Classic F.M
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Before Mozart there was Haydn, the Godfather of symphonic sound.
I know.
Haydn's music is all very pretty and jolly. But I need more balls. Beethoven has always been my main man.
Posting here is a great way to listen without adverts. Here is another from the revolutionary Mackerras 1990s cycle.
For those who aren't Beethoven buffs: throughout most of the 20th century, Beethoven was played in a slow, heavy style influenced by famous German conductors. In the 1970s and 80s, a group of British musicians started reconstructing the original scores and fast tempos, using hard mallets on drums and blaring brass.
While pure period instrument recordings can sometimes sound a bit thin and boring, Sir Charles Mackerras and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic changed the game. They took that fast, intense energy, drums and brass and blasted it through a massive, modern symphony orchestra. It was an international sensation, and it completely changed how the world plays Beethoven today.
Here is the Fifth:
For those who aren't Beethoven buffs: throughout most of the 20th century, Beethoven was played in a slow, heavy style influenced by famous German conductors. In the 1970s and 80s, a group of British musicians started reconstructing the original scores and fast tempos, using hard mallets on drums and blaring brass.
While pure period instrument recordings can sometimes sound a bit thin and boring, Sir Charles Mackerras and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic changed the game. They took that fast, intense energy, drums and brass and blasted it through a massive, modern symphony orchestra. It was an international sensation, and it completely changed how the world plays Beethoven today.
Here is the Fifth:
I'm not a fan of over analysis of this music - or classic literature, either. But the Fifth bears a closer scrutiny than others since the effect it had at the time was startling: it's said the orchestra laughed at the simplicity of the opening bars during rehearsals. They'd just not heard anything like it before. Nobody had.
Around 1989-90, i think, there was a series of Beethoven's concerts given using period instruments that sounded unlike modern versions because instruments of the time lacked two centuries of development. Ludwig's piano would've sounded very different to our ears. Here's a sample of an orchestra's attempt to get closer to the original sound, with a trip to the great man's home, now a museum. If you haven't been, i recommend the pilgrimage is worth your time.
Around 1989-90, i think, there was a series of Beethoven's concerts given using period instruments that sounded unlike modern versions because instruments of the time lacked two centuries of development. Ludwig's piano would've sounded very different to our ears. Here's a sample of an orchestra's attempt to get closer to the original sound, with a trip to the great man's home, now a museum. If you haven't been, i recommend the pilgrimage is worth your time.
It was the only video I could find of the Mackerras and Liverpool recordings which have the whole symphony rather than split into individual movements. I didn't actually post it for the bar by bar analysis. I never read any of that stuff - my limit of understanding was music O Level.
The difference in the recordings is startling. The depth and power from Mackerras and Liverpool is just so much more pronounced.
The difference in the recordings is startling. The depth and power from Mackerras and Liverpool is just so much more pronounced.
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Bizet's 'Farandole'. At school, we sang a hymn to the tune of this, it went:
'At break of day, as I was on my way, I met three Kings...'
I can't remember the rest of the words, but the tune stayed with me. Here it is played with great skill on xylophones, or are they glokenspiels?
'At break of day, as I was on my way, I met three Kings...'
I can't remember the rest of the words, but the tune stayed with me. Here it is played with great skill on xylophones, or are they glokenspiels?
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The girl got skillz...
Howard Shore’s score to The Lord of the Rings has been voted the nation’s favourite film score for the fourth year running!
Howard Shore told Classic FM: “I’m very honored to learn that The Lord of the Rings score has been voted favorite by the Classic FM Movie Music Hall of Fame audience for a fourth year. I’m grateful to the many musicians, soloists, and singers who performed this music, which has continued to resonate with listeners for all of this time. I remain very proud of the work and its success, and I’m so happy I was given the opportunity to express J.R.R. Tolkien’s world through music.“
The Bridge of Khazad-dûm isn't one of the often played tracks but Shore's score captures the tension of the chase and the terror of Gandalf's timeless battle with the Balrog beautifully.
Howard Shore told Classic FM: “I’m very honored to learn that The Lord of the Rings score has been voted favorite by the Classic FM Movie Music Hall of Fame audience for a fourth year. I’m grateful to the many musicians, soloists, and singers who performed this music, which has continued to resonate with listeners for all of this time. I remain very proud of the work and its success, and I’m so happy I was given the opportunity to express J.R.R. Tolkien’s world through music.“
The Bridge of Khazad-dûm isn't one of the often played tracks but Shore's score captures the tension of the chase and the terror of Gandalf's timeless battle with the Balrog beautifully.
Variations on a March by Yuja Wang.
Online voting began Tuesday for Fat Bear Week, the annual contest that pits the rotund residents of Katmai National Park and Preserve against each other for the title of most oversized ursine. Last year’s winner, Chunk — known officially as Bear 32 — is hungry for a repeat. Chunk’s weight in 2025 was estimated at 1,200 pounds, which gave him a narrow victory. This year he’s back and facing corpulent competition like Gully — aka Bear 903 — the offspring of two-time champion Grazer.
Meanwhile...Rick Wakeman has played a piano concert to bears at a sanctuary in Vietnam. His concert was performed live on a Yamaha grand piano positioned in Animals Asia in the Tam Dao national park. Wakeman is trying to raise awareness of 125 animals that remain stuck in cages at ‘bile farms’ in the country. Asked whether the bears would enjoy the music, he said: “They’ve not got much choice, really". #Whattaguy.
Meanwhile...Rick Wakeman has played a piano concert to bears at a sanctuary in Vietnam. His concert was performed live on a Yamaha grand piano positioned in Animals Asia in the Tam Dao national park. Wakeman is trying to raise awareness of 125 animals that remain stuck in cages at ‘bile farms’ in the country. Asked whether the bears would enjoy the music, he said: “They’ve not got much choice, really". #Whattaguy.
