10. Alwyn- Autumn Legend
William Alwyn has to be the no.1 neglected British Composer, enormously prolific, he has two entries in my Autumn top ten which must have the Alwyn society jumping for joy and punching the air no doubt. The Autumn legend was inspired by a painting by Dante Gabriel Rosseti. Being an Artist himself, Alwyns artistic nature is revealed throughout the work in brush strokes of lush strings and tenderly pastoral lines of the Cor Anglais. A vivid evocation of the season of Autumn.
9. Part- Cantus in memorium of Benjamin Britten
This has to be one of the most beautiful pieces of modern classical music. It's mysterious beauty lies in it's purity, each bar is given all the time and space in the world, every note is wonderfully played out- reminiscent of a solitary falling Autumn leaf. The bell( that gives the piece real verve) could symbolise the demise of summer before the slow repetitious textures and phrases of Autumn impose and gradually intertwine, leaving the ear with a collage of whimsical lines to unravel. Play it again and again.
8. Mahler- Symphony no.9 (adagio)
Serene, elegiac, tranquil, contemplative, plaintive, sorrowful but above all else beautiful. It moves along at the speed of a glacier giving you ample time to take it all in but be prepared, in many concert halls there is not a single dry eye when the conductor's batten finally goes down. The strings just seem to shine like early Autumn sun tenaciously hanging on to the last embers of Summer. You might have previously associated Mahler with 'life in the dark lane' but this is a piece of latent beauty. One of the most touching pieces of music ever written, give yourself a couple of minutes silence after it has finished.
7. Shostakovitch- Symphony no.5 (moderato)
An icon of modern symphonic music. The Composer has a perfect balance here, there is intensity and irony, brashness and subtlety and power and tenderness. In some excursions into major tonal areas it gives you a feeling of rejoicing, like reaching a mountain summit and suddenly having splendid views in all directions. In more sombre passages there are melancholy oboe solos and probing string melodies that are like a low Autumn sun shining through Poplar trees. Of course the angry brass brings on the storm clouds, better move on...
6. Tchaikovsky- Symphony no.6 (finale)
Sadly this is biographical, the Composer had a troubled life, ironically this is channelled into the music and you feel the pathos and power go hand in hand as never before. However don't think the music is bleak, it isn't, it has a warm sonic focus and the distillation of Slavic melodies gives the piece an overall sweep of plaintive beauty. I think you will be in awe of it's lofty presence and understated eloquence.
5. Alwyn- Oboe Concerto
This work has the hallmark of being identifiably British, it has that Autumn crispness and a stately main melody, perhaps the Oboe itself is the major contributor to this, still an underused and under estimated instrument in my opinion. Alwyn generates a real atmospheric pleasantness in this nature tapestry, you can't help but feel a sense of longing in the piece, maybe because an endless summer has finally passed. The Composer as ever, a master of Rhapsody but always within solid orchestral boundaries. A rare discovery.
4. Rautavara- Cantus Arcticus (Concerto for Birds and Orchestra)
Well isn't this one something a bit different? The effect of Birdsong over a featherbed of gentle orchestral meanderings is simply incredible. You will have to pick your own setting as you listen to it, I prefer to be reminded of Oystercatchers and Gannets on the North West coast of the beloved Motherland. With all these harmonies to wallow in, so long as you've got wide open spaces, big skies and the wind blowing in your face, you should be alright!
3. Delius- North Country Sketches (1. Autumn)
The illustrious Delian impressionistic thumb print lies on every bar throughout this work. It may not be a hummable tune but it implies action and movement, whether dallying in a sun drenched Autumn meadow or fighting for every step across a bleak windswept Highland moor, Delius delivers the goods. Some writers have compared this piece to a musical treatment of 'Wuthering Heights' and you will see why. However after all is said and done it has the freshness and poignancy of a garland of freshly sharpened pencils!
2. Vaughan Williams- Serenade to Music
Due to the extraordinary amount of solo singers required this masterpiece is rarely performed! V.W did do the same work but without voice but that is nowhere near as good ( Ingram fact). Here we have starry words set to moonlit music, the sweetest conceivable vocal harmonies and above all a testimony to the beauty of the human voice. The tone is immediately set by a viola solo, there are also strains of an angelic harp hanging in there as well. It nearly made it to the number one spot but that just had to go to ...
1. Schubert- Impromptu no.4 in E flat
Listen to this and you will experience moments of staggering beauty and Schubertian charm! In fact I challenge anybody not to listen to this piece and picture swirling twirling Autumn leaves ( I.S.S- Ingram sweeping statement) The whole serpentine gem feels like it could just slither away if it was not tethered by the solid base line in the left hand because the right hand is busy with cascading, tumbling arpeggios reminiscent of falling autumn leaves, when the forte increases it is almost hysterical! Full blown pyrotechnics of Autumn!
ktda Markles, please feel free to leave a comment.
William Alwyn has to be the no.1 neglected British Composer, enormously prolific, he has two entries in my Autumn top ten which must have the Alwyn society jumping for joy and punching the air no doubt. The Autumn legend was inspired by a painting by Dante Gabriel Rosseti. Being an Artist himself, Alwyns artistic nature is revealed throughout the work in brush strokes of lush strings and tenderly pastoral lines of the Cor Anglais. A vivid evocation of the season of Autumn.
9. Part- Cantus in memorium of Benjamin Britten
This has to be one of the most beautiful pieces of modern classical music. It's mysterious beauty lies in it's purity, each bar is given all the time and space in the world, every note is wonderfully played out- reminiscent of a solitary falling Autumn leaf. The bell( that gives the piece real verve) could symbolise the demise of summer before the slow repetitious textures and phrases of Autumn impose and gradually intertwine, leaving the ear with a collage of whimsical lines to unravel. Play it again and again.
8. Mahler- Symphony no.9 (adagio)
Serene, elegiac, tranquil, contemplative, plaintive, sorrowful but above all else beautiful. It moves along at the speed of a glacier giving you ample time to take it all in but be prepared, in many concert halls there is not a single dry eye when the conductor's batten finally goes down. The strings just seem to shine like early Autumn sun tenaciously hanging on to the last embers of Summer. You might have previously associated Mahler with 'life in the dark lane' but this is a piece of latent beauty. One of the most touching pieces of music ever written, give yourself a couple of minutes silence after it has finished.
7. Shostakovitch- Symphony no.5 (moderato)
An icon of modern symphonic music. The Composer has a perfect balance here, there is intensity and irony, brashness and subtlety and power and tenderness. In some excursions into major tonal areas it gives you a feeling of rejoicing, like reaching a mountain summit and suddenly having splendid views in all directions. In more sombre passages there are melancholy oboe solos and probing string melodies that are like a low Autumn sun shining through Poplar trees. Of course the angry brass brings on the storm clouds, better move on...
6. Tchaikovsky- Symphony no.6 (finale)
Sadly this is biographical, the Composer had a troubled life, ironically this is channelled into the music and you feel the pathos and power go hand in hand as never before. However don't think the music is bleak, it isn't, it has a warm sonic focus and the distillation of Slavic melodies gives the piece an overall sweep of plaintive beauty. I think you will be in awe of it's lofty presence and understated eloquence.
5. Alwyn- Oboe Concerto
This work has the hallmark of being identifiably British, it has that Autumn crispness and a stately main melody, perhaps the Oboe itself is the major contributor to this, still an underused and under estimated instrument in my opinion. Alwyn generates a real atmospheric pleasantness in this nature tapestry, you can't help but feel a sense of longing in the piece, maybe because an endless summer has finally passed. The Composer as ever, a master of Rhapsody but always within solid orchestral boundaries. A rare discovery.
4. Rautavara- Cantus Arcticus (Concerto for Birds and Orchestra)
Well isn't this one something a bit different? The effect of Birdsong over a featherbed of gentle orchestral meanderings is simply incredible. You will have to pick your own setting as you listen to it, I prefer to be reminded of Oystercatchers and Gannets on the North West coast of the beloved Motherland. With all these harmonies to wallow in, so long as you've got wide open spaces, big skies and the wind blowing in your face, you should be alright!
3. Delius- North Country Sketches (1. Autumn)
The illustrious Delian impressionistic thumb print lies on every bar throughout this work. It may not be a hummable tune but it implies action and movement, whether dallying in a sun drenched Autumn meadow or fighting for every step across a bleak windswept Highland moor, Delius delivers the goods. Some writers have compared this piece to a musical treatment of 'Wuthering Heights' and you will see why. However after all is said and done it has the freshness and poignancy of a garland of freshly sharpened pencils!
2. Vaughan Williams- Serenade to Music
Due to the extraordinary amount of solo singers required this masterpiece is rarely performed! V.W did do the same work but without voice but that is nowhere near as good ( Ingram fact). Here we have starry words set to moonlit music, the sweetest conceivable vocal harmonies and above all a testimony to the beauty of the human voice. The tone is immediately set by a viola solo, there are also strains of an angelic harp hanging in there as well. It nearly made it to the number one spot but that just had to go to ...
1. Schubert- Impromptu no.4 in E flat
Listen to this and you will experience moments of staggering beauty and Schubertian charm! In fact I challenge anybody not to listen to this piece and picture swirling twirling Autumn leaves ( I.S.S- Ingram sweeping statement) The whole serpentine gem feels like it could just slither away if it was not tethered by the solid base line in the left hand because the right hand is busy with cascading, tumbling arpeggios reminiscent of falling autumn leaves, when the forte increases it is almost hysterical! Full blown pyrotechnics of Autumn!
ktda Markles, please feel free to leave a comment.
Hi Mark
ReplyDeleteWhen we lived at Sturton By Stow we had the most wonderful neighbour called Iris (good name!) who helped me so much when I had William as a baby and toddler - she used to bring me dinners and give me sound advice! She loved music and when she passed away she left us a lot of CDs (remember them!) of classical music! How valuable these have been to appreciate all your hard work Mark and how fitting the music is with the songs! Love the ISSs!!!!! Us xxx