Okay, I promise I will stop writing about composers birthdays soon. March just happens to be ripe with such events. Which makes sense. Parents get snuggly in the early autumn, don’t use protection, have a little accident, mistreat the kid, and a composer is born!
http://www.schickele.com
Speaking of mistakes! Yesterday was the birthday of P.D.Q. Bach! Here’s one of my favorite choral pieces by that world rejected composer, “My Bonny Lass She Smelleth”!
Wow! This is big week for composer birthdays! Yesterday Bach, and now Sondheim & Lloyd Webber! Both theatrical composers, I unfortunately cannot take you out to see the shows I want to discuss, so let’s go to YouTube!
Sondheim: A Little Night Music
The week or so ago, my voice teacher asked me my favorite song from “A Little Night Music,” and after I compared it to picking a favorite child, we settled on “Every Day A Little Death.” Maureen Moore makes me want to melt.
And then last night, a friend of mine asked if it was worth it to watch the film version of the show. In eventually concluded it was, if only to see the standout performances, such as Diana Rigg as Charlotte. (Unfortunately, YouTube only has a recording, but you can still hear the heartache.)
Lloyd Webber: The Phantom of the Opera
When I was a young whippersnapper of a male soprano, I was always attracted to the soprano “arias” of Lloyd Webber’s “Phantom.” I started to explore musical theatre just as the film version came out, so I would often be caught with this tune lilting through my brain and attempting to lilt out of my mouth.
But, I must be honest. I didn’t like Phantom. The movie hadn’t sold me, and I had never had an opportunity to see the stage show. But then this Spring Break, I found the Royal Albert Hall 25th Anniversary taping. (Four Redboxes, Two States, it was a very popular DVD.) I really enjoyed it, I was finally able to see the stage show, and now I like “The Phantom of the Opera.” If you are not a fan of the show, but have only seen the movie, I would highly recommend this taping. He’s a brief clip of the same song.
Yay! Birthdays!
Okay, now I have to get back to homework.
Nathan Hatha-
Are you kidding me? I missed Mussorgsky’s birthday yesterday? Oh fine. I love this piece, it fascinates me how music can actually sound creepy.
Today we celebrate the birthday of he-who-cannot-be-played, Bach! To celebrate the natal day of the Jesus of Western Music, I offer you a few thoughts on that master of counterpoint that I have collected (read: stolen) from my colleagues and counterparts.
1. “Buxtehude is like Bach without the genius.”
This was my own thought when I first heard the work of John the Buxtehude in Music History. The style and forms seemed to remind me so much of Bach, but it just wasn’t as brilliant, not as piercing, it was like eating at Olive Garden after coming back from Italy. (Or Carrabba’s for that matter.)
2. “I feel like we adore anything that has Bach’s name on it.”
This was shared as we pondered one of the sinfonias in Form & Analysis. Not a fan of that particular piece, this student shared a concern for an over-zealousness in our praise of the savior. She later admitted that she hated puppies and that she found cake disgusting. Another student expressed that Bach’s work was not something he readily appreciated, although he liked the Cello Suites. (Chump.)
3. “Humming ‘Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring’ will get any song out of your head.”
This nugget was shared with us by our Music History teacher. The only problem is, you then have “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” stuck in your head. Aren’t we all stressed out enough?
4. “People should fear Handel the way they fear Bach!”
Bach. He’s one of the scariest mofo’s to ever don a powdered wig (if you’re a musician). People don’t take performing his work lightly, because they know it’s hard. But Handel, he is loved and admired and badly played the world over! (So is Bach, but it’s a little different – less songs about trees.) My friend thinks we should fear Handel’s runs just as much as we fear Bach’s periods.
