Exploring Genres

I have chosen Contemporary Classical, Early music, and musicals as the 3 genres I wanted to explore further.

Contemporary classical

John Adams, Road movies & shaker loops.

Road movies

1. Relaxed groove
The piece starts quite abruptly with an ostinato-like figure on the piano over which a violin plays repetitive but exploratory like motifs. The immediate impression is that this is not very relaxed at all! The piano is reminiscent of a Bach prelude but with a modern twist and very little variation in dynamics. The violin continues to play staccato motifs with the rhythm going on and off the beat. The piece has limited dynamic range and it is difficult to ascertain quite what time signature it is in, though there is a definite, almost manic pulse. The music lowers a little in volume at the end but finishes relatively abruptly with a high (harmonic?) note on the violin.

2. Meditative
Slow piano arpeggios. Violin comes in playing smooth legato lines often double stopped. Quite a lot of space between phrases. There is some interplay between the piano and violin. There is a lack of tonality in terms of major or minor. There is a sense of ambiguity in the music and when the music concludes, we know it’s the ending but it’s certainly not like the ending of a tonal piece by Mozart, say. A certain lack of resolution.

3. 40% swing.
This is reminiscent of the first piece and gets off to a manic start with both the piano and violin playing repeated ostinato like and accented figures. Difficult to ascertain any sense of key.

Shaker loops

1. Shaking and trembling.
Violins fade in playing a semiquaver ostinato like figure. A note is held for slightly longer amidst the rhythm. A gradual sense of dissonant harmony evolves as more strings come in. It sounds somewhat machine-like, perhaps like an engine that’s not quite tuned or the sound of tyres on a concrete road. There is an abrupt change as the volume goes quiet. Violins play non tonal ostinato rhythms whilst a single violin plays high harmonics not exactly in tune(?). The piece comes to an end without much warning.

2. Hymning Slews / 3. Loops and Verses / 4. A Final Shaking
Violin trills, harmonics, portamento motifs, plucked strings all at a quiet volume. The music feels like it’s searching for something. Hymning Slews segues into Loops and Verses where there are more ostinato-like figures on the strings that gradually morph and transform. Crescendo of these ostinato-like figures gradually getting quieter and segueing into A Final Shaking: Same repeated figures where it seems each violin plays repeated semiquaver notes for what seems like a very long time. Sudden change of volume from forte to piano. Occasional use of crescendo. Music gradually fades out.

ADAMS, J.: Shaker Loops / Road Movies / John’s Book of Alleged Dances (John Adams Portrait) (Dubeau, La Pieta, Bessette)
Category: Chamber Music
Composer(s): Adams, John
Artist(s):Bessette, Louise; Dubeau, Angele; Pieta, La
Label: Analekta Catalogue No.: AN28732 Release Date: 2011
https://imslp.naxosmusiclibrary.com/catalogue/item.asp?cid=AN28732 (accessed 30/08/2017)

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Kajia Saariaho

Notes on light

1. Translucent secret
No apparent key centre. Repeated use of glissando and portamento. Main Instrument is the cello accompanied by strings. Use of dissonant harmonics and string accompaniment create an unsettling mysterious atmosphere. Generally slow tempo and quite a lot of space in the music.
2. On fire – Use of xylophone – brief melodic runs. Contrast to the first piece with different instrumentation. Louder with a stronger sense of pulse generally.
3. Awakening
Xylophone, glockenspiel, Celeste, finger cymbals or bar chimes, triangle, strings. More use of glissando, mildly to very dissonant, harmonics, variation of dynamics.
4. Eclipse segueing into…
5. Heart of Light

Creates a sense of the unknown and spaceyness. Parts of the music could definitely be used in a sci-fi movie such as a spaceship travelling through a nebulae, or something similarly foggy and mysterious!

SAARIAHO, K.: Notes on Light / Orion / Mirage (Mattila, Karttunen, Paris Orchestra, Eschenbach)
Composer(s):Saariaho, Kaija
Lyricist(s):Sabina, Maria Artist(s):
Eschenbach, Christoph; Karttunen, Anssi; Mattila, Karita; Orchestre de Paris
Label: Ondine Catalogue No.: ODE1130-2 Release Date: 01 September 2008
http://imslp.naxosmusiclibrary.com/streamw.asp?ver=2.0&s=167137%2Fimslpcomp01%2F245842 (accessed 30/08/2017)

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Thomas Adès

Piano quintet number one.
It initially sounds like it’s going to be quite pleasant and tonal as there are a couple of “in key” appoggiaturas but by the third one we end up with a dissonant and unexpected interval. The piece then goes off on a dissonant non tonal tangent very quickly. Piano sounds it like comes in unexpectedly. The piano and violin sound like they could be playing different pieces! Dissonant melodic lines between the violins. Quite a wide variation in dynamic range throughout the piece. Lots of textural tricks with violins – pizzicato, harmonics, scraping textural sounds.

Does not really conjure anything to my mind other than it’s just pretty dissonant.

The Four Quarters.

1. Nightfall
Quiet – harmonics on violin. Rhythmic motifs on the violin whilst a cello and strings coming underneath with slow breathing chords.

2. Serenade morning dew
Mainly pizzicato strings. Generally dissonant and sounding out of time, with the odd glimpse of traditional harmony.

4. Days.
Repeated note and rhythm played mainly on the violin whilst the other instruments move around with the harmony changing. Then all the instruments play the same rhythm. As we get to the end of the piece the rhythm changes slightly.
Actually quite Pleasant. Melancholic and unsettling.

4. The 25th hour
Pizzicato arpeggiated notes on violin, accompanied by dissonant harmonics on another violin

Category: Chamber Music Composer(s):
Adès, Thomas Artist(s):
Adès, Thomas; Calder Quartet Label: Signum Classics Catalogue No.: SIGCD413
Piano Quintet
http://imslp.naxosmusiclibrary.com/streamw.asp?ver=2.0&s=167137%2Fimslpcomp01%2F4223385 (accessed 30/08/2017)

The 4 Quarters
http://imslp.naxosmusiclibrary.com/streamw.asp?ver=2.0&s=167137%2Fimslpcomp01%2F4223386 (accessed 01/09/2017)

My overall impression of contemporary classical music is that it’s rather cerebral and intellectual, though that’s not to say that it doesn’t communicate anything. It’s just sometimes difficult to ascertain what the music is communicating. Sometimes the title of the track helps to conjure a mental “impression” – in particular with the Saariaho pieces. It’s not something that I would listen to for fun. Not exactly tap-along and sing-along sort of music.

Early Music

Collegium musicum – Maestro Corelli’s violins.
I was initially slightly confused by the title of the CD as I was expecting music from Corelli but it turns out that it’s a bunch of his contemporary composers..
Concerto grosso in a minor opus 7 number 11.
The first piece is a concerto grosso in seven movement. It’s going to sound strange, but on first listen it sounds like the violins are out of tune. I’m sure this can’t be the case but it must be something to do with the Overtones of the violins and the way I’m feeling at the moment. Weird.

Anyway once my ears have become accustomed to the sound, the music is polyphonic and there a Fugue section with One violin playing a motif, and then another violin, copying the same motif followed by another.
Little motifs that are played at first forte and then repeated again piano.
Solo sections by the violin with stabbed chords by the orchestra.
The overall sound is similar to Vivaldi.

Composer(s):Montanari, Antonio; Mossi, Giovanni; Valentini, Giuseppe Arranger(s):Maunder, Richard Artist(s):
Collegium Musicum 90; Standage, Simon Label: Chandos Catalogue No.: CHAN0818 Release Date: 05 May 2017
(accessed 03/09/2017)

Montanari
Violin concerto in four movements.
All pretty tuneful stuff use of crescendo and diminuendo. Contrast between the movements and terms of tempo and dynamics. Mainly tune and accompaniment but occasionally polyphonic.
http://imslp.naxosmusiclibrary.com/streamw.asp?ver=2.0&s=167137%2Fimslpcomp01%2F5642273 (accessed 03/09/2017)

Mossi
Concerto grosso in E minor
Only three movements.
Style very much like the previous pieces.
http://imslp.naxosmusiclibrary.com/streamw.asp?ver=2.0&s=167137%2Fimslpcomp01%2F5642274 (accessed 03/09/2017)

Academy of ancient music
Telemann
Concerto for 3 Trumpets and Timpani in D Major, TWV 54:D4
4 movement
Trumpet fanfare, stabs. Tension and resolution. Strings are often the busier instruments, outlining chords with arpeggios.
Music slows down as it approaches the end.
http://imslp.naxosmusiclibrary.com/streamw.asp?ver=2.0&s=167137%2Fimslpcomp01%2F4594716 (accessed 03/09/2017)

I end up not properly listening to the following two pieces as I’m interrupted by some texts from a friend.
Quartet in B-Flat Major, TWV 43:B1
http://imslp.naxosmusiclibrary.com/streamw.asp?ver=2.0&s=167137%2Fimslpcomp01%2F4594717 (accessed 03/09/2017)

Concerto for Recorder and Flute in E Minor, TWV 52:e1
4 Movement concerto. Use of trills at the end of phrases. Use of pizzicato technique in the 3rd movement for recorder and flute.
http://imslp.naxosmusiclibrary.com/streamw.asp?ver=2.0&s=167137%2Fimslpcomp01%2F4594718 (accessed 03/09/2017)

I rather like Baroque music and this sounds typical of the period. Clearly defined chord changes, tonal music. Nothing too unsettling or unexpected. I would like to explore earlier Renaissance music at some point.

Musical theatre

Les Miserables I Dreamed a Dream
I liked this, pretty melody, actually reminded me of Air on a G-string by J S Bach, I guess because of the descending bass line and tempo.
http://imslp.naxosmusiclibrary.com/stream.asp?s=167137%2Fimslpcomp01%2Frw8844%5F001
(accessed 03/09/2017)

Lloyd Webber, Andrew
Hart, Charles / Stilgoe, Richard – lyricist(s)
The Phantom of the Opera: Music of the Night
http://imslp.naxosmusiclibrary.com/stream.asp?s=167137%2Fimslpcomp01%2Frw8871%5F001
(accessed 03/09/2017)

Loewe, Frederick
Lerner, Alan Jay – lyricist(s)
Brooker, Steve – arranger(s)
My Fair Lady: Wouldn’t It Be Lovely (arr. S. Brooker)
http://imslp.naxosmusiclibrary.com/stream.asp?s=167137%2Fimslpcomp01%2Frw8988%5F001
(accessed 03/09/2017)

Rodgers, Richard
Hammerstein II, Oscar – lyricist(s)
The Sound of Music: Do-Re-Mi
http://imslp.naxosmusiclibrary.com/stream.asp?s=167137%2Fimslpcomp01%2Frw9003%5F001
(accessed 03/09/2017)

Sherman, Robert B. / Sherman, Richard M.
Sherman, Richard M. / Sherman, Robert B. – lyricist(s)
Tunick, Jonathan / Osser, Glenn – arranger(s)
Mary Poppins: Chim Chim Cheree (arr. G. Ossen and J. Tunick)
http://imslp.naxosmusiclibrary.com/stream.asp?s=167137%2Fimslpcomp01%2Frw8858%5F001
(accessed 03/09/2017)

Lloyd Webber, Andrew
Rice, Tim – lyricist(s)
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat: Any Dream Will Do
http://imslp.naxosmusiclibrary.com/stream.asp?s=167137%2Fimslpcomp01%2Frw9004%5F001
(accessed 03/09/2017)

Willson, Meredith
Willson, Meredith – lyricist(s)
The Music Man: Seventy-Six Trombones
http://imslp.naxosmusiclibrary.com/stream.asp?s=167137%2Fimslpcomp01%2Frw9010%5F001
(accessed 03/09/2017)

Porter, Cole
Porter, Cole – lyricist(s)
Anything Goes, Act I: I get a kick out of you
http://imslp.naxosmusiclibrary.com/stream.asp?s=167137%2Fimslpcomp01%2Frw8854%5F002
(accessed 03/09/2017)

Loewe, Frederick
Loewe, Frederick – lyricist(s)
Gigi: Gigi
http://imslp.naxosmusiclibrary.com/stream.asp?s=167137%2Fimslpcomp01%2Frw8872%5F001
(accessed 03/09/2017)

Sondheim, Stephen
Sondheim, Stephen – lyricist(s)
Sweeney Todd: Johanna
http://imslp.naxosmusiclibrary.com/stream.asp?s=167137%2Fimslpcomp01%2Frw9009%5F001
(accessed 03/09/2017)

Bart, Lionel
Bart, Lionel – lyricist(s)
Oliver!: Consider Yourself
http://imslp.naxosmusiclibrary.com/stream.asp?s=167137%2Fimslpcomp01%2Frw9008%5F001
(accessed 03/09/2017)

Rodgers, Richard
Hammerstein II, Oscar – lyricist(s)
Matz, Peter – arranger(s)
South Pacific: Some Enchanted Evening (arr. P. Matz)
http://imslp.naxosmusiclibrary.com/stream.asp?s=167137%2Fimslpcomp01%2Frw9007%5F001
(accessed 03/09/2017)

Porter, Cole
Porter, Cole – lyricist(s)
Kiss Me, Kate: Wunderbar
http://imslp.naxosmusiclibrary.com/stream.asp?s=167137%2Fimslpcomp01%2Frw8866%5F001
(accessed 03/09/2017)

Rodgers, Richard
Hammerstein II, Oscar – lyricist(s)
The Sound of Music: Edelweiss
http://imslp.naxosmusiclibrary.com/stream.asp?s=167137%2Fimslpcomp01%2Frw9006%5F001
(accessed 03/09/2017)

Loewe, Frederick
Lerner, Alan Jay – lyricist(s)
Camelot: If Ever I Would Leave You
http://imslp.naxosmusiclibrary.com/stream.asp?s=167137%2Fimslpcomp01%2Frw8873%5F001
(accessed 03/09/2017)

Kern, Jerome
Hammerstein II, Oscar – lyricist(s)
Show Boat, Act I: Ol’ Man River
http://imslp.naxosmusiclibrary.com/stream.asp?s=167137%2Fimslpcomp01%2Frw8868%5F003
(accessed 03/09/2017)

Rodgers, Richard
Hammerstein II, Oscar – lyricist(s)
Carousel: You’ll Never Walk Alone
http://imslp.naxosmusiclibrary.com/stream.asp?s=167137%2Fimslpcomp01%2Frw9005%5F001
(accessed 03/09/2017)

KANDER, J.: Chicago [Musical] (New London Cast Recording, 1997) (Lemper, Henshall, Planer, Goodman, Valentine)
Label: RCA Records Catalogue No.: 090266315529 Release Date: 1998
Act I: We Both Reached for the Gun (Billy, Roxie, Mary Sunshine, Company)
http://imslp.naxosmusiclibrary.com/stream.asp?s=167137%2Fimslpcomp01%2Fop2135%5F008
(accessed 03/09/2017)

I probably have a bit of a love hate relationship with musical theatre. There are some tunes I love. There are some others I dislike because I find them twee, bland, and boring. I also despise singers who use vibrato often and excessively, which seems to happen occasionally in musical theatre. And they sometimes have a kind of affected singing. The kind of thing I mean is illustrated in the Phantom of the Opera: Music of the Night example above, although this is a moderate example.
Absolutely love “We Both Reached for the Gun”, the syncopated vocals, the changes in style, tempo and time signature make this a really interesting tune I think. I only recently realised that John Kander is also the composer behind “New York New York”, another classic.