios, K502, K542, Mozart at 20, Mozart at 22, Piano Trio in B flat, Piano Trio in E, Vienna (June 17 1788), Vienna (November 18 1786)
Once again, I don’t have much to say about today’s compositions. I listened to them on repeat from 6am until 10:30am. They were all swell, nicely performed, lively, fun. Very Mozartean. But none of them particularly moved me or inspired me. I was impressed with the piano work, especially in Movement 3 (Allegro) of Piano […]
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Of Snow Shovels and Arts Trios (Quintets, Quartets, Trios, Box 6)
February 10th, 2010 · 1 Comment · Beaux Arts Trio, Box 6: Quintets Quartets Trios, Bruno Giuranna, K478, K493, Mozart at 29, Mozart at 30, Piano Quartet in E flat, Piano Quartet in G minor, Vienna (June 3 1786), Vienna (October 16 1785)
I don’t have much to say about today’s music. It was well played, even beautiful. But it seemed too ponderous (or serious, I don’t know) for me – except for Movement 1 (Allegro) and Movement 3 (Allegro moderato) from Piano Quartet No.1 in G minor, K.478. They were fun to hear. Of course, I’m all […]
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Of Light Snowfalls and Glass Harmonicas (Quintets, Quartets, Trios, Box 6)
February 9th, 2010 · No Comments · Adagio in C for glass harmonica, Adagio in C minor & Rondo in C, Alfred Brendel, Box 6: Quintets Quartets Trios, Bruno Hoffman, Glass Harmonica, Heinz Holliger, Mozart at 28, Mozart at 30, Mozart at 35, Quinetet in E flat for piano oboe clarinet horn & bassoon, Stephen Kovacevich, Thomas Bloch, Trio in E flat for piano clarinet & viola, Vienna (August 5 1786), Vienna (March 21 1784), Vienna (May 23 1791), William Zeitler
Today’s CD features a unique instrument – a “glass harmonica” – used in Adagio in C Minor & Rondo in C, K617, and Adagio in C for Glass Harmonica, K617a. The sound this instrument produces reminds me of bell ringers. No, that’s not quite right. It reminds me of people who “play” glasses filled with […]
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Of Morning Coffee and Music Fragments (Quintets, Quartets, Trios, Box 6)
February 8th, 2010 · No Comments · Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields Chamber Ensemble, Allegro in B flat, Allegro in F, Allegro in G, Allegro Moderato in A minor, Box 6: Quintets Quartets Trios, Chamber Music Fragments, Erik Smith, K168a, K174, K288, KApp. 68, KApp. 72, KApp. 79, KApp. 80, KApp. 90, KApp. 91, Minuet in B flat, Minuet in F, Movement in A, String Quintet in B flat
Today’s CD is called Chamber Music Fragments and there are 11 tracks on it that span some 18 years of Mozart’s life. Listening to the music is like overhearing snatches of conversation in a busy restaurant. They’re unfinished thoughts, tantalizing, interesting, But ultimately unsatisfying because they’re not complete. Just when I get intrigued by a […]
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Of Flutes and More Flutes (Quintets, Quartets, Trios, Box 6)
February 7th, 2010 · No Comments · Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields Chamber Ensemble, Arthur Grumiaux, Box 6: Quintets Quartets Trios, Eva Czako, Flute Quartet in A, Flute Quartet in C, Flute Quartet in D, Flute Quartet in G, Georges Janzer, Grumiaux Trio, Irish Tin Whistle, Jethro Tull, K285, K298, KApp. 171, Mannheim (1777-8), Mannheim (December 25 1777), Mozart at 21, Mozart at 22, Mozart at 25, Mozart at 26, Mozart at 30, Mozart at 31, Piers Adams, Recorder, Red Priest, Vienna (1781-2), Vienna (1786-7), William Bennett
I really love the flute. Maybe that’s one of the reasons why I liked the 1970s progressive-rock band Jethro Tull so much. Or why I recently bought an Irish tin whistle intending to learn how to play. Or why I flipped out when I saw the British baroque group Red Priest play a gig in […]
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Of Crazy Hearts and Sane Ensembles (Quintets, Quartets, Trios, Box 6)
February 6th, 2010 · No Comments · Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields Chamber Ensemble, Anthony Jerkins, Antony Pay, Box 6: Quintets Quartets Trios, Clarinet Quintet in A, Colin Farrell, Crazy Heart, Denis Vigay, Horn Quintet in E flat, Iona Brown, Jeff Bridges, K292, K370, K407, K581, Klaus Thunemann, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Malcolm Latchem, Mozart at 19, Mozart at 25, Mozart at 26, Mozart at 33, Munich (Early 1775), Munich (Early 1781), Neil Black, Oboe Quartet in F, Robert Duvall, Sonata for Bassoon & Cello in B Flat, Stephen Orton, Stephen Shingles, Tender Mercies, Timothy Brown, Vienna (1782), Vienna (September 29 1789)
This afternoon, we saw the new Jeff Bridges movie Crazy Heart. I liked it better the first time I saw it, when it was called Tender Mercies. Tender Mercies, the 1983 film starring Robert Duvall (who, perhaps not coincidentally, guest stars in Crazy Heart) is a movie about an alcoholic, down-and-out Country singer who is […]
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You can call me Amadeus. But don't expect me to answer to that.