This week is the last post, so I am going to share my favorite violin concerto, which is made by Brahms.

This composition is regarded as one of the greatest violin concerto of all time, just like Tchaikovsky’s I shared previously.

Brahms worshiped Beethoven who is one of the most influential musicians in the history. This composition is based on Beethoven’s violin concerto with plenty of performing techniques added.

The second movement is the most famous part of this composition. Brahms put his sentiment into this movement within just a number of musical notes. Clarinets (單簧管) play with a romantic rhythm softly which is quite moving. Then, the violin continues with the same melody. Overall, this movement is serene but charming.

In contrary to the second movement, the final movement is full of energy.

Here is the link, hope you can enjoy the music.

Best part: 19:03~ 27:00, 27:10~ end

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     I have shared both piano and violin concertoes, overtures and some other forms of compositions except for symphonies. Therefore, yhis week I would like to shared my favorite symphony which is also composed by Tchaikovsky.

     The first impression for most people about symphonies is lengthy. Indeed, almost every symphonies last about an hour. However, this is enough for composers to express their deep affection.

     In this symphony, its motivation is based on destiny. While listening to the music, maybe you will feel the similar mood Tchaikovsky wants to express through the music.
   
     There are four movements in the whole composition. The well-known parts of this composition are the second and forth movement. The former is known for its romantic rhythm played by French horn. The latter one is famous for its melody initially performed by violin then the trumpet, which put the atmosphere to the most splendid part of this composition at the end, starts to take over the situation.

     The forth movement can be regarded as Tchaikovsky did not surrender to the destiny. On the other hand, he made a firm resolution to face no matter what difficulty is in front of him.

   

     The one of the reason I like Tchaikovsky is that he can not only compose piano concertos or overtures but also violin concertos and symphonies. Therefore, this week I will share the only violin concerto  Tchaikovsky made in his whole life time.

     This violin concerto is considered one of the four greatest violin concertos for it need splendid technique  to perform this composition. With the accompany by the orchestra, you will have the surprise that it is the ultimate composition for very professional violinist to challenge their performing skills.

     However, I think it is the destiny that every artist must encounter, the strict criticisms. Tchaikovsky received negative comment when he showed this composition to other musicians. Nonetheless it did become more and more popular eventually. I guess people who give negative comment to Tchaikovsky initially find this composition is hard for them to perform XD.

     The video I share this time is performed by a famous violinist called Heifetz (海飛茲). This man is a legendary, I might introduce him later on.


Best part: 0:00 ~ 8:45  22:50 ~ end

Thank for visiting!
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Ref: wikipedia
             

You must heard of it because it is often been played when a ceremony is held especially for a military one - The 1812 Overture which was created by Tchaikovsky during  1880.

The background of this composition was  the victory of  French invasion of Russian(俄法戰爭）when Napoleon(拿破侖）wanted to united the whole European continent. As we have known , the Russian successful defeated the French. Therefore , Tchaikovsky made this composition in memory of this war.

The well-known part of this composition starts at 11:30 with the trumpets  play an energetic melody which represents the happy occasion where Russian celebrate the victory.

Besides , Tchaikovsky specially arranges a CANNON(大砲） , a real one , to magnify the power of the whole composition. Therefore , I suggest that do not adjust the volume too loud otherwise you might be frightened  XD. However, it is usually replaced by big bass drum(大鼓）because it is hard to put a real cannon there every time you performed.

Thank for your visiting.
(reference: wikipedia)
170 words

When we talk about classical music, I think you will have Beethoven or Mozart appear in your mind first. But I want to introduce you my favorite musician - Peter Tchaikovsky( 柴可夫斯基). Because there are so many compositions I want to share with you ,so I will gradually introduce them in the several week.

First I want to share with you is the composition which brings me to the world of classical music. Piano concerto No.1 created by Tchaikovsky during 1875.

This composition has three movements(樂章） :
First:
Allegro non troppo e molto maestoso - Allegro con spirito (不太快的和極其莊嚴的快板—生氣勃勃的快板)
The orchestra and the piano makes a strong but some how romantic beginning of this movement . However, this three minutes performance have enough reason for me to regard this composition as one of my favorite piano concerto . Next, the rest of this movement spent a lot of time on reaching another climax which is the end of this movement.

Second:
Andantino simplice - Prestissimo (樸素的小行板—最急板—初速)
As you can see , there is a serene melody in the beginning, but Tchaikovsky  suddenly changes this movement into a vivid style with fingers rapidly hit the piano key.

Third:
Allegro con fuoco (火熱的快板)
This is the most imposing movement in the whole composition. You will hear a main rhythm keep appearing but Tchaikovsky successfully arrange it at the very last of this composition. After a long musical  scale(音階）played by piano , the orchestra and the piano make this composition reach it's most splendid part.

If you have enough time , please click the video and listen for the masterpiece .
But if you don't have such time, here are the best part of this composition: 
0:55~4:30
33:15~end.

Thanks for your visiting.
:)
(reference: wikipedia)
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I think almost everyone have listened Johann Pachelbel’s Canon (卡農).   But I want to show you a composition with an even more unique technic -  Boléro (波麗露）made by Joseph-Maurice Ravel（拉威爾）. 


In the whole composition Ravel uses merely one rhythm, and it just keep repeating the same until it end! It is pretty surprising because it is hard to finish a song with only one melody, likewise, it is difficult to draw a picture with one color. 

However, Ravel lets every instrument play solely with others accompany. It might seem boring, but if you image there is a dancer dancing along in the dancing pool,you may not notice her in the beginning. But gradually, she sways her limb and body more and more crazily as if she is drunk which catching everybody's attention .  Finally,  a perfect ending wins everyone's applause.

It is quite amazing isn't it?

Thanks for the visiting!
( 160 words)

Anything can be a musician's material of his work of art,even a planet. The Planets suite（行星組曲）created by Gustav Theodore Holst who had the idea and finished it in 1916.

Actually,there are only seven segments in the whole composition which disobey our common sense of 8 or 9 main planets in solar system.


The reason? Because they just believe in themseves! In 1910s scientists had not discovered the Pluto (冥王星) ,thus there believed there were only seven planets in the solar system.Therefore, there are only seven in the whole work of art.

And I want to introduce you the most popular segment in this composition - Jupiter The Bringer of Jollity. As you can see from the topic, this segment is filled with happiness and, also, great melody, too.

What are we waiting now? That's enjoy the music now.

And there are other segments of the composition, you can search it on youtube .

Thank you for your visiting.


(Sources:  http://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/古斯塔夫·霍尔斯特
                 http://hjly.k618.cn/kxsk/jctj/201208/t20120820_2368627.html)

Today I want to introduce the lovely music   composed by Charles Camille Saint-Saëns  -  Le carnaval des animaux(動物狂歡節).

However,Saint-Saëns did not regard it as an official track. He just shared it with his friends. Therefore after he passed away, Le carnaval des animaux was finally known by the public.


There are fourteen segment in  Le carnaval des animaux . And there are some segment I like the most, for example:  marche royale du lion  、   Fossiles   and  Le cygnet  （獅王進行曲 、化石、 天鵝）。

And I choose this video from youtube because before entering the next segment, he will introduce or read a poem about the topic. I think it helps us to understand the topic better.

Marche royale du lion （from 0:56~2:48)
As you can hear, the piano and the cello make me feel that the real lion is walking toward us! Hurry! Just run!

 Fossiles   (from 20:12~21:19)
The xylophone play vividly that I can barely distinguish whether there are real fossils dancing.

Le cygnet  (from 20:40~24:29)
There is nothing left, except for the violinist and the swan. "Look how gracefully the swan is." said by the violinist. Therefore, he took his violin and played a pleasant tune.
Who do you think is more beautiful?


If you want to hear the complete edition here is the link:

Thank you for your visiting. :)

Modest Mussorgsky - Pictures at an Exhibition

Today, I want to introduce Modest Mussorgsky or Модест Петрович Мусоргский in Russian who was born in Saint Petersburg. Just like other genius musician such as Mozart or Beethoven, Mussorgsky showed his talent in playing piano since he was a seven-year-old child.

 However,the Russian government implemented a far-reaching policy in 1936   which made Mussorgsky family bankrupt over night. To support the family, he met his parents' expectation of being a soldier. During the time being a soldier, he was acquainted with the famous composers including Alexander Borodin. These experience had inspired Mussorgsky to compose such music.

Unfortunately, Mussorgsky died of alcoholism at age of 42, and he left many unfinished musical compositions. However, the later generation took over and finished it.

The tunes I share today is Mussorgsky Picture at the Exhibition. Mussorgsky was inspired when he went to his friend's funeral where hung his pieces of works. Therefore, Mussorgsky chose some of his favorite pieces of work and expressed his thought with music notes.

As you listen to it , you might feel like you are listening to a painting exhibition with pictures in our mind.

Hope you guys can enjoy it.