Bloc3

Details: Published: 15 October 2014

Song of the week: Los pájaros perdidos (A. Piazzolla) - B. Fink, C. Piazzini / Milva, A. Piazzolla

The spread of Lied beyond the German scene caused the emergence of new genres which kept its essence (that's to say, songs for voice and piano composed from poems) but also had characteristics from the new country. To simplify, these new features were determined by the period of time the new genre started to develop, the existence of a consolidated poetry and the influence of traditional music. We've listened to songs from different cultures week after week: French, English, Catalan, Russian, American song... Today, for the very first time, we're listening to an Argentinean song.

Details: Published: 08 October 2014

Song of the week: Les cigales (E. Chabrier) - S. Graham, M. Martineau

a crying cicada on an autumn willow - shen zhou

I’ve never heard of the expression "one-hit wonder" (used to describe a pop singer or a pop group known for a single success) applied to classical composers, but if that was the case, Emmanuel Chabrier would be a one-hit wonder. Because, what comes to your mind whenever you hear this name? "EspañabyChabrier", without pauses, as if it was a single word, and nothing else. The composer felt bad about being only known for that piece of work, as Maurice Ravel felt bad that his Boléro became so popular (he's not a one-hit wonder, but “BolérobyRavel” is also said without pauses).

Details: Published: 02 October 2014

Song of the week: Ständchen (F. Schubert) - P. Anders, M. Raucheisen

One of the first posts of this blog was about songs and cherries. You know how it is, you pick a cherry and you get a few more because of their intertwined stems; the same happens with some songs, you listen to one and inevitably a few more come to your mind, because they are somehow related.

Two weeks ago we listened to Strauss's Ständchen; today we're listening to another cherry, Schubert's Ständchen; sometimes a song leads me to another one because of what they have in common; this time I want to draw your attention to what sets them apart: both are serenades, but the spirits of both lovers are so different!

Details: Published: 24 September 2014

Song of the week: Net, tol'ko tot (P. I. Txaikovski) - C. Stotjin, J. Drake

After our summer break, this is the post nº 9 of the Wilhelm Meister's songs series. In July, we left Wilhelm saying goodbye to the countess, once the celebrations in honor of the Prince (the one who took Wilhelm and the theater company to the castle) finished. That was the end of the 3rd book; now we are in the first chapter of the 4th book, where we’ll find the sixth song of the series.
In these few pages the plot hasn't developed that much. The baron goes to see the troupe off and gives them some gifts on behalf of the Count and Countess, including a bag of gold coins for Wilhelm. Everyone is packing and the harpist tells Wilhelm that he's not going with him because misfortune haunts him and people around are in danger.

Details: Published: 17 September 2014

Song of the week: Ständchen (R. Strauss) - F. Wunderlich, J. Koetsier (dir.)

Today is September 17th; Fritz Wunderlich died this day in 1966, just before turning 36. As every year, we’ll remember him dedicating to him this weekly post. In our first year, we listened to him singing Beethoven, in the second one was Schubert and this year is going to be Strauss. We also heard him singing Haydn and Schumann, and we are going to be able to listen to him singing few more new composers because, as we said last year, Wunderlich's Lieder reperoire wasn't too extensive. If you haven't listened to him yet, you might wonder why he's such a special singer considering the few Lied he sang. If that's the case, I wish you get to know him today and share our deep admiration.