Symphony No. 2 in E minor, Op. 64

At a recent orchestra performance I attended, the program featured Rachmaninoff's Second Symphony.  I have enjoyed Rachmaninoff's music having played solo piano works as a college music major.  Connecting to his time in St. Petersburg, Russia, I thought of the city I recently visited - the canals, the architecture, the feel.  I don't recall previously hearing Symphony No. 2 performed live.  I don't own a recording so it isn't a part of my regular diet of music.

Take a listen to the third movement.  What does it remind you of?


Did you say:  THIS?  Yes, this 1976 pop hit was based on the movement's melody.

Take a listen to a performance of the full symphony. (about one hour)

Big River

Mark Twain's classic novel, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, serves as the source material for the musical Big River.  Appearing on Broadway in 1985, this show features the songs of Roger Miller (perhaps best known for King of the Road).  The songs constitute a potpourri of musical Americana: jazz, gospel, blues, rock, country.  Some of the tunes are catchy and others sentimental.  The lyrics are often repetitious and do little to advance the plot.  But they fit well and provide pacing for the show as Huck Finn goes from staying with Widow Douglas and Miss Watson back to living with his Dad, from his faked murder to running away down the river with runaway slave Jim.  The second half of the show contains scenes from the time Huck and Jim spend in Arkansas.

River in the Rain:  An ode to the Mighty Mississippi sung by the composer.


Worlds Apart:  Duet between Huck Finn and slave Jim.


Leaving's Not the Only Way to Go:  Love-struck Huck and a grieving Mary Jane, who just lost her father, share this duet.  Jim joins them later in the song.


Muddy Water:  An upbeat song as Jim and Huck head out on the Mississippi.

Happy

I just don't keep up with pop music, or so it seems.  But I have recently seen several references to the song Happy (performed by Pharrell Williams) - including an explanation from one writer on why it gets people dancing and another writer who suffers from Pharrell Phatigue.  I decided it was time to have a listen!  I have since learned the song was featured in Despicable Me 2 (a movie I haven't seen) and used by some unhappy people happy to make some happy people unhappy.  Take a listen and "clap along if you feel like that's what you want to do."

42nd Street

The musical 42nd Street is playing at a theater in the region.  I had never seen it before although I had purchased tickets for it when it was playing in NYC (How was it, T&J and B?).  The show has catchy musical numbers and an abundance of tap dancing.  The plot, however, was thin and not compelling.  Yet, it served as enjoyable entertainment.

Serafina's Promise

It is easier for me to go to a concert, listen to music, or take a trip than it is to finish reading a book!  Two years ago I was introduced to writer Ann E. Burg when she visited a local school and talked to the students there.  At that time I read All the Broken Pieces, her first novel written in verse.  Last fall her second novel, also in verse, was published.  Beyond the form of the writing, Serafina's Promise has some similarities to Broken Pieces.  Both have a tween/early adolescent protagonist (Matt and Serafina).  Both characters have cultural "baggage" specific to their place (Matt is a Vietnamese boy adopted by an American family, Serafina is from a poor family in Haiti).  Both kids explore their dreams and the stories come to a hopeful conclusion.

The story of Serafina was not as compelling to me at the start of the book.  By the end she had grown on me and I was interested in knowing how the story would end.  Serafina lives with her grandmother, parents, and baby brother in undeveloped Haiti.  Another baby brother has died and she is concerned about the health of the new baby.  Serafina's undying dream is to be a medical doctor.  In order to do this she has to go to school which costs money.  She works hard in a garden with her grandma to get the money.  The first part of the book ends with a flood coming and the family moving to higher ground in the mountains.  At the end of the second part, an earthquake rocks Port-au-Prince.  The book concludes with Serafina searching and finding her father in the rubble of the grocery store where he works, her reconnecting with a friend, and a medical doctor inspiring her to keep her dream of becoming a doctor.

The Garden of Eden

I attended a solo piano recital tonight.  It's been awhile since I have been to a piano recital as I more often go to the symphony or other ensemble performances.  The gem of tonight's program was a delightful piece by William Bolcom (b. 1938).  I'm always interested in learning about new (modern) composers and it's a treat when their music is also engaging.  This piece has 3 movements:  (I) Old Man Adam, (II) The Eternal Feminine, (III) The Serpent's Kiss.  Take a listen and see what you think!  [I can only find a 2-piano version on YouTube.  These performers make it feel a bit pesante to me.]



Other performers seem to have a lighter touch.

Carmina Burana

Carmina Burana (Carl Orff) is one of the top box office draws for symphony orchestras. Written in the 1930s and based on medieval poems, the piece features a large orchestra, mixed choir, boys'/children's choir, and vocal solists (soprano, tenor, baritone).  The opening/closing movement, O Fortuna, is often featured in commercials, movies, and other popular venues.  I have heard it performed by several orchestras/choirs and each time it is impressive due to the size of the performance group, the volume produced by said group, and the rhythmic nature of the piece.  Most recently, I heard it performed by the Carmel (IN) Symphony Orchestra.

Górecki's Third Symphony

Henryk Górecki's Symphony No. 3, Op. 36 (Symphony of Sorrowful Songs) was featured on the program of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra's recent concert. ISO music director, Krzysztof Urbański, himself a native of Poland, is a champion of his country's fellow musician/composers.  This program, for example, contained works by Polish composers Wojciech Kilar, Karol Szymanowski, and Górecki.  This symphony was written in 1976 but did not gain much recognition outside Poland until 1992 when a recording of it (featuring American soprano Dawn Upshaw) topped the classical charts in Britain and the United States. Since then, selections have found their way into movie scores.

Rodeo

Aaron Copland captured the American west in his score for the ballet, Rodeo.  Copland included folk tunes such as "If He'd Be a Buckaroo By Hish Trade," "Sis Joe," and "Old Paint."  The "Hoe Down" is famously associated with the "Beef.  It's What's for Dinner" campaign.  I heard two of the four movements of this composition performed by the Eastern Symphony Orchestra.

The ballet tells the story of a young Cowgirl. Aware of men and romance for the first time, she seeks the attention of the Head Wrangler and the Champion Roper. After the opening, in which the Western scene is immediately set, we find the Cowgirl in the corral with the men. They pay no attention to her, concentrating on their riding and ranch work. They gallop off without even a parting glance, and she rides away in anger and tears. 

In 'Corral Nocturne,' girls from the city, wearing pretty dresses instead of dungarees, have come to visit the Rancher's Daughter and to enjoy the Saturday night dance. Once more the Cowgirl is ignored; she cannot compete with feminine frills. A tranquil, somewhat sad mood pervades the scene as darkness falls. The couples move off, eager for the dance. The Cowgirl is left behind again.

Saturday night at the ranch is the time for dancing. The Cowgirl, still in dungarees and boots, sits alone, watching the festivities. The Roper and the Wrangler take pity on the wallflower and ask her to dance. She is too shy and misses her opportunity. As the 'Saturday Night Waltz' begins, the Roper insists that the Cowgirl dance. She starts to, then sees the Wrangler dancing with the Rancher's Daughter. Jealous, confused, she stands seemingly paralyzed amidst the dancers. Annoyed, the Roper turns and leaves her. The Cowgirl runs from the dance floor.

The dancing reaches a climax in the hilarious 'Hoe-Down'.  Suddenly the Cowgirl reappears, this time wearing a party dress. She is vivacious, pretty, the center of attention. The Roper again asks her to dance. Though she would rather have the Wrangler, she wisely accepts the Roper and joins the others in the wild dancing as the ballet ends. 

America the Beautiful

Coca-Cola has done a nice job of capturing the beauty of America in this commercial aired during Super Bowl XLVIII.  It's unfortunate that some people haven't seen enough of "America the Beautiful" to appreciate the motto:  E pluribus unum (Out of many, one).

Christmas in Dixie

A week ago I was in "Dixie" watching freezing rain and a bit of snow - much more winter than the locals were accustomed to having in December.  The hotel lobbies, homes, stores, and countryside showed evidence that it was nearly Christmas.  (Stay tuned for other posts showing said evidence.)  I ran across this song awhile back but have listened to it several times this season.  Since I'm not going to be in the Caribbean or at a beach this year, I will have to have to settle for a few "exotic" Christmas/winter memories from the Southern USA.  This song can help with that!

Meanwhile

I remember liking "Choose Your Own Adventure" books as a kid, so was similarly intrigued when I learned about Meanwhile.  I usually make a post for a book only after I have finished reading the complete book.  I make an exception here since author and cartoonist Jason Shiga has created 3856 different story possibilities in this clever hybrid of a comic strip and choose your own adventure.  I have followed several story lines through - some leading in disappointing or disturbing endings - but have yet to find the "best" line through the book.  (Another holiday gift for one of my nieces/nephews!)

Memphis, TN

What is more Memphis than having Elvis sing about Marie?  I went to Memphis to run in a half marathon but it was cancelled due to exceptionally cold and icy weather.  So I toured Memphis for the weekend... no sign of Marie.

Dot.

Dot.  Written by Randi Zuckerberg (Mark's sister), this is a cute book that has a definite message:  Get offline!  (This is going to be a gift received by one of my nieces!)

Bumble-Ardy

I have never been a fan of books by Maurice Sendak.  (In fact, I'm not sure I knew of any of his writing besides Where the Wild Things Are.)  However, when I ran across an old interview of the late author (by one of my least favorite interviewer - and I think this interview exemplifies why I dislike her style), I was intrigued by his book, Bumble-Ardy.  The new book (2011) is based on a collaboration between Sendak and Sesame Street in the 1970s.  There are a few changes between the movie and the book (e.g., wine becomes brine in the book).