Sometimes it's difficult to dig through all the works written throughout history, from Handel to Debussy, to find music relating to modern life. However, some pieces are absolutely timeless. Here are five of my favorite classical works to add to your new autumn playlist. Enjoy!
1.The Sunset Piece (Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major by Bach)
This is not this cello suite's official nickname, but it reminds me so much of a sunset every time I hear it that I can't help but call it the Sunset Piece in my own mind. You decide what time of the day it feels like to you. Its rich cello sounds are warm and comforting, in spite of the conflict towards the middle when the key changes to a stormy minor. In the end the conflict is resolved and the notes are back to themes of warm orange sunshine characteristic of a setting sun. watch Yo Yo Ma play this piece
2. A Snowy Moonlit Garden (Claude Debussy - Clair De Lune)
Inspired and named for moonlight, this nostalgic piece is one of Impressionism's most famous masterpieces. It begins tentatively, then morphs into aggressiveness with its chords, flows into a lovely stream of broken chords and crossovers, and ends on the same shy theme. Written by French genius and pioneer of Impressionist music Claude Debussy, it recalls more than moonlight - it evokes a whole era of music, art and culture during the early twentieth century. Listen to Clair de Lune
3. Passionate Storm (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Symphony No. 25 in G Minor)
The full spectrum of human emotions expressed through Mozart's musical genius are covered in this single movement. The opening bars are undoubtedly angry, perhaps disappointed, and undeniably stirring. Components of the piece reflect passionate happiness which ultimately fades back into the initial passionate hatred. It personally reminds me of Mozart struggling with his genius in an age which did not quite understand him, as he did not quite understand himself. He was perhaps one of the greatest composers who ever lived, and yet he died young and was buried in an unmarked grave, his greatness undiscovered by his own time.
Listen to Mozart's symphony
4. Dreams of Love (Franz Lizst - Liebestraum)
The German Liebestraum is translated "Love Dream," a more than fitting title for this romantic piano piece expressing all the ups and downs, sadnesses and joys, excitement and melancholy of love. It is a very graceful work, calling to mind images of hearts, rainbows, swans, butterflies, etc. :)
5. The Music of Israel (Bedrich Smetana: -The Moldau Symphonic Poem)
About one minute into this work, this seemingly Tchaikovsky-sounding symphony starts pouring out the soulful melodies of Israel's national anthem "Hatikvah." I firmly believe this is the only way Hatikvah is meant to be heard and played. The Jewish composer Smetana did a fabulous job with this nineteenth century symphony, and moreover he is to be applauded for his courage to write and perform this work in an era not so favorable to Judaism. Like Mozart, it is a stirring work, yet not in the same passionate manner - the emotion is expressed in a Jewish way through minor keys and graceful melodies. It is a song for the patriotic, dramatic, soulful and/or melancholy mood.
The Poem
1 comment:
i've listened to these songs so much the past few weeks! i love them every time lol :)
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