The History Book Club discussion

Now for some fun!!!

Absolutely hysterical - This is BETTER than Lady Gaga.

University of Oregon Nails Lady Gaga Song - Gaga a Capella

Brilliant - you have to watch.



I guess they had an encore outside:

Anybody making fun of that dumb zombie woman deserves our praise!

Absolutely..smile

I just got an email telling me that Alfred Brendel, my favourite pianist ever, is retiring. Very sad news, made lighter by Vienna Phil, making a 2cd set.
is the URL for lovers of his genius at the piano.

Sorry about that Harvey...but at the very least you can continue to listen to him

André wrote: "Rick, and Elizabeth , since you like Chopin so much, have you ever listened to Helene Grimaud playing?

I'm not that much into classical music (although I grew up with it having it constantly aroun..."

Hi Andre, once I have my computer working properly again I will try and listen to Helene Grimaud via the links Bentley provided. Chopin was great, I love his music!

Bentley wrote: "Sorry about that Harvey...but at the very least you can continue to listen to him"

Sure Bentley, I love his Beethoven piano concerto cycle outstanding and his The Fantasy in C minor for Piano, Chorus, and Orchestra, op. 80. Sublime!

Harvey, the funniest thing happened once during an Alfred Brendel concert. (I love his solo work)
There was a guy who didn't stop coughing and he was very loud. After finishing his first piece the people clapped, Alfred walked out and back in, then got up and told the guy to either stop coughing or he'd stop playing. "You are getting on my nerves!"
I had to laugh out loud. It was so funny. Also because the cougher had gotten on my nerves too. I mean why not just leave for a minute or at least try to be silent - there are ways, you know.
Here's a toast to Alfred Brendel!

Cheers André to one of the very best!

André wrote: "Thanks, Bentley!
As you can see in the videos she's extremely good looking. Sadly quite a lot of people hold that up against her. That she was promoted because of that.
I don't agree. I just like h..."

Great music, well chosen Andre and she is very nice to look at as well!

Here is a lovely piece of music that you don't hear very often, its 'Chinar es' (You are a plane tree), its an traditional Armenian lullaby and I love it.
(I'm not too sure about the footage with this link but the music is amazing):

One more of my favourites, Lusine Zakaryan and 'The Dawn Song' followed by 'Where Art Thou, Mother!'.







"Lusine Zakarian was born in Akbaltska, in 1937. Her family moved to Yerevan, where she attended the Komidas Conservatory for five years, graduating with honors. Lusine began her professional career in 1962. In a very short time her fame spread and extended outside of Armenia. She embarked upon her International tours that took her to: Europe, Canada, the United States, Argentina, Vrugay and the Middle East. Lusine s repertoire was extensive. She sang in 15 languages, with a very varied and rich selection of works by Bach, Handel, Mozart, Verdi, Schubert and many other western composers. For 35 years, Lusine Zakarian was the soprano soloist of the Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzzn, Armenia. It -was there that she was spiritually nourished, and she brought that nourishment to Armenian Churches throughout the world. Whenever she took part in the Holy Liturgy her song was a prayer. Lusine Zakarian s immortal life began on December 30, 1992, when her Creator called her to sing in the heavenly realm. Her mortal remains are buried at the Monastery of St. Gayane in St. Etchmiadzin."

I was at the New York Philharmonic (Lincoln Center) this evening for a wonderful performance (attached program):

Hi Bentley, it looks like a great program, did you enjoy yourself?

Rick, Bentley, I always wonder what would have happened/would happen if they'd play this in a war zone. Even if it won't be to everybody's taste at least it might make people start to think about what it is they're doing. They might even see that often there are other ways than killing each other.
All the more I wonder why anybody added this WWII scene to the music...

Hi Andre, An interesting thought! It's lovely music isn't it, I don't get the footage either.
Did you listen to Lusine Zakaryan? She has a wonderful voice. I am waiting for two CD's that I've ordered to arrive as I can't get them in Australia.

Yes, Rick, it's great music. Close your eyes and there you go.
Never understood why anybody'd need drugs to be happy...

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Hi Bentley, it looks like a great program, did you enjoy yourself?"


It was good; we went to a Russian restaurant pre show to get into the mood for Stravinsky - it worked. Enjoyed the Oedipus Rex version of the program the best.

Bentley a thread really close to my heart! I'll be adding more for sure but I thought I would leave you all with prob. the finest playing of the 2nd mvt of Ravel's Piano Concerto in G with Martha Argerich at the keyboard.

Turn it way up and enjoy the emotion.

Thank you Jason and I will listen to this while at Starbucks enjoying my morning coffee brew.

Bentley wrote: "Thank you Jason and I will listen to this while at Starbucks enjoying my morning coffee brew."

Sounds like the perfect way to enjoy it actually!

How's your French? There is an amazing rehearsal video of this performance that is quite something.
Just to give you the back story... Argerich and Dutoit (the conductor) were married and they have a daughter together.
Dutoit made his professional conductorial debut with this piece in 1959 with Argerich playing (she was only 18 then) - This is the 50th anniversary of that performance.

Francais - OK

Thank you for the background information.

André wrote: "Yes, Rick, it's great music. Close your eyes and there you go.
Never understood why anybody'd need drugs to be happy..."

Hi Andre, so true, with music like this in the world all should be good shouldn't it! I love this track so much.

Rick, it's marvelous, though I have to admit I misread the title first and instantly started laughing because I was thinking of the Coen brothers film: Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?
Though it's not my favorite (The Big Lebowski is) I had to give it some time before I could switch from humor mode into the one needed to enjoy this piece of music...

All,

Channel 13 has a wonderful tribute to Lena Horne on American Masters.

Here is the link (video)

Bentley

Here is another one of my favourite pieces of classical music; Frédéric Chopin - 'Marche Funèbre'

Rick, try this version:

I'm not saying one is better than the other, just a question of taste

As to funeral music: here's one more to my taste:


I like the sadness in the first part, the celebration through joy (of life), and the good wishes for the departed, may he/she be on the way to a better place, in the second.

Chopin's march is beautiful, too, of course, a completely different approach.

Chopin was a 'one off,' in some ways a pre-impressionist. To say a bit of a genius might come across as patronising; I don't wish to do so. Some character!

Chopin was a master of his art, what more can you say :)

André wrote: "Rick, try this version:

I'm not saying one is better than the other, just a question of taste

As to funeral music: here's one more to my taste:
..."

Hi Andre, thanks for those links, I quite enjoyed the music although I'm not much of a jazz fan (is that what you would call it?)

André wrote: "Rick, try this version:

I'm not saying one is better than the other, just a question of taste

As to funeral music: here's one more to my taste:
..."

I do like your version of Chopin's Funeral March, very nice indeed!

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "not much of a jazz fan..."

Rick, New Orleans style, yes. Usually this kind of old style is not to my taste either, but the way they do it at funerals sure hits home with me. I guess not just because I'm a jazz fan, but also because I so very much feel both "sides of the coin". The happiness for having had the opportunity to share time with the deceased and the wishing well for wherever he/she is going, but of course also the sadness of the loss.
I wouldn't suggest you visit New Orleans during Mardi Gras but any other time, if you like music, is perfect. I don't think you necessarily need to love jazz. What you will get is the love. The love the people display when they just play/hit it off. It's so inspiring.
All best.

On Friday night I went to the School of Music at the Australian National University to listen to "Salut! Baroque - Italians Abroad" and of course they played, amongst other things, Vivaldi - here is one of my favourite pieces:

I love this work Aussie Rick...it must have been a great evening.

Hi Bentley, it was a great evening, should be more of them! Vivaldi's 'Four Seasons' is a great piece of music isn't it!

Rick, believe it or not, even I like it!
Truly a piece of art - Magical (capital m).

Hi Andre, you have a great taste in music and books so I wouldn't doubt that you'd love this music!

Thanks Rick, I'm open to a lot - as long as it's well done.
Remember the Hanson kids? Mmbop?
Here's their new single, really nice. Click on the Thinking Bout Something video.
I always liked their humor. Here the Ray Charles/Blues Brothers jokes are just hilarious.

One of Elizabeth's posts (M&C) took me off on a tangent and I ended up here:




Lovely music, beautiful scenery!

For those who love Beethoven here is a book that may interest you: "The Ninth: Beethoven and the World in 1824" by Harvey Sachs.

by Harvey Sachs
Review:
"Beethoven wasn't always a cultural icon. At least one critic attending the 1824 premiere of his Symphony No. 9 in D Minor likened what he heard to a hideously writhing wounded dragon. Just why the composer and his works endure is the question behind this absorbing book by music historian Sachs (Toscanini). Through detailed musical analysis and condensed readings of cultural politics and 19th-century history, Sachs ponders what role so-called high culture played, plays, and ought to play in civilization. Using the year 1824 and the premiere of the Ninth as ground zero, Sachs reviews the literary, artistic, and social movements of the time, noting how Beethoven's innovative symphony (the first with a vocal score) and its themes of equality and redemption no doubt challenged the resurgent conservatism among Europe's monarchies. Sachs places Beethoven alongside Pushkin, Byron, and other prominent romantics, whose talents he finds linked to a common quest for freedoms—political, artistic, and above all of the mind and spirit. After first presenting the Ninth as a Viennese social event and then as emblematic of Beethoven's artistic process, Sachs shines with a close reading of the Ninth's musical score, interpreting its techniques and emotive narrative. Readers will want a recording nearby. In the book's last chapter, Sachs deals with the impact and legacy of Beethoven's masterwork and explains what makes his music universal." - Publishers Weekly

Everybody interested in contemporary music: I love to search for bands I don't know. Just for the fun of it.
On one of my recent trips I found this amazing album:
Zero Assoluto: Appena Prima Di Partire
I'm not what one would call a fan of Italian music but this is different.

(the album was released twice. First just in Italian, the second time they added a song with English vocals by Nelly Furtado. It's the song I always skip - easy to do since it's the first on the album - I know she's popular and all but her voice is so flat and her vocal range so limited that it instantly gets on my nerves.

Interesting music there Andre! I'll throw in one of my recent most favourite pieces of music taken from the movie "The Piano":

Here is another nice piece of piano music that some might like:

Rick, yes, Michael Nyman is a wonderful composer. As to Yann Tiersen - the music fits the film perfectly.

Hi as a part time Musician it is fair to say I love all types of music. My favorite genre of music to read to is anything form the baroque period, long live the harpsichord I say. I thought I would bring a bit of a modern touch and list some of my favorite War related songs, these are in no particular order:

Comfortably Numb by Pink Floyd
Tank Park Salute by Billy Brag
One by Metallica
I was only Nineteen by Red Gum
The Band Played Waltzing Matilda by Eric Bogle
B.Y.O.B by System of a Down
Everywhere by Billy Brag
Masters of War by Bob Dyl

Thank you for listing these Michael.

Thought I would share with you all my newest Guitar I have on order from the U.S.A, it is a work of art. The wife thinks I am going through an early midlife crisis.



Hopefully I will have it in December, I already have made room in the collection for it

Well it does look spiffy...your wife might be right but enjoy (smile)

You will need make up (lots of it) and high heel boots to go with it. WOnder what your wife says then...

Um been there done that...