Giuseppe Verdi - Messa da Requiem

Although Requiem was a religious work, it was presented more in concert halls than in churches. Giuseppe Verdi wrote the famous Requiem in honour of his close friend, Alessandro Manzoni, the great Italian poet, writer, and humanist, who died in 1873. It is a powerful fusion of intense drama and passion, with moments of reverent simplicity. Verdi conducted the first performance at St. Mark's Church in Milan on May 22, 1874, the first anniversary of Manzoni's death. Revolutionary composition Verdi's Requiem has been revolutionary in two respects: First, because while the traditional requiem is a prayer of the living for the dead, Verdi's work was a function as much for the living as for the dead. As Verdi would expect, it's a dramatic, theatrical play. Written for four solo voices (soprano, mezzo-soprano, tenor and bass) with full choir and orchestra, it follows the typical Roman Catholic Latin mass for the dead. The "libretto" certainly comes from the dram
0

Camille Saint-Saëns - The Carnival of the Animals (Le Carnaval des animaux) - Part 1

Camille Saint-Saëns wrote this satirical and entertaining suite in 1886 for himself and his friends exclusively. It was played only once in a close private circle, and Saint-Saëns did not allow it to be performed in public while he was alive. Either he believed that the work was not of particular value or perhaps he considered it unworthy of a composer at the top of his career. 

Whatever the reason, the score remained untouched for 30 years and was only published in 1922.

I. Introduction and Royal March of the Lion

The fibrillation of piano chords and the emerging string phrases of this "magnificent zoological imagination" define the Introduction and Royal March of the Lion. As the music grows, the excitement intensifies until everything stops abruptly with a final bow of the orchestra. The pianos play a rhythmic fanfare and a slow string melody finally announces the arrival of the Lion. Even his terrible roar is heard - low on the piano and later on strings.


II. Hens and Roosters

The hens cheerfully sing, noisy and carving in Hens and Roosters in high tone and complement the rooster's resonant laity on the piano and high on the clarinet.


III. Hémiones (Wild Donkeys Swift Animals)

The fast, impetuous scales of the piano in Hémiones mimic the brutal toil of the amateur pianist.


IV. Tortoises

In Tortoises, the double bass plays a slow version of Offenbach's Can Can.



V. The Elephant

Bass also appears on The Elephant, while the poor creature struggles to dance in the swirls of a waltz.



Comments

Post a Comment