Music chronicles, 1940-1954 / Virgil Thomson ; Tim Page, editor.
| Author/creator |
Thomson, Virgil, 1896-1989 author. |
| Other author/creator | Page, Tim, 1954- editor. |
| Format | Book and Print |
| Publication Info | New York, N.Y. : The Library of America, 2014. |
| Description | xxi, 1177 pages ; 21 cm. |
| Subject(s) |
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| Series | The Library of America ; 258 Library of America ; 258. ^A515081 |
| Contents | The musical scene. Introduction -- Taste in music -- Covering the orchestras. Age without honor [Egmont, Enigma, Sibelius Symphony no. 2] -- Sonorous splendors [Vaughan Williams Symphony no. 2, Beethoven Symphony no. 5] -- Velvet paws [Handel Concerto for orchestra in D, Sibelius Symphony no. 1, Respighi Feste Romane] -- Three orchestras -- Music from Chicago [Euryanthe, Brahms Symphony no. 3, American Creed, Till Eulenspiegel] -- Community orchestra [Haydn Symphony no. 2, Dvorak Symphony no. 5, Mendelssohn, Humperdinck] -- It's about time [Loeffler Memories of My Childhood, Creston Choric Dance no. 2, A Lincoln Legend, Rhapsody in Blue] -- Boston's Pops -- Band music -- Landscape with music -- Music at the Golden Gate -- The Philharmonic centenary -- Being odious [Whithorne Dream Pedlar, Schumann Symphony no. 3, Mozart Violin Concerto in D, The Moldau] -- Diminishing artistic returns [Symphonie fantastique, Mathis der Maler] -- The personality of three orchestras -- Chiefly conductors. Conducting reviewed -- Pipe-organ obsession [Leonore no. 3, Brahms Variations on a Theme by Haydn, Siegfried's funeral march, Shostakovich Symphony no. 6] -- Impeccable musical tailoring [Mozart Symphony no. 35, Martinu Concerto Grosso, Tchaikovky Piano Concerto no. 1, 1812 overture] -- Britain wins [Handel "The Faithful Shepherd", Mozart Symphony no. 31, Sibelius Symphony no. 7, Francesca da Rimini] -- More Beecham [Haydn Symphony no. 102, Mozart Symphony no. 36, Delius Paris: The Song of a Great City, Dvorak Symphonic variations] -- Showy conducting [Leonore no. 2, Beethoven Symphony no. 4, Strauss Sinfonia Domestica] -- The maestro [Magic Flute overture, Haydn Symphony no. 104, Beethoven Symphony no. 8] -- Absolute theater [Fidelio overture, Triple Concerto, Beethoven Symphony no. 7] -- The Toscanini case -- Compositions and composers. Bach goes to church [Weinachtsoratorium] -- New star reveals old [Boccherini Cello Concerto in D] -- The Gluck case -- The Seasons in Brooklyn [Haydn The Seasons] -- Haydn, Beethoven, and Mozart -- Mozart's leftism -- The Berlioz case -- Theater and religion [Verdi Te Deum, Requiem] -- The "Brahms line" -- Acquaintance with Wagner -- Dissent from Wagner -- Strauss and Wagner -- Mahler and Boston at their best [Mahler Symphony no. 9, Mussorgsky, Liadov, Rimsky-Korsakov] -- Close communion [Stravinsky Violin Concerto] -- Stravinsky's symphony -- Stravinsky's late Beethoven [Dougherty Music from Seas and Ships: An American Sonata, Stravinsky Concerto for Two Pianos] -- Shostakovich's Seventh -- More of same [Shostakovich Symphony no. 8] -- Smetana's heir [Martinu Symphony no. 1] -- Repeating pattern [Martinu Symphony no. 2] -- The Hindemith case -- Serious music [Death and the Maiden, Verklarte Nacht, Ives songs] -- Real modern music [Schoenberg Piano Concerto] -- A wealth of dissonance [Imbrie String Quartet in B flat, organ works by Schoenberg, Muffat, Lamb] -- French music here [Satie] -- Better than it sounds [Jose Maria Castro, Jose Ardevol, Domingo Santa Cruz, Francisco Mignone, Luis Gianneo, Hector Tosar, Camargo Guarnieri] -- Harris and Shostakovich [Roy Harris/Shostakovich Symphony no. 3] -- Superficially warlike [Schuman Secular cantata no. 2, Barber Essay for orchestra no. 1, Copland A Lincoln Portrait, Beethoven Symphony no. 5] -- More Barber [Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, Barber Symphony no. 2, Brahms Symphony no. 3, Berlioz Damnation de Faust] -- Bernstein in Boston [Schumann Symphony no. 3 ("Rhenish"), Bernstein Symphony no. 1 ("Jeremiah"), Copland El Salón Mexico] -- Our musical Tom Sawyer [Antheil Symphony no. 4] -- Levant tough and tender [Spohr Symphony no. 2, Ravel La Valse, Levant Concerto for piano and orchestra] -- The budding grove -- |
| Contents | Opera. Mozart on love [Cosi Fan Tutte] -- Confusion ordered [Mozart The Magic Flute] -- Two-star matinee [La Traviata] -- Negro Traviata -- The Verdi case [The Masked Ball] -- Hokum and Schmalz [Verdi La Forza Del Destino] -- Vocalism victorious [Wagner Die Walküre] -- Carmen à l'Aimable -- Paris forever [Offenbach La Vie Parisienne] -- Melody and tears [Puccini La Bohème] -- Mildly dissenting [Strauss Der Rosenkavalier] -- Free love, socialism, and why girls leave home [Charpentier, Louise] -- The Grace Moore case -- Mélisande -- Porgy in Maplewood -- Blitzstein's operas [No for an Answer, The Cradle Will Rock] -- Experimental opera [Wagenaar and Eager, Pieces of Eight] -- Advice to opera singers -- Mugging at the opera -- What's wrong with the Met? -- Recitalists. Classic beauty [Schumann Sonata op. 14, Beethoven Sonata no. 32 (op. 111), Chopin Sonata in B minor, op. 58] -- Great music [Chopin Sonata in B minor, op. 58, Polonaise Fantaisie, op. 61, Fantaisie Impromptu, no. 66] -- Master of distortion and exaggeration [Bach Toccata in C major, Bach chorales, Brahms intermezzi, Chopin Sonata in B-flat minor, Chopin études, Liszt Marche Funèbre, Liszt-Saint-Saëns Danse Macabre] -- Pianism as a sport [Franck Prelude, Chorale, and Fugue, Debussy Dance in E major, preludes, Scarlatti, Bach, De Falla, Albéniz, Ravel, Nin] -- Equalized expressivity [Beethoven Sonata no. 6 (op. 10, no. 2), Sonata no. 17 (op. 31, no. 2), Sonata no. 31 (op. 110), and Sonata no. 32 (op. 111)] -- Personal and Viennese [Mozart Fantasia and Fugue in C major, Sonata in G major, Beethoven Sonata no. 23 (op. 57, "Appassionata"), Reger Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Telemann] -- The strange case of Claudio Arrau [Debussy Etampes, Mozart Rondo in A minor, Chopin Ballade in F minor, Beethoven "Eroica" Variations, op. 35, Liszt Mephisto Waltz no. 1, Jeaux d'eau à la Villa d'Este] -- American rhythm [Ives Sonata no. 2 ("Concord, Mass., 1840-1860"), Chanler Toccata in E-flat major, MacDowell Woodland Sketches, Harris Piano Sonata, op. 1] -- A good start [Beethoven Sonata no. 16 (op. 31, no. 1), Scarlatti, Mozart, Chopin, Liszt, Prokofiev, Perischetti, Fuleihan] -- Very loud and very soft [Beethoven Sonata no. 32 (op. 111), Fauré Theme and Variations, op. 75, Chopin études, Albéniz] -- Rhythmic grandeurs [Bach "Goldberg Variations"] -- A shower of gold [Rameau Suite in E minor, Froberger Lament Composed in London to Dispel Melancholy, Bach Prelude and Fugue in E-flat minor, Partita in B-flat major, Chromatic Fantasy and Fugue] -- Complete authority [Schumann Toccata in C major, Chopin études, Brahms, Balakirev] -- Correct and beautiful [Grieg "Haugtussa", Brahms, Wolf] -- Glamour and loyalty [Galuppi, da Capua, Marcello, Brahms, Gounod, Saint-Saëns, Fauré, Ravel] -- God bless Ireland [Foster "Gentle Annie," Verdi "Eri tu" from Ballo in Maschera] -- Chestnuts, but not roasted [Brahms, Handel, Torelli, Ponchielli, Mascagni Ah, lo vedi from Cavalleria Rusticana] -- Some beautiful songs and the sad story of Dorothy Maynor [Chanler Five Rhymes from "Peacock Fire," Negro spirituals, Handel, Fauré, Bizet, Mussorgsky] -- High quality singing [Rameau, Mozart, Debussy, Rossini, Mussorgsky, Gretchaninov, Bernstein, Diamon, Nin] -- Fine fiddling [Beethoven Sonata no. 9 (op. 47, "Kreutzer"), Tchaikovsky Sonata in D major, op. 35, Engel Sea-Shell] -- Silk underwear music [Bennett Hexapoda: Five Studies in Jitteroptera, Spohr Concerto no. 8 ("Gesangscene"), Strauss Sonata, op. 18, Mozart Sonata no. 10] -- In tune, but not with the infinite [Beethoven Sonata no. 7 (op. 30, no. 2), Bach Partita in D minor, Vieuxtemps Concerto no. 5, Debussy Sonata in G minor] -- Extraordinary cello playing [Ciaja, Beethoven, Brahms, Boccherini] -- A noble and lovely evening [Mozart Concerto for Flute and Orchestra, Concerto for Flute, Cello, Harp, and Orchestra, Wagenaar Triple Concerto for Flute, Cello, Harp, and Orchestra, Le Clair Concerto for Flute and Orchestra with Harpsichord Obbligato] -- |
| Contents | Sacred and choral. Styles in sacred music [Mozart Gloria, Gounod Gallia, Handel Judas Maccaboeus, Mendelssohn Elijah, Palestrina O bone Jesu, Rossini Inflammatus] -- Hymns of tribulation and rejoicing [Bach Cantata no. 19 ("There Uprose a Great Strife"), Motet "Come, Jesu, Come," Cantata no. 180 ("Beautiful Thyself, My Spirit"), Weinachtsoratorium, Part IV, Cantata no. 146 ("We Must Come Through Great Tribulation"), Magnificat] -- Sacred swing -- For choral music -- Musical matriarchate [Christmas concert by the Trapp Family Singers] -- Harvard fair but no warmer [Holst Dirge for Two Veterans, Tallis "Lamentations of Jeremiah," Byrd "Justorum Animae," Bach "Dona Nobis Pacem" (Mass in B minor), Lambert Rio Grande, Verdi Otello opening scene, Johann Strauss Reine Indigo] -- The collegiate chorale [Darke "O Brother Man," Bax "Mater Ora Filium," Britten "Hymn to St. Cecilia," Warlock, Walton Belshazzar's Feast, Willan Missa Brevis, Vaughan Williams Wassail Song, "God Save the King"] -- Renaissance musical grandeurs [Lassus Providebem Dominum, Timor et Tremor, Lamentationes Hieremiae, Ronsard, Petrarch Passan vostri triomphi] -- Fa sol la fa sol la mi fa -- Wedding music [Mendelssohn Midsummer Night's Dream, Wagner Bridal Chorus from Lohengrin] -- Processed music. Processed music -- Processed for fidelity -- Fantasia [Beethoven "Pastoral" Symphony, Tchaikovsky Nutcracker Suite, Ponchielli Dance of the Hours, Schubert Ave Maria, Stravinsky Rite of Spring, Dukas Sorcerer's Apprentice, Rossini William Tell Overture] -- Chaplin scores [The Great Dictator, City Lights, Wagner Lohengrin overture, Brahms Hungarian Dance] -- Beethoven in the home [Lenore no. 3 overture, Symphony no. 8, Symphony no. 5] -- Music announcing -- The cultural obligation -- General ideas. Season's impressions -- Singing vs crooning -- Tempos -- Transcriptions [Debussy Gynopédies, Stokowski Adoramus Te, Beethoven "Farewell" Sonata, Schubert Serenade, Rossini William Tell overture, Debussy Afternoon of a Faun, Liszt Danse Macabre] -- Masterpieces -- Understanding modern music [Twelve-tone School, Neo-Classicists, Neo-Romanticism, Debussy Pelléas et Mélisande] -- Reviewing modern music -- Getting used to modern music -- Conducting modern music -- Music's renewal -- The French style -- |
| Contents | The art of judging music. The art of judging music -- Orchestras, conductors, recitalists. The Philharmonic crisis -- The new friends -- Pierre Monteux -- The Sanguine temperament [Haydn Symphony no. 93, Handel-Beecham Suite from The Great Elopment, Beethoven Symphony no. 7, Berlioz Marche Troyenne] -- The Ormandy case [Kodály Concerto for Orchestra, Debussy Nuages, Fêtes] -- Wrestling and shadow boxing [Bach Brandenburg Concerto no. 3, Milhaud Création du Monde, Schumann Symphony no. 2] -- You can listen to him [Schubert Symphony no. 7, Sacre du Printemps] -- Among the best [Handel Water Music Suite, Honegger Symphony no. 3 ("Liturgique"), Debussy Ibéria, Ravel Suite no. 2 from Daphnis et Chloë] -- Birthday salute -- The Koussevitzky case -- The Horowitz mood [Bruyères, General Lavine, Debussy études, Mendelssohn-Liszt Hochzeitsmarsch, Mendelssohn-Liszt Variations, Haydn, Schumann, Prokofiev, Chopin] -- Money's worth [Bach-Busoni Toccata and Fugue in D minor, Hummel Rondo Favori, Liszt Sonata in B minor, Brahms Intermezzo in B-flat minor, Mendelssohn-Rachmaninoff Scherzo from Midsummer Night's Dream, Debussy Reflet dans l'eau, Ravel Toccata] -- The noble style [Bach-Liszt Organ Prelude and Fugue, Beethoven Thirty-two Variations on an Original Theme, Chopin Sonata in B-flat minor, Messiaen, Prokofiev Danza, Sarcasm, Rachmaninoff, Liszt Sonnetto del Patrarcha no. 104 and Étude transcendante no. 10] -- Grace and power [Beethoven Sonata no. 21 (op. 53, "Waldstein"), De Falla-Chavchavadze Suite on Themes from El Amor Brujo, Debussy Suite for Piano, Chopin] -- In the first category [Handel Passacaglia, Rossi Andantino in G major, Haydn Variations in F minor, W. F. Bach Capriccio, Mozart Rondo in D, Schubert Sonata no. 3, Schubert Impromptu no. 3, Chopin] -- Incomparable Chopin [Sonata in B-flat minor, Bach, Scarlatti, Beethoven, Albéniz, Guarnieri, Philipp] -- Warm welcome [Bach French Suite no. 5, Beethoven Six Variations on a Theme in F major op. 34, Beethoven Sonata in A-flat op. 110, Brahms Sonata in F minor] -- Violence and charm [Mozart Fantasy in C minor, Haydn Sonata in C minor, Chopin, Beethoven Sonata no. 31 (op. 33, "Waldstein"), Martinu Fantasy and Rondo, Smetana] -- Too fast for brilliance [Bach Chromatic Fantasia and Fugue, Liszt Gnomenreigen, Gounod-Liszt Waltz from Faust, Chopin Fantaisie in F minor, Chopin Andante Spianato et Grande Polonaise] -- Sound without fury [Schumann Carnaval, Chopin, Scarlatti, Bach, Debussy, Stravinsky] -- Young man, why so serious? [Bach Toccata in C minor, Mozart Rondo in A minor, Beethoven "Diabelli" Variations] -- Intensity and brains [Bach Well-tempered Clavier, Mozart Sonata in C major K. 330, Beethoven Sonata no. 23 (op. 57, "Appassionata"), Copland Piano Sonata, Brahms Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Handel] -- Young but not romantic [Bach-Liszt Organ Fantasia and Fugue, Brahms Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Handel, Chopin, Joio Prelude: To a Young Musician, Bowles, Liszt] -- |
| Contents | Perfect host [Beethoven Sonata no. 21 (op. 53, "Waldstein"), Schumann Kreisleriana, Medtner Improvisation (Theme and Variations), Fauré Barcarolle no. 5, Ravel Toccata from Le Tombeau de Couperin, Villa-Lobos Chôro no. 5, Milhaud La Libertadora, Chopin Andante Spinato et Grande Polonaise Brillante] -- Gershwin black and blue [American in Paris, Piano Concerto in F, Porgy and Bess, Rhapsody in Blue] -- Musical badminton [Mozart, W. F. Bach, Bartók, Debussy, Fuleihan, Kachaturian, Richard Strauss, Liszt] -- Costume party [Bach, Brahms Chorale-Preludes, Brahms Variations on a Theme by Haydn, Koutzen Sonatina for Two Pianos, Rossini "Largo al Factotum" from The Barber of Seville, Gretchaninov Berceuse, Riegger New Dance] -- New high [J. C. Bach Duetto in F major, Satie Trois Morceaux en forme de poire, Bowles, Stravinsky, Haieff, Thomson Five Inventions, Cage Three Dances for Prepared Piano, Rieti Second Avenue Waltzes] -- Definitive renderings [Couperin Passacaille, Rameau Gavotte and Doubles in A major, Bach French Suite in E major, Mozart Sonata in D major, Vivaldi-Bach Concerto in D major, Bach Italian Concerto in F major] -- Consort of viols [Couperin La Sultana, Abel Sonata in G, Rameau Gavotte and Variations in A minor, Buxtehude Sonata in D major, Gibbon Two Fantasias, Scarlatti, Telemann Suite in C major] -- Variety without loudness -- Strings bowed, strings plucked [Bach Sonata no. 2, Bach Sonata no. 4, Mozart Sonata F major, Mozart Sonata G major, Mozart Sonata A major] -- An evening of delight [Stokowski-Victoria "Jesu, Dulcis Memoria," Mozart Don Giovanni overture, Hindemith Symphony no. 1, Lalo Symphonie Espagnole, Milhaud Saudades do Brasil, Debussy L'Après-midi d'un faune] -- Good goods [Fauré Sonata in A major, Ravel Berceuse, Ravel Tzigane, Bach Chaconne, Stravinsky Duo Concertant, Kreisler] -- Musical satisfaction [Handel Sonata no. 5, Beethoven Romance in F, Fauré Sonata in A major, Haieff Suite for Violin and Piano, Paganini, Guarnieri Cantica la de Longe, Arbós Tango] -- New era [Bach Sonata in E minor, Mozart Concerto in G major, Debussy Violin Sonata, Foss "Early Song," Foss "Dedication," "Composer's Holiday," Szymanowski-Kochanski Chanson Polanaise, Paganini Caprice no. 17, de Sarasate] -- King of the gypsies [Viotti Adagio in E major, Beethoven Sonata no. 9 (op. 47, "Kreutzer"), Bartók Four Rumanian Folk Dances, Copland Ukulele Serenade, Paganini La Campanella, Chopin, Bach Prelude and Fugue in G minor, Adagio and Fugue] -- Great quartet playing [Haydn String Quartet no. 53 ("The Lark"), Thompson String Quartet no. 1, Debussy String Quartet] -- Soaring unit [Mozart String Quartet no. 17 ("Dissonant"), Brahms String Quartet in C minor op. 51 no. 1, Ravel String Quartet] -- Jeritza's return [Ponchielli "Suicido" from La Gioconda, Wagner Brünnhilde's Cry from Die Walküre, Schubert, Tchaikovsky, Debussy, Strauss Salomé] -- France delivers [Lully, Rameau, Martini, Mozart, Schubert, Berlioz, Gounod, Mussorgsky, Brahms, Debussy, Chabrier, Ravel] -- Pretty singing [Purcell, Gluck, Schumann, Brahms, Franck, Grieg, Amy Beach, Still Breath of a Rose] -- Folklore in Sunday clothes [Scarlatti, Pergolesi, De Falla, Segovia, Tarvares, Guarnieri] -- The concert song [Poulenc Daphénéo, Le Chapelier, Je Te Veux, Poudre d'Or, Duke Bells in the Rain, Sargent, Rosenberg, Schumann, Schubert, Grieg, Sinding] -- A miracle and a monument [Ravel, Fauré, Debussy Letter Scene from Pelléas et Mélisande, Pergolesi, Mozart, Carpenter, Paladilhe] -- |
| Contents | The opera. Singing today -- Voice forum -- Opera's next step -- Reconverting opera -- English at the Met -- Fairy tale about music [Wagner Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg] -- Good singing [Bellini Norma] -- Two new stars [La Traviata] -- First class thriller [Ponchielli La Gioconda] -- Aggressive but harmonious [Verdi Otello] -- A happy return [Puccini Madama Butterfly] -- Glamorous evening [Verdi La Bohème] -- Charade with music [Rimsky-Korsakov The Golden Cockerel] -- Lurching and mugging [Strauss Salomé] -- After thirty years [Strauss Ariadne on the Isle of Naxos] -- Carolina Carmen -- Farce and melodrama [Menotti The Telephone, Menotti The Medium] -- Acting to song -- Respecting composers. Choral effectives -- Majestic but inefficient [Bach Mass in B minor] -- In the royal style [Bach Mass in B minor] -- Beethoven's Fifth -- Brahms without Bathos [Akademische Festouvertüre, Symphony no. 3, Symphony no. 2] -- Bruckner [Symphony no. 7, Beethoven Coriolanus overture, Beethoven Piano Concerto no. 3] -- MacDowell's music [Woodland Sketches, New England Sketches, Sea Pieces] -- The American song -- American conservatives [Piston Suite from The Incredible Flutist, Griffe White Peacock, Loeffler Pagan Poem, Bergsma Music on a Quiet Theme, Hanson Symphony no. 2 ("Romantic")] -- Annual gesture [Castelnuovo-Tedesco Overture to a Fairy Tale, Rieti Sinfonia Tripartita, Creston Frontiers, Siegmeister Western Suite] -- Melodious and skillful [Bacon Four Songs from Emily Dickinson, From Emily's Diary, From the Appalachians, The River Queen, Bacon-Luening Scuttle Blues] -- New and good [Sessions Piano Sonata no. 2, Avshalomoff Sonatina for Viola and Piano, Baudrier, List Isthmus Tonalis, Chanler Flight Into Egypt, Carter, Diamond Third String Quartet] -- Schuman's Undertow -- Good music, poor literature [Mozart The Abduction from the Seraglio Overture, Violin Concerto in D major, Blitzstein Airborne Symphony] -- Two ballets [Copland Appalachian Spring, Hindemith Hérodiade] -- Expressive percussion [Cage The Perilous Night, A Book of Music for Two Pianos, Three Dances] -- Swiss festival [Honegger Nicolas de Flue] -- Democracy and style [Mendelssohn Midsummer Night's Dream, Beethoven Violin Concerto in D major, Milhaud Suite Francçaise, Milhaud Le Bal martiniquais] -- Musical gastronomy [Rosenthal Musique de table] -- Children's day [Haydn "Toy" Symphony, Paganini Violin Concerto in D major, Liszt Mehisto Waltz, Villa-Lobos Chôro no. 8, Chôro no. 9] -- Revueltas evening [North Opening Dance, Slaughter of the Innocents, Exile, Soler-North Visión Fantástica, Revueltas Homenaje a García Lorca, Canciones para Niñas, El Renacuajo Paseador] -- A master in our time [Bartók Twenty Hungarian Folk Songs, Mikrokosmos, Dance Suite] -- Going contemporary [Prokofiev Symphony no. 5, Beethoven Coriolanus overture, Symphony no. 6 ("Pastoral")] -- Brilliant farewell [Stravinsky Oedipus Rex, Pastorale for Five Instruments, Ragtime, Elegy for Two Violas, Royal March from L'Histoire d'un soldat, Firebird Suite] -- The poetry of precision [Glinka Russian and Ludmilla overture, Tchaikovsky Symphony no. 2, Stravinsky Ode, Concerto for Piano and Wind Orchestra, Four Norwegian Moods, Circus Polka] -- Viennese lament [Couperin-Milhaud La Sultane overture and allegro, Berg Concerto for Violin and Orchestra, Berlioz Le roi Lear overture] -- Schönberg's music [Verklärte Nacht, Die glückliche Hand, Gurre-Lieder, Pierrot Lunaire] -- |
| Contents | From out of town. Overtrained [Beethoven Symphony no. 3 ("Eroica"), Berlioz Harold en Italie] -- Chicago orchestra [Berlioz Benvenuto Cellini overture, Brahms Symphony no. 2, Prokofiev Scythian Suite, Scriabin Poème d'Extase] -- Orchestrally news [Rachmaninoff Symphony no. 2, Purcell "Dido's Lament" from Dido and Aeneas, Fernández Batuque, Griffes's White Peacock, Strauss "Dance of the Seven Veils" from Salomé] -- From Hollywood via Indianapolis [Berlioz "Carnaval Romain" overture, Haydn Symphony no. 77 ("La Chasse"), Barrymoore Praeludium and Fugue, Shostakovich Symphony no. 5] -- Music in Pittsburgh [Milhaud Suite française, Stravinsky Pulcinella suite, Debussy Ibéria, Wieniawski Violin Concerto no. 2] -- A touching occasion [Bach Fugue in C major, Bach "Kom süsse Tod," Foss Pantomime for Orchestra, Brahms Symphony no. 3, Brahms Violin Concerto, op. 77] -- Landscape music [Mozart Symphony no. 27, Hindemith Symphonia Serena, Copland Three Dance Episodes from Rodeo] -- Modernistic piety [Messiaen L'Ascension: quatre meditations pour l'orchestre, Strauss Tod und Verklärung] -- University festival [Gershwin, Puccini Madama Butterfly, Holst Hymn of Jesus, Schuman Requiescat, Copland Lark, Stravinsky Symphony of Psalms, Thomson Medea, Piston Violin Sonata, Diamond, Ames, Naginsky, Strickland, Still, Sowerby, Copland Danzon Cubano, Schulyer Fairy Tale Symphony, Work Yenvalou suite, Blitzen The Airborne] -- From overseas. Paris items: oratorios and organs [Rosenthal Saint Francis of Assisi, Tomasi Requiem, Rivier Fifty-sixth (or Fifty-fifth) Psalm, Roland-Manuel Benedictiones] -- Oliver Messiaen [The Technique of My Musical Language (Technique de mon langage musical), Forgotten Offerings (Les Offrandes oubliées), The Nativity of Our Lord, Seven Visions of the Amen, Twenty Admirations of the Infant Jesus, Three Short Liturgies of the Divine Presence, Quartet for the End of Time] -- Lively St. Francis [Rosenthal Saint Francis of Assisi] -- The vacant chair [Honegger Jeanne au bûcher (Joan at the Stake), La Danse des morts (The Dance of the Dead), Nicolas de Flue, Barraud Le Diable à la kermesse (The Devil at the Fair), Daniel-Lesure Pastorale variée, Milhaud Les Choréophores, Milhaud Maximilien, Christophe Colomb] -- Pelléas and Pénélope [Debussy Pelléas et Mélisande, Fauré Pénélope] -- Méhul's Joseph -- Thaïs with Géori-Boué -- Purging the "collabos" -- Orchestral standards -- Atonality in France [Berg Lyrische Suite] -- State and private radio -- Musical Belgium -- Trieste's music and radio setup [Boïto Mefistofele, Ponchielli La Gioconda, Bizet Carmen, Verdi La Forza Del Destino] -- Venice unvanquished [Carissimi Jephtha's Daughter, Malipiero Vergilii Aenis, Malipiero Third Symphony] -- Salzburg festival [Mozart Don Giovanni, The Marriage of Figaro, Strauss Rosenkavalier, Mozart Requiem, Symphonie fantastique (Fantastic Symphony)] -- Germany's musical life -- Music in Berlin [Berlioz Benvenuto Cellini overture, Prokofiev Romeo and Juliet suite, Brahms First Symphony, Puccini Il Tabarro (The Cloak), Busoni Arlecchino] -- German composers [Weill Mahagonny, Der Dreigroschenoper, Orff Carmine Catulli, Carmine Burana, Die Klüge, Stravinsky Les Noces, Blacher Concertante Musik, Hessenberg Symphony no. 2] -- Visit to Dresden [Kálmán Die Czardasfürstin, Dostal Monika, Raphael Sistine Madonna] -- Thoughts in season. Repertory -- Program notes -- The piano -- The violin -- The organ -- The great tradition -- Radio is chamber music -- Symphonic broadcasts -- Surrealism and music -- French rhythm -- Expressive content -- Intellectual content -- Ethical content -- Americanisms -- Modernism today -- "Theory" at Juilliard -- Second-rate season -- A war's end. |
| Contents | Music right and left. Prelude -- Orchestras and conductors. Conservative institution -- The delights of autumn [Bach Toccata and Fugue in D minor, Sibelius Symphony no. 2, Berg Wozzeck, Ravel Suite no. 2 from Daphnis et Chloë] -- Luminous [Beethoven Symphony no. 7, Pijper Symphony no. 3, Chausson Symphony in B-flat major] -- Prince of impressions [Mozart Symphony no. 38 ("Prague"), Stravinsky Chant du rossignol, Fauré Orchestral Suite from Pelléas et Mélisande, Debussy La Mer] -- Koussevitzky -- Wondrous musical beauties [Mozart Symphony no. 41 ("Jupiter"), Bartók Concerto for Orchestra, Beethoven Piano Concerto no. 4] -- Expert and original [Milhaud-Couperin Overture and Allegro from La Sultane, Mozart Symphony no. 40, Rosenthal Magic Manhattan, Schönberg Verklärte Nacht, de Falla Sombrero de tres picos] -- Musical horse show [Rossini La Gazza Ladra overture, Symphonie fantastique, Frazzi Preludio Magico, Gould Spirituals for String Choir and Orchestra, Wagner "Ride of the Valkyries" from Die Walküre] -- A knack for landscape [Verdi I Vespri Siciliani overture, Mozart Piano Concerto in A major, Dvořák Symphony no. 5 [9] ("From the New World"), Rachmaninoff Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini] -- France at its best -- Beecham's 70th birthday -- Children's voices [Poulenc Tenebrae factae sunt, Milhaud Deux Cités, Lully, Rameau, Mozart, d'Indy, Grieg] -- Recitalists. King of pianists [Chopin Sonata in B minor, Schumann Fantasiestücke, Albéniz "Albaicin," Albéniz "Triana," Szymanowski, Liszt Valse Oubilée, Liszt Rhapsody no. 12] -- Dramatizing the structure [Chopin Sonata in C minor, Schubert Sonata in D major, Schumann Fantasie in C major] -- Modern piano playing [Mozart Fantasia in D minor, Bach-Liszt Prelude and Fugue in A minor, Beethoven Sonata no. 31 (op. 110), Debussy Trois Images, Fauré Nocturne no. 13, Barcarolle no. 6, Ravel Tombeau de Couperin] -- Fulfillment experienced [Scarlatti, Ives Four Transcriptions from Emerson, Carter Piano Sonata, Menotti Ricercare and Toccata, Beethoven Sonata no. 32 (op. 111)] -- Thoroughly contemporary [Beethoven Sonata no. 14 (op. 27, no. 2, "Moonlight"), Chopin Preludes, Rachmaninoff, Debussy La Fille aux Cheveux de Lin, Schumann Variations on the Name Abegg, Ravel Gaspard de la Nuit] -- Beauty, distinction, mastery [Anton Stamitz Adagio and Rondo, Bach Partita in D minor, Beethoven Sonata no. 8 (op. 30, no. 3), Nabokov Introduction and Allegro] -- Violence and virtuosity [Handel Larghetto, Vivaldi-Respighi Sonata in D major, Bach Chaconne, Wieniawski Concerto no. 5, Hindemith Sonata in D, Shostakovich Three Fantastic Dances, Nadelmann Invocation and Dance] -- Virtuoso makes music [Bach "Nun kommt der Heiden Heiland," Suite no. 6, Brahms Sonata no. 2, Debussy Sonata for Cello and Piano, Locatelli Cello Sonata in D, Paganini Variations for One String] -- Brilliant and diffuse [Boccherini Sonata in C major, Bach Prelude and Fugue in C minor (from Cello Suite no. 5, "Discordable"), Chopin Sonata in G minor, Debussy Sonata for Cello and Piano, Fauré Élégie, Stravinsky Aria, Piatigorsky Variations on a Theme by Paganini] -- A major experience [Hahn Etudes Latines, de Falla "Jota" and Finale from El Retablo de Maese Pedro, Ravel Chansons Madécasses, Mussorgsky Chantes et danses de la mort] -- The accents of passion [Greek folk songs, Cimarosa, Schubert, Wolf, Weber Euryanthe, Mahler, de Falla, Obrados] -- Lovely voice, perfect taste [Swanson "The Valley," "The Negro Speaks of Rivers," "Night Song," "Joy," Berlioz "La Mort d'Ophélie," "Villanelle," "Le Spectre de la rose," Mozart, Purcell, Wolf] -- La Môme Piaf -- Personal distinction [Tchaikovsky The Sleeping Beauty waltz, Humperdinck Hansel and Greta overture, Rebikoff "Dance of the Chinese Dolls" from Christmas Tree Suite, "Adeste Fideles," Junst "Christmas Echo Song," Leontowitch "Carol of the Bells," Puccini "O mio Babbino Caro" from Gianni Schicchi, "Little Town of Bethlehem," "Silent Night"] -- |
| Contents | Operas. Perfect and powerful [Strauss Salomé] -- Musically authentic [Debussy Pelléas et Mélisade] -- In fairy tale vein [Wagner Das Rheingold] -- Speciality of the house [Wagner Götterdämmerung (Twilight of the Gods)] -- Louise as a wan blonde [Charpentier Louise] -- Toscanini's Aïda [Verdi] -- Give the singers a break [Strauss Der Rosenkavalier] -- Success tactics [Britten Peter Grimes] -- Lively revival [Blitzstein The Cradle Will Rock] -- Little musical foxes [Blitzstein Regina] -- Pathos and the macabre [Menotti The Consul] -- The Met and the City Center -- Strictly of this century. Glorious loudness [Mahler Symphony no. 8] -- In Waltz Time [Schönberg Five Orchestral Pieces, Mozart, Schumann, Brahms] -- Star dust and spun steel [Cherubini Anacreon overture, Beethoven Piano Concerto no. 5 ("Emperor"), Webern Symphony, Rachmaninoff Symphonic Dances] -- Gloomy masterpiece [Weber Der Freischütz overture, Bach Violin Concerto in G minor, Berg Violin Concerto, Vaughan Williams Symphony no. 4] -- The ultimate of lucidity [Strong Paraphrase on a Chorale by Hans Leo Hassler, Debussy Jeux, Martinu Symphony no. 5] -- The style is the subject [Stravinsky Symphonies d'instrument à vent, Danses Concertantes, Capriccio for Piano and Orchestra, Symphony in C] -- Joan of Arc in close up [Honegger Jeanne d'Arc au Bûcher] -- Handsome period pieces [Satie Entr'acte, Poulenc Le Bal Masqué, Jacob, Milhaud Le Pauvre Matelot] -- Religious corn [Aubert Offrande, Poulenc Concert Champêtre, Messiaen Trois Petites Liturgies de la Présence Divine, Handel Harpsichord Concerto in B flat, Mozart Symphony no. 35 ("Haffner")] -- Thanksgiving turkey [Franck Chasseur Maudit, Krenek Symphony no. 4, Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto in D major] -- Masterpieces revived [Cowell Suite for Wind Quartet, Persichetti Pastorale for Wind Quintet, Carter Quintet for Winds, Dahl Music for Five Brass Instruments, Goldman Duo for Tubas, Ruggles Angels] -- Yesterday's modernism [Mill Sonata for Oboe and Piano, Ornstein Three Moods, Sessions Duo for Violin and Piano, Wolpe Six Palestinian Songs, Harris Concerto for String Quartet, Piano, and Clarinet, Varèse Hyperprism] -- Five symphonies [Honegger Fourth (Deliciae Baslerienses), Antheil Fifth, Rosenthal Christmas Symphonies, Cowell Fifth, Milhaud] -- English landscape [Moeran In the Mountain Country, Vaughan Williams Symphony no. 6, Gershwin Piano Concerto in F major, Liszt Hungarian Rhapsody no. 2] -- A string octet and a temple service [Milhaud String Octet (String Quartet no. 14 and String Quartet no. 15), Milhaud Sacred Service] -- The new Germany and the new Italy [Turchi Concerto Breve, Dallapiccola Sex Carmina Alcaei, Blacher Romeo and Juliet] -- Ragtime revived -- Hollywood's best [Copland The Red Pony] -- In memory of. Claude Debussy -- Maurice Ravel -- Bela Bartok -- From out of town. The Berkshire Music Center -- The delights of Denver -- Convention in Cleveland -- Pittsburgh week end -- Modernism in Los Angeles -- Texas's major orchestras -- From the U.S.S.R. Composers in trouble -- Soviet aesthetics -- Russians recover -- Reflections. The intellectual audience -- The problem of sincerity -- Tradition today -- Atonality today -- On being American -- Too many languages -- High costs -- The oratorio style -- The Catholic church accepts modern music -- |
| Contents | From music reviewed 1940-1954. 1940s. French loveliness [Berlioz Le Corsair overture, Honegger Symphony no. 2 for Strings and Trumpet, Ravel Tombeau de Couperin] -- A brilliant assumption -- Stiffly conducted [Stravinsky Ode, Concerto for Piano and Wind Instruments, Concerto in D for String Orchestra, Orpheus Suite] -- Brilliant conducting [Shapero The Travellers overture, Schönberg Chamber Symphony no. 1, Symphonie fantastique] -- Piano playing as music [Haydn Andante and Variations in F minor, Beethoven Sonata no. 29 (op. 106, "Hammerklavier"), Villa-Lobos Hommage à Chopin, Chopin Scherzo in B-flat minor] -- 1950. The first fifty years -- A Poulenc cantata [Figure Humaine] -- On the whole, derivative [Bernstein Symphony no. 2 (The Age of Anxiety), Strauss Death and Transfiguration] -- Unique and unforgettable [Verdi Falstaff] -- For teaching and for the mind [Julia Smith Folkways Symphony, The Gooseherd and the Goblin, Harrison Two Little Pastorals] -- Joan of Arc to music [Joio The Triumph of Joan] -- A specialty of our city [Rhapsody in Blue, Gershwin Piano Concerto] -- Taste survey -- Golden throat -- Milhaud compared [Les Choéphores] -- 1951. Israel in America [Ben-Haim Psalm from Symphony no. 1, Prokofiev Symphony no. 5, Tchaikovsky Symphony no. 4] -- Supercilious and arty [Mascagni Cavalleria Rusticana, Leoncavalo I Pagliacci] -- Flagstad and Reiner [Wagner Tristan und Isolde] -- Reactionary critic -- From the heart [Ives Symphony no. 2] -- Successful modernism [Berg Wozzeck] -- Pretentious and unclear [Busoni Arlecchino] -- Essentially frivolous [Schubert Sonatina no. 3, Bruch Concerto in C minor, Strauss Violin Sonata] -- Spokesman for the Met -- 1952. A great temperament [Beethoven Symphony no. 5, Monteverdi Magnificat, Ghendi-Frescobaldi organ pieces] -- Dramatically expressive [Martin Golgotha] -- The abstract composers -- Good chorus from upstate [Des Prez Miserere mei Deus, Joio Psalm of David] -- Harmonious powers [Beethoven Sonata no. 5 (op. 10, no. 1), Schumann Fantasie in C major, Copland Piano Variations, Stravinsky Tango, Albéniz "Eritagna"] -- Don Carlo and the pickets -- Recital songs -- Copland songs [Twelve Poems of Emily Dickinson] -- Metropolitan Opera not yet a part of New York's intellectual life -- Contemporary festival in Pittsburgh [Perischetti Concerto op. 56, Dallapiccola Quaderna Musicale di Annalibera ("Annalibera's Musical Notebook"), Schönberg Trio for Violin, Viola, and Violoncello op. 45, Vaughan Williams Tudor Portraits, Harris Fifth Symphony] -- 1953. Musically enchanting [Stravinsky The Rake's Progress] -- Germany's funeral song [Mahler Das Lied von der Erde] -- Glorious organ-playing [Demessieux Ubi Caritas, Study in Thirds, Bach, Handel, Liszt Fantasy on Ad Nos, Ad Salutarem, Dupré Symphonie-Passion] -- Loud and grand [Beethoven Missa Solemnis] -- Singing English -- Great man in decline [Prokofiev Symphony no. 7] -- A powerful work [Carter String Quartet] -- Henri Sauguet [String Quartet no. 2, Le Voyant, La Nuit, Le Chevre-feulle, Bocages] -- Choral conference -- In spite of conducting [Stamitz Symphonie Konzertante, Schumann Symphony no. 3 ("Rhenish"), Berlioz Harold en Italie] -- Scientists get curious -- Chunky and palatable [Pergolesi Stabat Mater, Creston Symphony no. 2, Stravinsky Mavra] -- Interpretation -- Bigger than baseball -- Kapell -- Rich resources [Schönberg Kammersymphonie, Beethoven Quintet for Woodwinds and Piano, Mozart Duo for Violin and Viola, Rosenthal Sonatine for Two Violins and Piano, Babbitt Woodwind Quartet] -- Irresistible [Bach Sonata in A minor, Beethoven Sonata no. 9 (op. 47, "Kreutzer"), Milstein "Paganiniana," Brahms, Vitali, Suk] -- 1954. Remembering Mahler [Haydn Symphony no. 88, Mahler Symphony no. 1] -- Composer and critic -- Critic and performer -- Casals and the Matterhorn -- |
| Contents | Other writings. Uncollected articles and reviews. Of diamond and pearls [Diamond Concerto for Chamber Orchestra, Brunetti Sinfonia in C minor, Mozart Piano Concerto in E flat, Boccherini Five Dances for Strings, Beethoven Symphony no. 1] -- Undue modesty [Schumann Fantasie in C major, Brahms Variations on a Theme by Paganini, Smeterlin-Bizet Intermezzo from Carmen, Godowsky-Strauss Küntzlerleben, Chopin Mazurkas op. 50 no. 3, op. 6 no. 3, op. 17 no. 4, Études op. 10 no. 2, op. 25 no. 2, Scherzo in E major op. 54] -- More on Fantasia [Dukas Sorcerer's Apprentice, Bach Toccata and Fugue (in D minor), Tchaikovsky Nutcracker Suite, Ponchielli "Dance of the Hours," Mussorgsky Night on Bald Mountain, Rite of Spring, Schubert Ave Maria, Beethoven Symphony no. 6] -- High powered and high class -- Afternoon with Beethoven [Cello Sonata no. 1 (op. 5, no. 1), Twelve Variations on Mozart's "Ein Mädchen oder Weibchen," Seven Variations on Mozart's "Bei Männern, welche Liebe fühlen," Cello Sonata no. 5 (op. 102, no. 2)] -- Academism with charm [Barber Concerto for Violin and Orchestra, Haydn, Mozart, Strauss] -- Parisian cantilena [Corelli-Spalding Sonata in A major, Beethoven Sonata no. 7 (op. 30, no. 2), Villa-Lobos Sonata-Fantasy no. 1 ("Désespérance"), Joachim Variations for Violin, Chopin, Debussy, Chabrier, Saint-Saëns -- America's musical autonomy -- The dook [Ellington "Caravan," "In a Mellow Tone," "Take the A Train," Black, Brown and Beige] -- Delicious and fresh [Poulenc Tel jour, telle nuit, Éluard, Messiaen Quartuor pour le fin du temps, Milhaud String Quartet no. 12] -- Bruckner and Walter [Vaughan Williams Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis, Pfitzner Three Preludes from Palestrina, Bruckner Symphony no. 9] -- Nobility and hysteria [Brahms Violin Concerto in D major, Franck Symphony in D minor] -- Best in its kind [Gilbert & Sullivan Iolanthe] -- Fancy disembodied [Eisler String Quartet, Sonata for Violin and Piano, Suite no. 2 for Septet, Fourteen Ways to Describe Rain] -- Substantial novelties [Riegger String Quartet no. 2, Crawford String Quartet, Harrison Suite for Strings no. 2, Hovhaness Lousadzak] -- Bel canto pianism [Ravel Valses novles et sentimentales, Chopin Sonata in B-flat minor, Clementi, Galuppi, Scarlatti] -- A solid debut [Handel, Scarlatti, Durante, Schubert, Debussy, Fauré, Caplet, De Falla] -- Voices from the past -- Female impersonation [Puccini La Bohème] -- Elektra [Strauss] -- The trouble with Billy Budd [Britten] -- Irresponsible music making [Satie Socrate] -- Pure horsemanship [Mahler Symphony no. 2] -- Technique and taste [Bach, Beethoven Sonata no. 32 (op. 111), Ravel Menuet sur le nom d'Haydn, Debussy Hommage à Haydn, Babbitt Three Compositions, Stravinsky's Russian Dance from Petrouchka, Dallapiccola Sonatina Canonica, Chopin] -- The music world stands still -- The music reviewer and his assignment. Music coverage -- The music reviewer and his assignment -- The composer and his concerns. Answers to questions from eight composers [Wolpe, Riegger, Bowles, Carter, Harman, Berger, Harrison, Brown] -- Appendix. Early articles and reviews 1932-1938. Kusevitsky, conductor -- Jazz -- The new musical mountebankery -- Aaron Copland -- George Gershwin [Rhapsody in Blue, Harlem Night, Concerto in F, An American in Paris, Porgy and Bess] -- The official Stravinsky -- Swing music -- Swing again. |
| Abstract | For fourteen memorable years the author surveyed the worlds of opera and classical music as the chief music critic for the New York Herald Tribune. An accomplished composer who knew music from the inside, the author communicated its pleasures and complexities to a wide readership in a hugely entertaining, authoritative style, and his daily reviews and Sunday articles set a high-water mark in American cultural journalism. The author collected his newspaper columns in four volumes: The Musical Scene, The Art of Judging Music, Music Right and Left, and Music Reviewed. All are gathered here, together with a generous selection of the author's uncollected writings. The result is a singular chronicle of a magical time when an unrivaled roster of great conductors (Koussevitzky, Toscanini, Beecham, Stokowski) and legendary performers (Horowitz, Rubinstein, Heifetz, Stern) presented new masters (Copland, Stravinsky, Britten, Bernstein) and re-introduced the classics to a rapt American audience. |
| Bibliography note | Includes bibliographical references and index. |
| LCCN | 2013916299 |
| ISBN | 9781598533095 (cloth) |
| ISBN | 1598533096 (cloth) |
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