CLASSICAL MUSIC / Non-liturgical
War Requiem, Op. 66, composed by English composer Benjamin Britten.
This work by Benjamin Britten is a large-scale, non-liturgical setting mostly in 1961 and completed in January 1962. It was first performed on 30th May 1962, for the consecration of the new Coventry Cathedral, which was built after the original fourteenth-century structure was destroyed in World War II. The traditional Latin texts are interspersed, in telling juxtaposition, with settings of poems by Wilfred Owen, written in World War I.
Britten's War Requiem is scored for soprano, tenor and baritone soloists, chorus, boys' choir, organ and and two orchestras (a full orchestra and a chamber orcchestra.)
The chamber orchestra accompanies the intimate settings of the English
poetry, while soprano, choirs and orchestra are used for the Latin
sections. All forces are combined in the music finale. The work has a
duration of approximately 90 minutes.
Notes about the Video:
Benjamin Britten, Conductor
Meredith Davies, Conductor
Heather Harper, Soprano
Thomas Hemsley, Baritone
Peter Pears, Tenor
With Melos Ensemble, BBC Symphony Chorus & BBC Symphony Orchestra
August 4, 1964
Other Britten War Requiem Performances:
1. War Requiem conducted by Marin Alsop, Nov 2014, Southbank Centre.
2. War Requiem, Salzburg Festival, 2013.
Video Credit:
Benjamin Britten Conducts War Requiem. YouTube, uploaded by John Randolph. Accessed May 30, 2017.
Resource:
Britten's War Requiem. en.wikipedia.org. Accessed May 30, 2017.
(c) May 2017. Tel. Inspired Pen Web. All rights reserved.
Marguerite Monnot: Hymne à l'amour (Hymn to Love) - English Lyrics ...
Songs /
Lyrics in French sung by Edith Piaf
Marguerite Monnot: Hymne à l'amour (If You Love Me)
"Hymne à l'amour" (French for "Hymn to Love") is a popular French song originally performed by Édith Piaf.
The lyrics were written by Piaf and the music by Marguerite Monnot. She first sang this song at the Cabaret Versailles in New York on September 14, 1949. It was written to her lover and the love of her life, the French boxer, Marcel Cerdan. On October 28, 1949 Cerdan was killed in a plane crash on his way from Paris to New York to come see her. She recorded the song on 2 May 1950.
Lyrics
HYMN TO LOVE
Original : Hymne À L'Amour
(Eddie Constantine / Marguerite Monnot)
Recorded by : Christine Albert; Corey Hart; Cyndi Lauper; Edith Piaf.
If the sky should fall into the sea
And the stars fade all around me
All the times that we have known here
I will sing a hymn to love
We have lived and dreamed we two alone
In a world that's been our very own
With it's memories ever grateful
Just for you I sing a hymn to love
I remember each embrace
The smile that lights your face
And my heart begins to sing
Your eyes have never lied
And my heart begins to sing
And my heart begins to sing
If one day you should ever disappear
Always remember these words
If one day we had to say goodbye
And our love should fade away and die
In my heart you will remain here
And I'II sing a hymn to love
O for love, we live eternally
In the blue we'll roll this harmony
With every day we are in heaven
As for you, I'll sing a hymn to love
Don't you ever worry, dear
And the stars shall fade from the sky
All the times that we have known here
I will sing a hymn to our love
Oh darling,
Just for you I sing
A hymn to love
*****
HYMNE À L'AMOUR
(M. Monnot / E. Constantine)
Edith Piaf (France)
Le ciel bleu sur nous peut s'effrondrer
Et la terre peut bien s'écrouler
Peu m'importe si tu m'aimes
Je me fous du monde entier
Tant que l'amour inondera mes matins
Tant que mon corps frémira sous tes mains
Peu m'importent les grands problèmes
Mon amour, puisque tu m'aimes...
J'irais jusqu'au bout du monde
Je me ferais teindre en blonde
Si tu me le demandais...
J'irais décrocher la lune
J'irais voler la fortune
Si tu me le demandais...
Je renierais ma patrie
Je renierais mes amis
Si tu me le demandais...
On peut bien rire de moi,
Je ferais n'importe quoi
Si tu me le demandais...
Si un jour la vie t'arrache à moi
Si tu meurs, que tu sois loin de moi
Peu m'importe, si tu m'aimes
Car moi je mourrai aussi...
Nous aurons pour nous l'éternité
Dans le bleu de toute l'immensité
Dans le ciel, plus de problèmes
Mon amour, crois-tu qu'on s'aime?...
...Dieu réunit ceux qui s'aiment!
(c) 2017. Tel Asiado. Written for Inspired Pen Web. All rights reserved.
Lyrics in French sung by Edith Piaf
Marguerite Monnot: Hymne à l'amour (If You Love Me)
"Hymne à l'amour" (French for "Hymn to Love") is a popular French song originally performed by Édith Piaf.
The lyrics were written by Piaf and the music by Marguerite Monnot. She first sang this song at the Cabaret Versailles in New York on September 14, 1949. It was written to her lover and the love of her life, the French boxer, Marcel Cerdan. On October 28, 1949 Cerdan was killed in a plane crash on his way from Paris to New York to come see her. She recorded the song on 2 May 1950.
Lyrics
HYMN TO LOVE
Original : Hymne À L'Amour
(Eddie Constantine / Marguerite Monnot)
Recorded by : Christine Albert; Corey Hart; Cyndi Lauper; Edith Piaf.
If the sky should fall into the sea
And the stars fade all around me
All the times that we have known here
I will sing a hymn to love
We have lived and dreamed we two alone
In a world that's been our very own
With it's memories ever grateful
Just for you I sing a hymn to love
I remember each embrace
The smile that lights your face
And my heart begins to sing
Your eyes have never lied
And my heart begins to sing
And my heart begins to sing
If one day you should ever disappear
Always remember these words
If one day we had to say goodbye
And our love should fade away and die
In my heart you will remain here
And I'II sing a hymn to love
O for love, we live eternally
In the blue we'll roll this harmony
With every day we are in heaven
As for you, I'll sing a hymn to love
Don't you ever worry, dear
And the stars shall fade from the sky
All the times that we have known here
I will sing a hymn to our love
Oh darling,
Just for you I sing
A hymn to love
*****
HYMNE À L'AMOUR
(M. Monnot / E. Constantine)
Edith Piaf (France)
Le ciel bleu sur nous peut s'effrondrer
Et la terre peut bien s'écrouler
Peu m'importe si tu m'aimes
Je me fous du monde entier
Tant que l'amour inondera mes matins
Tant que mon corps frémira sous tes mains
Peu m'importent les grands problèmes
Mon amour, puisque tu m'aimes...
J'irais jusqu'au bout du monde
Je me ferais teindre en blonde
Si tu me le demandais...
J'irais décrocher la lune
J'irais voler la fortune
Si tu me le demandais...
Je renierais ma patrie
Je renierais mes amis
Si tu me le demandais...
On peut bien rire de moi,
Je ferais n'importe quoi
Si tu me le demandais...
Si un jour la vie t'arrache à moi
Si tu meurs, que tu sois loin de moi
Peu m'importe, si tu m'aimes
Car moi je mourrai aussi...
Nous aurons pour nous l'éternité
Dans le bleu de toute l'immensité
Dans le ciel, plus de problèmes
Mon amour, crois-tu qu'on s'aime?...
...Dieu réunit ceux qui s'aiment!
(c) 2017. Tel Asiado. Written for Inspired Pen Web. All rights reserved.
Sea Wolves and Precious Moments
Film / Film Music: The Sea Wolves / Precious Moments
Special Tribute:
In heartfelt remembrance of Sir Roger Moore who passed away today, May 24, 2017 (Sydney time). James Bond 007, Simon Templar of "The Saint", Lord Brett Sinclair of "The Persuaders," and more... Rest in Peace, Sir Roger Moore, and with much gratitude, thank you for all the joys and excitement you've provided in the comfort of the living room.
Below is a video of the popular song "Precious Moments" sung by Matt Monro, (lyrics by Leslie Bricusse and composed by Richard Addinsell), from the film The Sea Wolves staring Gregory Peck, Roger Moore and David Niven.
The Sea Wolves (Film), Briefly:
The Sea Wolves is a 1980 war film. It is atrue WW2 story: the British must attack a German ship but it's safe in neutral Goa. So they send civilians, ex-soldiers about 60 years old.
The film is based on the book Boarding Party by James Leasor, which itself is based on a real incident that took place in World War II. The incident involved Operation Creek, the Calcutta Light Horse's covert attack on 9 March 1943 against a German merchant ship, which had been transmitting information to U-boats from Mormugão Harbour in neutral Portugal's territory of Goa.
Video Credit:
The Sea Wolves (1980). YouTube, uploaded by yorkie78. Accessed May 24 2017.
Resources:
The Sea Wolves. en.wikipedia.org. Accessed May 24, 2017.
The Sea Wolves (1980). IMdb. Accessed May 24, 2017.
(c) 2017-2018. Tel Asiado. Written for Inspired Pen Web. All rights reserved.
Special Tribute:
In heartfelt remembrance of Sir Roger Moore who passed away today, May 24, 2017 (Sydney time). James Bond 007, Simon Templar of "The Saint", Lord Brett Sinclair of "The Persuaders," and more... Rest in Peace, Sir Roger Moore, and with much gratitude, thank you for all the joys and excitement you've provided in the comfort of the living room.
Below is a video of the popular song "Precious Moments" sung by Matt Monro, (lyrics by Leslie Bricusse and composed by Richard Addinsell), from the film The Sea Wolves staring Gregory Peck, Roger Moore and David Niven.
The Sea Wolves (Film), Briefly:
The Sea Wolves is a 1980 war film. It is atrue WW2 story: the British must attack a German ship but it's safe in neutral Goa. So they send civilians, ex-soldiers about 60 years old.
The film is based on the book Boarding Party by James Leasor, which itself is based on a real incident that took place in World War II. The incident involved Operation Creek, the Calcutta Light Horse's covert attack on 9 March 1943 against a German merchant ship, which had been transmitting information to U-boats from Mormugão Harbour in neutral Portugal's territory of Goa.
Video Credit:
The Sea Wolves (1980). YouTube, uploaded by yorkie78. Accessed May 24 2017.
Resources:
The Sea Wolves. en.wikipedia.org. Accessed May 24, 2017.
The Sea Wolves (1980). IMdb. Accessed May 24, 2017.
(c) 2017-2018. Tel Asiado. Written for Inspired Pen Web. All rights reserved.
On the Waterfront (Film Music)
Film Music / Leonard Bernstein's Symphonic Suite for 'On the Waterfront'
The music score of the multi-Oscar winning film On the Waterfront (starring Marlon Brando), was composed by Leonard Bernstein. It's his only original film score not adapted from a stage production with songs. Bernstein's "Symphonic Suite" is splendidly done with his music representing various themes in the film covering different emotions: violence, love theme, and pained resolution.
Leonard Bernstein (August 25, 1918 -- October 14, 1990), was an American conductor, composer, author, music lecturer and pianist. The tremendous success of "West Side Story" remained unequaled by his other compositions. As a composer, he was prolific, writing symphonies, ballet music, chamber music, operas, other orchestral and choral works, chamber music, and incidental music. According to The New York Times, he was "one of the most prodigiously talented and successful musicians in American history."
Film Score Review:
On the Waterfront - Leonard Bernstein. Movie Music UK. Accessed 17 May 2017.
Trivia (Added 12 May 2018):
To commemorate the centenary celebration of Leonard Bernstein's birthday, the Sydney Symphony Orchestra (SSO) presented a 3-day performance, "The Bernstein Songbook: A Musical Theatre Celebration", May 10-12, Sydney Opera House Concert Hall. 'On the Waterfront' "Symphonic Suite" was done at the end of Act I, just before the Interval. " Magnificent performance capturing the varied emotions of this multi-awarded film. Artists: John Wilson, Conductor. Lorina Gore, soprano. Kim Criswell, mezzo-soprano, Julian Ovenden, tenor. Sydney Philharmonia Choirs. Mitchell Butel, director.
Video Credit:
Bernstein, L - Symphonic Suite from 'On the Waterfront'. YouTube, uploaded by Sonny Beech. Accessed 17 May 2017. (From the album "New York! New York! Symphonic Dances and Overtures from Musicals". Performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Conducted by Carl Davis. (c) Royal Philharmonic Masterworks)
Resources:
Leonard Bernstein: On the Waterfront, Film Score. AllMusic. Accessed 17 May 2017.
On the Waterfront (Film). en.wikipedia.org. Accessed 17 May 2017.
On the Waterfront. Intrada Label. Accessed 17 May 2017.
On the Waterfront soundtrack back in contention. BBC Arts Accessed 17 May 2017.
(c) 2017. Tel Asiado. Inspired Pen Web. All rights reserved.
Claudio Monteverdi
Composers Datebook: 15 May
Claudio (Giovanni Antonio) Monteverdi (b. Cremona, 15 May 1567 - d.Venice, 29 November 1643), Italian composer known for
opera La Favola d'Orfeo (The Fable of Orpheus), stood across the late
Renaissance and early Baroque periods, and made the most important contribution
to the opera early development.
He exhibited work development from his first, La favola d’Orfeo (The Legend of Orpheus) for the carnival in Mantua, to his last opera, L’incoronazione di Poppea (The Coronation of Poppea). His next opera, Arianna, is now lost in performance except for the famous ‘Lament’, which also made him famous after Orfeo.
Early Beginnings
Monteverdi's Other Compositions
Brief biography of Claudio Monteverdi, Italian composer
of Late Renaissance and Early Baroque Eras.
Claudio (Giovanni Antonio) Monteverdi (b. Cremona, 15 May 1567 - d.Venice, 29 November 1643), Italian composer known for
opera La Favola d'Orfeo (The Fable of Orpheus), stood across the late
Renaissance and early Baroque periods, and made the most important contribution
to the opera early development. He exhibited work development from his first, La favola d’Orfeo (The Legend of Orpheus) for the carnival in Mantua, to his last opera, L’incoronazione di Poppea (The Coronation of Poppea). His next opera, Arianna, is now lost in performance except for the famous ‘Lament’, which also made him famous after Orfeo.
Early Beginnings
Claudio Monteverdi was born on May 15, 1567, in
Cremona, a son of a surgeon who engaged the director of music of Cremona's cathedral to instruct Claudio and
his brother in music. He was in the service of the Duke of Mantua for some
eleven years, and later, director of music at St Mark’s in Venice.
Monteverdi's Other Compositions
His other works include some 250 madrigals,
motets and sacred music, notably the Vespers, adding beautiful church music to
his previous works. In 1630, he took holy orders after escaping the plague at Venice. From this period
two more of his operas survived, the Il ritorno d’Ulisse in patria (The Return
Of Ulysses to Country) and L'Incoronazione di Poppea (The Coronation of Poppea).
In 1610, Monteverdi dedicated his collection of
church music, the Vespers, to Pope Paul V. This later became known as "The
Vespers of 1610", a perfect introduction to the genius of baroque vocal
writing. It was also evident from its opening chorus that for the first time, music
was moving away from the private, that is, palace courts, into the public
domain.
Claudio Monteverdi died in Venice, at the age of 76.
Claudio Monteverdi died in Venice, at the age of 76.
Monteverdi Key Works
Book 1 of Madrigals, 1587
La Favola d'Orfeo (The Fable of Orpheus),
opera, 1607
Vespers, 1610
Book 6 of Madrigals, including "Arianna's
Lament", 1614
Book 8 of Madrigals, Madrigali Guerrieri e
Amorosi (Madrigals of War and Love", including "The Combat Between
Tancredi and Clorinda")
Il Ritorno d'Ulisse in Patria (The Return of
Ulysses to his Homeland), opera, 1640
L'Incoronazione di Poppea (The Coronation of
Poppea), opera, 1642
Related Link:
Monteverdi: L'Orfeo - concert - L'Arpeggiata. Compass Classical Music. Accessed May 15, 2018.
Related Link:
Monteverdi: L'Orfeo - concert - L'Arpeggiata. Compass Classical Music. Accessed May 15, 2018.
Photo Credit:
Claudio Monteverdi. en.wikipedia.org / Public Domain.
Portrait of Claudio Monteverdi, from the title page of Fiori poetici, a 1644 book of commemorative poems for his funeral
Resources:
The Encyclopedia of Music
by Max Wade-Matthews & Wendy Thompson, HHouse (2002)
The Grove Dictionary of
Music and Musicians, 2nd Edition, edited by Stanley Sadie (2000)
The Oxford Companion to
Music, edited by Alison Latham, OUP (2002)
Note: This piece is abridged version of my original article published for Suite101.com, 8 February 2008. / Tel
(c) 2008-2017. Tel Asiado. All rights reserved.
Note: This piece is abridged version of my original article published for Suite101.com, 8 February 2008. / Tel
(c) 2008-2017. Tel Asiado. All rights reserved.
Tchaikovsky's Mozartiana - Orchestral Suite No. 4
Orchestral Music
Tchaikovsky's Orchestral Suite No. 4, Op. 61, more commonly known as Mozartiana, is an orchestral suite by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, written in 1887 as a tribute to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart on the 100th anniversary of his idolised composer's opera Don Giovanni. Because this suite consists of four orchestrations of piano pieces by (or in one case, based on) Mozart, Tchaikovsky did not number this suite with his previous three suites for orchestra. Instead, he considered it a separate work entitled Mozartiana. Nevertheless, it is usually counted as No. 4 of his orchestral suites.
Tchaikovsky conducted the premiere himself, in Moscow in November 1887. It was the only one of his suites he conducted, and only the second at whose premiere he was present.
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky regarded Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart as his musical god. He had always held Don Giovanni, one of Mozart's famous operas in greatest awe. Therefore it's not surprising at all that the great Tchaikovsky's treatment of Mozart's work for this piece was both faithful and affectionate. In other words, he was inspired by Mozart to comcpose this piece, in particular of Mozart's Don Giovanni. Tchaikovsky wrote his 'Mozartiana' in 1887, exactly 100 years after the great Mozart opera made its debut. He took the music as it stood and endeavoured to present it in the best possible light—this is, in late 19th-century guise. His intent was to win greater appreciation among his contemporaries for Mozart's lesser known works.
Below, is Tchaikovsky's Mozartiana, Suite No. 4, Op. 61 "Mozartiana" (1887), shared in hope that the piece is simply listened to, enjoyed, without worrying too much about analysis. (Uploaded by Bartje Bartmans. Accessed May 14, 2018.)
Mozartiana is in four movements and lasts approximately 20 minutes.
This suite is scored for pairs of flutes, oboes, clarinets, bassoons and trumpets, four horns, timpani, cymbals, glockenspiel, harp and strings.
George Balanchine's 1981 ballet Mozartiana is set to Tchaikovsky's work.
Resource:
Orchestral Suite No. 4 Mozartiana (Tchaikovsky). Wikipedia. Accessed May 14, 2018.
(c) May 2017. Tel. Inspired Pen Web. All rights reserved.
Tchaikovsky's Orchestral Suite No. 4, Op. 61, more commonly known as Mozartiana, is an orchestral suite by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, written in 1887 as a tribute to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart on the 100th anniversary of his idolised composer's opera Don Giovanni. Because this suite consists of four orchestrations of piano pieces by (or in one case, based on) Mozart, Tchaikovsky did not number this suite with his previous three suites for orchestra. Instead, he considered it a separate work entitled Mozartiana. Nevertheless, it is usually counted as No. 4 of his orchestral suites.
Tchaikovsky conducted the premiere himself, in Moscow in November 1887. It was the only one of his suites he conducted, and only the second at whose premiere he was present.
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky regarded Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart as his musical god. He had always held Don Giovanni, one of Mozart's famous operas in greatest awe. Therefore it's not surprising at all that the great Tchaikovsky's treatment of Mozart's work for this piece was both faithful and affectionate. In other words, he was inspired by Mozart to comcpose this piece, in particular of Mozart's Don Giovanni. Tchaikovsky wrote his 'Mozartiana' in 1887, exactly 100 years after the great Mozart opera made its debut. He took the music as it stood and endeavoured to present it in the best possible light—this is, in late 19th-century guise. His intent was to win greater appreciation among his contemporaries for Mozart's lesser known works.
Below, is Tchaikovsky's Mozartiana, Suite No. 4, Op. 61 "Mozartiana" (1887), shared in hope that the piece is simply listened to, enjoyed, without worrying too much about analysis. (Uploaded by Bartje Bartmans. Accessed May 14, 2018.)
Mozartiana is in four movements and lasts approximately 20 minutes.
- Gigue. Allegro (G major). After the Little Gigue for piano, K. 574.
- Menuet. Moderato (D major). After the Minuet for piano, K. 355.
- Preghiera. Andante ma non tanto (B♭ major). After Franz Liszt's piano transcription of the Ave verum corpus, K. 618. (In 1862 Liszt wrote a piano transcription combining Gregorio Allegri's Miserere and Mozart's Ave verum corpus, published as "À la Chapelle Sixtine" (S.461). Tchaikovsky orchestrated only the part of this work that had been based on Mozart.)
- Thème et variations. Allegro giusto (G major). After the piano Variations on a Theme by Gluck, K. 455. (The theme was the aria "Unser dummer Pöbel meint", from Gluck's opera La Rencontre imprévue, ou Les Pèlerins de la Mecque).
This suite is scored for pairs of flutes, oboes, clarinets, bassoons and trumpets, four horns, timpani, cymbals, glockenspiel, harp and strings.
George Balanchine's 1981 ballet Mozartiana is set to Tchaikovsky's work.
Resource:
Orchestral Suite No. 4 Mozartiana (Tchaikovsky). Wikipedia. Accessed May 14, 2018.
(c) May 2017. Tel. Inspired Pen Web. All rights reserved.
Goodbye Again (Film)
Classic Movie
The film Goodbye Again was released in Europe as Aimez-vous Brahms?, adapted from a novel by Francoise Sagan, first published in French in 1959, and published in English the following year. In 1961, it was made into a romantic drama film under the title Goodbye Again, produced and directed by Anatole Litvak. The screenplay was written by Samuel A. Taylor. The film, released by United Artists, stars Ingrid Bergman, Anthony Perkins, Yves Montand, and Jessie Royce Landis.
Brief Plot
Paula Tessier (Ingrid Bergman) is a beautiful and highly successful 40-year-old interior designer who for the past five years has been the mistress of Roger Demarest (Yves Montand), a very charming "philandering business executive" who loves Paula but is too selfish to give up his freedom to be promiscuous. He refuses to stop seeing other women. When Paula meets Philip (Anthony Perkins), the 24-year-old immature lawyer son of one of her wealthy clients, he falls hopelessly in love with her and insists that the age difference will not matter. Paula resists the young man's advances, but finally succumbs when Roger initiates yet another affair with one of his young Maisies. While she is initially happy with Philip, her friends and business associates disapprove of the romance.
Soundtrack
Johannes Brahms Symphony No.3, in F. major, Op.90, III. Poco allegretto, YouTube, uploaded by uenenum. Accessed , accessed May 7, 2021. (Orchestra of the University of Music Franz Liszt Weimar, 2012.)
The film Goodbye Again was released in Europe as Aimez-vous Brahms?, adapted from a novel by Francoise Sagan, first published in French in 1959, and published in English the following year. In 1961, it was made into a romantic drama film under the title Goodbye Again, produced and directed by Anatole Litvak. The screenplay was written by Samuel A. Taylor. The film, released by United Artists, stars Ingrid Bergman, Anthony Perkins, Yves Montand, and Jessie Royce Landis.Brief Plot
Paula Tessier (Ingrid Bergman) is a beautiful and highly successful 40-year-old interior designer who for the past five years has been the mistress of Roger Demarest (Yves Montand), a very charming "philandering business executive" who loves Paula but is too selfish to give up his freedom to be promiscuous. He refuses to stop seeing other women. When Paula meets Philip (Anthony Perkins), the 24-year-old immature lawyer son of one of her wealthy clients, he falls hopelessly in love with her and insists that the age difference will not matter. Paula resists the young man's advances, but finally succumbs when Roger initiates yet another affair with one of his young Maisies. While she is initially happy with Philip, her friends and business associates disapprove of the romance.
Soundtrack
Johannes Brahms Symphony No.3, in F. major, Op.90, III. Poco allegretto, YouTube, uploaded by uenenum. Accessed , accessed May 7, 2021. (Orchestra of the University of Music Franz Liszt Weimar, 2012.)
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