What are you listening to RIGHT NOW?

Vivaldi · Post by **Vivaldi** » Sun May 11, 2008 8:41 am

I'm now listening to Scheherazade and Capriccio Espagnol, both by Rimsky-Korsakov. Great masterpieces of orchestration.

Sergeï · Post by **Sergeï** » Sun May 11, 2008 11:49 am

I love Russian music. In fact, I'm listening to some right now

Tchaikovsky, Symphony n°6, "Pathétique", Karajan interpretation.

About the Mozart effect: I have just been informed by my mother that I have been exposed to such music before being born (Mozart and Beethoven's 9th mainly). I may now become a genius any moment.

Post by **Yagan Kiely** » Sun May 11, 2008 3:06 pm

John Williams: Jurassic Park.

I don't care what anyone says, it is great music.

pocoallegro · Post by **pocoallegro** » Tue May 13, 2008 1:17 am

Howells: Hymnus Paradisi

Post by **Yagan Kiely** » Tue May 13, 2008 8:32 am

Honestly never heard of it.

aldona · Post by **aldona** » Tue May 13, 2008 12:47 pm

I've heard it on the radio now and then, but being a classical music geek it's not one that I have a recording of.

It's a nice relaxing song.

I loaded up my iPod and set it up on random shuffle mode - and the first piece of music that came out was...

Mozart - Andante for Flute and Orchestra (K.315)

aldona

Sanfior · Post by **Sanfior** » Fri May 30, 2008 1:04 pm

Well, right now I'm listening Dvorak cello concerto plaed by Jacqueline du Pre. I like this interpretation SO much! When I heard it for first time I didn't believe, that the soloist is woman. So much expression and power in the sound!

wurlitzer153 · Post by **wurlitzer153** » Fri May 30, 2008 9:22 pm

Beethoven - Symphony No. 7 Finale - MIDI transcription
I just finished it!

Wild!

aldona · Post by **aldona** » Fri May 30, 2008 9:43 pm

Well, right now I'm listening Dvorak cello concerto plaed by Jacqueline du Pre. I like this interpretation SO much! When I heard it for first time I didn't believe, that the soloist is woman. So much expression and power in the sound!

Just wondering...why would it be a surprise that a woman should play so well? If we females are supposed to be more emotional (as some claim), then it would be expected that we would play the cello better than men!

(I don't play the cello - but most of the amateur cellists in my circle of friends are women. Some of them are very petite and would easily hide behind the cello, but their expression and power are awesome!)

I heard a similar discussion once about males and flutes. Any thoughts on that one?

aldona

wurlitzer153 · Post by **wurlitzer153** » Fri May 30, 2008 10:17 pm

Virtual Wurlitzer style 146 band organ - Hands Across the Sea - Sousa

emeraldimp · Post by **emeraldimp** » Sat May 31, 2008 5:22 am

aldona wrote:(I don't play the cello - but most of the amateur cellists in my circle of friends are women. Some of them are very petite and would easily hide behind the cello, but their expression and power are awesome!)

Similarly, most of the cellists I know are women, and certainly the best ones I've played with were women.

I heard a similar discussion once about males and flutes. Any thoughts on that one?

I've been reading a fairly old book that describes flautists as follows:

Woodwinds and Their History, Anthony Baines, p52 wrote:A flute player in the orchestra, leaning back comfortably in his chair, often forcibly brings to mind the god Pan resting against his forest tree and fluting magic spells;

Not exactly the image that comes to mind nowadays, at least here in the US...

ras1 · Post by **ras1** » Sun Jun 01, 2008 5:37 pm

I know quite a few cellists that I would say are very expressive, most of whom are female. Two of these women recently won concerto competitions, and I must say I have rarely seen such beautiful playing in my life. It may be true that much of the classical music scene (especially conducting) is still - due to outdated traditions - dominated by males, but this is certainly changing and it is obvious now that both genders are equally qualified. I believe that last year the Baltimore Symphony became the first major symphony orchestra in the country to take on a woman as its conductor (Marin Alsop, who is absolutely fantastic).

emeraldimp · Post by **emeraldimp** » Sun Jun 01, 2008 10:32 pm

ras1 wrote:(Marin Alsop, who is absolutely fantastic).

Yes, she is... She lead the Colorado Symphony for some years, so naturally we (Coloradans) are very proud of her.

Sanfior · Post by **Sanfior** » Mon Jun 02, 2008 12:08 pm

Just wondering...why would it be a surprise that a woman should play so well? If we females are supposed to be more emotional (as some claim), then it would be expected that we would play the cello better than men!

[/quote]

100% agree! Jacqueline du Pre is my favourite cellist from all men and women.

aldona · Post by **aldona** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 12:44 am

This morning on my way to work I listened to the Trio in G minor for Piano, Flute and Cello by C.M. von Weber (Op.63).

I had heard little bits of it before, but this time I was a captive audience for 1/2 hour so I heard the whole work.

It is a beautiful piece. (and just above my comfort zone as far as flute playing - so it would give me something to aim for.)

I will definitely have to add it to my wish list.

Aldona