Mozart, Hell's Vengeance Boils in My Heart (1791)
June 07, 2019 Classical (1730-1820)
For no particular reason other than it's always fun to hear, I have embedded two videos of Mozart's great Queen of the Night aria from The Magic Flute, "Der Hölle Rache kocht in meinem Herzen." (“Hell’s Vengeance Boils in My Heart”).
Animated Graphical Score by Music Animation Machine
Diana Damrau, soprano
Animated Graphical Score by Music Animation Machine
Diana Damrau, soprano
Year of Wonder – June
May 24, 2019 Music Potpourri
Since January I have been posting a Spotify playlist each month for Clemency Burton-Hill’s Year of Wonder. Burton-Hill's book has been great fun for me, and I look forward each day to reading about a piece of music and finding a variety of recordings for that piece on Spotify.
I have embedded the playlist for June below, as well as videos of a few of my favorites from Burton-Hill's recommendations from May.
Enjoy!
Spotify Playlist for JUNE of the Year of Wonder
Debussy, Children’s Corner, “Doctor Gradus ad Parnassum”
Performed by Stephen Malinowski with the Music Animation Machine
Tavener, Mother of God, “Here I Stand”
Recorded at Kulturtemplet, Göteborg, Sweden
Peter Maxwell, The Yellow Cake Review, “Farewell to Stromness”
Performed by the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet
Bernstein, Overture to Candide
Performed by Leonard Bernstein conducting the London Symphony Orchestra
I have embedded the playlist for June below, as well as videos of a few of my favorites from Burton-Hill's recommendations from May.
Enjoy!
Spotify Playlist for JUNE of the Year of Wonder
Debussy, Children’s Corner, “Doctor Gradus ad Parnassum”
Performed by Stephen Malinowski with the Music Animation Machine
Tavener, Mother of God, “Here I Stand”
Recorded at Kulturtemplet, Göteborg, Sweden
Peter Maxwell, The Yellow Cake Review, “Farewell to Stromness”
Performed by the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet
Bernstein, Overture to Candide
Performed by Leonard Bernstein conducting the London Symphony Orchestra
Year of Wonder – May
April 29, 2019 Music Potpourri
After four months I am still chipping away at Clemency Burton-Hill’s Year of Wonder and listening to one piece of music every day for 2019. In previous months (January-April) I embedded pieces from the book on this blog that were either new—or relatively new—to my listening repertoire. This month I’ll take a different approach and embed videos of six pieces that are well-known in the world of classical music. I do this to make the point that Burton-Hill’s book will not only introduce you to new music, but also ask you to revisit the music that anyone who listens to classical music should know about.
I have also, as usual, embedded a Spotify playlist of Burton-Hill’s music for the next month.
Enjoy!
Spotify Playlist for MAY of the Year of Wonder
Beethoven, Symphony No. 5, Fourth Movement (1804)
Performed by Leonard Bernstein conducting the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Paganini, Caprice No. 24 (1817)
Performed by Hilary Hahn, violin
Wagner, Overture to Tannhäser (1845)
Performed by Herbert von Karajan conducting the Berlin Philharmonic
Gershwin, Walking the Dog (1937)
Performed by Sebastian Manz, clarinet, with Danish String Quartet, Martin Klett (piano), and Lars Olaf Schaper (double bass)
Copland, Fanfare for the Common Man (1942)
Performed by Marin Alsop conducting the São Paulo Symphony Orchestra
Górecki, Symphony No. 3, Second Movement (1976)
Performed by Zofia Kilanowicz, soprano, with Sir Gilbert Levine conducting the London Philharmonic Orchestra
I have also, as usual, embedded a Spotify playlist of Burton-Hill’s music for the next month.
Enjoy!
Spotify Playlist for MAY of the Year of Wonder
Beethoven, Symphony No. 5, Fourth Movement (1804)
Performed by Leonard Bernstein conducting the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Paganini, Caprice No. 24 (1817)
Performed by Hilary Hahn, violin
Wagner, Overture to Tannhäser (1845)
Performed by Herbert von Karajan conducting the Berlin Philharmonic
Gershwin, Walking the Dog (1937)
Performed by Sebastian Manz, clarinet, with Danish String Quartet, Martin Klett (piano), and Lars Olaf Schaper (double bass)
Copland, Fanfare for the Common Man (1942)
Performed by Marin Alsop conducting the São Paulo Symphony Orchestra
Górecki, Symphony No. 3, Second Movement (1976)
Performed by Zofia Kilanowicz, soprano, with Sir Gilbert Levine conducting the London Philharmonic Orchestra
Tchaikovsky, Serenade for Strings (1880)
April 18, 2019 Romantic (1815-1910)
"I should have gone mad but for music. Music is indeed the most beautiful of all Heaven's gifts to humanity wandering in the darkness. Alone it calms, enlightens, and stills our souls. It is not the straw to which the drowning man clings; but a true friend, refuge, and comforter, for whose sake life is worth living.” – Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
This energetic version of Tchaikovsky’s Serenade for Strings is played by the New Century Chamber Orchestra under the leadership of the great violinist, Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg. In 1999, Ms. Salerno-Sonnenberg received an honorary Master of Musical Arts degree from New Mexico State University, the first honorary degree ever awarded by NMSU (my alma mater, btw).
Enjoy!
Tchaikovsky, Serenade for Strings, First Movement
Performed by the New Century Chamber Orchestra
This energetic version of Tchaikovsky’s Serenade for Strings is played by the New Century Chamber Orchestra under the leadership of the great violinist, Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg. In 1999, Ms. Salerno-Sonnenberg received an honorary Master of Musical Arts degree from New Mexico State University, the first honorary degree ever awarded by NMSU (my alma mater, btw).
Enjoy!
Tchaikovsky, Serenade for Strings, First Movement
Performed by the New Century Chamber Orchestra
Billy the Kid Reading List
April 08, 2019 Billy the Kid
For everyone attending my Billy the Kid walking tour of Silver City, NM, here's a list or resources to get you started with understanding the Kid and his endlessly fascinating life. Although I could recommend many other books and resources, the items on this list should serve as a good place to begin.
About Billy the Kid – Website
Billy the Kid: The Endless Ride
by Michael Wallis (2007)
The West of Billy the Kid
by Frederick Nolan (1998)
Billy the Kid: A Graphic History
by Willard Ballow (1998)
The Illustrated Life and Times of Billy the Kid
by Bob Boze Bell (1996)
Antrim is My Stepfather's Name: The Boyhood of Billy the Kid
by Jerry Weddle (1993)
Billy the Kid: A Short and Violent Life
by Robert M. Utley (1989)
The Tragic Days of Billy the Kid
by Frazier Hunt (1956)
My favorite book on Billy the Kid, even though it contains more legend than history.
Catherine's Son
by James L. Smith (2013)
I hope I am forgiven for using this list to promote my own novel about Billy the Kid.
And let's not forget the music.
Aaron Copland composed young Billy's arrival in Silver City. Very cool!
About Billy the Kid – Website
Billy the Kid: The Endless Ride
by Michael Wallis (2007)
The West of Billy the Kid
by Frederick Nolan (1998)
Billy the Kid: A Graphic History
by Willard Ballow (1998)
The Illustrated Life and Times of Billy the Kid
by Bob Boze Bell (1996)
Antrim is My Stepfather's Name: The Boyhood of Billy the Kid
by Jerry Weddle (1993)
Billy the Kid: A Short and Violent Life
by Robert M. Utley (1989)
The Tragic Days of Billy the Kid
by Frazier Hunt (1956)
My favorite book on Billy the Kid, even though it contains more legend than history.
Catherine's Son
by James L. Smith (2013)
I hope I am forgiven for using this list to promote my own novel about Billy the Kid.
And let's not forget the music.
Aaron Copland composed young Billy's arrival in Silver City. Very cool!
Year of Wonder – April
March 30, 2019 Music Potpourri
In Year of Wonder, Clemency Burton-Hill provides descriptions of 366 pieces of music, one for each day of the year. I made a New Year's resolution to listen to every piece in the book, and I have not yet missed a day. What an adventure!
I have already posted playlists for January, February, and March on this blog, and here's my playlist for April.
Spotify Playlist for APRIL of the Year of Wonder
Here's a few of the book's highlights from March.
Ravel, Concerto in G major
Performed by Helene Grimaud, piano, with Vladimir Jurowski conducting
Piazolla, Libertango
Performed by David Robert Coleman conducting the Berlin Philharmonic
Schubert, Quartet in C major, Adagio
Performed by the Camerata Quartet
I have already posted playlists for January, February, and March on this blog, and here's my playlist for April.
Spotify Playlist for APRIL of the Year of Wonder
Here's a few of the book's highlights from March.
Ravel, Concerto in G major
Performed by Helene Grimaud, piano, with Vladimir Jurowski conducting
Piazolla, Libertango
Performed by David Robert Coleman conducting the Berlin Philharmonic
Schubert, Quartet in C major, Adagio
Performed by the Camerata Quartet
Year of Wonder – March
February 22, 2019 Music Potpourri
It’s official — I have never stayed with a New Year’s Resolution as long as the one I made for 2019 to listen to all the music in Clemency Burton-Hill’s Year of Wonder. February supplied some great pieces, from Gregorio Allegri to Giacomo Puccini to John Williams. I will say, however, that I was generally familiar with the music on the February list and wasn’t introduced to as many new pieces as was true for January. I was nevertheless thrilled to wake up every morning and read about the music Burton-Hill had assigned for each day of the month.
Although I made my resolution at the beginning of January, I see no reason the Year of Wonder can’t begin any day of the year. I recommend followers of this blog purchase Burton-Hill's book and get to work reading about and listening to her terrific recommendations. I have posted a Spotify playlist for March for those who want to begin their own Year of Wonder.
I have also embedded pieces by Percy Grainger and Wolfgang Mozart that ranked as highlights for me in February.
Enjoy!
Spotify Playlist for MARCH of the Year of Wonder
Grainger, Handel in the Strand
Performed by Richard Hickox (piano) and the BBC Philharmonic
Mozart, Sonata for Two Pianos in D major, K. 448
Performed by Daniel Barenboim and Margaret Argerich
Although I made my resolution at the beginning of January, I see no reason the Year of Wonder can’t begin any day of the year. I recommend followers of this blog purchase Burton-Hill's book and get to work reading about and listening to her terrific recommendations. I have posted a Spotify playlist for March for those who want to begin their own Year of Wonder.
I have also embedded pieces by Percy Grainger and Wolfgang Mozart that ranked as highlights for me in February.
Enjoy!
Spotify Playlist for MARCH of the Year of Wonder
Grainger, Handel in the Strand
Performed by Richard Hickox (piano) and the BBC Philharmonic
Mozart, Sonata for Two Pianos in D major, K. 448
Performed by Daniel Barenboim and Margaret Argerich
Year of Wonder – February
January 31, 2019 Music Potpourri
I have just finished my first month reading through Year of Wonder by Clemency Burton-Hill. The book provides descriptions of 366 pieces of music, one for each day of the year, and I have dutifully kept up with the mission of the book by reading about and listening to one piece of music every day. I have even given several of the pieces repeated listenings and have come to the end of January with an appreciation for many pieces I had never heard. No doubt, this project has turned into one of the better resolutions I have made for a new year, and I look forward to staying with this adventure for the next eleven months. Many thanks to Burton-Hill for her wonderful book.
If anyone would like to join me in this project, you can begin on any day of the year, and I have embedded a Spotify playlist for the music from February. I have also embedded two of the pieces from January that I had never heard and have cheerfully added to my listening repertoire. I hope you enjoy them as much as I have.
Spotify Playlist for FEBRUARY of the Year of Wonder
Elena Kats-Chernin, "Unsent Love Letters" (from Meditations on Erik Satie)
Performed by Tamara-Anna Cislowska
Reynaldo Hahn, "L'heure exquise," excerpt from Chansons grises No. 5
Performed by Philippe Jaroussky (countertenor) and Jérôme Ducros (piano)
If anyone would like to join me in this project, you can begin on any day of the year, and I have embedded a Spotify playlist for the music from February. I have also embedded two of the pieces from January that I had never heard and have cheerfully added to my listening repertoire. I hope you enjoy them as much as I have.
Spotify Playlist for FEBRUARY of the Year of Wonder
Elena Kats-Chernin, "Unsent Love Letters" (from Meditations on Erik Satie)
Performed by Tamara-Anna Cislowska
Reynaldo Hahn, "L'heure exquise," excerpt from Chansons grises No. 5
Performed by Philippe Jaroussky (countertenor) and Jérôme Ducros (piano)
Maurice Jarre
January 30, 2019 Postmodern (1945-present)
Maurice Jarre became internationally famous after winning an Acadmey Award for writing the music for Lawrence of Arabia, an original score that the American Film Institute has ranked as the third greatest movie score of all time. Jarre went on to win two more Academy Awards for Dr. Zhivago and Passage to India. Although Jarre is best know for his sweeping orchestral scores, he began working extensivley with electronics in the 1980s to create scores for films such as Witness and Fatal Attraction. I have embedded videos with samples from the scores for all these films below, as well as a sampling of the terrific score for Grand Prix. Many thanks to the students in my "Music in Cinema" class for introducing me to the music for Grand Prix.
Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
Perfomed live by the BBC Concert Orchestra conducted by John Wilson
Dr. Zhivago (1965)
Embedded to begin with opening credits, skipping the overture
Passage to India (1984)
Performed live by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Maurice Jarre
Witness (1984)
Fatal Attraction (1987)
Grand Prix (1966)
Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
Perfomed live by the BBC Concert Orchestra conducted by John Wilson
Dr. Zhivago (1965)
Embedded to begin with opening credits, skipping the overture
Passage to India (1984)
Performed live by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Maurice Jarre
Witness (1984)
Fatal Attraction (1987)
Grand Prix (1966)
Year of Wonder – January
January 21, 2019 Music Potpourri
Here's a recommendation for those who are new to classical music, as well as those who are well-versed in the classical tradition. Find a copy of Year of Wonder by Clemency Burton-Hill and then plan to spend the next year exploring what Leonard Bernstein called the "infinite variety" of classical music. Burton-Hill, has assembled descriptions of a single piece of classical music for each day of the year. Reading what she has written and listening to the pieces she describes takes about 10 minutes a day, 15 minutes at the most.
It's now January 21, and I have almost completed my first month of my "Year of Wonder." In less than a month, Burton-Hill's list has already enriched my life with what I'm beginning to describe as my daily meditation through music. Burton-Hill has also introduced me to a few terrific pieces of music I had never heard (Hildegard's "O Virtus Sapientiae" and Kapsberger's "Toccata L'Arpeggiata," for example).
I have made it my resolution for 2019 to listen to all the music in Burton-Hill’s book. Although I am somewhat knowledgable about classical music, I also know I have much to learn, and Burton-Hill's book has been a godsend.
If you would like to join me in my resolution, I’ll be publishing Spotify playlists created from Burton-Hill's book on this blog for each month of 2019. Stay tuned, and enjoy!
“I am determined … to extend a hand to those who feel that the world of classical music is a party to which they haven’t been invited.” – Clemency Burton-Hill
Spotify Playlist for JANUARY of the Year of Wonder
Hildegard of Bingen, "O Virtus Sapientiae" (12th century)
Kaleidoscope Chamber Orchestra
Giovanni Girolamo Kapsberger, "Toccata L'Arpeggiata" (17th century)
Christina Pluhar, theorbo
It's now January 21, and I have almost completed my first month of my "Year of Wonder." In less than a month, Burton-Hill's list has already enriched my life with what I'm beginning to describe as my daily meditation through music. Burton-Hill has also introduced me to a few terrific pieces of music I had never heard (Hildegard's "O Virtus Sapientiae" and Kapsberger's "Toccata L'Arpeggiata," for example).
I have made it my resolution for 2019 to listen to all the music in Burton-Hill’s book. Although I am somewhat knowledgable about classical music, I also know I have much to learn, and Burton-Hill's book has been a godsend.
If you would like to join me in my resolution, I’ll be publishing Spotify playlists created from Burton-Hill's book on this blog for each month of 2019. Stay tuned, and enjoy!
“I am determined … to extend a hand to those who feel that the world of classical music is a party to which they haven’t been invited.” – Clemency Burton-Hill
Spotify Playlist for JANUARY of the Year of Wonder
Hildegard of Bingen, "O Virtus Sapientiae" (12th century)
Kaleidoscope Chamber Orchestra
Giovanni Girolamo Kapsberger, "Toccata L'Arpeggiata" (17th century)
Christina Pluhar, theorbo