Classical Music

Eupher said:
Completely agree. I was privileged to play the bass trombone part in the Columbia (MO) Symphony in 2012. A glorious experience, and I never get tired of hearing this piece.
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I'll bet that was fun. We played it twice while I was with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, but since I was 4th percussionist I was never needed for the piece. There is some percusssion (besides timpani) scored for the 4th movement only.
 

ChiroDoc said:
I'll bet that was fun. We played it twice while I was with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, but since I was 4th percussionist I was never needed for the piece. There is some percusssion (besides timpani) scored for the 4th movement only.
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As Beethoven was the first, if not one of the first, composers to score trombones for symphonies, there were a TON of measures of rest in his 9th.

IMHO, the test of any brass musician to play for classical/early romantic pieces is to count measures of rest. So tiring. And I'll bet it's the same for percussionists.
 
We that played a French Horn, also spent many measures resting and counting...! Loved the music, but not the limited use of French Horns, excluding a few exceptions. Although, we did get a few nice solos in classical music...
 

Eupher said:
As Beethoven was the first, if not one of the first, composers to score trombones for symphonies, there were a TON of measures of rest in his 9th.

IMHO, the test of any brass musician to play for classical/early romantic pieces is to count measures of rest. So tiring. And I'll bet it's the same for percussionists.
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Well, there's plenty of work for timpani, but miscellaneous percussion is relatively rare in the classical period. But yes, percussionists are no stranger to counting measures..:)

I'll never forget the first time I played extra percussionist for the CSO. I believe the piece was Respighi's "Pines of Rome". One of my parts was on suspended cymbal. After a long wait the cymbal crash opened an important movement in the piece. At rehearsal the conductor told me that he'd give me the eye when it was near time for the crash, then he'd point to me.

Well, the night of the first performance I was very nervous. I diligently started counting the measures until the cymbal crash, but unbelievably I lost count! I was not sure where I was! But, sure enough, the conductor gave me the head nod, then rared back and pointed at me, at which time I performed the cymbal crash. I was eternally grateful for his cue!!
 
We hear J.S. Bach all the time -- most of us just aren't aware of it.

Chord progressions such as V7-I, iim7-V7-I, and others are within modern western music, but little do we know that many of these progressions emanated from Mr. Bach.

The King of instruments -- nothing more compelling than a Bach Toccata or Passacaglia and Fugue:

 
I saw The Met's live broadcast of Salome today at the local theater. I was particularly curious to hear what has been dubbed "the most sickening chord in all of opera"—and I missed it!

I did look it up online and found an excellent short (less than 2 minutes) YouTube clip that showcases it:

 
KSav said:
I saw The Met's live broadcast of Salome today at the local theater. I was particularly curious to hear what has been dubbed "the most sickening chord in all of opera"—and I missed it!

I did look it up online and found an excellent short (less than 2 minutes) YouTube clip that showcases it:

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I can say with 100% accuracy that I have never played a piece of music in C# major or its relative minor in a# minor. Six sharps in the key signature, but not seven.

Would have been a lot easier just to write it in D-flat major (5 flats). Yeah, I know, composers claim the tonality is different, even though the sounds C# and D-flat are technically enharmonic (the same).

But the soprano's got pipes, and so does the tenor in this clip. Wowsah!
 
win231 said:
I'll never understand how this pianist does what he does. This is one of the most difficult Liszt compositions - for someone who can see. And he doesn't even have the hand size for it!
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That's one of my favorite Liszt pieces. The man nailed it!
I wonder two things: how he learns pieces, because he's unable to read musice; and also it's amazing how he can cross over his right hand to pick out notes with his left hand a couple of octaves above, which he cannot see. Astounding player!
 
A YouTube artist combined a re-creation of the Roman colosseum with Nessun Dorma aria from Puccini's Turandot. The video walks us through the corridors, passing by a colossal statue, and on to the doorway opening to the arena below.

 
McBride said:
A YouTube artist combined a re-creation of the Roman colosseum with Nessun Dorma aria from Puccini's Turandot. The video walks us through the corridors, passing by a colossal statue, and on to the doorway opening to the arena below.

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Wow, that is . . . so beautiful.

I love Turandot.

What an amazing combination. 🥰
 

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