June, 2013

23 Posts
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The Cowherd’s Tower
Paul Hindemith and Gertrud Rottenberg I
Paul Hindemith: String Quartet No. 3 in C major, Op. 16 The attentive and regular reader of my “In Love” column has surely come to understand that when it comes to musicians, artists and composers, love might not be the
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A Vision of Eternity
Schubert’s String Quintet
Franz SchubertString Quintet in C major, Op. 163, D. 956(Stern, Casals, Tortelier, Schneider, Katims) (1956) In the autumn of 1822, Franz Peter Schubert (1797-1828), a quiet, shy, gentle and introverted man of short stature, contracted syphilis. Affectionately called “Schwammerl,” a
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“Strangolapreti”
Giovanni Pierluigi Palestrina: Stabat Mater Picturesquely located in a glacial valley on the southern foothills of the Alps, the small town of Trento — also known as Trient — played a pivotal role in deciding the fate of the Roman
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The Frailty of a Genius: Frederic Chopin
For many years people believed that Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849) had died from tuberculosis. Not only was he known for his chronic coughs, breathlessness and haemotypsis (coughing out blood), ‘tuberculosis’ was also cited as the cause of death on his death
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The Old World just exploded!
Hindemith and Brahms
Paul Hindemith was a precocious musical talent. Whatever he touched, he almost instantaneously mastered. He started violin lessons at an early age and was admitted to the Frankfurt Conservatory at age 12. He soon became an accomplished performer on several
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Conductor “Quips”
Audiences have little comprehension of the nuances that are determined by the conductor and the musicians in the rehearsal process. The audience sees elaborate gestures that somehow result in exquisite music making. What actually goes on? It is no exaggeration
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Rise of the Phoenix: La Fenice
Have you ever heard of Enrico Carella and Massimiliano Marchetti? There is really no reason why these names should be particularly memorable, except for the fact that these two knuckleheads deliberately set fire to one of the most famous opera
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Joseph Haydn – The Seven Last Words of Our Savior on the Cross
extended string quartet version
Sonata I Ensemble OPUS POSTH, Grindenko From Joseph Haydn The Seven Last Words of Our Savior on the Cross extended string quartet version (2006) Released by CCnC Haydn: Sonata IThe Seven Last Words of Our Saviour On the Cross (German:
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