I've been listening to a lot of romantic era music lately, something I've shunned for most of my musical study. I guess I wasn't that interested because the great composers of that time rarely wrote any music which could be played on our instrument - unlike in the Baroque, Renaissance, and 20th century composers.
It always bothered me that I didn't know most of the great masterpieces from Beethoven, Schubert, Mendelssohn, etc. If we are classical musicians, then we should be interested in all great art music - not just art music played on the guitar.
Lately my obsession has been Felix Mendelssohn's Octet in E-flat major, Op. 20 which I've been listening to and studying daily. It was composed in the autumn of 1825, when he was just 16. There's something remarkable about the feelings conveyed in this music - it's full of hope, optimism, and drama - typical of a 16 year old. At the same time, the craftsmanship is stunningly mature. If I had heard this when I was 13, I may have taken up the violin.
There's a digital copy of the manuscript online here.
Here is a playlist to the full piece -
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3 comments:
This is a great piece Kevin, there is a wondurful recording by the Mullova ensemble. I'll bring you a copy some time... Mike
It's a great piece! I came to the guitar the other way round. I learnt double bass and did a music degree, learnt the treble viol while there (6 strings and frets of course) and then went on to the guitar. Looking back, I'm quite annoyed about the snobbism that the guitar can attract in classical music circles. I often used to hear it said that it was the harmony instrument one learnt if one was not "good enough" to play the piano! Argh!
When I first discovered the classical guitar it was, quite by chance, through some books by Theodore Norman - who also came to it via classical music. His enthusiasm was catching.
HAVE YOU RECOGNIZED OR READ YET, THAT THE LAST MOVEMENT THEME IS BASED ON HE SHALL REIGN FOREVER FROM HANDEL'S MESSIAH? STUNNING PIECE TO HEAR IN THE CONCERT HALL.
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