Hank Reynolds
Haydn, Symphony No. 45 (Farewell) I started this series almost three years ago with a work by Joseph Haydn (1732-1809). In between that first “performance pick” (No. 1) and this one (No. 136), Haydn has been missing. It confirms, I think, our tendency to take … Read more
Bartók, Out of Doors — The Night’s Music Carol’s essay a few days ago on night music prompts this week’s performance pick. Why not follow up on her post by featuring the movement she discusses from Bartók’s Out of Doors? Coincidentally, just two weeks ago I … Read more
Ockeghem, Missa Mi Mi, Agnus Dei If you begin reading about the Franco-Flemish composer Johannes Ockeghem (1410/25 – 1497), you may notice how much we don’t know about him. His birth date has been narrowed to a 15-year range. Historians have suggested several cities as … Read more
Glinka, Ruslan and Ludmilla Overture Yes, that’s a little guy on a horse about to do battle with a giant’s head. Not a whole giant, just the Head. So we must be deep into some fairy tale—in this case Pushkin’s Ruslan and Ludmilla. Ludmilla has … Read more
Pérotin, Viderunt Omnes The Gothic style of architecture pioneered by the Basilica of St. Denis (completed in 1144) sparked a wave of new construction across Europe. The Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris was under construction from 1163 to about 1240. But it wasn’t just new construction … Read more
Monroe, Jerusalem Ridge Around the Fourth of July, I like to turn to something with American roots. “Jerusalem Ridge” was written by Bill Monroe (1911-1996), known as the father of bluegrass. The musical style, and Monroe’s band the Blue Grass Boys, take their name from Monroe’s home … Read more
Poulenc, Margoton va t’a l’iau Margoton goes to fetch water with her little jug. The spring was in a deep hollow, and she fell in. “Oh Dear,” said Margoton to herself. French composer Francis Poulenc (1899-1963) developed a reputation for lighthearted and whimsical compositions, and … Read more
Lahusen, Komm Trost der Welt The composer of today’s work, Christian Lahusen (1886-1975), was born in Argentina to German parents. He attended high school in Germany and went on to study music in Leipzig. He held various posts as a pianist, teacher, and Kappellmeister. Although little … Read more
Dvorák, String Quintet in G Major, Op. 77 (Scherzo) It was described as irresistible on the one hand, and roundly criticized on the other. Antonin Dvorák’s String Quintet, Op. 77 has generated some conflicts. It is a relatively early work written in 1875. Dvorák (1841-1904) … Read more
Brahms, Scherzo Op. 4 I want to continue looking at the scherzo this week (and beyond). We are not taking them on in chronological order, since we started out two weeks ago with Chopin and then moved to Beethoven, but I don’t think chronology needs to … Read more