Search found 501 matches

by sbeckmesser
Tue Sep 24, 2013 5:52 pm
Forum: Music Related
Topic: Definition of Sonata?
Replies: 3
Views: 5014

Re: Definition of Sonata?

I recommend reading Sonata Forms by the late, great Charles Rosen, which discusses various structures for sonata movements. It contains the great quote: "Sonatas are like chimpanzees."
by sbeckmesser
Tue Sep 24, 2013 5:47 pm
Forum: Music Related
Topic: History of Opera
Replies: 4
Views: 6115

Re: History of Opera

What is the vocal range (soprano, mezzo, alto, tenor, baritone, bass)? Sopranos would have the least trouble finding arias through the whole history of opera. Other vocal ranges may lack good material at either end of the span.
by sbeckmesser
Sat Sep 07, 2013 11:42 pm
Forum: Music Related
Topic: History of Opera
Replies: 4
Views: 6115

Re: History of Opera

Is this for performances or are you planning an anthology of scores? If you are planning the latter, you can do well with the scores at IMSLP from the beginnings of opera (Monteverdi, Peri, Caccini, Cavalli) up until you hit the mid 20th century when copyright rules will prevent you from using IMSLP...
by sbeckmesser
Tue May 28, 2013 3:49 pm
Forum: Copyright Related
Topic: Stravinsky's Sacre autograph
Replies: 1
Views: 4668

Stravinsky's Sacre autograph

Boosey is about to publish the autograph full score of Le sacre du printemps (as well of his 4-hand arrangement of the piece). Am I correct to assume it (the facsimile of the full score itself, minus any added editorial material) will be PD in the USA? If one were to derive parts from the score, wou...
by sbeckmesser
Sat May 11, 2013 4:54 pm
Forum: Music Related
Topic: Need help finding a certain Hungarian piano piece
Replies: 3
Views: 5379

Re: Need help finding a certain Hungarian piano piece

Are you absolutely sure it isn't Liszt's 9th Hungarian Rhapsody, the Carnival in Pest? It is quite difficult, but also longer than 10 pages.

--Sixtus

http://petrucci.mus.auth.gr/imglnks/usi ... 244.09.pdf
by sbeckmesser
Fri Mar 08, 2013 12:59 am
Forum: Music Related
Topic: Interpreting mid-classical-period musical terminology
Replies: 5
Views: 7949

Re: Interpreting mid-classical-period musical terminology

In the 1st violin part of the piece below there is an "ffmo" for fortissimo. And the contexts in which "poco for" is used either indicate either 1. something louder than what immediately preceded it or 2. the start of what we would normally perform as a crescendo -- the next dyna...
by sbeckmesser
Fri Mar 08, 2013 12:23 am
Forum: Music Related
Topic: Nineteenth Century Atonality
Replies: 28
Views: 16412

Re: Nineteenth Century Atonality

Does anybody know of a piece of music that should be classified as atonal yet contains no dissonance? A perfect 5th at the beginning of a piece is not (yet) tonal and yet is a perfect (non-dissonant) interval. Thus qualifies the opening of Beethoven's 9th as well as of Thus spake Zarathustra (R. St...
by sbeckmesser
Thu Nov 01, 2012 3:16 am
Forum: Music Related
Topic: Hans Werner Henze has died
Replies: 1
Views: 3999

Re: Hans Werner Henze has died

I've never been compelled to listen to more Henze from the pieces I've heard "accidentally" (on the radio or in an online stream). Can anybody recommend any symphonic or large-ensemble works of his that bear repeated listening?

--Sixtus
by sbeckmesser
Thu Nov 01, 2012 3:13 am
Forum: Music Related
Topic: What are you listening to RIGHT NOW?
Replies: 436
Views: 320863

Re: What are you listening to RIGHT NOW?

Bruckner Sym 8, Kolner Rundfunk Sym Orch conducted by Otto Klemperer. Mono recording from the 50's that happened to be playing online at Catmusica.cat, the online classical station of Catalunya Radio and one of the better national-network classical stations.

--Sixtus
by sbeckmesser
Fri Oct 26, 2012 6:06 am
Forum: Music Related
Topic: Music ID Help
Replies: 3
Views: 5757

Re: Music ID Help

The 0:24-0:43 piece is an easy ID. It is the theme Britten used in his Young Persons Guide to the Orchestra, namely, to quote Wikipedia, "the Rondeau from Henry Purcell's incidental music to Aphra Behn's Abdelazer." The rest of the music (which is hard to hear) does not come from the Britt...
by sbeckmesser
Sat Oct 20, 2012 4:38 pm
Forum: Music Related
Topic: Pieces for strs+fls+cls+saxes, or to arrange for such
Replies: 4
Views: 6559

Re: Pieces for strs+fls+cls+saxes, or to arrange for such

An quasi-chamber-orch arrangement of Gershwin's American in Paris that gave the sax players even more to do might be interesting (GREAT use of the them in the original). It would even be publishable under Creative Commons here, whereas the original can't, go figure.

--Sixtus
by sbeckmesser
Fri Oct 19, 2012 6:03 pm
Forum: Music Related
Topic: Tristan
Replies: 4
Views: 6489

Re: Tristan

Put another way, if the first 18 measures didn't exist, how would the rest of the 3 hours and 59 minutes be any different? The first 18 measure contain some of the most fundamental melodic motives of the opera, regardless of the harmonies. Take away all the motives contained in the opening measures...
by sbeckmesser
Fri Oct 19, 2012 5:51 pm
Forum: Music Related
Topic: Tristan
Replies: 4
Views: 6489

Re: Tristan

For basic analysis, take a look at the Norton Critical Score of the Tristan Prelude, which also includes the full score to Wagner's concert ending of the prelude. There are several analytical essays in the volume. http://www.amazon.com/Prelude-Transfiguration-Tristan-Isolde-Critical/dp/0393954056/re...
by sbeckmesser
Fri Oct 19, 2012 5:44 pm
Forum: Music Related
Topic: Pieces for strs+fls+cls+saxes, or to arrange for such
Replies: 4
Views: 6559

Re: Pieces for strs+fls+cls+saxes, or to arrange for such

Too bad amateur wind players don't seem to want to tackle the oboe or bassoon any more. Add at least one each of these two instruments and, even without sax players, and you'll have a WEALTH of material to play, dating back to the Baroque.

--Sixtus