Track Listing:Suite for Orchestra no 1 in C major, BWV 1066Suite for Orchestra no 2 in B minor, BWV 1067Suite for Orchestra no 3 in D major, BWV 1068Suite for Orchestra no 4 in D major, BWV 1069
One of the most famous musicians of all time, Johann Sebastian Bach left behind an incredible oeuvre of Baroque compositions. Gorgeous in all their symmetry and nuances, these works have withstood the test of time, and continued to be performed all over the world. This video features a historically accurate performance of Bach’s Orchestral Suites. Played by the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra on reproduced period instruments, these four suites — No. 1 in C, No. 2 in B Minor, and No. 3 and 4 in D Major — sound just as delightful as they did when they were first performed.
Track Listing:Suite for Orchestra no 1 in G minor, Op. 7Suite for 2 Pianos no 2, Op. 23 SilhouettesSuite for 2 Pianos no 3 in C major, Op. 33 Variations
There must be something about post-Romantic French piano music that makes it especially conducive to arrangements for chamber ensembles or orchestra. Ravel himself arranged four of the movements of Le tombeau de Couperin for orchestra, and there have been
Glorious music brilliantly played and vividly recorded, this recording of {\suites} from three of {$Jean-Philippe Rameau}’s {\operas} by {$Roy Goodman} and the {$European Union Baroque Orchestra} is as fine a disc of {\French Baroque} orchestral music as
Before anything else is said here, it should be established that Three Choral Suites by Miklos Rozsa by Erich Kunzel, the Cincinnati Pops, and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir is a GREAT album. Telarc’s sound captures every nuance of the orchestra and chorus,
Il Fondamento is a Dutch historical-instrument orchestra, formed in 1989. It recorded this collection of suites in 1996, and it’s here reissued on Belgium’s Passacaille label with its original, unedited booklet notes; the reader learns that in the 18th ce
Disc 1:Sunset and the MockingbirdLightning Bugs and FrogsLe Sucrier VeloursNorthern LightsSingle Petal of a Rose, TheApes and PeacocksFanfareGoutelasGet-With-ItnessSomethingHaving at ItFanfareUwisKlopLoco Madi
Although not all Ole Kristian Ruud and the Bergen Philharmonic’s recordings of the orchestral music of Grieg have been entirely successful — their disc of the string orchestra works was restrained to the point of sedated, hardly a characteristic of Grieg’s music — this disc of Grieg’s supremely well-known Peer Gynt Suites coupled with three far less-well-known works is a wonder and a marvel. In their amazingly evocative Peer Gynt Suites, Ruud and the Bergen bring out colors, textures, and rhythmic accents that few others have suspected were even there. Listen to the phrasing of the flute at the start of “Sunrise” or the tone of the bassoon at the start of “In the Hall of the Mountain King” or the balance of the strings in “Solveig’s Song:” it’s enough to make these aging warhorses seem like young stallions again. Even better are the performances of the three other works. The “Funeral March in Memory of Rikard Nordraak” for winds is sorrowful but stern and deeply affecting. The “Old Norwegian Melody with Variations” for full orchestra is luminous but rambunctious and profoundly satisfying. And the closing “Bell Ringing” for full orchestra with harps to the fore is simply sonically staggering. With breathtakingly immediate super audio sound from BIS, this disc deserves to be heard by anyone who loves Grieg’s music. ~ James Leonard, Rovi
Under Dmitry Yablonsky, The Russian State Symphony Orchestra perform the work of composer Dmitry Shostakovich. Released by HNH International, Shostakovich: Jazz Suites 1 & 2 includes the two pieces in the title as well as “The Bolt: Suite from the Baller, Op. 27a” and “Tahiti Trot, Op. 16.” ~ Matthew Tobey, Rovi
The catalog is brimming with superlative recordings of Grieg’s Peer Gynt Suites from the monaural, stereo, and digital eras. This offering sets itself apart by pairing that popular standard with eight of Grieg’s songs for voice and orchestra. Bjarte Enges
Tchaikovsky’s four suites for orchestra don’t have the structural heft or the emotional impact of his seven symphonies, but they are lovely. For the listener who savors the Russian composer’s specific sound world but is not in the mood for being emotional
The top 10 piano songs of all time may be more a matter of personal preference than anything. Ask any piano student though, and he’ll likely name at least five of these 10. This list contains many of the “staples” of piano instructors worldwide:
1. Beethoven’s “Fur Elise.” Take piano lessons a few years and you’ll certainly encounter this classical piece. Most every young piano student requests Beethoven’s “Fur Elise” early in his or her career.
2. Scott Joplin’s “The Entertainer.” Joplin managed to capture audiences during an era when “Negro music” was still controversial. Classical musicians of the early 20th century would have balked at Joplin’s name appearing alongside the likes of Beethoven and Mozart. Today, few would exclude this ragtime song from a top 10 piano songs list.
3. Pachelbel’s “Canon in D major.” Simply referred to as “Pachelbel’s Canon,” it often gets left off of favorite piano songs lists. That’s because it was originally written for stringed instruments. Nevertheless, the piano adaptation is one that most every intermediate to advanced piano student plays during his or her career.
4. Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata.” Beethoven had one of the most prolific musical careers in history. It’s little wonder that his name appears more than once on the popularity list. His “Sonata No. 14 in C sharp minor” is probably more widely recognized by its common name, the “Moonlight Sonata.”
5. Brahm’s “Hungarian Dance.” Brahm may be known better in mainstream culture for his “Lullaby.” Every piano student learns both his “Lullaby” and the “Hungarian Dance.” The “Hungarian Dance” typically refers to his “No. 5 in F sharp minor.” The “Hungarian Dance” is actually a series of 21 songs. A great many of them were simply adaptations of existing songs. “No. 5 in F sharp minor” was one of a few originals.
6. Debussy’s “Clair de Lune.” This song appears as one of four movements in Claude Debussy’s “Suite Bergamasque.” The suite was probably based on Paul Verlaine’s poem of the same name. Its soft, lilting sounds contrast beautifully with the rest of the suite’s joyful parts.
7. Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy.” Ludwig van Beethoven cracks the list again with this song from his last complete symphony: “Symphony No. 9.” It was unusual in regard to many of his works, as well as others of the time. It was based on Friedrich Schiller’s poem of the same name and included human voices as orchestral instruments.
8. “Minuet in G.” This familiar piece is somewhat controversial. It is historically attributed to Johann Sebastian Bach, having appeared in Bach’s “Notebook for Anna Magdalena.” The book was a series of compositions dedicated to Bach’s wife. The authorship of “Minuet in G” and another work was called into question hundreds of years later. Many musical historians now attribute it to Bach’s contemporary, Christian Petzold. Controversy aside, it remains a loved favorite of pianists everywhere.
9. Mozart’s “Turkish March.” No top 10 piano songs list would be complete without a nod to Mozart. His “Turkish March” or “Turkish Rondo” is a difficult piece to play, usually only attempted after several years of piano lessons.
10. Billy Joel’s “Root Beer Rag.” It’s fitting to include at least one contemporary artist in a top ten piano songs list. Billy Joel’s career is often reduced to his influence on pop music. But soulful ballads like “The Piano Man” only provide a glimpse into his musical talent. Billy Joel is considered one of the most proficient pianists alive today. His “Root Beer Rag” is attempted by many advanced piano students. Most agree, however, that few execute this lightning-fast number quite like the master himself.
