Hang Around the World: 2011

Friday, December 30, 2011

Music #192 - Mozart Dances & Songs

"Deutsche Tänze"

sleigh ride / 雪撬

Three German Dances
- aka "Deutsche Tänze", K.605/3

* Dance 1
* Dance 2
* Dance 3 'Die Schlittenfahrt'

Mozart left a huge production of dances for orchestra,

kanarienvogel / canary / 金絲雀

* No.5 (of 6 German Dances) in K.600
aka 'Die Kanarienvogel'
Hear the canaries singing (0:40)?

* Vier Deutsche - K.602
- (four German Dances)

List of concert arias, songs and canons by Mozart

"The Violet" / "Das Veilchen" / , K.476
* A song written to a poem by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.

A violet in the meadow saw a young and singing shepherdess coming.
It wished to be picked up and fastened to her bosom.....
But ooops! Her darling feet trampled on the violet, and killed it.

[If the sky has kind stars] / "Ah se in ciel, benigne stelle"

- Aria for soprano & orchestra, K.538

- To sing along

"Longing for Spring" / "Sehnsucht nach dem Frühling"
- Komm, lieber Mai / Come, dear May, K.596

- It became a popular German folk song - here, by the Vienna Boys Choir

Thursday, December 29, 2011

Music #191 - Mozart Requiem Mass

Requiem Mass

for soloists, chorus and orchestra in d

- K.626

* John Eliot Gardiner conducting
* Karajan conducting (Note the select in the footnote.)

* with subtitles in 18 languages
- Each totaling 60 minutes.

I. Introitus: Requiem aeternam (Choir and Soprano solo)

II. Kyrie eleison (Choir)

I. Introitus & II. Kyrie

III. Sequentia:

Dies irae (Choir)

Tuba mirum (Soprano, Alto, Tenor and Bass Solo)

Rex tremendae majestatis (Choir)

Recordare, Jesu pie (Soprano, Alto, Tenor and Bass Solo)

Confutatis maledictis & Lacrimosa dies illa (Choir)

IV. Offertorium:

Domine Jesu Christe (Choir with Solo Quartet)

Versus: Hostias et preces (Choir)

V. Sanctus:

Sanctus Dominus Deus Sabaoth (Choir)

Benedictus (Solo Quartet then Choir)

VI. Agnus Dei (Choir)

VII. Communio: Lux aeterna (Soprano solo and Choir)

= = = = =
From the Amadeus movie:

* Mozart was composing Confutatis (Mvt 8 of 14) on his sickbed (deathbed, actually).
(1) his wife was partying;

(2) Mozart (sick and weak) was composing Confutatis, with Salieri transcribing.

Actually, (1) his wife was elsewhere delivering a baby boy of his; (2) his assistant Süessmayr (1766-1803, Austrian) was transcribing for him.

* to sing along (SATB)

When Mozart died, he had the score of the Requiem on his bed and had been explaining to Suessmayr his ideas on how to finish it.

In the movie, "Lacrimosa dies illa" from his Requiem was the background music for his own funeral:

* to sing along (SATB)

Notes:

An anonymous earl (Count Walsegg-Stuppach) paid Mozart to ghostwrite a requiem, to be played at the funeral of the earl's wife. The man-in-black who contacted Mozart for the dealing was the earl's steward, who tried to speed up Mozart, as the funeral could not wait for long.

Mozart started it in good spirits, but his health began to fail. In November 1791, Mozart got his student Suessmayr to do the transcribing for him. The Requiem Mass was not completed when Mozart died on 5 December, at a young age of 35. His widow, needing the outstanding half of the fee, asked Suessmayr to complete the rest.

Music #190 - Mozart & Allegri's Miserere

Miserere
- full name "Miserere mei, Deus" (Latin: "Have mercy on me, O God")
- by Italian composer Gregorio Allegri during the 1630s

The Sixteen Choir

It was composed for use in the Sistine Chapel during matins only. At some point, writing it down or performing it elsewhere was punishable by excommunication.
According to the popular story, the 14-year-old Mozart was visiting Rome, when he first heard the piece during the Wednesday service.
Later that day, he wrote it down entirely from memory, returning to the Chapel that Friday to make minor corrections.

King's College Chapel Choir

Later, Mozart met a British historian, who obtained the piece from him and took it to London, where it was published in 1771. Once it was published, the ban was lifted.
Mozart was summoned to Rome by the Pope; only instead of excommunicating the boy, the Pope showered praises on him for his feat of musical genius.
Since the lifting of the ban, Allegri's Miserere has become one of the most popular a cappella choral works now performed.

= = = = =

Notes:-

Sistine Chapel
paintings by Michelangelo

- It is a setting of Psalm 51 (50) composed for use in the Sistine Chapel during matins, as part of the exclusive Tenebrae service on Wednesday and Friday of Holy Week.

- The Miserere is written for two choirs, one of five (S1-S2-A-T-B) and one of four voices (S-A-T-B), and is an example of Renaissance polyphony surviving to the present day.
One of the choirs sings a simple version of the original Miserere chant; the other, spatially separated, sings an ornamented "commentary" on this.

Music #189 - Mozart Great Mass

Mass No.17 for vocal soloists, chorus & orchestra in c
- aka "Great Mass in C minor" / "Große Messe in c-Moll", K.427

It is a musical setting of the Mass by Mozart. The large-scale work... remained unfinished. Even so, it has been ranked as one of the three greatest Mass settings, with Bach's Mass in B Minor, and Beethoven's Missa Solemnis.

outside the Alice Millar Chapel

inside the Alice Millar Chapel

* Great Mass
Totaling 44 minutes

= = = = =
Or, appreciation by sections:

Kyrie / Lord

Gloria / Glory

Gloria in excelsis Deo / Glory to God in the highest
Laudamus te / We praise you
Gratias agimus tibi / Thank you
Domine Deus / O God
Qui tollis / You who raise
Quoniam tu solus / For you only
Jesu Christe – Cum Sancto Spiritu

Credo / I believe

Credo in unum Deum / …… in one God
Et incarnatus est / and power

Sanctus / Spirit

Benedictus qui venit / Blessed is He who comes

Agnus Dei / Lamb of God - unfinished

Totaling about 50 minutes.

Sunday, December 25, 2011

Music #188 - Mozart Coronation Mass

Mass No.15 for vocal soloists, chorus & orchestra in C
- aka "Coronation Mass", K.317

It is one of the most popular of Mozart's 17 extant settings of the Ordinarium (Ordinary of the Mass).

Karajan conducting

Totaling about 57 minutes

This setting is a short mass (Missa brevis) --- as opposed to Solemn Masses or High Masses (Missae solemnes).

Ordinarium is different to proprium. But either one has a constant motet.

The first movement Kyrie is in Greek, whilst others in Latin.
In any one mass, some movements are sung, and the others read.

Movements:
1) Kyrie
2) Gloria
3) Credo
4) Sanctus-Benedictus
5) Agnus Dei

The whole composition is both
- sad, especially the Crucifixion of the Jesus section in Credo
- pacifying, especially the last section of Agnus Dei: "Dona Nobis Pacem" / Grant Us Peace.

= = = = =
Additional notes:
1) "Kýrie, eléison" (Greek for "Lord, have mercy") have seven syllables (Ký-ri-e, e-lé-i-son).
2) "Gloria in excelsis Deo" (Latin for "Glory to God in the highest") is often abbreviated to Gloria in Excelsis or simply Gloria.
3) A "credo" (Latin for "I Believe") is a statement of belief.
4) The Sanctus (Latin for "Holy") is a hymn from Christian liturgy, forming part of the Order of Mass. The first part of the Sanctus is adapted from Isaiah 6:3; whereas the text of the second part, beginning with the word Benedictus (Latin for "Blessed"), is taken from Matthew 21:9.
5) Agnus Dei (Latin for "Lamb of God") appears in the Gospel of John, with the exclamation of John the Baptist: "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" in John 1:29 when he sees Jesus.

Source: Wikipedia

Music #187 - Mozart Ave Verum Corpus

Ave Verum Corpus

Totaling 3.3 minutes.

Ave verum corpus in D,
motet for chorus, strings & organ
《圣体颂》- K.618

This setting of the Ave verum corpus text was composed to celebrate the feast of Corpus Christi.

It is only 46 bars long and is scored for SATB choir, stringed instruments, and organ. This motet is sung in a very very soft voice.

Mozart composed this motet while in the middle of writing his opera Die Zauberflöte (Magic Flute), and while visiting his wife Constanze, who was pregnant with their sixth child and staying in a spa near Baden. It was less than six months before Mozart's death.

Source: Wikipedia

= = = = =
Bonus:
* If you would want to sing along - bilingual lyrics
* If you want to sing along with the Vienna Boys Choir - reading SATB score

Music #186 - Mozart Exsultate Jubilate

Exsultate, jubilate, motet for soprano & orchestra
《Rejoice / 欣喜吧蒙福的灵魂》- K.165

This religious solo motet (經文歌) was composed when 16-year-old Mozart was visiting Milan. It was written for a castrato; in modern times, the motet is usually sung by a soprano.

It is divided into 3 parts: allegro, andante, allegro, totaling about 15 minutes.

The final allegro section is an "Alleluia" which is usually sung separately. And the one single word is sung repeatedly, from beginning to end, in various ways, beautifully.

= = = = =

Mozart wrote a substantial amount of solo vocal and choral music, ranging from the utterly serene short motet Ave Verum Corpus, to the dazzlingly spirited Exsultate Jubilate. The Missa solemnis and the Requiem are his large-scale choral works in serious, darker mood.

Music #185 - Mozart Cosi Fan Tutte

Così Fan Tutte / 女人皆如此 [aka 試情記]

- an Italian-language opera buffa

Di scrivrmi ogni giorno / 每天寫信給我

Eccovi il medico, Signore belle / 這是醫生

Il core vi dono[, bell'idolo mio] / 將一切奉獻[給我美麗的偶像]

A full version of the opera (> 3 hr)

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Music #184 - Mozart The Magic Flute

Die Zauberflöte

- aka "The Magic Flute" opera, K.620

It is an opera (in German) in two acts, in the form of a Singspiel: both singing and spoken dialogue.

Since its premiere, The Magic Flute has always been one of the most beloved works in the operatic repertoire.

The opera celebrated its 100th performance in November 1792. But Mozart died of his illness on 5 December 1791. It was his last complete composition.
* an overview
* 3-hour full opera

= = = = =
From the amazing Amadeus movie (1984):
* Queen of the Night as inspired by his caring mother-in-law
* sick and weak Mozart off stage fell from the keyboard glockenspiel, whilst bird-catcher Papageno (dressed as a green bird) on stage makes a wish for a wife

From the the Magic Flute (2006) Film (in English)
* Papageno-Papagena Duet

Bonus à la carte:

"Queen of the Night" --- WOW!!!

* Diana Damrau singing

* Natalie Dessay as the Queen

* Cello & piano

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Music #183 - Mozart Don Giovanni

live opera (3 hr)
With English subtitles

Don Giovanni

《唐璜》- K.527

A 2-act opera buffa (comic opera) with music by Mozart and with an Italian libretto, it is still considered to be among the greatest operas ever composed.

Don (Mr) Giovanni, a young, arrogant, sexually promiscuous nobleman, abuses and outrages everyone else in the cast, until he encounters something he cannot kill, beat up, dodge, or outwit.

= = = = =

From the Amadeus movie:
* Act Il, Commendatore Scene

Bonus à la carte:
Act 1 Scene 2 - Duet "Là ci darem la mano" / "There we will entwine our hands"
* Charming performance by Hei-Kyung HONG

Monday, December 5, 2011

Music #182 - Mozart The Marriage of Figaro

Le nozze di Figaro

- aka "The Marriage of Figaro" opera,
《费加罗的婚礼》, K.492

It is an opera buffa (comic opera) composed in 4 acts by Mozart, with Italian libretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte, based on Pierre Beaumarchais's stage comedy La folle journée, ou le Mariage de Figaro.

It contains music of great beauty. The Countess's poignant aria, Porgi amor, is one of Mozart's greatest.

* A short overview

* 3-hour opera (with English subtitles) - part 1 -part 2

= = = = =

From the Amadeus (1984 movie):

* The overture starts the movie

* Happy ending in Act 4: the Countess forgives her husband with Mozart conducting, Salieri commenting, and Emperor Joseph II yawning once.

Bonus à la carte:

* Aria: "Non piu andrai, farfallone amoroso", at end of Act 1

* Aria: “Porgi amor” / Grant me love, in Act 2

* Aria: "Voi che sapete che cosa è amor" / "You ladies who know what love is", in Act 2

* Duet: "Sull'aria...che soave zeffiretto" (On the breeze...What a gentle little Zephyr) in Act 3

In the duettino (a short duet), Countess Almaviva (a soprano) dictates to Susanna (also a soprano) the invitation to a tryst addressed to the countess' husband in a plot to expose his infidelity.

* The above beautiful Letter Duettino broadcasted in the Shawshank Redemption (1994 movie)

Music #181 - Mozart Abduction from Seraglio

Die Entführung aus dem Serail
- aka "The Abduction from the Seraglio"
or "Il Seraglio" opera,《后宫诱逃》, K.384

It is a German opera Singspiel (sing-play) in three acts. The plot concerns the attempt of the hero Belmonte, assisted by his servant Pedrillo, to rescue his beloved Konstanze from the seraglio (harlem) of the Pasha Selim.

* A full version - totaling 2.5 hours
* A full version (with dialogues in English) - totaling about 2 hours

From the Amadeus movie:
* a song "Martern aller Arten" / "Tortures of all kinds"
* Chorus of the Janissaries, a Turkish dance, conducted by joyous Mozart, and commented by jealous Salieri.

Bonus à la carte:
* Aria: "You may think, you've found a maiden"

+ Duet: " The devil take you and your song, sir!" - in Act 1
* Aria: "With smiles and caresses" - in Act 2
* Aria: "Oh, the happy, happy day" - in Act 2
* Duet: "Here's to Bacchus, Long live Bacchus!" - in Act 2 *** funny

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Music #180 -Mozart Adagio for Piano

Adagio for Piano in b

- K.540

Music #179 -Mozart Rondo for Piano

Rondo No.1 in D

- K.485

Horowitz on piano

Ronda No.2 in F

- K.494

(This rondo was made the finale of Piano Sonata No.15, K.533)

Connie Mak on piano

Rondo No.3 in a

- K.511

Ning An on piano

Music #178 -Mozart Fantasia for Piano

Fantasia No.3 for piano in d

- K.397

Totaling about 7 minutes.

* Gulda

"Despite being unfinished at Mozart's death, the piece is nonetheless one of his more popular compositions for the piano. Because of its somewhat unusual rhythm, its constantly changing tempo (7 different tempi occur throughout the piece...), and its complete lack of any recognizable musical form (as indicated by the "Fantasy" title), the Fantasia is considered to be a relatively challenging piece to perform."

Fantasia No.4 for piano in c

- K.475
Totaling about 12 minutes.

* Barenboim

"Due to these sometimes surprising key changes, ... the music is thought of as quite technically demanding."

Music #177 -"Ah vous dirai-je, Maman"

Mozart's

Twelve Variations on "Ah vous dirai-je, maman"

for piano in C
- K.265

Composed for solo piano in 1778, it consists of 13 sections: the theme, with Variations I to XII.
* live
Totaling about 9 and 11 minutes, respectively.

其变奏曲的第一段，后由英国女诗人 Jane Taylor (1783–1824) 配以歌词，成为广为人知的《小星星》儿歌（Twinkle Twinkle Little Star / 一闪一闪小星星）。

This piece derived from the French folk song "Ah! vous dirai-je, Maman" ("Oh can I tell you, Mom"), whose melody first appeared in 1761, and has been used for many children songs, such as:

* "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" - 1900 million hits
* "Baa, Baa, Black Sheep" - 1000 million hits
* "Alphabet Song" - 151 million hits
and ever growing...

Music #176 -Mozart Violin Sonata No.36

Lovely music!!

Violin Sonata No.36 in F

- aka "Sonata in F for violin & keyboard", K.547
- aka Sonata "For Beginners"

Mvt.1 Andante cantabile
Mvt.2 Allegro
Mvt.3 Andante con variazioni

Totaling about 22 minutes.

Anne Sophie Mutter on violin

Music #175 -Mozart Violin Sonata No.35

Prunaru &
Protopopescu

Violin Sonata No.35 in A

- aka "Sonata in A for violin & piano", K.526

Mvt.1 Molto allegro
Mvt.2 Andante
Mvt.3 Presto

Totaling about 22 minutes.

Music #174 -Mozart Violin Sonata No.33

David Oistrach &
Paul Badura-Skoda

Violin Sonata No.33 in Eb

- aka "Sonata for violin & piano No.33 in Eb", K.481

Mvt.1 Molto allegro
Mvt.2 Adagio
Mvt.3 Allegretto: 6 Variations

Totaling about 24 minutes.

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Music #173 -Mozart Violin Sonata No.32

Violin Sonata No.32 in Bb

- aka "Sonata for violin & piano No.32 in Bb"
- K.454

Mvt.1 Largo - Allegro
Mvt.2 Andante
Mvt.3 Allegretto

Totaling about 23 minutes.

The sonata was written for a violin virtuoso to be performed at a concert in Vienna. Mozart was to be the pianist, but he did not give himself enough time to write out the score for piano. Thus it was performed with a sheet of blank music paper in front of him, as a prop.

... According to a story told by his widow Constanze, the emperor Joseph II saw the empty sheet music through his opera glasses and sent for the composer with his manuscript during which time Mozart had to confess the truth, although that is likely to have amused the monarch rather than cause his irritation.

[Source: Wikipedia]