Robert, Clara, and Johannes
I am now reading this very interesting and enjoyable non-fiction biography of Johannes Brahms by composer/author, Jan Swafford: “Johannes Brahms a Biography“. I am just getting to the relationship that developed between Robert and Clara Schumann with a young Johannes Brahms. I will give a book review of this biography when I finish [as it…
Keep readingA Classical Music Mothers Day
I would like to wish a very Happy and Blessed Mother’s Day to all, especially to all the wonderful Moms out there. On a personal note, my sister Susan and my brothers Sandy and Brad continue to always remember the blessing of our Mom, Reenie, who is in heaven with our “Pop” and God. Reenie,…
Keep readingHappy Birthday Brahms and Tchaikovsky
May 7th is the birth date for two of the giants in the Romantic Era of music, Johannes Brahms and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Brahms was born in the year of 1833 and seven years later in the year, 1840 was born Tchaikovsky. Both of these composers were known for their big orchestral sound filled with…
Keep readingAndres Orozco-Estrada Great Tenure As Director of the HSO Finishes With An Epic Symphony
Our (Houston’s) beloved Maestro and Director of the Houston Symphony Orchestra for the last 8 years, Andres Orozco-Estrada, tenure comes to a close this weekend in a dramatic and exciting fashion with the epic Symphony #2 by Gustav Mahler, “Resurrection Symphony”. What a blessing that my wife, Sheralyn, and I will be in Jones Hall…
Keep readingHaydn’s Philosopher
As I have stated before on my classical posts ‘Papa’ Haydn, the father of the classical symphony, composed so many symphonies, 104 to be exact, that many were given names as it would be easier to distinguish the more well known ones by a name than a number. This early symphony of his, #22, was…
Keep readingBravo, Concerto!
For those of you who have never had the privilege to go to a classical music concert with your local symphony orchestra, I would recommend going when one of the pieces on the program is a concerto. A concerto is a piece with the symphony orchestra and a soloist [of an instrument] who stands or sits in…
Keep readingInterpretation is In The Ear of the Conductor
One of the things that is great about going to classical music concerts is that even when you have heard the same piece of music many times, you almost always hear something new each time you hear it. You may hear the staccato in a phrase of a certain section of the orchestra that you…
Keep readingBach’s Prelude and Fugue in G, BWV 550
On this Bach O Tuesday, as I like to call Tuesdays, please enjoy J.S. Bach’s Prelude and Fugue in G major BWV 550 for organ. This has two parts, the Prelude which Bach notes “with pedal”, and then the Fugue. Please turn up the volume and enjoy another wonderful piece from the genius of Johann…
Keep readingMozart’s Piano Sonata #11 in A
On this Mozart Monday, here is one of his wonderful piano sonatas, #11 in A Major. This delightful sonata has 3 movements: 1. Andante Grazioso, 2. Menuetto and 3. Allegretto-‘Alla Turca’. So, please turn up the volume and enjoy this soothing piano sonata by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart!
Keep readingClassical Music For This Holy Weekend
On this Holy weekend where the two great religions of Judaism and Christianity celebrate Passover and Easter, respectively, I thought it appropriate to find some classical music to enjoy for this weekend. The Jewish Holiday of Passover begins at sundown Friday night April 15, 2022 and will last until Saturday April 23 at sundown. There…
Keep readingBach’s Easter Oratorio
On this Bach O Tuesday, I thought it appropriate on this Holy Week with the culmination of Easter for Christians, to play J.S. Bach’s Easter Oratorio, BWV 249. Please turn up the volume and enjoy Johann Sebastian’s Easter Oratorio as we approach Easter this Sunday, April 17, 2022. J.S. Bach: Easter Oratorio: Also, as a…
Keep readingExciting Finishes in Classical Music
In Houston we are blessed when we go to a concert to see and hear our great Houston Symphony Orchestra in Jones Hall, they have this pre-concert talk, “prelude”, about 45 minutes before the beginning of the concert. We really look forward to those informative and many times humorous presentations of the composers and pieces we…
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