Birds, angels, and devils, featured largely in our July programmes. For a university graduation ceremony Finnish composer Rautavaara wrote a “Concerto for Birds and Orchestra” in which the orchestra part is juxtaposed with bird sounds from the Lapland bogs and marshes recorded by the composer himself. His fellow compatriot Sibelius was inspired by the sight of swans flying overhead as he wrote the final movement of his 5th Symphony. Violinist Niccolo Paganini was such a genius that rumours were put about that his soul had been sold to the devil – the violin sometimes being described as the devil’s instrument only adding to the spread of the rumours. We listened to and watched the playing of his first violin concerto – a ‘devilishly difficult’ work to master. Argentinian musician Astor Piazolla reimagined the Tango which while winning admiration in some quarters saw him receiving a ‘devil of a time’ from others for meddling with the sounds of the people”. Richard Strauss had a similar reception for the first outing of his tone poem ‘Don Juan’.
As for ‘bats’, maybe that could apply to this convenor for presenting works this month that were ‘new’ both in composition and to the class members. You be the judge, however. Links to the notes and recordings played are listed below.
Bill Squire.
Tchaikovsky - Fantasy Overture, Romeo and Juliet
Sibelius - Symphony No.5
Poulenc - Organ Concerto
Session Notes 26th July
Rautavaara - Cantus Articus
Paganini - Violin Concerto No.1
R. Strauss - Don Juan
Piazolla - Libertango
Piazolla - Oblivion
Piazolla - La Muerte del Angel