Day 34, Feb. 15 - Classical Music Listening Challenge

In keeping with yesterday's theme of challenging but exciting violin pieces, I have chosen Paganini's Violin Concerto today played by Shlomo Mintz.

Today's classical music listening challenge is another difficult violin piece - Paganini Concerto, Shlomo Mintz, http://youtu.be/dAtGvgQkZdY

Shlomo Mintz Paganini Violin Concerto　last mvt.

youtu.be

Shlomo Mintz Paganini Violin ConcertoShlomo Mintz performed on Paganini's violin "Il Cannone" Limburg Symphony Orchestra

Day 33, Feb. 14 - Classical Music Listening Challenge

I first heard this piece on James Ehnes' Homage CD and fell in love with it instantly. Here it is played by another great violinist, Itzhak Perlman. Enjoy!

Today's classical music listening challenge: La Ronde des Lutins by Bazzini played by Itzhak Perlman http://youtu.be/pR8ABKpwm7wDifficult! James Ehnes also plays this piece on his Homage CD - he is amazing!

Perlman in Russia- Bazzini

youtu.be

Itzhak Perlman plays Bazzini in concert in Russia

Day 32, Feb. 13 - Classical Music Listening Challenge

If you want to listen to powerful music, go no farther than Wagner.

Today's classical music listening challenge: Wagner Siegfried Funeral March. http://youtu.be/L8wHteSOwW4 Very powerful music!

Richard Wagner Siegfried funeral march

youtu.be

Day 31, Feb. 12 - Classical Music Listening Challenge

Some of the best melodies are written by the composer Schubert.

Today's classical music listening challenge is Schubert's Impromptu Op. 90 No. 3 for piano played by Zimerman. http://youtu.be/KkqDEh-fXVITrue beauty!

Zimerman plays Schubert Impromptu Op. 90 No. 3

youtu.be

Zimerman plays Schubert!

Day 30, Feb. 11 - Classical Music Listening Challenge

Today's challenge is really unusual.

Today's classical music listening challenge: John Cage's 4'33" Listen carefully! http://youtu.be/3fYvfEMUJl8

John Cage 4'33

youtu.be

a silent performance by John Cage. Watch (and hear) for yourself.

Day 29, Feb. 10 - Classical Music Listening Challenge

Beautiful piano music!

Today's classical music listening challenge is Schumann's Traumerei played by the amazing Horowitz! http://youtu.be/qq7ncjhSqtk

Horowitz plays SchumannTraumerei in Moscow

youtu.be

In April 1986 Horowitz hold a concert in Moscow.This "Traumerei" is given as encore.Enjoy!

Day 28, Feb. 9 - Classical Music Listening Challenge

Here is a frequently played trumpet concerto by Hummel.

Today's classical music listening challenge: Hummel Trumpet Concerto, Wynton Marsalis. http://youtu.be/-6u22A_Xy2E This piece is on his practising video with Yo Yo Ma which we watched in class yesterday.

Hummel Trumpet Concero in E 3rd Mov.

youtu.be

Wynton Marsalis, trumpetEnglish Chamber Orchestra conducted by Raymond Leppard.cf)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8kUPC0PcYA

Day 27, Feb. 8 - Classical Music Listening Challenge

Haydn was a very prolific composer - he wrote over 100 symphonies! His quartet music is also superb.

Today's classical music listening challenge: Haydn's Emperor quartet, 2nd mvmt, http://youtu.be/udPddgVKzLg

Haydn Emperor Quartet, 2 mvt - DSCH

youtu.be

DSCH - Schostakovich Ensemble withTatiana Samouil (Violin I)Jolente de Maeyer (Violin II)Tony Nys (Viola)Justus Grimm (Cello)Joseph HaydnString Quartet op 76...

Day 26, Feb. 7 - Classical Music Listening Challenge

Ray Chen

Today's classical music listening challenge is the 3rd movement of Tchaikovsky's violin concerto. Ray Chen is the soloist.http://youtu.be/qhRyjy8HyYU

‎2009 | Ray Chen | Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto | 3rd Mvt | Queen Elisabeth Comp | 1 of 2

youtu.be

Part 1 of 2 | 20 Year Old Australian violinist Ray Chen performing the third movement of Tchaikovsky &#39s Violin Concerto in D Major Op.35 in the Finals of the...

Day 25, Feb. 6 - Classical Music Listening Challenge

The Saint-Saëns cello concerto in a minor is one of the pieces on our next concert program. The Waterloo Chamber Players will be joined by Catherine Anderson who will also play an arrangement of Edith Piaf songs written by Ben Bolt Martin, our conductor.

Today's classical music listening challenge is Saint Saens cello concerto in A minor. Here it is being played by Yo Yo Ma.http://youtu.be/cv0LgNaM_rM. It is on the program for our next WCP concert on Feb. 12th with cellist Catherine Anderson. Come hear this exciting piece! http://bit.ly/hDbxD0

Saint-Saens Cello Concerto No.1-1, Yo-Yo Ma

youtu.be

Saint-Saens Cello Concerto No.1-1 Op.33Yo-Yo Ma / MaazelAudio

Day 24, Feb. 5 - Classical Music Listening Challenge

Today's piece really is a very challenging piece to play. I played Liszt's Faust Symphony in university. At the time, the conductor of Orchestra London, Alexis Hauser, was our guest conductor.

Bernstein conducts Liszt - Mephisto from 'Faust Symphony' (Part 1)

youtu.be

PART 1My favourite orchestral piece by Liszt: the 3rd character picture, Mephisto from his Faust symphony. Also my favourite performance: Bernstein conducts ...

Day 23, Feb. 4 - Classical Music Listening Challenge

Mendelssohn's Italian Symphony

Today's classical music listening challenge: Mendelssohn's "Italian" Symphony No. 4, 1st movement http://youtu.be/lrNPZ7cV-xc

Mendelssohn 'Italian' Symphony No.4 - 1st mvt.

youtu.be

Volker Hartung conducts Felix Mendelssohn&#39s &#39Italian&#39 Symphony No.4, 1st movement, played by the Cologne New Philharmonic Orchestra. You can watch the comple...

Day 22, Feb. 3 - Classical Music Listening Challenge

Tomorrow is PJ day at my school and we are showing cartoons in the gym for the primary students. Do you recognize the cartoon that uses this music?

Today's classical music listening challenge: Rossini's Barber of Seville. Remind you of anything? http://bit.ly/ehTjLU

Barber of Seville overture - Carlos Riazuelo

bit.ly

Rossini Overture to The Barber of Seville, Carlos Riazuelo conducting Sinfónica Municipal de Caracas

Day 21, Feb. 2: Classical Music Listening Challenge

Mozart wrote five concertos for the violin. This is number four. My daughter is playing it for her university auditions. It is played here by another of my favourite violinists, Hilary Hahn.

Today's classical music listening challenge is Mozart's violin concerto No. 4 with Hilary Hahn, one of my favourite violinists - after James Ehnes that is! Chloe is playing this one for her university auditions.http://youtu.be/r0JfH_lgDqc

Hilary Hahn Mozart Violin Concerto no.4 first mvt (1/4)

youtu.be

‎2nd movement http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nV5Dd4YVUIHilary Hahn performs the first movement with Sir Andrew Davis conducting the BBC Symphony Orchestra.

Day 20, Feb. 1 - Classical Music Listening Challenge

There are so many wonderful versions of Ave Maria. This one is played beautifully be Joshua Bell. I'm not sure I like the singing and background music in the middle though.

Today's classical music listening challenge - Ave Maria played by Joshua Bell. http://youtu.be/DvlTuBnpKpc I'm not sure about all that singing in the background though.

Joshua Bell playing Ave Maria.

youtu.be

A video of Joshua Bell playing Ave Maria.

Day 19, Jan. 31: Classical Music Listening Challenge

I love Richard Strauss' tone poems. Here is one of my favourites.

It's late but here is today's classical music listening challenge: Till Eulenspiegel by R. Strauss. Great fun! http://youtu.be/VComW3RJqg8

Strauss: Till Eulenspiegel / Barenboim · Berliner Philharmoniker

youtu.be

Watch the complete performance now:http://www.digitalconcerthall.com/concert/19Richard Strauss: Till Eulenspiegels lustige Streiche / Daniel Barenboim, cond...

Day 18, Jan. 30: Classical Music Listening Challenge

One of the best slow movements ever written!

Today's classical music listening challenge - Mozart's Clarinet Quintet, Larghetto http://youtu.be/sq2ADjjT24k Relaxing music for a Sunday!

Mozart Clarinet Quintet - Larghetto

youtu.be

Clarinetist Bruce Nolan and the Sierra String Quartet perform the Mozart Clarinet Quintet. This is the Larghetto movement.