Hank Reynolds
Josef Konecny, April Polka Ah, June. This polka may be named for April, but it doesn’t matter. June means we are headed back to Germany. And that means German music at the various Fests in my neighborhood. Germans will hold a festival for practically any reason … Read more
Barsanti, Lord Aboyne’s Welcome “Lord Aboyne’s welcome” or “Cumbernauld House” appears in A Collection of Old Scots Tunes (1742) compiled and arranged with harpsichord and cello accompaniment by Francis Barsanti (born Francesco Barsanti in Tuscany). What’s an Italian doing compiling Scottish tunes? Barsanti (1690-1775) left Italy … Read more
Rodrigo, Concierto de Aranjuez You have heard it in commercials and films: the slow second movement of Concierto de Aranjuez by Joachim Rodrigo (1901-1999). It’s hard to imagine a more poignant melody cast in such a peaceful setting. Of course, the second movement (6:41 – … Read more
Hummel, Septet Op. 74 (1st Movement) Johann Nepomuk Hummel (1778-1837) deserves a spot in this series for several reasons, the least of which is that I walk by his house often when I’m in Weimar. He spent the last 20 years of his life in … Read more
Trevino, Catching Shadows This work was written originally for two marimbas. In this sextet version the marimbas play the most prominent role, but I want to focus on the cajón drum (sometimes called a tapa)—maybe the only instrument that you sit on to play. Our trailer for … Read more
Ray Noble, Cherokee At the conferences this year I heard quite a few comments from people who read this series every week. I appreciate the feedback, and of course it’s nice to know that people enjoy it. I had a rather lengthy conversation with one … Read more
Buxtehude, Sonata in A minor In 1705, the 20-year-old Bach walked from Arnstadt to Lübeck, a distance of about 250 miles. He went to listen to the famed organist Dieterich Buxtehude. It was a good enough reason to secure a one-month leave from his post … Read more
Balakirev, Islamey In the previous post in this series, I mentioned that Panos Karan had impressed us in two ways. The first, discussed last week, concerned his work taking Western classical music to the remotest points on the globe. The second involved his ambitious programming. … Read more
Rachmaninov, Piano Concerto No. 2 (1st movement) Two years ago Professor Carol was lecturing on a ship sailing from Singapore to Dubai. We struck up a friendship with one of the entertainers, concert pianist Panos Karan. Outside of being an agreeable companion on the ship … Read more
Gesualdo, Tenebrae Factae Sunt It’s Good Friday. Our selection for this week is, I think, an astonishing work beautifully performed and recorded. Before you read on, listen to the music and read the text. Better yet, listen twice (as I always recommend), especially if you … Read more