Monthly Archives: March 2013

J. S. Bach: St. John Passion, BWV 245. Ardrew Parrott An appropriate piece of music for today. J. S. Bach wrote at least 4, and possibly 5 passion oratorios. All but two (Matthew, John) are lost. (There is a recent … Continue reading →

Ramble on the last  Love Duet  from Rosenkavalier by Percy Grainger, based, of course, on music by Richard Strauss. The original is, of course, also beautiful, and I urge you to find your favorite performance. Where does Marc Andre Hamelin … Continue reading →

The hauntingly beautiful Symphony #4 (Los Angeles) by Arvo Part. Written in 2008 for the Los Angeles symphony. Arvo Part in his most mystical mode. Many thanks to Michael Kurth for reminding me of this great composer.

More O’Carolan. This time Carolan’s Concerto as performed by the Chieftains.

Planxty Hewlit. There are many wonderful pieces by Turlough O’Carolan, so hard to pick. This is Plaxty Hewlit, performed by Planxty. Another one: http://youtu.be/5SzMaImV38Q I really love playing octave mandolin and improvising a counter melody, sometimes with Doug Giles, my … Continue reading →

L’oiseau de feu the firebird is here. Le Sacre du printemps, and springtime can’t be far away. Dance! Dance! Dance!

Circus Galop for Player Piano, composed by Marc Andre Hamelin. Hilarious! Very Ives-ian. Remember that Marc Andre Hamelin very early in his career recorded Ives’ Concord Sonata. There is a resurgence of player piano compositions, at least in part because … Continue reading →

J. S. Bach and Percy Grainger, and 6 pianos. And 6 pianists: Marc-André Hamelin, Angela Cheng, Angela Hewitt, Jon Kimura Parker, Janina Fialkowska and André Laplante. Actually the orginal Grainger transcription/arangement of BWV 540, Toccata in F, calls for 3 … Continue reading →

Darius Milhaud: Scaramouche, Op.165b (1937); after the incidental music Le médécin volant, Op.165. Many thanks to Victor Hill for this suggestion. For those who want more 4 handed Milhaud try Le boeuf sur le toit. Happy listening!