Self-portraits come in a variety of forms. Some are with a paintbrush, some with a camera, others with a pen. It would seem only right - and natural, even - that a musician would choose music. Which is what Camille Saint-Saens is said to have done in his 3rd Symphony. Within in its walls are aspects of the composer – his talents, his doubts, his belief, his fears and his hopes. All his instruments are there – a pipe organ (has was a church organist at one time), the piano (which he had played since childhood), his passion for sacred music, the love of logic and balance (there are two movements each with two sections), the forces of darkness (the Deus Irae haunts the work) and finally there is the element of hope as the symphony gradually progresses from darkness to light. Some say it is expressive of his hope of resurrection, although it is well documented that Saint-Saens was not at all religious. Perhaps his aim was to demonstrate the spiritual power of music. Whatever, it was the standout work we looked at in our August sessions.
Beethoven’s 4th piano concerto which we also heard deserves more acclaim than it gets – tending to be overlooked - coming as it does between the monumental 3rd and 5th concertos - so two totally different recordings were viewed. Love is often in the air when music is being composed and Brahms’ love for Clara Schumann may have inspired his 1st violin sonata, while Mahler’s Adagietto from his 5th symphony definitely was instrumental in the wooing of Anna, his wife to be. These and the ubiquitous overture - every good music programme should start with one – made for happy watching and listening. The video recordings together with the explanatory notes for each performance can be accessed via the links below.
Finally, a reminder that our class on Friday 22nd September has been rescheduled to the Friday 29th September.
Bill Squire.
Session Notes - 11th August
Weber - Euryanthe Overture
Saint-Saens - Symphony No.3
Mahler - Adagietto from Symphony No. 5
Mozart - Piano Trio K 502
Session Notes - 25th August
Rossini - Thieving Magpie Overture
Beethoven - Piano Concerto No.4 - Soloist Nelson Freire
Beethoven - Piano Concerto No.4 - Soloist Eric Lu
Brahms - Violin Sonata No. 1
Beethoven’s 4th piano concerto which we also heard deserves more acclaim than it gets – tending to be overlooked - coming as it does between the monumental 3rd and 5th concertos - so two totally different recordings were viewed. Love is often in the air when music is being composed and Brahms’ love for Clara Schumann may have inspired his 1st violin sonata, while Mahler’s Adagietto from his 5th symphony definitely was instrumental in the wooing of Anna, his wife to be. These and the ubiquitous overture - every good music programme should start with one – made for happy watching and listening. The video recordings together with the explanatory notes for each performance can be accessed via the links below.
Finally, a reminder that our class on Friday 22nd September has been rescheduled to the Friday 29th September.
Bill Squire.
Session Notes - 11th August
Weber - Euryanthe Overture
Saint-Saens - Symphony No.3
Mahler - Adagietto from Symphony No. 5
Mozart - Piano Trio K 502
Session Notes - 25th August
Rossini - Thieving Magpie Overture
Beethoven - Piano Concerto No.4 - Soloist Nelson Freire
Beethoven - Piano Concerto No.4 - Soloist Eric Lu
Brahms - Violin Sonata No. 1
