April 29, 2019

Year of Wonder – May

After four months I am still chipping away at Clemency Burton-Hill’s Year of Wonder and listening to one piece of music every day for 2019. In previous months (January-April) I embedded pieces from the book on this blog that were either new — or relatively new — to my listening repertoire. This month I’ll take a different approach and embed videos of six pieces that are well-known in the world of classical music. I do this to make the point that Burton-Hill’s book will not only introduce you to new music, but also ask you to revisit the music that anyone who listens to classical music should know about.

I have also, as usual, embedded a Spotify playlist of Burton-Hill’s music for the next month.

Enjoy!


Beethoven, Symphony No. 5, Fourth Movement (1804)
Performed by Leonard Bernstein conducting the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra

Paganini, Caprice No. 24 (1817)
Performed by Hilary Hahn, violin

Wagner, Overture to Tannhäser (1845)
Performed by Herbert von Karajan conducting the Berlin Philharmonic

Gershwin, Walking the Dog (1937)
Performed by Sebastian Manz, clarinet, with Danish String Quartet, Martin Klett (piano), and Lars Olaf Schaper (double bass)

Copland, Fanfare for the Common Man (1942)
Performed by Marin Alsop conducting the São Paulo Symphony Orchestra

Górecki, Symphony No. 3, Second Movement (1976)
Performed by Zofia Kilanowicz, soprano, with Sir Gilbert Levine conducting the London Philharmonic Orchestra

April 18, 2019

Tchaikovsky, Serenade for Strings (1880)

"I should have gone mad but for music. Music is indeed the most beautiful of all Heaven's gifts to humanity wandering in the darkness. Alone it calms, enlightens, and stills our souls. It is not the straw to which the drowning man clings; but a true friend, refuge, and comforter, for whose sake life is worth living.” 
– Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

This energetic version of Tchaikovsky’s Serenade for Strings is played by the New Century Chamber Orchestra under the leadership of the great violinist, Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg. In 1999, Ms. Salerno-Sonnenberg received an honorary Master of Musical Arts degree from New Mexico State University, the first honorary degree ever awarded by NMSU (my alma mater, btw).

Enjoy!

Tchaikovsky, Serenade for Strings, First Movement
Performed by the New Century Chamber Orchestra

April 8, 2019

Billy the Kid Reading List

For everyone attending my Billy the Kid walking tour of Silver City, NM, here's a list or resources to get you started with understanding the Kid and his endlessly fascinating life. Although I could recommend many other books and resources, the items on this list should serve as a good place to begin.

The best website on Billy the Kid (to my knowledge).







My favorite book on Billy the Kid, even though it contains more legend than history.
 

I hope I am forgiven for using this list to promote my own novel about Billy the Kid.

And let's not forget the music. 
Aaron Copland  composed young Billy's arrival in Silver City. Very cool!