October 14, 2009
A small stockpile of classical music
MusOpen is the start of a repository of open classical music on the Internet. Please note that it still misses a lot of stuff from Wikipedia and the Pandora Records collection.
But still cool! Have a look, learn something new :)
Posted by ma at 10:45 PM | TrackBack
October 11, 2008
Sholay
Sholay is a classical bollywood movie. Songs, heroes killing the bad guys, da thing!
If you only see one bollywood movie, this might be one you could consider...
Posted by ma at 4:18 AM | TrackBack
September 27, 2006
Pachelbel Goodness - Bach Boredom
I got another CD from the library: Pachelbel Canon & Gigue Chamber Works, by London Baroque. The label is harmonia mundi.
I really discovered Pachelbel's work (everyone knows his Canon) and I was well-pleased. Pachelbel is definitely under-exploited!!!
I loved this CD, although I have a good feeling that the performers pumped up the rythm big time.
Track 1. Partie 5 in G Major: the intro is already good! It has nice, fast movements inside
Track 2. Musicalische Ergötzung, Triosonaten, Part 1. It starts well.
Track 3. Musicalische Ergötzung, Triosonaten, Part 2. Nice violin in the first minute. I hear "glory to God" in the 2nd.
Track 7. Partie a 4 in F sharp minor. near 4th minute has a nice rythm that draw your attention.
Track 10. Canon & Gigue for 3 violons and a bass. although speedy, the canon is some sweet music.
One thing that was weird is how Musicalische Ergötzung was cut off by different other pieces.
I also got a CD of Bach played by Yo-Yo Ma, The 6 Unaccompanied Cello Suites. Hhmmm... Bach is still a good composer. Yo-Yo Ma is still a great celloist.
Its just that the tunes were... boring. I couldn't really enjoy them. Maybe at another time in my life.
Posted by ma at 2:41 PM | TrackBack
July 25, 2006
Nice weekend with my folks
Will keep this very short.
I spent the weekend in Québec City. I did some biking with my dad, participated in an African night, had a nice service + BBQ on Sunday. There has been some emotions flying on the air for me. There was just a lot of my youth that was flooding my memory once more. Like if those memories rebelled after being put away for so long.
I also listened to The Brandernburg Concertos of J.S. Bach, interpreted by The Brandenburg Consort/Roy Goodman, under a Hyperion Dyad label. I like the 3rd much, the others less.
Posted by ma at 7:09 AM | TrackBack
July 3, 2006
Saint Saëns Goodness
I got at the library a CD of the Symphony #3, Danse Macabre, an exerpt of Samsom and Dalia, and "Trois Rhapsodies sur des cantiques bretons". The works were performed by the Royal Stockholm Philarmonic Orchestra, conducted by James DePriest.
I can say that the Maestroso of Symphony #3 is breathtaking, and the Danse Macabre is great too. I enjoyed the rythm and explosion of sounds. My style.
The performing was good too, and I just enjoyed it.
I also took Händel's Solomon. I listened to it, but didn't put the attention needed to it. I recognized some things from the Messiah and Water Music. Like the Messiah, it needs to be really listened to. Maybe I'll take it again later, when I can consecreate more than 3 non-stop hours to listen to this.
Posted by ma at 12:06 PM | TrackBack
May 19, 2006
More Vivaldi Goodnes
There is a set of music videos of classical music on the Internet Archive that are pretty good.
They are called Classic Arts Showcase.
One of them I love dearly: Academy of St martin in the Fields 'Concerto No.2 in G Minor' (Summer). Vivaldi with birds in the background!
Really... take the time to listen to it!
Posted by ma at 2:34 PM | TrackBack
April 18, 2006
Pachelbel's Kanon
I somehow remembered this beautiful piece yesterday.
I really enjoy it. It is simple yet elegant. It almost brings tears to my eyes, and I don't understand why.
Wikipedia has an entry and some Vorbis files to listen to.
As a sidenote, if your under-evolved player doesn't read Vorbis, you can give WinAmp and VLC a shot.
Edit: I found another legal copy on the Internet Archive, this one being fully orchestrated, not just a piano subset :)
Posted by ma at 2:52 PM | TrackBack
February 28, 2006
Haendel: Water Music, Music for the Royal Fireworks
So, I finally listened to this CD with two other major works from Haendel, and little snippets of his other compositions.
I got it cheap, a eloquence recording from Decca:
water music music for the royal
fireworks, etc.
Stuttgarter Kammerorchester
Karl Münchinger
CD 467 406-2
It included Music for the Royal Fireworks, Water Music, Arrival of the Queen of Sheba, etc.
Overall, I enjoyed it. I liked the Water Music in G Major and the Arrival of the Queen of Sheba. I want to listen to it a bit more though.
I'll update this entry when I'll have done that :D
Posted by ma at 8:47 PM | TrackBack
February 15, 2006
Interesting Discovery
While listening a webradio, I liked the sound of Mozart's 40th symphony, 1st movement.
I tried to see where I could get a legal MP3 or OGG of it, and a quick search got me to The Classical Music Pages, which have MP3 samples of many works... just to help remember what that work is all about. Interesting, and it looks like an interesting use of "fair use" clause of copyright laws (even though I don't know the German law).
To get back to the 40th symphony, it looks like Wikipedia has a copy of it. The vorbis is of good quality, and we have a decent recording (even though I don't think the beggining was as strong as it should've been).
Posted by ma at 5:44 PM | TrackBack
January 14, 2006
Vivaldi
I finally took the time to listen to the CD I was given by my uncle.
We are talking about The Baroque Experience, Volume 1, by the Academy of Ancient Music, directed by Christopher Hogwood.
It includes works of Vivaldi:
. The Four Seasons
. Concerto for Flute & Strings No. 2
. Concerto for Strings in G Minor, RV 153
. Concerto in G Major 'Alla Rustica', RV 151
. Concerto for Four Violins and Cello, Op. 3, No 10
Only the first was an original digital recording, the rest came from the analog world.
You can read more below.
My summary review: OOoooooooooooooh yeah, baby.
The Four Seasons
I particularly liked the Spring, 3rd mouvement (Allegro) ; Summer, 1st movement (Allegro non molto) ; Winter, 1st movement (Allegro non molto) and 3rd movement (Allegro). I need to re-listen to it to double-check ;)
There was also the final concerto that I enjoyed.
I had some shivers of pleasure while listening it.
Added on Feb 15:
Wikipedia has a decent recording of the Four Seasons, even though not as strong as what is on the CD.
Posted by ma at 10:25 AM | TrackBack
November 22, 2005
Hmmm... molto radio!
I found a comprehensive database of public radio. There is a lot more that support Vorbis format than I thought...
Go see the Public Radio Fan now!
Posted by ma at 10:03 PM | TrackBack
October 25, 2005
More classical music ripoff?
I listened today to Jupiter, from The Planets, written by Holst and found it to ressemble quite a bit to music in Chrono Trigger (I think the faire theme). I'm far from sure about the legality of both sites.
I was shocked to be hearing the Lyrics of One Winged Angel (Final Fantasy VII) in many songs of Carmina Burana... it looks like that more great game music than I though was inspired by classical works.
I don't know if I should call it a ripoff, or if the composers acknowledged the practice... maybe the gamers could help me on that one?