Surprise, surprise, surprise, Sgt. Carter! Farewell for now... we need a vacation!
Today’s music therapy is some light humor and some very good music!
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Hi, I’m Itzl!
As you can see by Itzl's concerned look, this group (Itzl Alert Network or IAN) is for us to check in at to let people know we are alive, doing OK, and not affected by such things as heat, blizzards, floods, wildfires, hurricanes, tornadoes, power outages, or other things that could keep us off DKos. If you're not here, or anywhere else on DKos, and there are adverse conditions in your area (floods, heatwaves, hurricanes, etc.), we are going to check up on you. If you are going to be away from your computer for a day or a week, let us know here. We care! Send us a message if you want to publish a diary or have a cause to share. Head site admins FLSNMom at www.dailykos.com/… or Art Ah Zen at www.dailykos.com/…
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Why did German composers excel at Baroque music?
They had a Handel on it! (Very nice Chorus and Fugue with the Capetown and Hannover Choirs):
And, don’t call me Shirley!
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Also, they had Bach to the future!
Nice Prelude No. 24 in B Minor from the WTK Bk I, but check out the Fugue at 5:20 — its subject uses 12 tones, like avant-garde music of today! And some very nice counterpoint in the countersubjects (weird at times, but very lovely).
As someone famously said, “I’ll be Bach!” See ya in the 20th century, or later!
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What do you do if you're a Rock instrumental group but you really like Bach? You Go For Baroque!
Very good live performance by the Dixie Dregs, 4-part counterpoint and no errors! Original Bourrée in four obbligato parts (sometimes divisii) by them, this isn't a cover of Bach (like Jethro Tull’s Bourrée in Stand Up). This piece modulates by secondary dominants through the entire circle of 5ths, JSB would approve!
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In the Classical Period, who actually wrote the “Theme by Haydn” that Brahms did his famous Variations On A Theme By Haydn on, which later became the Austrian National Anthem?
Ignaz Pleyel, the Austrian piano builder and composer (Chopin preferred his pianos), probably wrote the St. Anthony Chorale — the answer was Haydn in history! (The publisher said it was "by Haydn" to increase the price; Pleyel was more popular, but Haydn more prestigious.) Or maybe, depends how you Pleyel it?
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Haydn himself had a very well-developed sense of musical humor, as his rich and snooty bosses the Esterhazys found out:
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A little later, along came Schubert and Schumann with their German art songs (why all this Schu-ing? Because time Flies!🦟 Schu man, Schuu!🦟)
What did the alien say when his flying saucer landed in Vienna? 🛸
"Take me to your Lieder!"
(This is the Serenade from Schubert’s great song cycle Schwanengesang - literally, the Swan Song at the end of his life— sung beautifully here by Fatma Said, Malcolm Martineau on piano — hats off!)
Then what did he say when they made him dance the night away? 👾
"Too much waltzing can be Straussful."
This Valse has a delightful long intro with sounds of hunting horns, birds and zethyrs. What else wood you like to know? It’s not hard to play, but when you get to the finale knock on wood!
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What did the revolutionary Polish composer do with Classical norms?
He was Chopin' em down Right and Left!
Right (hand, mostly): [ps Pollini is the pianist, not the name of the piece]
Pretty hard Right?
Left (hand, mostly):
After these tours de force, what’s Left?
Maybe the Ocean Etude, a terrific workout for both hands?
More like a tsunami! If your hands can play that, they can do the locomocean!
What did Chopin’s girlfriend George Sand (actually Countess Amantine Dupin de Franceuil, a noted Feminist who dressed like a man) say when he asked her to the concert? “Just a minute!”
ps — you aren’t actually supposed to play this in a minute or anything, just fast. It’s about 2-3 minutes with all repeats (the ending is played faster here by this excellent artist Paul Barton, who also plays the Bach Fugue above beautifully). Chopin first called it “The Tail-Chasing Waltz” after the Countess’ little dog. There’s a slower section in the middle, where he takes a break to reflect, then goes back to chasing more furiously than ever! Mongo, this one’s for you! 🐕💙
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