106. Antonio Vivaldi

January 13, 2019April 3, 2020 ~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

I have completed episode 106 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to the complete works of an artist. This edition: ANTONIO VIVALDI. Always love me some Baroque! He was a master of the genre (although he lacked the diversity, mathematical brilliance and emotional resonance of his contemporary, J.S. Bach). This was a long one — more than 800 pieces.

Favorite work: The “Four Seasons” set of concertos

Favorite Season: “Spring” (RV 269)

Favorite string concerto otherwise: G minor (RV 587) from L’estro Armonico

Favorite lute concerto: D major (RV 93), notably the second (largo) movement

Favorite opera: Orlando Furioso (RV 728)

Compared to expectations: ↓

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89. Philip Glass

January 12, 2019March 31, 2020 ~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(July 2016) I have completed phase 89 of my “opus project” in which I listen to the complete works of an artist. This episode: PHILIP GLASS, perhaps the greatest living composer. I am drawn to his early/mid minimalist work, although there is much to offer in the variety in his compositions, including in classic forms, vocal works, and film scores. I would be curious to see a scan of a person’s brain waves when he listens to Glass, because I sense it elicits a different emotional response than other forms of music; I can’t describe it.

Favorite album: Dancepieces

Favorite “song”: In the Upper Room Dance IX

Favorite Symphony: #3

Favorite opera: Akhenaten

Favorite soundtrack: Koyaanisqatsi

Favorite piece of severe minimalism: Music in Twelve Parts (his masterpiece, I would argue)

Compared to expectations: same

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52. Johannes Brahms

January 6, 2019February 17, 2020 ~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(April 2015) I have completed phase 52 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to an artist’s complete works. This episode: JOHANNES BRAHMS. My one word review: meh. I didn’t know much about Brahms going in, but since he’s in all the top 10 composer lists, I thought it would be worth it. It wasn’t. Rarely does something in his music reach out and grab you. Or me at least. Think I’ll stay away from the 19th century for a while.

Favorite piece: Symphony #3, I suppose.

Compared to expectations: ⇓

38. Igor Stravinsky

January 5, 2019February 14, 2020 ~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(September 2014) I have completed phase 38 of my “opus project” in which I listen to the complete works of an artist. This episode: IGOR STRAVINSKY. I went into this as a casual fan, and came out a huge admirer. Almost every piece has something interesting or unexpected. Very rich.

Favorite ballet (and favorite work): The Rite of Spring

Favorite orchestral piece: 8 instrumental miniatures

Favorite concertante: Concerto for piano and wind instruments

Favorite choral piece: Mass

Favorite vocal piece: Pastorale

Favorite chamber piece: Three pieces for clarinet

Favorite piano piece: Concerto for two pianos

Compared to expectations: ↑

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34. Johann Sebastian Bach

January 4, 2019February 14, 2020 ~ ernopepper ~ 2 Comments

(August 2014) I have completed phase 34 of my “opus project” in which I listen to the complete works of an artist. This episode: JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH. This was the biggest I have done and will do in this project. Some 1150 pieces of music (I did not include items in the catalogue whose authorship is doubtful or falsely attributed to J.S. Bach). It took almost six months. I don’t know how many hours, but I see that the running time of the complete Bach CD box set is 175 hours.

Favorite big work: Mass in B minor

Favorite category of music: orchestral pieces (concertos)

Favorite concerto: Brandenberg #4

Favorite movement: Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D major, II. Air (the most beautiful piece of music ever written)

Favorite chorale prelude: Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme

Compared to expectations: same

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26. Frank Zappa

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

(May 2014) I have completed phaze 26 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to the entire discography of an artist from beginning to end. This episode: another great Italian, FRANK ZAPPA. This was a looooooong one, the longest I will do by a non-exclusively classical composer. 90+ albums, almost 6 months. But very engaging, funny, and illuminating. I learned a lot. Highly recommended.

Favorite album (Mothers era): We’re Only In It For The Money
Favorite album (solo): You Are What You Is

Favorite song: Peaches en Regalia

Favorite period: original Mothers of Invention (1966-69)

Low point: Thing Fish

On the menu: baby octopus, creamed corn, muffin rem-nants

What’s happening: Becky?

Special sauce: Muffin Utility Research Kitchen

Compared to expectations: same

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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).