Classical Music

My secret favorite of Puccini's operas (most people don't know this opera) is "Il tabarro" (the cloak), the first opera of a trilogy.
There is a completely new production (Teatro Communale Nouveau, Bologna 2024) with English subtitles.


It is not by chance that there are so many operas of Puccini staged in this year. On November the 29th, 2024 is the 100th anniversary of his death.
 

Last edited:
Let's go to the second part of "Il trittico". It's "Suor Angelica" (Sister Angelica) at the MET with Barbara Frittoli. In my opinion "Suor Angelica" is an ardent criticism of the Roman Catholic Church.


(With English subtitles).
 
And now something quite different. A part from an operetta, the small opera.
The "Vilja Lied" (Vilja Song) from Franz Lehár's "Die Lustige Witwe" (The Merry Widow).


(With English Subtitles).
 
I'm kinda new here still on this forum, but maybe some will recall that I'm a retired U.S. Army musician. Over an entire career, I've played and played and played lotsa music, all types and all styles. This piece, a tone poem originally written for symphony orchestra by Ottorino Respighi (an Italian guy) in 1924, consists of 4 individual sections, each of which covers settings of pine forests in and around Rome. Entitled "The Pines of Rome", this section, played by the U.S. Marine Band (President's Own), is the last of the entire piece and is called "Pines of the Appian Way."

The Appian Way is one of the roads that the Roman legions used to march to and from Rome on their various military campaigns. Imagine you're a legionnaire who has been on the march for months, have seen good friends die in battle, and as you approach Rome, your exhaustion - little by little - drops and you find new energy and new purpose in drawing close to your home. This is powerful music, and for a brass player like me, it's an opportunity to (with control and precision) play that triple fortissimo that we're normally held back from. It starts quietly, as if from a distance, then grows louder and more pressing as the Roman legion draws closer to Rome.

 
Gustav Mahler's 2nd Symphony "The Resurrection" -- brass chorale, which is glorious. Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra from Holland. IMHO, this is the best performance of this piece on YouTube, even better than the NY Philharmonic, though the conducting is somewhat meh.

Notice the lady behind the cymbal player who reacts after the huge crash. One of the comments reads, "She gets it."

 
Eupher said:
I'm kinda new here still on this forum, but maybe some will recall that I'm a retired U.S. Army musician. Over an entire career, I've played and played and played lotsa music, all types and all styles. This piece, a tone poem originally written for symphony orchestra by Ottorino Respighi (an Italian guy) in 1924, consists of 4 individual sections, each of which covers settings of pine forests in and around Rome. Entitled "The Pines of Rome", this section, played by the U.S. Marine Band (President's Own), is the last of the entire piece and is called "Pines of the Appian Way."

The Appian Way is one of the roads that the Roman legions used to march to and from Rome on their various military campaigns. Imagine you're a legionnaire who has been on the march for months, have seen good friends die in battle, and as you approach Rome, your exhaustion - little by little - drops and you find new energy and new purpose in drawing close to your home. This is powerful music, and for a brass player like me, it's an opportunity to (with control and precision) play that triple fortissimo that we're normally held back from. It starts quietly, as if from a distance, then grows louder and more pressing as the Roman legion draws closer to Rome.

Click to expand...

With this wonderful piece of music regarding me you are preaching to the choir. I've loved Ottorino Respighi's music since being an adolescent. Not only this forth movement of "Pini di Roma" (Pines of Rome) is very well worth hearing, it's the whole work.

"Pini di Roma" played by the United States Air Force Band with a description for each of the four movements, if you go directly on YouTube.


The cellist at 3:06 looks like the young Igor Strawinsky in 1921.

368px-Igor_Stravinsky_Essays.jpg
 
Last edited:
Eupher said:
Gustav Mahler's 2nd Symphony "The Resurrection" -- brass chorale, which is glorious. Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra from Holland. IMHO, this is the best performance of this piece on YouTube, even better than the NY Philharmonic, though the conducting is somewhat meh.

Notice the lady behind the cymbal player who reacts after the huge crash. One of the comments reads, "She gets it."

Click to expand...
Damn, this is so beautiful as well.
 
George1959 said:
With this wonderful piece of music regarding me you are preaching to the choir. I've loved Ottorino Respighi's music since being an adolescent. Not only this forth movement of "Pini di Roma" (Pines of Rome) is very well worth hearing, it's the whole work.

"Pini di Roma" played by the United States Air Force Band with a description for each of the four movements, if you go directly on YouTube.


The cellist at 3:06 looks like the young Igor Strawinsky in 1921.

368px-Igor_Stravinsky_Essays.jpg
Click to expand...
Agreed - Respighi's entire "Pines of Rome" is great music. He also wrote, as you know I'm sure, "Fountains of Rome". But for most brass players, "Pines of the Appian Way" is the one we play the most. I've played wind ensemble arrangements and British-style brass bands for Pines of Rome as well. Very difficult for the woodwinds!
 
The Philip Jones Brass Ensemble was preeminent from the 50s to the 80s, at which point Philip Jones retired. Known for playing chamber music from all genres, they're especially noted for playing music from the Renaissance and Baroque periods. The group ranged in size from a quartet to a 10-piece. Jones wasn't fond of more contemporary music, but the group voted to play and record this piece, written by Chris Hazell, a British composer.

"Mr. Jums" was one of four cats who "owned" Hazell. There are three more pieces he composed for his cats, which are entitled "Kraken," "Black Sam," and "Borage". Very refreshing and light and great to play. I have the sheet music from all these pieces and was fortunate to have played them on bass trombone a few years ago in a 10-piece ensemble.

 
Last edited:
Eupher said:
Agreed - Respighi's entire "Pines of Rome" is great music. He also wrote, as you know I'm sure, "Fountains of Rome". But for most brass players, "Pines of the Appian Way" is the one we play the most. I've played wind ensemble arrangements and British-style brass bands for Pines of Rome as well. Very difficult for the woodwinds!
Click to expand...
Regarding "Fontane di Roma" (Fountains of Rome, 1916), I wanted to introduce it here too, but had no time. Now, as I'm here again, I'll do it.
You are right, "Pines of Rome" is more suited for brass players, since "Fountains of Rome" is much more calm and tranquil.

 
Last edited:
And there is the third of Ottorino Respighi's Roman tone poems "Feste Romane" (Roman Festivals) from 1928.


Roman Festivals (Respighi) - Wikipedia

I've chosen this performance, since it seems the most enthusiatic to me. But in the text under the video they forgot to mention the movements.
Here they are: I. "Cirsenses" (Circus Games) at 0:24, II. "Il Giubileo" (The Jubilee) at 4:49, III. "L'Ottobrata" (The October Festival) at 11:20, IV. "La Befana" (The Epiphany) at 18:22.

However "La Befana" is not correct translated with epiphany. In reality "la befana" is the Christmas witch, which brings the children gifts on the evening of January, the 5th. The inhabitants of Rome (and whole Italy) celebrate "La Befana" in the original sense on January, the 6th.
Befana - Wikipedia

Especially the fourth movement "La Befana" (at 18:22) is quite enthusiastic, even tumultous. This is not a Christian feast, but much older.
 
Last edited:
Eupher said:
The Philip Jones Brass Ensemble was preeminent from the 50s to the 80s, at which point Philip Jones retired. Known for playing chamber music from all genres, they're especially noted for playing music from the Renaissance and Baroque periods. The group ranged in size from a quartet to a 10-piece. Jones wasn't fond of more contemporary music, but the group voted to play and record this piece, written by Chris Hazell, a British composer.

"Mr. Jums" was one of four cats who "owned" Hazell. There are three more pieces he composed for his cats, which are entitled "Kraken," "Black Sam," and "Borage". Very refreshing and light and great to play. I have the sheet music from all these pieces and was fortunate to have played them on bass trombone a few years ago in a 10-piece ensemble.

Click to expand...

I do not play an instrument. But the bass trombone is a very enchanting one. It's great that you give your professional suggestions on great pieces of music from your point of view.
 
Last edited:
George1959 said:
And there is the third of Ottorino Respighi's Roman tone poems "Feste Romane" (Roman Festivals) from 1928.


Roman Festivals (Respighi) - Wikipedia

I've chosen this performance, since it seems the most enthusiatic to me. But in the text under the video they forgot to mention the movements.
Here they are: I. "Cirsenses" (Circus Games) at 0:24, II. "Il Giubileo" (The Jubilee) at 4:49, III. "L'Ottobrata" (The October Festival) at 11:20, IV. "La Befana" (The Epiphany) at 18:22.

However "La Befana" is not correct translated with epiphany. In reality "la befana" is the Christmas witch, which brings the children gifts on the evening of January, the 5th. The inhabitants of Rome (and whole Italy) celebrate "La Befana" in the original sense on January, the 6th.
Befana - Wikipedia

Especially the fourth movement "La Befana" (at 18:22) is quite enthusiastic, even tumultous. This is not a Christian feast, but much older.
Click to expand...

Interesting piece - I don't think I'd ever heard it before and certainly haven't played it. This performance apparently was in competition with other European wind ensembles and this particular group is out of Holland. A LARGE ensemble. Too large, IMHO. Having that many players leads to intonation and balance issues. OTOH, I absolutely love the sound of low woodwinds and having three bassoons, a contra-bassoon, contra-bass clarinet, bass clarinet, and a few others in that lineup is wonderful. They played wonderfully, however. Definitely a challenging piece.
 
George1959 said:
What about David Childs' performance on the euphonium?

Click to expand...
No question, David is a master of the instrument. I think, however, he does less playing today than conducting, which seems to be almost a requirement for those like David who were brought up in the British brass band tradition. His father, Nicholas, was equally as renowned on euphonium in his day and he (Nicholas) is still conducting the Black Dyke Band, which is one of the top 3-4 in the UK today.

David played principal euph for the Cory band for a number of years, but as I said, I think he's doing more conducting than playing these days. I believe, though don't quote me, that David Childs replaced Brian Bowman at the University of North Texas as Professor of Euphonium. Brian retired in 2018 after a long career as professor at UNT and his own military career with the US Air Force and US Navy Bands in D.C.

One of my great loves is the British-style brass band. Not so well known here in the U.S., but in the past 20 years or so, the genre has definitely been picking up. The genre attracts me because of the level of difficulty that's consistently written for the euph, and the solo opportunities are huge given that the euphonium is the principal solo tenor voice of the band.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top