I like to share examples of classical music being used in popular media. The problem lately for me has been that except for sports, I don't watch much TV, so I am probably missing quite a bit. But I did catch this one the other day...a commercial for Squarespace. The music here is from the first movement of Mendelssohn's Fourth Symphony, known as the Italian Symphony (1833).
My Dad, whom I have spoken of many times here, had the gift of being able to hear music...let me unpack this a bit. There's a difference between playing music and making music. Musicians who play notes are not necessarily "making music." They may just be playing notes. That's the easy part. Turning those notes on the page into an emotional connection...or reaction...is a different thing, and can be elusive. My dad appreciated anyone or any ensemble who could make music, at any level of proficiency. He would come to my school orchestra concerts with open ears and an open heart, ready to have the music speak to him. Clunky notes, shaky entrances, or wobbly tempos did not stand in the way of him recognizing a sincere attempt to say something musical. He was patient and thoughtful, and when I came out to meet him after a performance, knowing that we had sucked on a technical level, he would be smiling ear to ear, happy to share that we had "made music" despite any of the aforementioned imperfections. On another occasion, we went to see the world famous Chicago Symphony Orchestra in 1988 at Orchestra Hall. The best musicians in the world....the greatest repertoire. And on this night...believe it or not...nothing magical happened, The notes were perfectly played. The sound was perfect. But for some unexplainable reason, we were not moved. Something was missing. So I learned to be open to hearing music anywhere and everywhere. A dingy blues bar...a honkytonk country bar, or a middle school gymnasium, are all places you may hear something special. Be open and ready. And for the record, we did go back to Orchestra Hall to hear the CSO the next night, and they blew the roof off the joint...which they usually do. Even the CSO can have a bad night.
If I had to tell you what piece of music I have probably listened to the most over the past 40 years, it would likely be "It's for You" by Pat Metheny. It was featured in the 1984 film Fandango, a great "off the beaten path" movie that I still love that was Kevin Costner's first starring role. The tune is from the 1981 album called "As Falls Wichita, So Falls Wichita Falls," a collaboration between Pat Metheny and keyboardist Lyle Mays. This music has penetrated my DNA. The entire album is a true masterpiece.
Happy 2021 to you, and thank you for reading my blog. I have been doing this since February of 2014, so almost my 7 year anniversary. I still love listening to and playing music more than ever. And I still feel passionate about sharing it with others. This year I plan to introduce more videos via my YouTube channel where I am able to talk about, share, and play music. Stay tuned. 2020 was a very challenging and difficult year for many people. I hope that we all have good health and joyful times ahead in 2021. And a lot of great music too.
I finished 2020 listening to Bruckner's 9 symphonies in order. I know them all very well, but I never get tired of them. This go round yielded an even deeper appreciation for his music. Number 6 has taken the top spot currently as my favorite of his symphonies. But Nos 1-3, so often overlooked, also emerged as very enjoyable works that I was not as familiar with. If you are looking for a place to start with Bruckner, I still recommend his 4th symphony.
I also finished 2020 with a deep dive into Schubert. I listened to all of his string quartets in order 1-15. No particular favorite, but his later quartets rival Beethoven's in my opinion. Take that dive....you won't regret it.
I was reading a biography about Prokofiev recently, and one excerpt really hit home. Prokofiev, and his wife Lina, came to the United States in 1930 and met Arturo Toscanini in New York. They attended a rehearsal and this happened:
""They watched, entranced, as the temperamental maestro would "break his batons and shout vergogna! (shame). At one point, Lina recalled, he stopped and made each violinist play a phrase from the Mozart symphony they were rehearsing. Finally he lost his temper, "grabbed is head and started pointing his finger at one of the violinists (apparently the first violinist) shouted at him and called him a 'shoemaker,' making him repeat the passage several times. Then, the violinists, who submitted without a murmur, played it together, and he calmed down."
I played violin in the Terre Haute Symphony while I was in college at Indiana State University from 1983-87. The conductor was Ramon E. Meyer. He was a fiery man who had very high standards and demanded perfection. It was never a question of when, but rather who he would make cry or humiliate during rehearsals with the same approach used by Toscanini. I remember being on the spot several times having to play a passage all alone in front of the entire orchestra. You never knew when he would blow up...and then you were were grilled. It was terrifying, but it made me a better player because it made me want to practice so I could play the music well enough to endure such an inquisition. Reading this section about Prokofiev brought back vivid memories.
We said good-bye to Eddie Van Halen in 2020. He was such a wonderful musician, and a true game-changer. He redefined what the electric guitar was all about and influenced everyone who has picked up a guitar since he burst on the scene in 1977. But what I remember most about him is his smile. This man who was blessed with such vast talent had a smile that illuminated the world. You could see how much fun he was having...and why not?!?? God bless his soul. Thank you Eddie for the joy and love you shared through your music.
Here's a great video for you to check out. About five years before Prokofiev watched Toscanini undress the first violins in New York, in 1925, Sweet Georgia Brown was composed by Ben Bernie. This tune is a standard in the world of jazz...I am sure you have heard it. Here is a great performance by an All Star band that includes, Wynton Marsalis, Marc O'Connor and Frank Vignola. I saw O'Connor and Vignola in Kansas City a few years ago and they tore the house down with their Hot Swing jazz concert.
