Strings: CD Project ♫♩♪

Title of CD: Debussy & Ravel: Orchestral Works
Composer: Claude Debussy

Performing artist: Kurt Masur and New York Philharmonic

Alchille-Claude Debussy (August 22, 1862 ~ March 25, 1918) Debussy was a French composer. He was one of the most important french composers and a central figure in European music at the turn of the twentieth century. Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune, (Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun) is one of Debussy’s most famous works. It was first performed in Paris on December 22, 1984 conducted by Gustave Doret. The composition was inspired by the poem L’Après-midi d’un faune by Stpèhane Mallarmè. The word is called prelude because Debussy intended to write a suite of three movements – Prelude, Interlude, and Final Paraphrase.  There are different instruments in this composition such as flutes, clarinets, horns, harps, strings, bassoons, oboes and more. I think the way Debussy used different instruments to play the piece, really gave me a different image and feeling toward it. The dynamic is displayed really well in this piece.

Title of CD: Summer Classical Collection
Composer: Handel

Performing artist: Unkown

George Frideric Handel (23 February 1685 ~ 14 April 1759) was a German-English baroque composer. He was born in Germany, trained in Italy and spent most of his life in England. Handel is famous for his operas, oratorios, and concerti grossi. His music became well-known to many composers such as Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven. The “Water Music” is a collection of orchestral movements. This composition was first performed in the summer on July 17, 1717. Instruments that are in this composition are flutes, oboes, bassoons, horns, trumpets, strings and continuo. Water Music opens with a french overture, a musical form that is in three parts: the first is slow, often with dotted, the second is quick and fugal, and the first part returns at the end, it is then divided into three suites: suite in F major, suite in D major and suite in G major. I like how the sound of the strings are always strong even if it repeats the same melody over and over again. I also like how that the repeats never bore you out, it’s like a whole new fresh start again.

Title of CD: Beethoven: Violin Concerto; Bernstein: Serenade For Violin
Composer: Ludwig Van Beethoven

Performing artist: Hilary Hahn; David Zinman: Baltimore Symphony Orchestra

Ludwig Van Beethoven (17 December 1770 ~ 26 March 1827) was a German composer and pianist. He was an important figure in the transitional period between the Classical and Romantic eras in Western classical music, and remains one of the most influential composers of all time. “Beethoven: Violin Concerto In D, Op. 61” was first played on December 23, 1806. Beethoven wrote the concerto for his colleague Franz Celement. The work is in three movements: Allegro Ma Non Troppo (D major), Larghetto (G major) and Rondo. Allegro (D major). Instruments that are in this piece are flutes, oboes, solo violin, clarinets, bassoons, horns, trumpets, and timpani along with strings. The first movement, Allegro Ma Non Troppo is constructed symmetrically. The structure of it is one of the finest examples of the “sonata form”: musical form that has been used widely since the early Classical period, focuses on the thematic and harmonic organization of tonal materials. I really like the solo violin’s sound because it’s always crisp and clear. Along with an orchestra’s accompaniment, the sound of a violin becomes better.

Title of CD: Vivaldi: The Four Seasons

Composer: Antonio Vivaldi

Performing artist: Patrice Fontanarosa, Regis Pasquier; Lorin Maazel: Orchestre National De France

Antonio Lucio Vivaldi (4 March 1687 ~ 28 July 1741) was a baroque composer and Venetian priest and a violinist. He was born and raised in the Republic of Venice. The Four Seasons is a set of four violin concertos, composed in 1723 and published in 1727. It is Vivaldi’s best-known work among his most popular pieces. The four concertos were each named after a season. Each one is in three movements, with a slow movement between two faster ones. You can hear many moments of the Four Seasons in movies like Tin Cup, Spy game, A view to Kill, What Lies Beneath, White Chicks and more. We’ve all heard parts of the Four Seasons at different places, listening to the whole composition is somewhat interesting and familiar.

Title of CD: Comatose

Composer: Skillet

Performing artist: Skillet

Skillet is a Grammy-nominated Christian hard rock band formed in Mempis, Tennessee in 1996. The band consists John Cooper, his wife Korey Cooper, Ben Ksica, and the newest member Jen Ledger. Their album “Comatose” was released on October 3, 2006. “The word comatose means being in a coma,” said Cooper. “We called the record that because if we don’t wake up out of our comas and realize we are loosing this world, we are going to lose.” “Comatose” is a song from this album. The song starts off with a really catchy and strong string sounds. I think the lyrics of this song is very meaningful and true, it really shows what message the artist is trying to bring across.