Billy, this is dedicated to you, since I know you are always willing to explore new music. In this thread we can introduce composers who are not necessarily in the mainstream, but who we think are worth listening to at least once. If they sound interesting, it can be a fun project to explore them further.
The first composer we don't hear very often is Ottorino Respighi (1879 - 1936), who wrote wonderfully descriptive music. I don't usually like programmatic music, but I make an exception for Respighi, whose music I enjoy from time to time.
This is his Pini di Roma, which starts with an evocation of the wind in the pines at the Villa Borghese. The beginning gives me goose bumps every time, and ends with a glorious, almost Wagnerian, climax in his description of the pines of the Appian Way. There isn't much to understand in this and his other descriptive compositions, one has to simply sit back and let it wash over you.
He wrote a few other similar works. I recommend Fontane di Roma, which describes the fountains of Rome.
cool!
and look how the conductor makes the whole orchestra stand up and get credit when he walks in.
how many conductors do that for their orchestras?
not enough
at the end too. he doesnt even turn around until he thanks all his people
first rate
Quote from: billy rubin on October 09, 2021, 04:57:36 PM
at the end too. he doesnt even turn around until he thanks all his people
first rate
I can often assess someone's character by looking at their face. He looks like a decent fellow to me.
his actions speak loudly. i usually see orchestral conductors walk onto the stage as if they were demigods, and never turn or notice the human beings in their orchestras.
not one conductor is worth a shit unless he has a competent orchestra backing him up. i seldom see them acknowledge this.
I am guessing that the Italian composer
Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco (1895 – 1968) is not familiar to many here, although he composed many works for guitar. Here is John Williams (the guitarist, not the film composer) playing Castelnuovo-Tedesco's Guitar Concerto No. 1, with Eugene Ormandy conducting. The concerto has 3 movements, split into separate videos by YouTube. I encourage you to listen to all three for a brilliant experience.
1. Allegretto
2. Andantino alla romanza
3. Ritmico e cavalleresco
If this excites you, there are many other Castelnuovo-Tedesco works on YouTube.
damn
he haf me with the flute in the first one
im listening to them again over breakfsst
Quote from: billy rubin on October 17, 2021, 01:13:56 PM
damn
he haf me with the flute in the first one
im listening to them again over breakfsst
Glad you're enjoying it. This particular recording was one of the first LPs I bought when I started buying music in my late teens. The only downside for me is that one work is split into 3 videos on YouTube, which is a shame, because one movement should follow the previous one seamlessly.
I would like to introduce the Brazilian composer Heitor Villa-Lobos (1887 – 1959), who wrote many works that are worth exploring, including a harmonica concerto and nine suites, inspired by Bach and Brazilian folk music, called Bachianas Brasileiras.
Harmonica Concerto
Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5.
Here is more exceptional music by a spectacularly talented group of musicians. https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=bbc+proms+2010+roger+and&view=detail&mid=D80FB77926CB009EE096D80FB77926CB009EE096&FORM=VIRE
If you cannot access this video, try BBC Proms 2010, Rodgers and Hammerstein.
Yeah, I know that this is not to everyone's taste but it is a superb performance.