Vinyl Music I Listen to Guitar, Violin and Piano Selection
Written by Teresita Blanco (The Artsy Sister)
Frederic Chopin Polonaises
Lazar Berman Piano
Deutsche Grammophon
Stereo
Side 1
No.1 in C Sharp Minor, OP 26 No.1 Allegro Appasionato
No.2 in E flat minor, Op 26 no.2 Maestoso
No.3 in A major, op 40 no.1 Allegro con brio
Side 2
No.4 in C minor op 40 no.2 allegro maestoso
No.5 in f sharp minor op.44 without tempo indication
No. 6 in a flat major, op 53 maestoso
Bio
When Chopin was a young man in Poland, polonaise was a popular aristocratic dance. Several composers made their reputation with ballroom polonaises. Chopin also followed in suit.
His earliest specimens of the genre date from when he was seven. He toyed with the genre, but he only wrote his first masterpiece when he left Poland.
This vinyl record has his six best known songs. He was exiled in Paris when he composed this music. It was when Poland got taken over by Russia, that he realized that he was never going to be able to return home.
This music symbolizes his pride in Poland. IT also expresses his anxiety and fears since he no longer had a homeland to return to.
Sketches of Brazil Guitar Music by Heitor Villa-Lobos Played by Charlie Byrd
Side 1
Preludes 1-5
Side 2
Etudes 1, 5,7,8 and 11
Listeners who only know Charlie Byrd as a jazzman will be delightfully surprised at his classical virtuosity displayed here. Charlie Byrd was a man of many talents. Though, he is better known as a jazzman, than as a classical music player. Over the years, the barrier between jazz and classical music has been breaking down.
Now, it is common for both types of music to influence each other. Music like any other form of art, is a river born from hundreds of tributaries. In this vinyl record, Charlie Byrd masterful plays the music of Heitor Villa-Lobos (1887-1959).
This prolific Brazilian composer wrote hundreds of works, including 5 operas, 14 ballets, choral works, orchestral and chamber music. This includes his most famous work Bacchianas Brasileiras.
In this record, Villa-Lobos is represented by 5 Etudes he wrote in 1929 and 5 Preludes he wrote in 1940. They are complex for the guitarist, but easy on the ears for the listeners. Charlie Byrd plays them masterfully. Now, sit back and enjoy great classical guitar music.
The Heifez- Piatigorsky Concerts with Primrose and Guest Violin Music
Schubert Quintette C Major D.956 Op. post 163
Violins: Jascha Heifetz, Israel Baker
Viola William Primrose
Cellos: Gregor Piatigorsky, Gabor Rejto
For many years, these musicians have enjoying playing chamber music in the privacy of their homes. In the summer of 1961, they decided to share their music with the world. They formed the Heifetz-Piatigorsky Concerts.
It is a series of concerts dedicated to chamber music. Five of their works where recorded by RCA Victor. Their elegance as musicians was captured in this vinyl record.
About Schubert:
Schubert grew up to the sound of chamber music. His father was a cellist. He made certain that his sons learned string instruments, to form a family quartet. Any wrong note, would always summon a remark from Schubert.
He would even call out his father’s own mistakes. On November 1785, Schubert’s Quintette in C Major appeared on the program for the first time. It is a mystery why so late in life Schubert wrote a piece for two cellos, instead of two violas.
A chance meeting with his former bandmates required Schubert to compose a piece for two cellos. He published the new music in October 1828. The publisher was only interested in the songs. So, this chamber music was lost to the sands of time for almost 20 years.
This Quintette was eventually rediscovered. It is now one of the many masterpieces composed by Schubert.
