192. Tomita

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

(November 2018) I have completed episode 192 of my “opus project.” This edition: TOMITA. A pioneer of electronic music in the 1960s and 1970s, Isao Tomita is most famous for his electronic interpretations of famous classical works, although he did plenty of soundtracks too. I enjoy those early period synthesized sounds, although, listening from a distance, it can come off as cheesy. Also some nostalgia here, as Tomita was the playlist to many afternoons of board game playing.

Favorite album: Snowflakes are Dancing

Favorite song: Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun (Debussy)

Compared to expectations: ↓

191. Sergei Rachmaninoff

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

(November 2018) I have completed episode 191 of my “opus project.” This edition: SERGEI RACHMANINOFF. Wow, could this guy put a hurt on a piano. I wonder whether they have to euthanize the piano after Piano Concerto #3 is played. But don’t discount his orchestral and chamber work too. I think of him as the last Romantic composer, capping the long, famous line of Russians in this tradition.

Favorite piece: Piano Concerto #3

Favorite symphony: #2

Favorite solo piano : Piano Sonata #2

Favorite choral piece: Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom

Favorite song: Vocalise (wordless, with a melody that might have been taken by Paul Simon in Bridge Over Troubled Water)

Compared to expectations: same

sergei_rachmaninoff,_1910s

186. Edvard Grieg

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

(October 2018) I have completed episode 186 of my “opus project.” This edition: EDVARD GRIEG. In August we were in Bergen, Norway, hometown of Edvard Grieg, so I was delighted to start this episode there. Other than Peer Gynt, I was not so familiar with his work, but I was pleasantly surprised despite my relatively low interest in Romantic era classical music. Piano is his strong suit, and the array of arranged and original Norwegian songs shows how he helped inspire Norwegian patriotism (that led to independence in 1905).

Favorite piece: Peer Gynt

Favorite chamber piece: String Quartet in G minor

Compared to expectations: same

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

172. Edgard Varèse

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

(June 2018) I have completed episode 172 of my “opus project.” This edition: EDGARD VARÈSE. An avant-garde composer from the first half of the 20th century, his works, unbounded by conventional structure, influenced many threads of that century’s music, including electronic. Any fan of Frank Zappa should get to know his compositions, as Varèse was a major influence on him.

Favorite Piece: Amériques

Favorite electronic piece: Poème électronique

Compared to expectations: same

171. Steve Reich

January 20, 2019April 11, 2020 ~ ernopepper ~ 1 Comment

(June 2018) I have completed episode 171 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to the complete works of an artist. This edition: STEVE REICH. As a devotee of minimalist music, of course I am a fan of one of its founding fathers, arguably one of America’s greatest living composers. I especially appreciate Reich’s early experimentation with tape loops and phasing, as they have had such a wide influence across a wide range of musical styles. He has kept innovating with African polyrythms, unique orchestrations, mixed-media operas, religious themes, etc.

Favorite Piece: Music for 18 Musicians

Favorite orchestra-ish piece: The Four Sections

Favorite tape loop: Come Out

Favorite use of amplified noise to explore a concept: Pendulum Music

Compared to expectations: same

steve reich.jpg

160. George Frideric Handel

January 19, 2019April 11, 2020 ~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(March 2018) I have completed episode 160 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to the complete works of an artist. This edition: GEORGE FRIDERIC HANDEL. I love me some baroque, and I enjoy many Handel works. But this was a tedious effort. So many lengthy operas and oratorios — quite a slog. Prefer the chamber works.

Favorite work: “Water music” suites (HWV 348-350)

Favorite category: violin sonatas

Compared to expectations: same

141. Arnold Shoenberg

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

(October 2017) I have completed episode 141 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to the complete works of an artist. This edition: ARNOLD SHOENBERG. In the first half of the 20th century, he developed new ways of thinking about and composing music — e.g. atonality, twelve-tone technique — that became highly influential and much debated. You won’t hear his work on classical radio stations, but it challenges the ear and mind, which is why I like it.

Favorite work: Serenade (Opus 24)

Favorite opera: Moses und Aron

Compared to expectations: ↑

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

117. Dmitri Shostakovich

January 14, 2019April 3, 2020 ~ ernopepper ~ Leave a comment

(March 2017) I have completed episode 117 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to the complete works of an artist. This edition: DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH. I’m a big fan of 20th century Russian composers. I especially like his dynamic symphonies and string quartets. I noticed how he modulates between loud and quiet, and tends to finish movements quietly rather than with a classic flourish. It’s amazing to learn how he navigated his artistic expression through war and the Soviet system, suffering two denunciations. His martial works lauding Stalin and the Red Army come off as creepy, but that’s what he had to do to stay alive.