Many additions in this update of my exploration of classical music. Grading is purely subjective; my top picks are in bold. Music listed below is about 95% Baroque. Abel, Carl Friedrich (1723-1787),Symphonies, Opp. 1 & 4, Die Kolner Akademie &…
Category: Music
News flash: The Apple Music Classical app is now available. I was playing around with it last night and all in all, the app is off to a great start. Overview The database of music is HUGE. Sound quality is…
George Frideric Handel (1685-1759) composed mountains of amazing music during his long career. While most widely known for the Hallelujah Chorus from his brilliant oratorio Messiah, Handel also composed numerous operas, oratorios, sacred music, orchestral works, and chamber music for…
1. Rondeau from The Fairy Queen, by Henry Purcell. 2. Ave verum corpus, by Wolfgang Mozart. 3. Lassa!, Ch’io t’ho perduta, aria from the opera Atalanta, by Handel. Background on These Selections: Learn more about The Fairy Queen. Learn…
1. Jamais dans ces beaux lieux, from Armide, by Gluck. 2.See the Conqu’ring Hero Comes, from Joshua, by Handel. 3. L’Amour nous dede la victoire, from Isbe, by Jean-Joseph de Mondonville. Background on These Selections: Learn about Armide. Learn about…
Here are a few classical selections that I hope will lift your spirits or keep them high! 1. Canon Triplex, Benedetto Marcello. 2. Fuor Di Periglio Di Fiero Artiglio, Duet from Floridante, Handel. 3. All’orror delle procelle, Aria from Riccardo…
Tomaso Albinoni (1671-1751) was a Baroque composer of great stature and influence. Sadly, a great deal of his music has been lost over time, including about 80 operas. Judging from his surviving work, those operas, for which he was renowned…
Giovanni Gabrieli (c. 1554-1612) was an early Baroque composer, highly respected and influential in his time. His music is beautiful. Here are a few wonderful examples.
Challenging times. Hard to keep on an even keel in these days of isolation. For some, escapism is a good coping strategy. But if you want to explore aspects of loneliness in the hope of finding understanding and answers, here…
These ratings of Baroque and early Classical composers are of course subjective. Consider them conversation-starters in the exploration of great music. Overrated Composers Ludwig van Beethoven. No question that Beethoven’s symphonies are incredible, as are many of his other works.…
Georg Phillip Telemann (1681-1767) is today a fairly well known Baroque composer, at least among classical music buffs. He was a contemporary of Handel and J. S. Bach — who both counted Telemann as a friend and admired his music.…
Here are two inspiring songs to celebrate this joyous day. Merry Christmas! You say you haven’t heard the music of Felix Mendelssohn? Yes, you have: This melody is sometimes attributed to Handel, but is probably much older:
Handel, who was born in Halle (now part of Germany), moved to London fairly early in his career with the intention of popularizing Italian opera there. Between 1711 and 1740, he composed a slew of operas, some of the greatest…
The holiday rush can take all the fun out November and December. Here are seven beautiful classical music selections to help you relax, reflect and enjoy the season. Enjoy! (Pictured at right: Georg Philipp Telemann.) A beautiful aria from Telemann’s…
Here’s a big batch of classical music recommendations, mostly Baroque. Bach, Johann Sebastian, BWV 232. Mass in B Minor. Emotional, precise, grand. Bach, J. S., Brandenburg Concertos, Masaaki Suzuki, harpsichord and direction, Bach Collegium Japan. BWV 1046. BWV 1047 has…
Lately I’ve been listening to a lot of J.S. Bach and Handel, shifting back and forth between these two magnificent composers. One thing that strikes me is that Bach seems to my ear the technically superior composer. His compositions are…
Since my immersion in classical music, I’ve been nerding out on Handel. A year ago, I would have wondered why in the world there are Handel societies. Now, I can’t imagine a world without them. So far I’ve listened at…
My exploration of classical music quickly turned from whim to obsession, and a greatly rewarding one it has been. For the last six months, I’ve listened to nothing but classical music, probably 2-2.5 hours a day on average. Considering that…
A Review of Mozart’s Letters, Mozart’s Life, Edited and Translated by Robert Spaethling Studying a person’s letters is an excellent way to explore an individual’s life and personality, and Robert Spaethling’s edition of Wolfgang Mozart’s letters makes the experience especially…
The history of classical music is the sound of a culture growing, blossoming and then withering. Classical music before and during the Renaissance was structured and purposeful. The purpose of the music was mainly to lift people’s spirit toward God…