So far there has been, I guess, a lot of “heavy” music in what I have shared, so this week I am making a conscious effort to lighten up a bit.
A Blast From The Past
Continuing the theme from yesterday, today’s choice is again music steeped in the liturgy of the Russian Orthodox Church – however, it is very different to the Rachmaninoff that I previously shared as it attempts to depict “the transition from the solemnity and mystery of the evening of Passion Saturday to the unbridled pagan-religious celebrations of Easter Sunday morning”.
Orthodox Easter
I will come clean up front in this post and say that I am sure that there will be plenty who do not appreciate this music – but then again, I suspect that is true not only of these links I am posting, but of every piece of music ever written 😃
Horn Sound
It is no surprise that these posts may well be dominated by Horns and music by composers who wrote good horn parts. Today’s choice is from an album that would undoubtedly have been in my 20 if I wasn’t restricting that to LPs.
My Orchestral Debut
Today’s music is the Overture to Prince Igor by Borodin.
Music Exam
Today’s choice is another piece of music dating back to school years – in this case to school exams.
The Great Outdoors
The music department at Allan Glen’s was at the end of the third floor corridor with one classroom on either side of the building and a music “store cupboard” in between. Those of us who were studying music ‘seriously’ were allowed to access that store cupboard – including the record player that was in there. There was a good supply of LPs but the clip that I am sharing today is of the music that I most associate with that cupboard.
Back To School
I did, of course, start early with my musical education but my introduction to orchestral music really came when I moved to grammar school. The music teacher was aware that I already played a brass instrument, so when we first met his immediate question was “would you like to play the French Horn?” – things just went from there 😀
Easter Day
There is, perhaps, no music more associated with Easter than the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel’s Messiah. That said, it is not my choice for today. Instead I give you the finale of the oratorio – the chorus “Worthy is the Lamb” and the tremendous closing Amen.
Looking Forward To Resurrection
A last minute change to what I am going to post today. Originally this was going to be tomorrow’s music, but then I realised that the words are more suited for today. Perhaps not so on the first day after the crucifixion – but now when we can have the benefit of knowing what is to come on Easter Sunday looking forward to that day and saying with the choir “you WILL rise again” is perfectly reasonable.