INSPIRED PEN WEB: 2014

Pablo Casals, Cello Virtuoso

Classical Music Datebook: December 29

Spanish virtuoso Pablo Casals, composer and conductor

Pau Carles Salvador Casals i Defilló (December 29, 1876 – October 22, 1973), was a Spanish composer born in Catalonia. Commonly known as Pablo Casals, he was a virtuoso cello player, and later conductor. He made many recordings throughout his career, of solo, chamber, and orchestral music, also as conductor. Casals is best remembered for the recording of Bach's Cello Suites he produced from 1936 to 1939.

Once every four years, the International Pablo Casals Cello Competition is held in Germany under the auspices of the Kronberg Academy. It started in 2000, to discover and further the careers of the future cello elite. It is supported by the Pablo Casals Cello Foundation under the patronage of Marta Casals Istomin. One of the prizes is the use of Casals' Gofriller cello. The first top prize was awarded in 2000 to Claudio Bohorquez.

El cant dels ocells (The Song of the Birds)

"El cant dels ocells" ("The Song of the Birds"), is a traditional Catalan Christmas song and lullaby. It tells of nature's joy at learning of the birth of Jesus Christ in a stable in Bethlehem. The song was made famous by Pablo Casals' instrumental version on the cello. After his exile in 1939, he would begin each of his concerts by playing this song. For this reason, it is often considered a symbol of Catalonia. American singer, songwriter and activist included it in her 1966 best selling Christmas LP, dedicating the song to Casals.

Suggested listening:

"Song of the Birds". Traditional Catalan song arranged by Pablo Casals. Interpreted by Yo-Yo Ma. KCRW. Accessed January17, 2020.

Video Credit:

Pau Casals, accompanied by pianist Mieczyslaw Horszowski, plays El cant dels ocells (The Song of the Birds) at the White House. Piano from the album "A Concert at the White House" (Columbia KL 5726) recorded live on November 13, 1961 at the White House and released in 1962. Uploaded by juristchesus. Accessed December 29, 2014.

Resource:

El cant dels ocells. Wikipedia. Accessed December 29, 2014.
Pablo Casals. Wikipedia. Accessed December 29, 2014.

(c) December 2014. Updated January 17, 2020. Tel. Inspired Pen Web. All rights reserved.

Menotti and Bridge: Christmas Operas in One-Act

Menotti's Amahl and the Night Visitors and Bridge's The Christmas Rose

Amahl and the Night Visitors tells the story of the little cripple boy's reception of the Magi on their way to Bethlehem (The Three Kings traveled from afar to celebrate the birth of Jesus and give their gifts.) The Christmas Rose is an opera for children.

Two popular Christmas one-act operas, often traditionally played to celebrate Christ's birth: American composer Gian Carlo Menotti's Amahl and the Night Visitors and English composer Frank Bridge's The Christmas Rose.

Tchaikovsky Opera The Queen of Spades

Pikovaya Dama (The Queen of Spades), a Russian tragedy drama by Tchaikovsky: opera plot summary, character list, and other opera information.

Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840–1893) composed Pikovaya Dama (The Queen of Spades), a three-act Russian tragic drama. Libretto was written by Modest Tchaikovsky based on a story by Pushkin. It was premiered at St. Petersburg, Maryinsky Theater, December 19, 1890. The setting is in St. Petersburg, Maryinsky in the later 18th century.

Video Credit:

The Queen of Spades - Pyotr Tchaikovsky. Uploaded by Maria Maksakova. Accessed December 19, 2023.

Australia's Sydney Philharmonia Choirs

Choral Singing / Choral Music

The Sydney Philharmonia Choirs (SPC), Australia's oldest and most prestigious iconic choir, continue to share the joy of choral music to both audience and singers. At the helm is its charismatic and dynamic Music Director Brett Weymark.

Passionate choristers. Fun. Demanding. Exciting. Therapeutic. Fulfilling.

As the largest choral group of Australia, the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs mainly comprises the following: Chamber Singers, Symphony Chorus, Festival Chorus, and VOX youth group led by Liz Scott, Music Director.

The Chamber Singers. The dynamic Chamber Singers are renowned for their exceptional performances and professionalism. It comprises of 32-voice choir, auditioned annually to ensure the highest standard is maintained. As a flexible ensemble, they are also be engaged for commercial performances and corporate functions, Royalty and foreign dignitaries. It also performs annually in events such as the City of Sydney.

The Symphony Chorus. The Symphony Chorus, with up to 150 members, performs in concerts with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra headed by David Robertson, Chief Conductor and Artistic Director. It performs alongside the world's best conductors and soloists at the highest standard of excellence.

VOX. SPC's young adult ensemble led by Music Director, Liz Scott. It comprises of singers aged 18-30 (orig. 16-26) performing programs of classical, popular and contemporary works. Recent highlights have included a recording with Aria award-winning composer and pianist, Sally Whitwell, appearances at the World Netball Championships, and in the Video Games concerts at the Enmore Theatre. In 2015 they performed in A Concert for Peace with the Festival Chorus. They also performed in Holst:The Planets for Earth Hour and Danny Elfman Music from the Films of Tim Burton with Sydney Symphony Orchestra.

Festival Chorus. The Festival Chorus is the largest of the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs, with 350 to 400 members who come together twice a year to perform works from a diverse musical range. Singers are selected during Festival Chorus Open Days, which are held twice each year. To join Festival Chorus all singers must attend a voice placement workshop in early February. Each session will take around an hour and a half. At the workshop, the Music Director, possibly with other vocal associates, will conduct voice placements in order for him to assess singing ability and to determine vocal range. It also comprise warm-up exercises, simple melodies, scales and easy harmony pieces to give one the feel of being part of a wonderful sea of sound. Its performances are often in collaboration with other organizations such as musical theatre company.

Recent previous Festival Chorus programs include Vaughan Williams’ A Sea Symphony, Leonard Bernstein’s hit musical Wonderful Town, Rossini Stabat Mater and Elgar Dream of Gerontius. The choir has premiered compositions by Matthew Hindson and Carl Vine, and collaborates with organisations such as the Sydney Youth Orchestra. In 2018 Festival Chorus will present Haydn's The Creation and Bernstein's Candide.

Joining will give you the opportunity to perform not only with hundreds of other passionate singers but also with professional orchestral players and some of Australia’s best soloists. In 2018 you will perform in the iconic Concert Hall at the Sydney Opera House and the stunning Centennial Hall at Sydney Town Hall.

Here's a sneak peek of our rehearsals for George and Ira Gershwin's Of Thee I Sing performed Sept 26 and 27, 2015, timely too, for the composer's (George Gershwin) birthday. In 1932, Of Thee I Sing was the first musical to win the Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

Three other major events include: ChorusOz, Carols at the House & Handel's Messiah.

More recently, other initiatives have transpired, including: Singing at the House collaborated with the Sydney Opera House, commissioning and presenting Australian composers' works, and the Discover Series workshop.

How to Audition at Sydney Philharmonia

Sydney Philharmonia Festival Chorus Open Day Audition. In keeping with the times, there have been new developments in the FC audition process.

Here's Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 "Ode to Joy" Excerpt 2, performed during SSO's Season Opening Gala 2012. Sydney Symphony Orchestra with the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs - Symphony Chorus, Chamber Singers and VOX. Vladimir Ashkenazy conductor, Lorina Gore soprano, Sally-Anne Russell mezzo-soprano, James Egglestone tenor, Michael Nagy baritone.

Sharing a Favourite Quote:

"Sing, then. Sing, indeed, with shoulders back, and head up so that song might go to the roof and beyond to the sky. Mass on mass of tone, with a hard edge, and rich with quality, every single note a carpet of colour woven from basso profundo, and basso, and baritone, and alto, and tenor, and soprano, and also mezzo, and contralto, singing and singing, until life and all things living are become a song..." ~ Richard Llewellyn, How Green Was My Valley

Resources:

Beethoven Symphony No. 9: Ode to Joy Excerpt. Sydney Symphony Orchestra and Sydney Philharmonia Choirs / Ashkenazy. YouTube, uploaded by Sydney Symphony Orchestra. Accessed November 12, 2016.

Facebook.com/SydneyPhilharmoniaChoirs. Accessed December 6, 2014.

Highlights of the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs. Accessed December 6, 2014.

Sydney Philharmonia Choirs: Festival Chorus (Audition 2011). Accessed December 6, 2014.

Sydney Philharmonia Choirs. YouTube uploaded by Sydney Philharmonia Choirs. Accessed, November 12, 2016

The Sydney Philharmonia Choirs.

Twitter.com/SydPhil

Note: Originally published Dec 6, 2014. Latest update, November 12, 2016.

(c) December 2014. Tel Asiado. Latest update November 12, 2016. Inspired Pen Web. All rights reserved.

Sydney Philharmonia Carols at the House 2014

CHORAL SINGING / Sydney Philharmonia Choirs

Carols at the House 2014 presented by the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs comprises a 500-strong choir and orchestra singing favourites such as The Twelve Days of Christmas, Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas and other well-known festive carols.

Opera star Emma Matthews joins the Christmas choir to perform songs including "Abigail's Song" from Doctor Who, "Let the Bright Seraphim" and "Ave Maria" - and your Christmas won't be complete without Dr Seuss' The Grinch, read by distinguished actor John Bell.

Christmas 2014 with Sydney Philharmonia Choirs at Sydney CBD's Pitt Mall

A fun-filled pre-Christmas celebration at Sydney CBD's Pitt St Mall with the Sydney Phiharmonia Choirs Flash Mob of favourite Christmas Carols.

The carols are part of the "Carols at the House" gala performance concert at the Sydney Opera House, December 6 and 7, 2014. Obviously, the crowd had much fun, they actually broke our choral formation after the intermission.A wonderfu feeling to share the joy the wonderful season of love.

A very happy Christmas!

Video Credit:
Sydney Philharmonia Choirs flashmob Christmas carols performance at Pitt Street Mall, Sydney, 27 November 2014

Friedrich H. Himmel

Friedrich Heinrich Himmel (Nov 20, 1765 - June 8, 1814), German composer and conductor, was born at Treuenbrietzen in Brandenburg, Prussia, and originally studied theology at Halle.

During a temporary stay at Potsdam, he had an opportunity of showing his self-acquired skill as a pianist before King Frederick William II, who made him a yearly allowance to enable him to complete his musical studies. He did this under Johann Gottlieb Naumann, a German composer of the Italian school, the style of that school Himmel himself adopted in his serious operas. The first of these, a pastoral opera, Il Primo Navigatore, was produced at Venice in 1794 with great success.

His Italian operas were all received with great favor in their day. Of much greater importance than these is an operetta to German words by Kotzebue, called Fanchon, an admirable specimen of the primitive form of the musical drama known in Germany as the Singspiel. Himmel's gift of writing genuine simple melody is also observable in his songs. He died in Berlin.

Fritz Kreisler

Classical Music / Composers Datebook: February 2

Fritz Kreisler was an Austrian and later American composer and violinist. At the age of 13, he made his American debut in Steinway Hall, New York City.

Friedrich "Fritz" Kreisler (February 2, 1875 – January 29, 1962), Austrian-born American violinist and composer. He was one of the most noted violin masters of his day, and regarded as one of the greatest violinists of all time. Kreisler was known for his sweet tone and expressive phrasing. Like many great violinists of his generation, he produced a characteristic sound which was immediately recognizable as his own. Although it derived in many respects from the Franco-Belgian school, his style is nonetheless reminiscent of the gemütlich (cozy) lifestyle of pre-war Vienna.

Kreisler wrote a number of pieces for the violin, some of them in the style of other composers, in particular, emotionally committed performances of the Beethoven and Brahms violin concerti. Many of these works were originally ascribed to earlier composers such as Giuseppe Tartini and Antonio Vivaldi until Kreisler revealed in 1935 that they were actually by him.

He is famous for romantic short pieces, for example: "Liebesfreud" (Love's joy), "Liebesleid" (Love's sorrow) and "Schön Rosmarin", among others.

Zoltán Kodály Opera Háry János

Classical Music Milestone: October 16

Zoltán Kodály opera Háry János was premiered.

Háry János is an opera in four acts by Zoltán Kodály to a Hungarian libretto by Bela Paulini and Zsolt Harsanyi, based on the comic epic The Veteran (Az obsitos) by Janos Garay. It was first performed at the Royal Hungarian Opera House, Budapest, October 16, 1926.

According to Kodály, Háry János is "the personification of the Hungarian story-telling imagination. He does not tell lies; he imagines stories; he is a poet.

The story is of a veteran hussar in the Austrian army in the first half of the 19th-century. He sits in the village inn regaling his listeners with tales of heroism: his supposed exploits include winning the heart of the Empress Marie Louise, Napoleon's wife, and then single-handedly defeating Napoleon and his armies. Nevertheless, he finally renounces all riches in order to go back to his village with his sweetheart.

Haydn's Oratorio The Seasons

Choral Singing / Oratorio

Oratorio The Seasons ('Die Jahreszeiten') followed Haydn's earlier masterpiece, The Creation

Franz Joseph Haydn's oratorio 'The Seasons' ('Die Jahreszeiten): facts, the cast, brief history, and other Haydn-related information.

The Seasons followed Haydn's greatest work The Creation, both oratorios based after a Handel model instead of the traditional Italian oratorio.

Facts about The Seasons:

Composer: (Franz) Joseph Haydn (1732-1809), an Austrian composer born in Rohrau, Austria.

Original Title: Die Jahreszeiten

Original Language: German

Text: Gottfried van Swieten (Baron von Swieten), Austrian patron of the Arts. The words are based on the English poem The Seasons by James Thomson.

Form: Four parts: Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter – a total of 44 musical numbers.

Date of Writing: 1799-1801.

First Performance: Vienna, in the palace of Prince Schwarzenberg, April 24, 1801.

Haydn's "The Seasons" performed by Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Howard Arman. Felicitas Fuchs, soprano. Andrew Staples, tenor. Reinhard Hagen, bass. MDR Radio Choir of Leipzig.

Here's another link: With Herbert von Karajan conducting the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra: Haydn's "The Seasons" in German. Soloists: G. Janowitz, W. Hollweg.

The Oratorio's Cast:

Simon, a tenant farmer (bass)

Hanne, his daughter (soprano)

Lucas, a young peasant (tenor)

The oratorio is a four-part mixed chorus

The Orchestra: Flutes, clarinets, bassoons, contrabassoons, oboes, horns, trumpets, trombones, timpani, strings, continuo with cello and harpsichord.

Brief History of The Seasons:

The Seasons followed the path of its predecessor, Haydn's most successful oratorio The Creation and therefore it can be deduced that whether van Swieten talked Haydn into producing this succeeding oratorio or not is immaterial. Haydn was enjoying extreme respect and admiration from people after "The Creation." On the other hand, the maestro was now 67 years old.

Haydn's popularity as an instrumental composer went quickly far and wide. From all the great joy that "The Creation" brought him, "The Seasons" took on. One again, the text of the composition was arranged by Gottfried can Swieten, who also had great influence on the younger Mozart. A highly cultured Viennese patron of the arts, van Swieten once again produced a text to make the best use of Haydn's talents and make it another masterpiece.

Prominent aristocrats guaranteed the best conditions, an honorarium at the same time oversee the production premiere.

The premiere on April 24, 1801 was an enormous success, and immediately two more performances followed on 29^th of April and 1^st of May. The audience was enrapt with the highest accolade for the wearying but elated composer. He gave his all for this oratorio and felt that it was his last.

Haydn said about the effect of "The Seasons" (The World of the Oratorio by Kurt Pahlen, Scolar Press, 1990):

"… I had to struggle for days at a time with the smallest details."

Brief Synopsis of The Seasons:

The theme of the seasons is an obvious one, the normal season changes of the year – spring, summer, autumn, winter. Other composers have tried the idea including baroque composers Vivaldi and Telemann. Vivaldi's violin concerto cycle Le Quattro Stagioni (The Four Seasons) is extremely popular to date.

The oratorio has four parts:

Spring

Summer

Autumn

Winter

with a total of 44 musical numbers.

The character Simon, the farmer, observes the stuggle between the elements – starting from spring (as when Hanne feels the first gentle winds of spring) to the harsh winter (destroying blossoms and sprouts.) – a symbol for the passing of life.

Between the main melody and its repetition at the conclusion, a splendid and enchanting exchange between the voices (male and female) is used.

However, The Seasons doesn't end in melancholy, as expressed by the chorus and the soloists, but that of greatest and deepest joy, signifying an acceptance of the human life.

Other Famous Oratorios:

Bach's St Matthew Passion
Handel's Israel in Egypt

Handel's Messiah
Handel's Saul

Haydn'sThe Creation

Mendelssohn's Elijah

Mendelssohn's St Paul

Resource:

The World of Oratorio by Kurt Pahlen (1990)

Note: I originally wrote this piece for Suite101.com, 10 October 2007. This is a shorter piece. /Tel

Heinrich Schütz

Classical Music Composers Datebook: October 8

Heinrich Schütz (1585-1672)

German Composer, Organist and Conductor
Heinrich Schütz (8 or 9 October 1585 in Koetritz or Loetriz - November 16, 1672 in Dresden) was a German composer and organist, generally regarded as the most important German composer before Johann Sebastian Bach, and one of the most important composers of the 17th century along with Claudio Monteverdi.

At the age of five he moved with his family to Weissenfels. Landgrave Moritz was impressed by Schütz's musical talents that he took him to Kassel where he served as a choirboy; he also studied music with the court Kapellmeister, George Otto.

And This is My Beloved (Song)

Song / Down Memory Lane
The song "And This is My Beloved" was in the 1953 musical Kismet. It is credited to Robert Wright, composer-lyricist, and George Forrest, writer of music and lyrics for musical theatre. Like all the music in that show, the melody was based on music composed by Russian composer Alexander Borodin, String Quartet in D. (Here, performed by Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center)

Vic Damone and Ann Blyth beautifully sang "And This is my Beloved" in the 1955 Hollywood classic film two years after it was first staged as a musical of the same title, Kismet (Fate). The movie clip / music belongs to MGM. Kismet (1955) is an American musical film released by Metro-Golwyn-Mayer. It is the fourth movie version of Kismet—the first was released in 1920 and the second in 1930 by Warner Brothers - and the second released by MGM. This 1955 film is based on the successful 1953 musical Kismet, while the three earlier versions are based on the original 1911 play by Edward Knoblock. This film stars Ann Blyth, Howard Keel, Vic Damone, and Dolores Gray, and directed by Vincente Minelli. (Sorry, the video of Ann Blyth and Vic Damone became unavailable, 9 Dec 2020. Instead, here's another one: Mario Lanza sings "And This Is My Beloved", with Jess Alexander Choir - here.)

Before and after 1953, the same melody had been used for a song and recorded by other producers. In 1946, "And This is My Beloved" was used for a song credited to William Egvick, Bert Reisfelt and Alec Wilder entitled "Spring Magic." This was recorded by Charlie Spvak and his Orchestra. In 1956, a version by the great tenor Mario Lanza became popular. In 1962, Sergio Franchi sang it when he discovered Norman Luboff singing on Sunday Night at the London Palladium. A favorite guest of Ed Sullivan, Franchi sang it on the February 4, 1968, which was broadcast by CBS, and recorded on his 1964 RCA Victor album as The Exciting Voice of Sergio Franchi.

Resources:

And This is My Beloved (Song). en.wikipedia.org. Accessed Sept 26, 2014.

Kismet (1955 film). en.wikipedia.org.

(c) September 2014. Tel. Inspired Pen Web. All rights reserved.

Ralph Vaughan-Williams A Sea Symphony

Classical Music / Symphony

Ralph Vaughan-Williams "A Sea Symphony" with text chosen from poems of Walt Whitman.

English composer Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958), composed "A Sea Symphony" for orchestra and chorus, which he wrote between the years 1903 and 1909. The work is also referred to as the Symphony No.1. The first and longest symphony, this piece was premiered at the Leeds Festival in 1910, with the composer himself conducting.

The texts Vaughan Williams chose were sections of poems by American poet Walt Whitman, whose humanist philosophy equated beautifully with his own.

Movements:
1. A Song for all Seas, all Ships (Moderato maestoso)
2. On the beach at night, alone (Largo sostenuto)
3. The Waves (Allegro Brillante)
4. The Explorers (Grave e molto adagio - Andante con moto)

Here's a video of Ralph Vaughan Williams A Sea Symphony. 1. "Song of the Exposition" and "Song for all Seas, all Ships" 2. "On the Beach at Night Alone" 3. "After the Sea-ship" 4. "Passage to India". Sally Matthews, soprano. Roderick Williams, baritone. BBC Proms Youth Choir. BBC Symphony Chorus. BBC Symphony Orchestra. Sakari Oramo, conductor. Live recording. London, Proms 2013.

Being one of the first symphonies in which a choir is an integral part of the musical texture, in fact, the main "instrument," A Sea Symphony helped set the stage for a new era of symphonic and choral music in Britain during the first half of the 20th century.

Trivia: I've been so blest as chorister of the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs to have sung this extremely stirring piece of music by Ralph Vaughan Williams (text by Walt Whitman equally mesmerising) two years after I wrote this post. We performed RVW's "A Sea Symphony" Sept 22 and 24, 2016. The score was a challenge especially during the earlier days of learning. And slowly, its effect grew deeper and more meaningful as rehearsals progressed that by the time we performed it, I was emotionally charged. It continues to haunt me, and it remains one of the most moving and significant performances I've experienced. (Sept 25, 2016)

Video Credit:

Ralph Vaughan Williams' A Sea Symphony Oramo. YouTube, uploaded by Classical Vault 1. Accessed September 25, 2014.

Resources:

Walt Whitman's text from Ralph Vaughan Williams' A Sea Symphony. Snark Dreams. Accessed May 31, 2017.

Wikipedia Encyclopedia. Accessed September 24, 2014.

(c) 2014-2017. Tel Asiado. Written for Inspired Pen Web. All rights reserved

Tchaikovsky - The Seasons: October "Autumn Song"

Classical Music / Music Piece

October 'Autumn Song' in D minor is the 10th excerpt (October being 10th month of the calendar year) of Piotr Tchaikovsky's The Seasons, Op. 37, a set of twelve short character pieces for solo piano. Each piece is the characteristic of a different month of the year in the northern hemisphere.

The 'Autumn Song' is less popular than the other pieces in The Seasons, nevertheless its melancholy and elegiac characteristic is beautiful and poignant, a favourite of Autumn (or Fall) lovers.

Below, I'm sharing two videos from Youtube, one arranged for orchestra (sorry, I don't have the information of the conductor and the orchestra) and the other, one played on the piano by Vladimir Tropp. Enjoy!

Suggested listening:

Tchaikovsky - The Seasons (full) | Piano: Vadim Chaimovich. Youtube, uploaded by HalidonMusic. Accessed September 24, 2023.

The months of the year in 12 music pieces, as covered by the seasons:

01 The Seasons: January. At the Fireside 00:00

02 The Seasons: February. The Carnival 05:21

03 The Seasons: March. Song of the Lark 08:19

04 The Seasons: April. Snowdrop 11:00

05 The Seasons: May. White Nights 13:51

06 The Seasons: June. Barcarolle 18:30

07 The Seasons: July. Reaper’s Song 23:46

08 The Seasons: August. The Harvest 25:38

09 The Seasons: September. The Hunt 29:06

10 The Seasons: October. Autumn Song 32:10

11 The Seasons: November. On the Troika 38:36

12 The Seasons: December. Christmas 41:49

Tchaikovsky's The Seasons, Op. 37a (also seen as Op. 37b, published with the French title Les Saisons), is a set of twelve short character pieces for solo piano by the Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Each piece is the characteristic of a different month of the year in the northern hemisphere. Individual excerpts have always been popular – Troika (November) was a favourite encore of Sergei Rachmaninoff, and Barcarolle (June) was enormously popular and appeared in numerous arrangements.

Video Credit:

Tchaikovsky's "Autumn Song" arranged for Orchestra. Youtube, uploaded by Ensimon. Accessed September 24, 2014.

Tchaikovsky - The Seasons: 'Autumn Song' - Vladimir Tropp (pianist). YouTube, uploaded by pianushko. Accessed September 24, 2014.

(c) September 2014. September 24, 2023. Tel. Inspired Pen Web. All rights reserved.

John Graham Kerr

Scottish embryologist of lungfishes

Sir John Graham Kerr (18 September 1869 – 21 April 1957) was a Scottish embryologist best known for his studies of the embryology of lungfishes. He was also a Unionist Member of Parliament (MP).

Kerr was born in Hertfordshire of Scottish parents. He was educated at the Royal High School, Edinburgh, and at the University of Edinburgh, but interrupted his medical studies to join an expedition in Argentina to study the natural history of the Pilcomayo River. Upon his return, he studied natural sciences at Christ's College, Cambridge, graduating with first class honours in 1896.

Bernhard Henrik Crusell

Composer Datebook: October 15

Finnish Clarinetist, Composer and Translator

The most significant and internationally best-known Finnish Classical composer and indeed, – the outstanding Finnish composer before Sibelius – was Bernhard Henrik Crusell (1775-1838), who rose to a prominent position in the Swedish music world.

Bernhard Henrik Crusell was born this day October 15, 1775, in Uusikaupunki, Nystad, Finland and died July 28, 1838, in Stockholm, Sweden. He was a Finnish composer, virtuoso clarinetist, composer, conductor and translator. He is a contemporary of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, born three months before the latter. They probably never met.

Crusell lived in Stockholm from 1791 onwards and performed his life’s work in Sweden. He made his last visit to his home country in summer 1801, when he performed in Turku and Helsinki. In those days, Finland was undeniably a musical backwater. The centre of musical activities was Turku, where the Turku Society of Music (Turun Soitannollinen Seura), founded in 1790, had done invaluable work in promoting music and had set up an orchestra of its own.

Beethoven's Mass in C major, Op. 86

Classical Music / Masses

Ludwig van Beethoven composed the Mass in C major, Op. 86, to a commission from Prince Nikolaus Esterházy II in 1807. The mass, scored for four vocal soloists, choir and orchestra, was premiered that year by the Prince's musical forces in Eisenstadt. Beethoven performed parts of it in his 1808 concert featuring the premieres of four major works including his Fifth Symphony. The mass was published in 1812 by Breitkopf & Härtel. While the Prince who commissioned the mass was not pleased, the contemporary critic E. T. A. Hoffmann appreciated the "expression of a childlike serene mind", and Michael Moore notes the music's "directness and an emotional content".

Beethoven's Mass in C major, Op. 86, was premiered on 13 September 1807 by the Prince's own musical forces in Eisenstadt, the ancestral seat of the Esterházys not far from Vienna. It is not known what building housed the performance.Beethoven conducted parts of the mass, the Gloria and the Sanctus, in a concert on 22 December 1808, which featured the public premieres of his Symphony No. 5, Symphony No. 6, Piano Concerto No. 4 and Choral Fantasy.

The composition is scored for four soloists (soprano, alto, tenor, bass), a four-part choir (SATB), and a symphony orchestra of flutes, oboes, clarinets, bassoons, horns, trumpets, timpani, strings and organ. The setting of the Latin Order of Mass is structured in five movements:

I. Kyrie
II. Gloria
III. Credo
IV. Sanctus
V. Agnus Dei

Such a beautiful and great Mass which I think often overlooked on favour of Missa Solemnis. Introspective.

Apology. The video I've originally posted is no longer available to share here. I've provided other links to listen to. Thank you.

Suggested Links:

Beethoven Mass in C major, performed by Karl Richter, Munchener Bach Orchester Gundula Janowitz, Julia Hamari, Horst R. Laubenthal, Ernst Gerold Schramm. YouTube, uploaded by camusik96. Accessed June 27, 2020. (Kyrie 0.00 Gloria 4.15 Credo 14.45 Sanctus 25.48 Agnus Dei 38.05).

Beethoven - Mass in C - Amsterdam / Davis. YouTube, uploadead by incontrario motu. Accessed June 27, 2020. Kyrie 0:00 Gloria 6:09 Credo 16:32 Sanctus 28:31 Agnus Dei 39:56 Alison Hargan. Carolyn Watkinson. Keith Lewis. Wout Oosterkamp. Concertgebouworkests Koor Koninklijk. Concertgebouworkest Sir Colin Davis Live recording, Amsterdam, 12.I.1986

Beethoven: Mass in C major / Harnoncourt · (Trailer) Berliner Philharmoniker. Ludwig van Beethoven: Mass in C major / Nikolaus Harnoncourt, conductor · Julia Kleiter, soprano · Elisabeth von Magnus, mezzo-soprano · Werner Güra, tenor · Florian Boesch, bass · Simon Halsey, chorus master · Rundfunkchor Berlin · Berliner Philharmoniker / Recorded at the Berlin Philharmonie, 29 October 2011. YouTube, uploaded by Berliner Philharmoniker. Accessed June 27, 2013.

Beethoven Mass in C major op.86. John Eliot Gardiner, conductor The Monteverdi Choir Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique. Charlotte Margiono, soprano. Catherine Robbin, mezzo-soprano. William Kendall, tenor. Alastair Miles, bass. 00:00 1. Kyrie 05:35 2. Gloria 14:25 3. Credo 24:54 4. Sanctus 35:40 5. Agnus Dei. YouTube. Accessed June 27, 2020.

Resource:

Mass in C major (Beethoven). en.wikipedia.org

(c) September 13, 2014. Updated March 29, 2023. Tel. Inspired Pen Web. All rights reserved.

Mendelssohn's On Wings of Song (Song)

Classical Music / Song

"On Wings of Song" (German: "Auf Flügeln des Gesanges"), is a song by German composer Felix Mendelssohn, the second of his "six songs for voice and piano" (Opus 34-2, 1834). He dedicated it to his beloved older sister, Fanny Mendelssohn, also a composer. The music is a setting of the poem "Auf Flügeln des Gesanges" by the German Romantic poet Heinrich Heine published in his Buch der Lieder in 1827. Franz Liszt arranged On Wings of Song for solo piano (S. 547). This song has been translated into other languages and has been adopted in school music textbooks for China, Japan and Korea.

Thanks to Youtube uploader Papermoon2011, together with the lyrics in English translation, here's a beautiful rendition of an all-time favourite short composition from Felix Mendelssohn, "Auf Flügeln des Gesanges" (English: "On Wings of Song"), sung by tenor Peter Schreier, accompanied on the piano by pianist Walter Olbertz.

Lyrics (English translation)

On wings of song, my love,
I'll carry you away to the fields of the Ganges.
Where I know the most beautiful place.
There lies a red-flowering garden, in the serene moonlight,
the lotus-flowers await. Their beloved sister.

The violets giggle and cherish, and look up at the stars,
The roses tell each other secretly their fragrant fairy-tales.
The gentle, bright gazelles, pass and listen;
and in the distance murmurs the waves of the holy stream.

There we will lay down, under the palm-tree,
and drink of love and peacefulness.
And dream our blessed dream.

Links to Mendelssohn's all-time favourite "Auf Flugeln des Gesanges":

6 Gesänge, Op. 34: No. 2, Auf Flügeln des Gesanges. Sung by Peter Schreier. YouTube. Accessed June 26, 2023.

Auf Flügeln des Gesanges (Song). Oxford International Festival. [Lyrics in English & German]

Felix Mendelssohn: Auf Fluegeln des Gesanges - Julian Pregardien & Els Biesemans. YouTube, uploaded by Els Biesemans. Accessed June 26, 2023.

Felix Mendelssohn - On Wings of Song. YouTube, uploaded by NancyFloresSantos. Accessed Sept 11, 2016.

Jascha Heifetz Felix Mendelssohn On Wings of Song Op 34 No 2. YouTube, uploaded by JessieMelody1. Accessed June 26, 2023.

Mendelssohn: Auf Flügeln des Gesanges, Op. 34, No. 2. YouTube, sung by Kiri Te Kanawa. Accessed June 26, 2023.

Mendelssohn: Auf Flügeln des Gesanges, Op. 34, No. 2. Song of the cello, performed by Mischa Maisky. Accessed June 26, 2023.

"On Wings of Song" performed by KNUA Pre-College students ( Korea National University of Arts).

Resources:

On Wings of Song (Mendelssohn). Wikipedia.

On Wings of Song (Poem). Wikipedia.

Naturally, Google Search for links...

Mendelssohn's A Midsummer Night's Dream

A Music for William Shakespeare play by Felix Mendelssohn

Romantic composer Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy (1809-1847), composed music for William Shakespeare's famous play, A Midsummer Night's Dream. Near the start of his career in 1826, Mendelssohn wrote a concert overture in E major (Op. 21). He was then 17 years and 6 months old. This overture music was not associated with any performance of the play. He completed it on August 6, 1826. The prominent engineer and writer on music, Sir George Grove called the piece "the greatest marvel of early maturity that the world has ever seen in music.

Five years before his death at the young age of 38, Mendelssohn wrote an incidental music (Op.61) of a play production, in which he incorporated the earlier overture music he created. The incidental music (German title: Ein Sommernachtstraum) includes the world-famous Wedding March.

Sigmund Romberg

Classical Music Dateline: July 29

Musicals & Operetta Composer

Sigmund Romberg, Hungarian-born American composer, was born July 29, 1887, in Nagy-Kaniza. Romberg wrote film scores and adapted his own work for film.

He became famous by adapting some endearing music of the greatest melodist of all time, Franz Schubert. Blossom Time, which was produced in the UK as Lilac Time was popular. His most successful and best known operettas include The Student Prince, The Desert Song and The New Moon. He also styled some of his music to that of Franz Lehar. He was a contemporary of George Gershwin, with whom he co-write Rosalie.

Early in his career, Romberg was employed by the Shubert brothers to write music for their musicals and revues. Still for the Shuberts, he also adapted several European operettas for American audiences, including the successful Maytime (1917) and Blossom Time (1921). His three hit operettas of the mid-1920s, named above, are in the style of Viennese operetta, but his other works mostly employ the style of American musicals of their eras. He also composed film scores including "Student Prince" and "The Desert Song."

Resources:

Sigmund Romberg. en.wikipedia.org.
The Grove Concise Dictionary of Music, Edited by Stanley Sadie. New Update Edition. London: Macmillan Publishers, 1994.

Video Credit:

Sigmund Romberg. en.wikipedia.org / Public Domain.

Mauro Giuliani

Classical Composer Datebook: July 27

Mauro Giuliani, Italian virtuoso guitarist,cellist, and composer, is born July 27 (1781) in Barletta. He devised a guitar with shorter fingerboard.

As a guitar composer he was very fond of theme and variations, a form extremely popular in Vienna. An example of this ability is his Variations on a Theme of Handel, Op. 107. This popular theme, known as "The Harmonious Blacksmith", appears in the Aria from Handel's Suite no. 5 in E for harpsichord.

Giuliani's achievements as a composer were numerous with with opus number constituting a huge part of the nineteenth-century guitar repertory. He composed excellent pieces for solo guitar, orchestra, Guitar-Violin and Guitar-Flute duos.

Hans Werner Henze

Classical Music / Composers Dateline: July 1

German Composer Hans Werner Henze

Hans Werner Henze is born on July 1, 1926, in Gütersloh, Westphalia. His output is marked by literary sensibility and use of orchestral colouration, as in the opera Elegy for Young Lovers (1959-1961), and later The Sea Betrayed (1992). He music is influenced by Schoenberg, however, he is not strictly a 12-note composer.

In recent years, Hans Werner Henze returned to his musical past becoming more lyrical and elaborate, as shown in his reconstruction of Monteverdi's Il ritorno di Ulisse (The Return of Ulysses), staged in Salzburg, Austria in 1985.

Some of Henze's works include nine symphonies, many ballets, and concerti.

Resources:

The Grove Concise Dictionary of Music, edited by Stanley Sadie, London: Macmillan New updated Edition, 1994.

Teach Yourself Classical Music. London: Hodder, 2000.

Image Credit:

Hans Werner Henze, Wikimedia Commons by Rolf Unterberg, Deutsches Bundesarchiv (German Federal Archive), 1960

(c) Tel Asiado. Written for InspiredPenWeb.Com. All rights reserved.

Mozart Piano Concerto No.21 in C Major

Classical Music / Piano Concertos

Mozart's Concerto No.21 became enormously popular with second Movement - Andante - better known as "Elvira Madigan"

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 21 in C major, K. 467 was first performed this day on March 10, 1785, in Vienna, with no less than the composer himself as the soloist. Mozart was 29 years old. It was completed on March 9, 1785 by Mozart four weeks (other biographers say it's three weeks) after the completion of his tempestuous D-minor concerto, K. 466.

Piano Concerto No.21 in C Major (K.467) by Mozart premiered on March 10, 1785, with no other than the maestro himself the soloist. He was 29 years old. (Mozart photo by C. Vogel.)

The concerto has three movements:

I. Allegro maestoso
II. Andante in F major - "Elvira Madigan" (Famously nicknamed "Elvira Madigan" - featured in the 1967 Swedish film of the same title, Elvira Madigan. The imagery used in the movie was of a lazy boat ride on a placid lake. Since the film, "Elvira Madigan" has been used as the unofficial name of Mozart's second movement from this piano concerto. This dream-like andante movement is such a lovely melody. In recent times, it has also been used in some other films. It was also used in Marcel Barceau's funeral.)
III. Allegro vivace assai

A handbill advert read as follows:

"On Thursday, March 10, 1785, Kapellmeister Mozart will have the honor of giving in the Imperial and Royal Court Theater a Grand Musical Concert for his own benefit including not only a new, just finished fortepiano concerto [presumably sight-read by the orchestra] to be played by him, but also an especially large fortepiano with pedals will be used for improvisations. The remaining pieces will be announced by a large poster on the day of the concert."

Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 21 - Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra, Ronald Brautigam - Live HD

Mozart - Piano Concerto No.21 "Elvira Madigan" - 2nd Movement - Andante

(Note: This is a slower version of Mozart's Piano Concerto 21 "Andante")

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 21 (Andante)

Resources:

Hutchings, A. 1997. A Companion to Mozart's Piano Concertos, Oxford University Press

Latham, Alison, ed., The Oxford Companion to Music. Oxford University Press ( 2002)

"Piano Concerto No. 21 in C, K. 467" written by Herbert Glass for the LA Times. www.laphil.com/philpedia/piece-detail.cfm?id=114&bc=1. Retrieved March 10, 2012.

Steinberg, Michael, The Concerto: A Listener's Guide, p. 305-307, Oxford University Press (1998)

Video Credit:

The Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra, conductor Edo de Waart and pianist Ronald Brautigam perform one of Mozart's most beloved works: his highly melodic 'Piano Concerto No. 21'. YouTube uploaded by AVROTROS Klassiek. Accessed November 21, 2023.

Mozart's Andante, Piano Concerto 21 2nd Movement. YouTube, uploaded by vmichelotto. Accessed March 12, 2012.

Mozart Piano Concerto No. 21 "Andante". YouTube, uploaded by Poloshia. Accessed January 8, 2010.

Mozart photos: Public Domain.

Mona Lisa: The lady with a smile

Icon & Legends / Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa

Mona Lisa (Italian: La Gioconda, French: La Joconde), the painting, and Leonardo da Vinci, its creator, have been subjects of books, discussions and critical reviews. The Mona Lisa is famous for her "enigmatic smile."

On April 15, 1452, Leonardo was born illegitimate in Vinci, a small village in Tuscany, to a public notary and a peasant girl. He became known as a polymath with various expertise including aviation, geometry, architecture, human anatomy, weaponry and more. He began painting his most famous work in 1503. Da Vinci's knowledge and skills were well respected throughout Italy and his reputation gained him a job under the Duke of Milan, for whom he painted the Last Supper, from 1495-1497.

The Mona Lisa

The true identity of the Mona Lisa has always been the subject of debate. The general belief, or at least from biographers and historians through the centuries, is that the painting came from the request of a Florentine silk merchant, Francesco del Giocondo.

Verdi's Requiem (Messa de Requiem)

Classical Music / Sacred Music: Requiem

Verdi's is one of the most famous of the Catholic funeral Requiems are traditionally a Roman Catholic mass to honour the dead. This work was composed by Giuseppe Verdi in memory of the Italian poet and novelist Alessandro Manzoni, who was profoundly admired by Verdi. It was first performed in Milan Cathedral on 22 May 1874 on the first anniversary of Manzoni's death.

Complete with thrilling symphonic score, virtuosic solo moments, and dramatic libretto, Verdi's Requiem tells of the fate of the living who fear death and beg for deliverance.

Featured videos:

Leontyne Price sings "Libera me" from Messa da Requiem by Giuseppe Verdi. La Scala Orchestra & Chorus. Roberto Benaglio, Chorusmaster. Herbert von Karajan, Conductor 1967. YouTube, uploaded by Addiobelpassato. Accessed April 20, 2023.

Proms 2016 - Verdi's Requiem [Marin Alsop, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment]. Youtube, uploaded by hollowchatter. Accessed May 22, 2020. It's beautiful, the best performance I found at Youtube. The soloists in "Have mercy" bring out the passion in it. To listen and reflect on the message as the choir, soloists, and orchestra sing with such passion, connected by conductor Maestra Marin, is simply breathtaking. Beautiful. Divine!

Considered too operatic to be performed in a liturgical setting, it is usually given in concert form of around 90 minutes in length. Musicologist David Rosen calls it "probably the most frequently performed major choral work composed since the compilation of Mozart's Requiem" (Wiki)

The parts of a Verdi Requiem Mass include:

1. Requiem
- Introit (chorus)
- Kyrie (soloists, chorus)
2. Dies irae
- Dies irae (chorus)
- Tuba mirum (chorus)
- Mors stupebit (bass)
- Liber scriptus (mezzo-soprano, chorus – chorus only in original version)
- Quid sum miser (soprano, mezzo-soprano, tenor)
- Rex tremendae (soloists, chorus)
- Recordare (soprano, mezzo-soprano)
- Ingemisco (tenor)
- Confutatis maledictis (bass, chorus)
- Lacrymosa (soloists, chorus)
3. Offertory
- Domine Jesu Christe (soloists)
- Hostias (soloists)
4. Sanctus (double chorus)
5. Agnus Dei (soprano, mezzo-soprano, chorus)
6. Lux aeterna (mezzo-soprano, tenor, bass)
7. Libera me (soprano, chorus)
- Libera me
- Dies irae
- Requiem aeternam
- Libera me

Verdi's Requiem is a masterpiece and a testimony to Giuseppe Verdi's composing abilities outside of the field of opera he is most famous for.

Resource:

Requiem (Verdi). en.wikipedia.org.

Edward Jenner

Science/Scientist Datebook: May 17

English Physician, Pioneer of Vaccination

Edward Anthony Jenner (1749-1823), was born on 17 May 1749 in Berkeley Gloucestershire. He also died there. Widely referred to as the "Father of Immunology," he is credited as the pioneer of smallpox vaccine. He developed vaccination to prevent smallpox.

Aware that a cowpox infection seemed to protect people from subsequent smallpox infection , he inoculated a healthy boy with cowpox. As a result, the boy developed a mild disease but months later the boy did not develop the disease after Jenner vaccinated against it.

His pioneering work in smallpox vaccine established vaccination as an invaluable medical tool.

Sources:

McGovern, Una, Ed. Biographical Dictionary, 6th Edition. Edinburgh: Chambers, 2002
Ellyard, David. Who Discovered What When. Sydney: New Holland, 2005

Image Credit:

Wikimedia Commons (Public Domain)

First Oral Contraceptive Pill

The pill for birth control, a single pill for drugs and sex.

On May 9, 1960, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA ) approved the birth control pill for use. Two days later, Enovid, the first oral contraceptive went on sale.

No one can fully say that the approval of this birth control pill could have prompted the sexual revolution.

In Remembrance of Mother's Day Founder, Anna Jarvis

Happy Mother's Day!

May 7, 2014

Five years ago, I wrote an article "Mother's Day Origins and Traditions Traced." This post serves as an insight from that earlier piece, for along with honouring all mothers of the world on Mother's Day, I feel we ought to celebrate its founder, Anna Jarvis.

We celebrate you Mrs. Anna Jarvis!

Tracing the origins of Mother's Day, Anna Jarvis's original intent was to remind us of the importance of mothers and to challenge us to treat them with love and respect. Unfortunately, and sadly, she griped that Mother's Day had been commercialized beyond belief with cards and flowers as standard bearers of honouring mothers.

Films featuring the music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

The list of Mozart music in films shared here is not exhaustive. Our aim is to impart awareness especially of those music you've heard unaware it's Mozart's. The popular "Eine Kleine Nachtmusik" appears in more than one film, so does Clarinet Concerto, an all-time favourite.

Adagio of Gran Partita, Piano Concerto No. 20 (2^nd movement), Requiem, and 1^st movement of both Symphonies Nos. 25 and 29.

After Peter Shaffer's 1984 film Amadeus, directed by Milos Forman, many people who aren't into classical music "turned on" to Mozart. To Mozartians and Mozart admirers, the general initial reaction about the movie was one of disgust since it was not historically accurate, but that's Hollywood. On the other hand, the good side is that some people who didn't know much about him were so taken by Amadeus the film enough to pursue more information about this child prodigy and his music. Mozart's music in the film Amadeus include Adagio of Gran Partita, Piano Concerto No. 20 (2^nd movement), Requiem, and 1^st movement of both Symphonies Nos. 25 and 29.

Here's a great website to the various music in the film, Amadeus.

Film: Amadeus

Halley's Comet

Science / Astronomy