Classical Brass Eastern Brass Quintet at Amazon
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It seems like everyone has an sentiment in regards to music and it is gains for children. Some say listening to classical music will make your child smarter while others speak when it comes to it is capacity to soothe even the fussiest of infants. All of this could be well and true, but at the very least, an early exposure to outstanding music may create a life-time love affair and appreciation for it. From presenting children with interesting sounds and timbres from the diverse instruments of the orchestra to learning in regards to the history, culture, and era from which this great music was derived, children will be exposed to a more spectacular world – a world that may provoke curiosity and creativity. Plus, what a particular treat for you and your child to listen to and share the poetry and beauty of a great deal of of the world’s Here is a short list of a lot of of our personal favorites for young children: 1. “Vltava” from Ma Vlast by Bedrich Smetana 1874 This deeply romantic and nationalistic symphonic poem from Czech Composer, Smetana’s Ma Vlast (My Country), musically portrays the Vltava river that runs through Prague. You may feel the current of the moving river through the stirring undulations of the orchestra. It is an splendid example of how music may describe and represent the non-musical. 2. Symphony No. 29 in A Major K201, Mvt. I by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart 1774 This basi motion from one of Mozart’s best known early symphonies starts out quietly and unassumingly with a simple, short motive in the original violins that repeats and repeats until it quickly builds to an energetic and stimulating level in which this opening motive is played allround the entire orchestra. In this piece, we see Mozart’s talent at creating a dramatic and complex composition through the development of one simple melodic idea. 3. “Golliwog’s Cakewalk” from Children’s Corner Suite by Claude Debussy 1909 Fun and upbeat, “Golliwog’s Cakewalk” for piano by French Impressionist composer, Claude Debussy, demonstrates another side of this composer known principally for his severe and textural orchestral music. In this piece we listen the sounds of rag-time music and Debussy’s sense of humor – rather fitting for a piece that was written for his five year old daughter and named after a puppet character. 4. Quintet in A Major, Op. 114D, 667, “The Trout”, Mvt. III by Franz Schubert 1819 This exuberant composition became known as “The Trout Quintet” because it is fourth motion is based on Schubert’s famous art song, “Die Forelle” (The Trout). It’s instrumentation is rather strange because different from most quintets that are based on the conventional string quartet arrangement, the Trout Quintet features a double bass in place of 5. The Emperor Waltz for Orchestra, Op. 437, Mvt. I by Johann Strauss 1888 Johann Strauss II (a.k.a. the “Waltz King”) was percentage of a widely known and esteemed family of waltz composers and was for the most part responsible for the immense popularity of the waltz in Vienna allround the 19th century. He elevated the status of the waltz from mutual peasant dance to royal amusement fit for an emperor. In Strauss’s majestic “Emperor Waltz”, he weaves together a wondrous collection of melodies that are as fun to listen to as they are to dance to. 6. Horn Concerto No. 2 in E Flat Major, K. 417: Rondo by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart 1783 This Mozart concerto highlights the beauty, lyricism, and skillfulness of the French horn. In this last movement, Mozart’s fun and hunt-inspired Rondo has virtuosic sweeps which veritably spotlight the horn’s capacity to stand out as a solo entity rather of it is more mutual role as a fellow member of an ensemble. 7. String Quintet in E Flat Major, Op. 97, Mvt. II by Antonin Dvorak 1893 Known as the “American Quintet”, this string work for ordinary quartet plus another viola was written by Czech composer Antonin Dvorak while he was in Iowa. Although, this piece was inspired by the Native American ritual music and American folk-songs he heard for the duration of his stay, it is still rather Bohemian in nature. Movement II is marvelously playful and dance-like with soulful violin passages. 8. Concerto Grosso No. 1, Op. 6 in G Major, Mvt. V by George Frideric Handel 1739 Concerto Grosso Op. 6 No. 1 is an splendid example of the classic style Baroque concerto form that was so usual at the time. Prolific composer, George Frideric Handel, emulating Arcangelo Corelli, the father of the concerto grosso, juxtaposed a concertino group consisting of two violins and a cello versus the more spectacular ensemble of strings and harpsichord. This motion is rather thrilling with the back and forth question and answer exchanges amid the solo and orchestral groups and driving eighth note phrases. 9. Serenade No. 2 in A Major, Mvt. II by Johannes Brahms 1860 One of Brahms’ lesser known works, the Serenade No. 2 is a charming orchestral work that is remarkable for it is absence of violins. The combining of winds, brass, and low strings give this piece a more subdued quality though the Scherzo (Mvt. II) is rather energetic. Brahms’ two serenades are his introductory orchestral attempts (he primarily wrote for the piano and chamber ensembles) and they foreshadow the great orchestral works that were to come much later in his life. 10. Symphony No. 4, Op. 90 in A Major, “Italian”, Mvt. I by Felix Mendelssohn 1833 This joyful and vivacious motion from Mendelssohn’s “Italian Symphony” was inspired by the composer’s travels to Italy. The fast paced, energetic musical gestures of the orchestra depict the Italian pastoral setting that inspired Mendelssohn. One can’t support but feel excitement while imagining the pretty Italian landscape that Mendelssohn so masterfully creates. |




