Sunday, August 31, 2014

Trips

In America it is sometimes easy to overlook our own country for Europe. There are a host of natural wonders here, however, from North Carolina's Black River [with moss-covered cypress trees looming everywhere, for the spooky and gothic among us] to Maine's Acadia National Park. And of course there's Boston's art museums and Italian palazzo [housing a public library collection].

New York City too has unique places by the dozens, as does nearby Montreal. Don't forget to check out local food festivals, cultural celebrations, Oktoberfests and Scottish games. It's easy to focus on distant locales and miss out on regional extravaganzas.


Food

Food is very personal and subject to time period and culture, region. Still, one can venture out and try some simple sushi, some poutine, some mango bubble tea. Two things to potentially try are falafel and almond marzipan horns [they look like horseshoes].

Falafel mix [the ground chickpeas already mixed with spices] is often in the imported food section of grocery stores, and can come from many countries. It's easy to simply bake it all in a pan instead of frying it. Falafel is a great way to add both spicy food and vegetables into your meals, and you can eat it with cucumber slices and some yogurt or sauce to balance out the spiciness. People who don't like the typical blandness of vegetables will love it.

Another interesting world cuisine find is Germanic/Bavarian almond horns. They are covered in sliced almonds and are made of marzipan in a type of almond cookie result. If you like red Italian almond cookies [shaped like a circle with a little cherry in the middle sometimes], try these. They are easy to find in local bakeries, give them a search. You may have already tried them at area Oktoberfests.


Harp

Be sure to try some harp music, especially as it is sometimes underrepresented in classical music. A good place to start is the classic and beautiful "Concerto No. 6 for Harp and Orchestra, op. 9" by Jean-Baptiste Krumpholtz [1742-1790]. He was an important Czech composer and harpist. He played all over Europe and in Hungary.

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Art

There are often classic artists that Westerners still haven't been truly exposed to. One such painter is Mikhail Nesterov [М. Нестеровой] [1862-1942], a famous Symbolist Russian painter. This painting "The girl in the headdress" [Девушка в кокошнике] is from 1885. He has many, many incredible pieces. His work makes you want to watch the incredible 2002 time travel, mostly 1800s-focused art film Russian Ark [Русский ковчег, said 'Russkij Kovcheg'] again--it was done in one take! It's truly unique and interesting. It's shot all at the Winter Palace at the Russian Hermitage Museum by famous director Alexander Sokurov.



Sunday, August 24, 2014

Music

One thing to try in music is different adaptations--different takes on similar themes. It can be "Lara's Theme" [by the famous composer Maurice Jarre] from Dr. Zhivago [the American film adaptation of the famous novel], which has a great alternate version in the "Suite" by Jarre and the live one from Andre Rieu. Try the great singer Anastasia Lee's version as well.

Another example is "Edelweiss", the famous white Alpine flower song from The Sound of Music [a great version is sung by operatic soprano Anastasia Lee]--many people incorrectly think this is an old song native to Austria, but it is not.

Sunday, August 17, 2014

Netherlands

Art always has interesting people involved--in this case, let's reflect on Judith Jans Leyster [or Leijster], [1609-1660] wife of a painter [Jan Miense Molenaer] who created her own works. About twenty works of hers survive. She entered the artist's guild of Haarlem in the Netherlands [in North Holland], one of the first women to do so, though many were involved in their family workshops and contributed without being in the guild on paper. This is her "Merry Trio" [ca. 1630]:



Friday, August 15, 2014

Bach

Enjoying music on harpsichord can be hard at first, our ears are no longer accustomed to it. Try some famous pieces by Bach on a spinet - a great performance, and very accessible. It begins with the lovely 'Prelude Fugue No. 1 in C Major' [BWV 846] which opens Bach's famous The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1.

The image below is aEnglish bentside spinet by Thomas Hitchcock - Haddlon Hall (Derbyshire).


Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Looser Classical

For classical music, try putting British composer Purcell's [1659-1695] opera 'The Fairy Queen' on and relaxing or as background music. It has great orchestra work and lovely voices. It's very accessible and lovely, a bit like Handel or like Mozart-style [quiet/slow version] vocals.

If you prefer more earthy music, try this excellent, long set of laid-back but refined Spanish guitar music from the Baroque and Renaissance periods. Even people unaccustomed to listening to guitar will enjoy this--just think of it as low, easy strings sections, because it sounds incredible.

If all that is still too structured, you can always try a selection of imagined 'Music from Ancient Rome'. It's quite interesting and unpredictable. Very lively and invigorating, especially for anyone who enjoys 'modern' [ie. post-Stravinsky] classical music.

Mucha

Famous Czech Alphonse Mucha [1860-1939] was a great art nouveau artist--the flowy lines and neo-classical raiment are gorgeous. Usually people are more familiar or prefer art deco, with it's Mondarin-esque sense, Poirot air, majesty and geometric stability. Mucha is one area where art nouveau clearly outstrips it's later rival. While it's flowing tone can look strange on buildings and sculpture, it looks great in art.

Mucha's series on precious stones/gems is one of his best, and a little lesser known than the rest of his work--the original has the labels underneath, saying 'Topaz, Ruby, Amethyst, Emerald':

Sunday, August 10, 2014

Endings


For music, try the the famous French Baroque composer Rameau's [1683-1764] works, starting with his “Pièces de Clavecin Suite in E Minor: I. Allemande: I" [1706], the first of a set of works, on the harpsichord.

For food, at the mid-point where we near the end of summer, I yearn for autumn. Suddenly summer is too much. It's a natural mental switch that allows you to look forward to the coming season, I think. I finally realized to just flow with it. Accept change, look forward to it. Make gâteau Tournusien, from Tournus of Saône-et-Loire in the mid-East of France. It is often made with meringue, almonds, vanilla buttercream and nougat inside.

Then make the ultimate frosty treat: Dominosteine. In Europe [Germany/Austria] it is a reminder of Christmas and holiday time. One great recipe has it made of Lebkuchen [gingerbread], marzipan and -- here is incredible PetitFourBoutique variation on the recipe.

Of course, a must read is Grace & Poise. Just a lovely place to read and enjoy. It's so often something you can imagine thinking yourself, brilliant in its concise wisdom.


The Mid-East

One great piece is German painter Ferdinand Max Bredt's [1868-1921] "Queen of the Harem". Usually Orientalist work can slide too quickly into fantasy and the male gaze, but this portrait seems atypically interesting and subdued. Look here to see more of his work.

Be sure to try his unique "In einem Innenhof, Tunis", ['In a courtyard, Tunis'] as it is a painting with a very interesting and special model. Harem girls are rarely painted as people who have olive skin, seeing as the painters were mostly Western Europeans, but there it is different.


Drink

One great piece to know is the successful Spanish painter Raimundo de Madrazo y Garreta's [1841-1920] "Hot Chocolate". The delicacy of the color work is astounding, and the lovely little details are so beautiful. Note the little letter dropped to the floor and the clothes tossed into the neighboring chair.


Madrigal

One way to get into early or pre-Common Era/pre-Baroque music is to try madrigals. They were Renaissance and early Baroque secular music that came from 1520's Italy. Many famous people worte them, like Palestrina and Orlande de Lassus.

Try the excellent piece "Altri canti d'amor, tenero arciero" ['Let others sing of love, the tender archer'] by major early Baroque transition music figure Monteverdi [1567-1643] from his Madrigals, book 8 [publ. 1638]. It's a lovely, light piece--perfect for this time of year.

Thursday, August 7, 2014

Classical

One great blog to read that's got fascinating, unique about the reality of classical music lives is the METblog. I was shocked to find that it's a real blog, with interesting information about all aspects of the musicians lives, practices, auditions and opinions on their collaborations--think of how they work together, one on one often, during so many pieces.

A great place to try lots of Baroque music, if you'd like to explore early classical work, is TheBaroqueMusicLibrary. They've got a huge amount of free music to listen to. You can easily play it in your browser. It's quite the great place and an incredible resource for the world.

Anyway, if you are exploring classical for the first time, an easy way to enter it's world is through film scores--many people loved Christopher Nolan's film scores [often done by composer Hans Zimmer]. One film many enjoyed is The Young Victoria, about Queen Victoria, which had a great track 'The First Waltz' by Ilan Esherki. The actual theme is a fantasy from Donizetti's opera L'elisir d'amore [The Elixir of Love], a comic opera, called 'Della crudele Isolde'

Voice

One great song to try in the modern vein, for people who like strong voices [ie. Nina Simone, Amy Winehouse, etc] is the lovely chanteuse Weyes Blood. Her work is quite atmospheric and almost echoing with a kind of Poe-like sensibility to it--the type that'd play as you read House of Leaves. Try her 'Storms that Breed'. It almost has an edge of that mysterious, beautiful, eerie fog in Silent Hill. Also try her 'Romneydale'; anyone who likes Air [ie. used in the film Lost in Translation] might enjoy her as well, though this is more intense.

If you like her or prefer instrumental-heavy music, try the excellent Big Blood's piece 'Water'. Lovely vocals! They almost sound norse or celtic. This is the direction I wanted the band Garbage to go in.

If you prefer more folk-style music, try Fire on Fire's 'Liberty Unknown'.

An old classic to try is André Rieu's take on The Beautiful Blue Danube ie 'An der schönen blauen Donau' Op. 314. It's a very famous and accessible piece, composed by the Austrian 'waltz king' Johann Strauss II [1825-1899] in 1866. He wrote many waltzes, polkas and quadrilles [early 1800s form of square dancing]--tons of dance music.

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Japan

This is a great piece, and it is also a good one to start someone on Asian or Japanese art history. It's quite gorgeous--it's 'Maiko Playing Shuttlecock' by  長谷川貞信三代  ie. Sadanobu III Hasegawa [1881-1963]; related artists/schools.


Music

Some more summer pieces to try during this time of the year are the 'Rigaudon, Suite in G' from Handel's 'Water Music', say from the The Age of Baroque (Volume 1) cd.

I would also try the Outlander [based on the time-travel to Highlands Scotland book series by Diana Gabaldon] standing stones druid ceremony scene [as the sun rises during the first episode of the tv series] by composer Bear McCreary. It's a great piece. The first episode was put online by the network Starz, I believe.

Also try the 'Marian Anthem (Alma Redemptoris Mater)' online [this version is different, it's by Orlande de Lassus [1532-1594, try this one for a version closer to the cd] or by The Nuns of Stanbrook Abbey on the cd Christmas Chant - Traditional Latin Plainsong. You feel like you're walking through the stone cold floors of a church immediately, and it's beautiful and calm.

If you prefer emotional Chopin pieces, try the famous pianist Martha Argerich's take on 'Ballade No.1 in G minor, Op.23' on the cd Martha Argerich - Chopin.

Friday, August 1, 2014

Music

One piece to put on in the summer is Scarlatti's "Keyboard Sonata In E [K. 380]", played by Alexandre Tharaud on the album Scarlatti (D): Keyboard Sonatas. It's a perfect light piece for a hot, sunny atmosphere and it's a great, accessible piece, even for people who are new to classical music. It's upbeat but not aggressive. Listen to lots of Scarlatti here, and fast forward to get to K.380, or try a rendition of that piece alone here [to make it easier].

Scarlatti [1685-1757] is like Bach in terms of feeling, but almost lighter and faster, almost sweeter. He was an Italian Baroque composer who worked in Spain and Portugal mainly.

Also try J.S. Bach's "Concerto In C Minor For 2 Harpsichords [BWV 1062]; movement 2. Andante" for a slower, more relaxing sound. It could help people fall asleep if you turned it down very low, but for the most part it's delicate work simply helps you focus and relax at the same time--it's the audible equivalent of lavender's scent. It's played by Ton Koopman and the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra from the album Bach: Harpsichord Concertos [Disc 3] -- try listening to part of a rendition here.

Don't make the mistake I made and assume a few pieces by Bach are enough to tell if you truly enjoy him--his work has thousands of moods and shades. You will find at least one you love, just keep trying different pieces. J.S. Bach [1685-1750] was one of the most important composers of the Baroque period; his son C.P.E. Bach was a big composer as well, his music is more emotional and intimate than usual Baroque period stuff [he used to be more popular than his father, but now history has switched them again].