passings
Seiji Ozawa, conductor, September 1, 1935–February 6, 2024
Vienna Philharmonic (Seiji Ozawa, cond.) with Anne-Sophie Mutter (violin), live, Tokyo, 2020; Toru Takemitsu (1930-1996), Nostalghia: In Memory of Andrei Tarkovsky (for violin and orchestra), 1987
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lagniappe
random sights
other day, Chicago
two takes
Carlos Simon (1986-), “Between Worlds” (2019); Miranda Cuckson (1972-), violin
#1 (1/21)
***
#2 (9/21)
*****
About “Between Worlds”
Bill Traylor was born a slave in Alabama in 1853 and died in 1949. He lived long enough to see the United States of America go through many social and political changes. He was an eyewitness to the Civil War, Emancipation, Reconstruction, Jim Crow segregation and the Great Migration. As a self taught visual artist, his work reflects two separate worlds— rural and urban, black and white, old and new. In many ways the simplified forms in Traylor’s artwork tell of the complexity of his world, creativity, and inspiring bid for self-definition in a dehumanizing segregated culture. This piece is inspired by the evocative nature as a whole and not one piece by Traylor. Themes of mystical folklore, race, and religion pervade Traylor’s work. I imagine these solo pieces as a musical study; hopefully showing Traylor’s life between disparate worlds.
—Carlos Simon
*****
Bill Traylor: Chasing Ghosts (2023)
timeless
His is a singular sound-world.
Anton Webern (1883-1945), String Trio (Op. 20), 1926-27; Psappha Ensemble (Benedict Holland, violin; Heather Wallington, viola; Jennifer Langridge, cello), live, England (University of Manchester), 2015
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lagniappe
random sights
other day, Oak Park, Ill.
never enough
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750), Cello Suite No. 5 in C minor; Hidemi Suzuki (cello), live, Netherlands (Amsterdam), 2017
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lagniappe
radio
Speaking of “never enough,” the annual Bach Festival on WKCR-FM (Columbia University)—one of my favorite musical events of the year—runs through midnight New Year’s Eve.
alone
Elliott Carter (1908-2012), Figment 1 for Cello Alone (1994); David Hetherington (cello), live, Toronto, 2020
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lagniappe
random sights
other day, Oak Park, Ill.
timeless
The other night, driving to Kankakee to see a client in jail, I couldn’t have asked for better company.
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897), Quintet for Clarinet and Strings; Quatuor Ébène with Damien Bachmann (clarinet), live, France (Wissembourg), 2018
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lagniappe
random sights
yesterday, Oak Park, Ill.
alone
John Cage (1912-1992), In a Landscape (1948); Shira Legmann (piano), live, Boston, 2011
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lagniappe
random sights
yesterday, Oak Park, Ill.
never enough
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750), Suite No. 1 in G major for Unaccompanied Cello; Yo-Yo Ma (1955-, cello), live (Great Smoky Mountains), published 9/7/23
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lagniappe
random sights
other day, Oak Park, Ill.
timeless
Lou Harrison (1917-2003), Suite for Violin with American Gamelan (1973)
**********
lagniappe
random sights
other day, Oak Park, Ill.
alone
Rose Wollman (viola), live (performing the program on Loop: Ligeti’s Inspiration & Legacy [Acis, 2022]),* Chicago, 8/20/23
*Program:
I
1. Johann Sebastian Bach, Suite No. 5 in C Minor, BWV 1011: I. Prelude (Arr. for Viola)
2. György Ligeti, Sonata for Viola Solo: I. Hora Lunga
3. Garth Knox, Ritorno
II
4. Giuseppe Tartini, Violin Sonata XVII in D Major, B. D2: IV. Furlana (Arr. for Viola)
5. György Ligeti, Sonata for Viola Solo: II. Loop
6. Alexander Mansour, Loop for Solo Viola and Electronics
III
7. Domenico Gabrielli, Ricercar for Solo Cello No. 1 in G Minor (Arr. for Viola)
8. György Ligeti, Sonata for Viola Solo: III. Facsar
9. Rose Wollman, Wanderlust
IV
10. Arcangelo Corelli, Violin Sonata, Op. 5, No. 6: III. Allegro (Arr. for Viola)
11. György Ligeti, Sonata for Viola Solo: IV. Prestissimo con sordino
12. Atar Arad, Caprice Fourteen (Gyorgy)
V
13. Georg Philipp Telemann, Fantasia for Violin Without Bass No. 12 in A Minor, TWV 40:25: I. Moderato (Arr. for Viola)
14. György Ligeti, Sonata for Viola Solo: V. Lamento
15. Melia Watras, Blue Rose
VI
16. Franz Biber, Mystery (Rosary) Sonatas: 16. Passacaglia in G Minor (Arr. for Viola)
17. György Ligeti, Sonata for Viola Solo: VI. Chaconne chromatique
18. Natalie Williams, Ciklus
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