Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Jul 14, 2013 19:52:25 GMT
If you're quick (in the UK). Radio 3 is performing the Rite of Spring on the same type of instruments it was first performed on. Starting soon in the Prom concert ....
One of my favourite pieces.
Proms this year has had such a nice start.
no. 1 - Paganini variations with Stephen Hough plus the Lutoslawski version of the same piece. (Fantastic player) no. 2 - Music from Doctor Who TV Series (Was really entertaining) no. 3 - Music played on period instruments including the Rite of Spring.
They really seem to be getting some interesting programmes together at last!!
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Jul 14, 2013 20:08:10 GMT
The Rite of Spring is a really interesting piece. 1913, I think it was. It caused a riot. The audience starting fighting and many thought it the end of music as we know it.
It's actually a ballet. (Quite ugly too) The music is also ugly and many thought of it as just a noise.
Stravinsky composed it on a piano and there is a piano duet of it as well.
It uses Russian Folk Songs, Polyrhythms (more than one time signature at once), Polytonality (more than one key at the same time) Mix the two together and you get this weird sound I can tell you!!
It uses instruments in difficult ranges where they sound weird.
It's very violent.
If you want a piece of orchestral music that will make you hate or love it, this is the one. It's dynamic, ferocious and unrelenting.
Well worth trying and see how much you can take.
I LOVE this piece, but then, I'm a nutter.
The Ember is REALLY producing the massive dynamics of this piece.
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Rabbit
Administrator
Posts: 7,087
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Post by Rabbit on Jul 14, 2013 20:49:36 GMT
ABSOLUTELY SUPERP PERFORMANCE. More clarity and the percussion cut through in quite a different way. One of the sections was SO fast that it was unbelievably exciting. There were some lovely rasps in the 20 strong brass section - 5 percussionists. 100 in the entire orchestra.
It was more biting than you hear in modern recordings with the woodwind sounding comparatively thinner sounding but it gives a very different perspective on what Stravinsky would have heard.
It started with a French bassoon which is very rarely heard nowadays. I hope they print this on CD.
The orchestra was superb.
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