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Showing posts from September 2, 2012

Video Round-up for first week of September 2012

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As I continue this new tradition of including 5 YouTube videos that portray music consciousness, I hope that you will watch the videos for inspiration. 1. Evelyn Glennie, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IU3V6zNER4g The deaf drummer gives a discussion about our entire bodies resonating sounds.  She shows us how to truly listen to music.  I wonder if Beethoven also had this philosophy. 2. Jose Antonio Abreu, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uintr2QX-TU This Venezeulan humanitarian helped to solve juvanile deliquency in his country through founding a youth orchestra.  The project was so successful that some of the orchestra's former members now enjoy international music careers, including Gustavo Dudemal, who now acts as a conductor and music director for the Los Angeles Symphony. 3. Gustavo Dudemal, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_El7qwib0dc&feature=fvwrel Well, watch the video to experience the excitement of this Latin American audience witnessing a top youth orches

In review--Perpetual Motion

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Javier Perianes (Piano) Beethoven Moto perpetuo (perpetual motion) Harmonia Mundi When I desire to hear the softer side of Beethoven, I listen to his piano sonatas.   Think Moonlight Sonata which these days, ends up on new age and relaxation CDs.   Spanish pianist Javier Perianes performs four of Beethoven’s sonatas and the musician focuses on the perpetual motion implied in these compositions.   Yet, the opener Sonata no. 12 (Marcia Funebre), first movement, pauses and reflects or at least it sounds that way coming through my laptop speakers.   The liner notes cite that the compositions all end with moto perpetuo (a rapid succession of notes).   If you want to hear an example, listen to the fourth movement, Allegro of Sonata no. 12 . However, my concern revolves around the relaxing qualities of the sonatas, and even with the rapid succession of notes that end each composition, calmness envelopes, even with the most rapid passages.   We shouldn’t expect anothe