Author Topic: The Classical Corner (3) (Read 15176 times)

AuenOldie · « **Reply #60 on:** July 04, 2009, 06:10:16 PM »

Chya · « **Reply #61 on:** July 04, 2009, 06:12:52 PM »

Radioman..the song taken from Chaplin's theme from Limelight was called Eternally...

AuenOldie · « **Reply #62 on:** July 04, 2009, 06:24:06 PM »

...and it was recorded by Engelbert Humperdinck.

EloiseDee · « **Reply #63 on:** July 04, 2009, 07:44:22 PM »

Bubble, I meant the television series of Forsythe Saga that I don't think was ever done in French. I never saw the original television series unfortunately, so I can't compare.

Chia, I had forgotten about that piece 'The Theme from Limelight' by Zamfir. Eternally. I didn't know C. Chaplin wrote music either.

AO Somehow I prefer that piece by Zamfir on the flute than sung by Englebert H. Some songs don't need words and that is one of them.

I don't know if you all will get this TV program on Monday night at 8 pm. It is a Metropolitain Opera gala performance to honor Joseph Volpe who is retiring. It will be shown in French on our ArtTV station. The world's best operatic voices will be performing. I am reserving a seat at home and I can put it as loud as I want because everybody downstairs is away pm vacation in PEI.

http://www.metoperafamily.org/metopera/season/production.aspx?id=8651&detect=yes

JoanK · « **Reply #64 on:** July 04, 2009, 08:14:52 PM »

BUBBLE: YES!

There should always be two layers in music. Jews were tormented for so long that they learned to hide their despair. "

I think that the joy mixed with sorrow in Jewish music is more than a way to hide despair: it is deeper than that. To me, it's like saying: yes: life is always tragic, but yes, life is always joyful too. They are both a part of every life.

AuenOldie · « **Reply #65 on:** July 04, 2009, 08:22:56 PM »

Quote from: EloiseDee on July 04, 2009, 07:44:22 PM

AO Somehow I prefer that piece by Zamfir on the flute than sung by Englebert H. Some songs don't need words and that is one of them.

Engelbert Humperdinck was also a composer, and his sister was a librettist.

PatH · « **Reply #66 on:** July 04, 2009, 10:01:06 PM »

Thanks for the link to the Shostakovich, AO. They are good players, and brought out some graceful bits I hadn't noticed before. What they didn't do was to bring out the emotional side, which is muffled here. I think maybe you have to be either Jewish or Russian to be able to catch the spirit of it.

PatH · « **Reply #67 on:** July 04, 2009, 10:16:38 PM »

Shostakovich wrote some light stuff too--theater and movie music, all very likeable. How could you resist the suite from "The Bolt", a ballet about industrial espionage, with a polka called "The Bureaucrat" and a finale "General Dance of Enthusiasm and Apotheosis". (Actually, it sounds like a lot of his theater music, very pleasant).

Radioman · « **Reply #68 on:** July 04, 2009, 10:38:59 PM »

Correct judianna: You have now passed your probationary status.

Thanks Chya: that has been bugging me all day. Now my life is complete.

JoanK your reference to Jewish music brings to mind an account I have shared quite often on the air about Jews having to play happy music when there was no happiness to celebrate. A specific example was cited about prisoners being paraded to the gas chambers. Jewish musicians were ordered to play happy music to accompany them as their brethren marched to their deaths. Any musician who did not comply joined the death march. And I can say I felt that sense of repressed despair when I visited Auschwitz and Birkenau, and I have certainly developed an affinity for that music too. I posted a poem somewhere about my experience and I can't remember where.

Bubble, do you recall?

PatH I play those Shostakovich pieces as part of my regular rotation. He sure was a multi-faceted composer.

judianna · « **Reply #69 on:** July 04, 2009, 11:06:41 PM »

Radioman...remember the musicians who continued to play as the Titanic was sinking...and I believe that is historically accurate...How brave,How poignant. Would love to hear your thoughts about the prison camps...hope you find it. OH YEAH! THANKS for taking me off probation.....You may be sorry you did that......lolol

angelface555 · « **Reply #70 on:** July 04, 2009, 11:37:53 PM »

Food for thought;

http://www.jewish-theatre.com/visitor/article_display.aspx?articleID=2469

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1074081.html

And at only a few miles from camp, we have the Nazi guards retreat. Eating blueberries and celebrating a new up to date hospital for Germans only and listening to music for their and their children's relaxation!

The women guards shown relaxing were some of the most vicious in all the camps.

http://www.ushmm.org/museum/exhibit/online/ssalbum/

Radioman · « **Reply #71 on:** July 04, 2009, 11:46:49 PM »

angelface555 it is quite moving isn't it. I took only a few pictures when I was there and then put my camera away.

angelface555 · « **Reply #72 on:** July 05, 2009, 12:03:33 AM »

Both of my sisters were able to see both the US museum and some of the camps separately. My one sister cried her way through and then proceeded to throw up.

She was quite embarrassed but said everyone was very kind. My older sister said she would not be able to return as it was too much to take in. Neither were able to take photos.

They also both went to Culloden at separate times as we lost ancestors there and she said, (my oldest sister); that you could feel the ghosts, that there was a oppressive weight to the air and many people in her group remarked on it. Jodi took rubbings from the memorial of our Black Watch Clan.

Radioman · « **Reply #73 on:** July 05, 2009, 12:21:05 AM »

We must be kindred spirits ! I too visited Culloden and could feel the overriding sense of disaster. Certainly not England's finest hour. But Clearances that followed sure blacken the history of the Scottish lords as well. It shows that cruelty knows no race or boundaries.

A musical tie-in to the battle of Culloden is that Hail The Conquering Hero from Handel's Judas Maccabeus was used to celebrate the
return of the Duke of Cumberland from Scotland after the decisive victory of Culloden.

angelface555 · « **Reply #74 on:** July 05, 2009, 12:41:22 AM »

Since my ancestors were transported to Charleston in 1721 due to selling a horse to an English officer; the horse threw him and he was injured. He shot the horse and had the family transported to several years servitude at different places. It would take 23 years for the family to regroup.

This was another black mark against the English and I was always taught that it was English landlords, not Scottish during the clearances. But then the family was a wee bit prejudged up to probably my generation and I'm not sure about all of them!

Radioman · « **Reply #75 on:** July 05, 2009, 01:04:34 AM »

The Clearances were a 100% Scottish initiative. The renowned historian John Prebble, a specialist in Scottish history has written extensively on this subject. I have three of his books, two of which deal individually with Culloden and the Highland Clearances which he describes as a betrayal of the Scottish people.

We must distinguish between those who were transported to the American colonies in the 1700's and the immigrants who landed because of the Clearances. The former was a British initiative and was an extension of the rebellion. The Clearances did not take place until the 1800's

angelface555 · « **Reply #76 on:** July 05, 2009, 01:29:25 AM »

I hear what you're saying but my Grandparents and mother would violently disagree. I have a Serbian friend who quite frankly hates Albanians for things that happened close to a thousand years ago and I have learned not to discuss this with her. Look at the enmity between the Turks and the Greeks; all long standing back into the veils of the past.

If I had told my grandfather that he was wrong about the English, (and this was in 1967!); I probably would have been drummed out of the family or more!

Its not that I don't believe you, I will need to read more on this. You do know that as early as 1640 that the English kings were moving English settlers into Scottish lowlands? So were they English or Scottish? Does it depend on perception?

So P Bubble · « **Reply #77 on:** July 05, 2009, 07:09:46 AM »

Quote from: Radioman on July 04, 2009, 10:38:59 PM

And I can say I felt that sense of repressed despair when I visited Auschwitz and Birkenau, and I have certainly developed an affinity for that music too. I posted a poem somewhere about my experience and I can't remember where. Bubble, do you recall?

A and B

Tracks led to their deaths
And the Cargo did not know
Platforms filled with
Trusting souls
Go left die now
Go right die later
“Work Shall Set You Free”
The mocking banner said
And it was right
For death was freedom
When their cries were heard
No more

Do you mean this, Don?

AuenOldie · « **Reply #78 on:** July 05, 2009, 07:14:52 AM »

Back to the music and a new Composer Photo Quiz:

Neurotic composer, author, actor, hypochondriac, and frequent resident of mental hospitals.

Radioman · « **Reply #79 on:** July 05, 2009, 09:40:44 AM »

Bubble that's the one. I have a great memory except for the fact it's short.

That rather grotesque image looks like Oscar Levant.
Is he the one that had a running "feud" with Fred Allen?

Radioman · « **Reply #80 on:** July 05, 2009, 09:49:00 AM »

That anthology of Elmer Bernstein's works was quite an eye-opener; I particularly liked the music for "To Kill A Mockingbird"

AuenOldie · « **Reply #81 on:** July 05, 2009, 10:13:26 AM »

Quote from: Radioman on July 05, 2009, 09:40:44 AM

That rather grotesque image looks like Oscar Levant. Is he the one that had a running "feud" with Fred Allen?

That's only because it is Oscar Levant.

It was Jack Benny who had the faux feud with Fred Allen.

Prancer · « **Reply #82 on:** July 05, 2009, 01:00:39 PM »

We are missing Don today, but I am keeping myself musically fed by playing CDs.

Right now, a variety of tunes (from Scotland and Ireland)...those being jigs, reels, clogs, hornpipes, strathspeys, airs and marches.

I think of them as sort of Classics because they came over with my ancestors. My term for them is 'Cape Breton Aerobics'. Lots of exercise to keep dancing to those lively tunes.

Hope everyone is having a happy day.

JoanK · « **Reply #83 on:** July 05, 2009, 02:56:58 PM »

One last story of the German Death camps and music: I can't remember where I heard the story of the Jewish woman who was told by a guard, under gunpoint, to strip naked and dance for him. She did, and danced a joyous, seductive dance, closer and closer, until she danced right up to him, grabbed his gun, and shot him.

Radioman · « **Reply #84 on:** July 06, 2009, 01:02:42 AM »

One of life's mysteries is that it takes me almost four hours to record a three-hour show.

That's what I was doing this afternoon.

Prancer you have given me another idea for Sunday's show. I have a couple of cds featuring an ensemble called Puirt a Baroque which is gaelic for music from the baroque. Puirt is pronounced "poorsht" The group is based in Cape Breton and consists of violin, guitar and harpsichord. The cd is entitled Bach Meets Cape Breton and you'll hear a real blend of Bach and what is considered the Scottish baroque; music the Scots brought with them when displaced by the Highland Clearances

JoanK that is a story that one reads with deep mixed emotions. It certainly defines the heights to which the human spirit can arise.

So P Bubble · « **Reply #85 on:** July 06, 2009, 02:59:10 AM »

The next concert will be full of intriguing pieces. I look forward to it.

AuenOldie · « **Reply #86 on:** July 06, 2009, 07:58:24 AM »

Quote from: Radioman on July 06, 2009, 01:02:42 AM

One of life's mysteries is that it takes me almost four hours to record a three-hour show.

Things like that always take twice as long as you expect them to.

Prancer · « **Reply #87 on:** July 06, 2009, 09:40:36 AM »

Don

It will be enjoyable to hear Puirt a Baroque, as I've seen that done in Cape Breton. No end to the 'down East' fun and music. Lots of talent there and, oh yes, LOBSTER!!

So P Bubble · « **Reply #88 on:** July 06, 2009, 10:04:20 AM »

Do Lobster sing? Do they have a voice?

EloiseDee · « **Reply #89 on:** July 06, 2009, 10:20:08 AM »

Prancer, since I will be in PEI from 17 to 24 July I want to eat lobster to my heart's content, unfortunately my appetite does not match the size of my desire to gorge myself on the delicacy. Fish and seefood will be present at every meal and how can I forget their scrumptious fries that go with it.

Bubble I hope they don't sing while I am eating, it would kill my appetite.

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Author Topic: The Classical Corner (3) (Read 15176 times)

Chya