The 2^nd batch of thoughts from the bunch of music pieces sent to me by Mr Shortland. (now with 20% more flights of fancy)

Camille Saint-Saens  – The Swan From The Carnival of the Animals

Mr Shortland notes: ‘’ And now something a LOT easier and sweeter for the palate. A piece written for children.’’

Ok this is one that I didn’t know that i knew 🙂

Heard this many times.

 It’s romantic in a good way, and far too good to be confined to being part of a collection that appears (as the cover image shows when I play it on the pc) on an album called ‘Music For Dining’

That title implies, ‘’Bland, and does not have to be listened to’’ Just NO, stop marketing classical music this way!!

 Again it makes me feel/think of the view while flying (with or without actual airplanes)  It doesn’t, however quite blow me away as the others have done so far.

Brahms – Symphony 4 in Em (Op 98) 1 – Allegro Non Troppo

When sending this tine my way, the esteem Mr Shortland said something about Brahms being slightly out of favour, this is/was news to me as I do not belong to the right ‘Mean girls for classical music fans’ groups. Shortland goes on to note; ‘’ This is the man who was already renowned and at the top of his game for a couple of decades, but such a perfectionist that he spent 21 years before he felt he was good enough to complete and publish his first symphony. And yes – it’s a cracker as well.’’

Why is Brahms out of favour? Is he dating the wrong sort of girlfriend, said some dodgy things on Instagram?

First take: this is dense, layered themes vie with each other within any given minute.

I love that in any song.

What it means that it will continue to surprise and engage with every listen and it will be different aspects that do so every time.

I think, so far, this is the most intellectually stimulating piece for me.

Its 4 am as I listen and write this, and it’s been one of those days (so far) where i was already frustrated cause I seemed to be unable to articulate thoughts clearly and to my satisfaction, and since I went to bed early and I am peak ‘early just woken up Martin’ this is just not on..

BUT along comes this and I seem to be rescued. Well except the rambling I guess. My rambling is not curable.

I think this almost beats Satie in this collection in that it connects the best with me, and I look forward to many repeat listens.

Antonin Dvorak – Symphony 7 in Dm (Op 70) 3 – Scherzo – Vivace

An observation unrelated to this tune: During the period Dave and I were doing this, I had gotten into a binge watching session for old Fred Astaire movies and had noticed that, in addition to some of the best pop tunes ever, the films used a LOT of classical bangers, so i surmised that Mr and Mrs Joe Average of the time was taking in a lot of great music without realizing it.

Dvorak has always appealed to the eternal 14-16 year old pop prog rock fan in me. All pre punk naturally, after that I sure did change my tunes selection.

Well remember how you dropped your teacup in horror when i brought up Fred Astaire? I suggest you hold on tight to your cutlery then, because this makes me think of Supertramp’s 1^st two ‘proper albums’ (Crime Of The Century and Even in the Quietest Moments) and that Genesis album made just after Gabriel left, and Face the Music era ELO… you get the (mental picture) and all of that is meant as the finest and highest of compliments.

This is storytelling at its very best. I can honestly say that his ‘New World’ helped me pass Matric.

(Well full disclosure a lot of music helped me pass Matric and get through life too, but I have a special place for Mr D and his works)

This piece will probably help me get through what-ever ‘current’ adventure i am presently going through.

So many moods,  a colourful gala ball scene in some period piece movie, then a mix of high romance and low intrigue, I see well kept gardens, and unruly threatening forests, split screen almost. Then the intrigue shifts to a battle at sea, then to conspirators huddled in some poorly lit room. All in this ONE section.

Frederic Chopin – Préludes 4 in Em – Largo (Op 28)

Mr Shortland tells us: ‘’Must say, I was a bit sceptical of all this solo-piano malarkey originally. Having a son who’s a truly gifted pianist and also sitting in with him during countless lessons helped change that short-sightedness. I do quite like me a bit of Chopin, truth be told. The preludes, nocturnes, etudes, impromptus, mazurkas, sonatas are all for solo piano and I’m slowly getting to listen to them. (There is so so so much music – a life’s journey. Lovely!’’

I love solo piano. It has long been a good gate-way drug to ‘classical’ music on a whole. I love this. There is something that appeals to the repressed part in all of us in this music, in that it is, of necessity constrained but also just about to let loose and break free.

I like that tension. More please.