397. Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach

April 8, 2022 ~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(April 2022) Episode 397 is CARL PHILIPP EMANUEL BACH. His music bridged the era between high baroque, represented by his father J.S., and the classical era of Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven, all of whom were inspired by C.P.E. He was known for being inventive, even quirky, but to my 21^st Century ear it can come off as unexciting. Perhaps he unfairly suffers by comparison, falling between my favorites: Bach’s mathematical beauty and Beethoven’s passionate lyricism. He was quite prolific, with almost 900 works to his name (of which I captured about three-quarters, which took 10 weeks), many of which featured the relatively new piano.

Favorite piece: Cello Concerto in A major (H. 439)

Favorite keyboard sonata: C major (H. 163)

Favorite keyboard concerto: F major (H. 470)

Favorite symphony: E flat major (H. 654)

Favorite trio sonata: G major (H. 583)

Favorite short piano piece: L’Aly Rupalic in C Major

Compared to expectations: same

Recommendation: it’s a pleasant listen but won’t get you out of your chair

215. Franz Schubert

May 16, 2019April 16, 2020 ~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(May 2019) Episode 215 of my “opus project” is FRANZ SCHUBERT. Arguably the most productive composer ever — more than 1,000 works even though he died at age 31 (this was a loooooong episode). The majority of these are secular songs (lieder), the genre for which he is probably the most famous, although they are not my cup of tea. Bridging the Classical and Romantic eras, he composed in pretty much every genre; I enjoyed his chamber music the most. But despite his genius and continued inclusion in contemporary repertoires, it is curious that few of his works endure in the public consciousness, with the obvious exception of Ave Maria and maybe the fish song.

Favorite piece: Symphony No. 9 (Great C major)

Favorite string quartet: No. 13, Rosamunde

Favorite quintet: Quintet in A major

Favorite large chamber piece: Wind Nonet “Franz Schuberts Begräbniß-Feyer”

Echoes of Beethoven’s 7th, 2nd movement: Eight Variations on an original theme in A♭ major for piano duet

Compared to expectations: same

schubert

182. Joseph Haydn

January 20, 2019April 11, 2020 ~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

I have completed episode 182 of my “opus project.” This edition: JOSEPH HAYDN. The Boss of the Classical Period, known as the father of the symphony and the string quartet. His compositional style was bound by the orthodoxy of the baroque period that preceded him, grounded in the Classical sound and forms he helped create, yet never reached for the adventurism of his pupil Beethoven. He was quite prolific; this was a looooooong episode.

Favorite form: Symphony

Favorite symphony: No. 100 in G major

Favorite concerto: Cello Concerto No. 2 in D

Favorite piano sonata: No. 51 in E Flat Major

Favorite trio: Trio for baryton, viola & cello in A major (XI:71)

Compared to expectations: same

137. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

January 19, 2019April 4, 2020 ~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(September 2017) I have completed episode 137 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to the complete works of an artist. This edition: WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART. I’ve never been a fan of Mozart. I’ve found most his works too “nice” — too often lacking edge, angst, turbidity and minor keys. I do recognize his prodigal and prolific genius, for which this effort gave me a greater appreciation, but not enough to make me a fan. This was a loooong one — more than 600 pieces.

Favorite work and symphony: Symphony No. 40

Favorite symphonic movement: second (Andante cantabile) of Symphony No. 41

Favorite opera: Le nozze di Figaro

Favorite piano concerto: No. 20 (esp. 2nd movement)

Favorite piano sonata: No. 12

Oddest piece: Adagio and Rondo for glass harmonica, flute, oboe, viola and cello (K 617)

Compared to expectations: same

24. Ludwig Van Beethoven

December 31, 2018February 9, 2020 ~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(March 2014) I have completed phase 24 of my “opus project” in which I listen to the complete works of an artist. This episode: LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN. This was the biggest yet by far. I was able to listen to 329 of 478 catalogued works, representing more than 90% of total performance time. Of this, I captured 99 percent of his major works (those with opus #s).