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
We’re supposed to know it, but we don’t. These words have resonated in my mind since hearing them said to me last Friday in our Krakow hotel. It was the last day of our Smithsonian Journeys “Week-in-Krakow” tour. The setting was a restored, golden-bricked medieval … 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
After a surprisingly hot day, we’ve had a big storm here in Krakow. My hotel room lies on the top (4th) floor, tucked under the eaves. Outside my window stretch the rooftops of Old Town and, not far in the distance, the famous tower of St. … Read more
Beethoven, Septet Op. 20 (Scherzo) We talked last week about some of the ways Chopin’s Scherzo No. 2 did not conform to what one might expect of a scherzo (literally defined as a joke or jest). Beethoven was not the first to place scherzi in … Read more
Yesterday we went up the street to inquire into membership at a fitness club. Upon entering, I initially balked at the process. To get any answers, we had to register on a computer and provide an email. Then we had to state our goals. Goals, … Read more
Chopin, Scherzo in B-flat minor, Op. 31 The term scherzo means, literally, joke or jest. When the term first appeared in the early 17th century in Italy, it generally referred to a lighthearted work. The New Grove Dictionary refers to Monteverdi’s scherzi from this time as “frivolous … Read more
Twice on Sunday I forgot to take a selfie. The first time came during a joyous afternoon reunion here in Latvia with two long-ago SMU students. Both fantastic musicians, these “kids” were members of our orchestra in the early 1990s, a time many refer to … Read more
Elgar, Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1 You may hear today’s featured work somewhere else this month since it is the “go-to” piece for graduation ceremonies. I remember a small kerfuffle in high school when our band director floated the idea of playing something else. The … Read more
The cobblestones are large and uneven. They look like a randomly strewn field of stone bobble-heads. I teeter a bit, carrying bags of Lithuanian honey, chocolate, and bubbly water back to my Bed and Breakfast. Found on Expedia, this modest, squeaky clean hotel lies in … Read more