European classical music appreciation

Author: Yang Lingchao, Liu Xiaoli
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-11-01
Features: Poetic Life and Works of Antonio Vivaldi, the "Red-Haired Priest" – Composer and String Concerto "The Four Seasons" Johann Sebastian Bach, the "Father of Modern Music" – Life and Works of "Brandenburg Concerto No. 2" "Brandenburg Concerto No. 4" George Frideric Handel, Representative of Baroque Music – Life and Works of Choral Work "Hallelujah" Orchestral Suite "Water Music" Orchestral Suite "Music for the Fireworks" Joseph Haydn, the "Father of Symphonies" – Life and Works of Symphony No. 104 in D Major (London) "Nocturne" "String Quartet No. 2 in F Major" Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, the Unexplainable Super Genius – Life and Works of Symphony No. 40 in G Minor Symphony No. 41 in C Major ("Jupiter") String Quartet in G Major "The Marriage of Figaro" "The Magic Flute" Ludwig van Beethoven, the Brave Warrior – Life and Works of Symphony No. 3 in E-flat Major ("Hero") Symphony No. 5 in C Minor ("Fate") Symphony No. 6 in F Major ("Pastoral") Symphony No. 9 in D Minor ("Choral") Violin Concerto in D Major Piano Concerto in E-flat Major ("Emperor") Franz Schubert, the Early Talent with Unfinished Symphony – Life and Works of Unfinished Symphony "The Trout" Piano and String Quintet Felix Mendelssohn, the Unfathomable Poetic Master – Life and Works of Symphony No. 4 in A Major ("Italian") Overture "A Midsummer Night's Dream" Violin Concerto in e minor Franz Liszt, the Charismatic Piano King – Life and Works of Piano Concerto in E-flat Major Symphony Poem "Prelude" Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 Hungarian Rhapsody No. 6 Frédéric Chopin, the Romantic and Melancholy Piano Poet – Life and Works of Piano Concerto in e minor Etude in C Minor ("Revolution") Polish Dance in A-flat Major Polonaise in A Major ("Military") Hector Berlioz, the Great FlagBearer of French Music – Life and Works of Symphonie Fantastique Carnival in Rome Overture to the Drama "Faust" Selection "Lakóczy March" (Act III) "Dance of the Fairies" (Part II, Scene 7) "Ghost Waltz" (Part III, Scene 12) Bed?ich Smetana, the Founder of Czech National Music – Life and Works of "Má Vlast" Opera "The Bartered Bride" Overture Johannes Brahms, the Serious and Melancholy Ascetic – Life and Works of Symphony No. 3 in F Major (Op. 90) Violin Concerto in D Major (Op. 77) Hungarian Dances No. 3, No. 5, No. 6, No. 9 Alexander Borodin, the Courageous Innovator – Life and Works of Opera "Carmen" "La Bohème" Suite "La Bohème" No. 2 Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, the Talented and Melancholy Super Master – Life and Works of Violin Concerto in D Major Piano Concerto in b minor "The Nutcracker" Ballet "Swan Lake" Ballet "Sleeping Beauty" Ballet "The Nutcracker" Johann Strauss II, the "King of Waltzes" on the Beautiful Danube – Life and Works of "The Blue Danube Waltz" "The Story of a Forest in Vienna Waltz" "Spring Waltz" "Thunder and Lightning Polka" Giuseppe Verdi, the "Peasant" Who Revitalized Italian Opera Music – Life and Works of Opera "La Traviata" Opera "Othello" Antonín Dvo?ák, the Eternal Connection to His Homeland – Life and Works of Symphony No. 9 in e minor ("From the New World") Cello Concerto in b minor Edward Grieg, the Founder of the Norwegian National Music with a Love for Mountains and Waters – Life and Works of "Peer Gynt" Suite "Peer Gynt" No. 2 Piano Concerto in a minor Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, the Tireless Colorful Orchestral Master – Life and Works of "Scheherazade" Symphony Suite "Spanish Capriccio" Symphony Suite Gustav Mahler, the Shocking and Cynical Master of the Era – Life and Works of Symphony No. 4 in C Major "Das Lied von der Erde" Vocal and Orchestra Symphony Gustav Holst, the Fantasy Traveler in Space – Life and Works of Symphony Suite "The Planets" Ottorino Respighi, the Symphony Poet Who Absorbed and Created His Own Style – Life and Works of Symphony Poem "Fountains of Rome" Symphony Poem "Pines of Rome" Symphony Poem "Festival in Rome" Sergei Rachmaninoff, the Immortal Russian Connection – Life and Works of Piano Concerto No. 2 in c minor Piano Concerto No. 3 in d minor Symphonic Fantasy "The Cliffs"
Second Part: Perspectives and Cultivation
Brief Introduction to World-Famous Conductors
Brief Introduction to World-Famous Pianists
Brief Introduction to World-Famous Violinists
Brief Introduction to World-Famous Cellists
Brief Introduction to World-Famous Wind Instrument Performers
Brief Introduction to World-Famous Singers
Brief Introduction to World-Famous Orchestras/Ensembles
Brief Introduction to World-Famous Opera Houses and Concert Halls
Brief Introduction to World-Famous Music Academies
Brief Introduction to International Famous Music Competitions
References
Afterword
Franz Schubert (1797-1828), born on January 31, 1797, in Hampf, a suburb of Vienna, was the 12th of 14 children born to Theodor, who served as a vice principal at a school, and his wife Elizabeth Vietz. Schubert was one of only five who survived. In his childhood, he first learned the violin from his father and then piano from his brother. Due to his beautiful treble voice, he entered the school for training singers in the imperial church. This shy and imaginative boy's musical talent amazed his teachers, with one saying that Schubert seemed to be "learning directly from God." During his five years at school, which Schubert called a "prison-like" hardship, his only solace was that he not only systematically studied composition theory but also served as a conductor for the orchestra, laying a solid foundation for his musical career. During this period, he composed symphonies, a three-movement piano sonata for four hands, and five string quartets, while his art song "The Young Man by the Pond," based on Schiller's poem, was considered his first true artistic song. In 1815, after leaving school, Schubert worked as a volunteer teacher at his father's school. During this time, he created many outstanding works, such as "The Magic Flute," "The Dragon," "Death and the Maiden," "To Music," and "The Trout." In 1818, after completing his three-year service, he boldly abandoned his highly frustrating teaching career, which provoked his father's anger and cut off all financial support. Thus, Schubert went alone to Vienna in search of opportunities. From then on, he began a life of extreme poverty, earning a living through private tutoring. In February 1819, his art song received its first public performance. That summer, he traveled to the northern part of Austria with his friend, the singer Vogel, spending three of the happiest months of his life there, a trip that directly led to the creation of the fresh and elegant "Trout Quintet." In the following autumn and winter, his creativity flowed, and he produced a large number of works. He said, "I begin composing as soon as I wake up every morning, finishing one piece and immediately starting another." In 1820, his opera "The Twin Brothers" premiered in Vienna, though it was not successful, it brought him a commission to compose music for a three-act opera "The Magic Flute," which also failed to impress audiences, but Schubert's music shone brilliantly. The overture of this opera was later used in "Rosamunde," becoming an immortal masterpiece in the history of dramatic music. From the second half of 1821 to the first half of 1822, Schubert devoted himself entirely to composing the opera "Alfonso and Estrella," which, due to various reasons, was never performed in his lifetime, despite the fact that he spent the most effort on it. Next, he completed the Mass in A-flat Major, which he had been working on for three years, and began writing a new symphony. By early October, he had completed the first two movements, but he set it aside and never returned to it, which became the famous "Unfinished Symphony." In November, he completed the beautiful and moving piano piece "Fantasy for the Wanderer." 1822 was a year of rising fame for Schubert, but also the year when the light of his life began to fade.