A Happy Tune

Uncategorized

I went to the symphony last weekend.  It’s not on my usual list of weekend events: basketball, school project supplies, laundry.

It was an amazing treat.  Mozart was lovely, but it was Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 2 that delighted my ear and captured my heart.

It is such a happy piece and I was struck with wonder at the ability to create something, anything, so beautiful.

Here I sit surrounded by projects undone.  An astrologer scribbled three stars next to the date “February 15,” underlined it, circled it, then added a bracket for emphasis.  The point of which was, “Get off your duff and do something.”  My stars are aligning.

So I was thinking (wasn’t the point to stop thinking and “do?”) that music might move things along.

Would you send other suggestions?  Classical music that will uplift, inspire, delight.  Brooding I pretty much have covered.  I’d love your recommendations.

I intended to illustrate this post with busts of composers, but once I hit 1st dibs I was enchanted by the variety there.  So, these are irrelevant, except that I like them.


Anon – thanks, my mistake.  You can see why I need the education.

rssrss      FacebooktwitterpinterestlinkedinmailFacebooktwitterpinterestlinkedinmail

15 thoughts on “A Happy Tune”

  1. Perhaps Tchaikovsky's Symphony #1, A Winter Dream would be appropriate and then the beautiful #6, Pathetique.

  2. Patricia, it was serendipity to run into you at the Kauffman Center Sunday afternoon. As for inspiring classical pieces, I've always loved Bach's third allegro of Bach's Brandenburg Concerto no. 3. Best- Mike

  4. Stravinsky's Firebird Suite

    Beethoven's 9th Symphony (ok…heavy for some but what an off the charts ending)

    Rossini overture to "Barbiere di Siviglia"

    Handle's Water Musik

    Wagner's Overtures to "Tannhauser" and Die Miestersinger," Prelude to Act 3 of "Lohengrin."

    Resphigi's Pines of Rome

    Maurice Ravel's Daphnis Et Cloé

    Mozart Symphony #40 & #38. Heck all of them are uplifting. Great stuff since the high harmonics from the strings charge the brain.

  5. I am a musician by first profession- there are so many wonderful pieces out there- here are just a few-

    Ravel string quartet, Schumann piano quintet, Brahms Serenades 1 and 2. Mozart Symphony #40, Bartok Concerto for Orchestra.

    Your blog is one of the best- my sister turned me on to it- enjoy it so much! Is the picture at the top original? It's so cute-

  6. If you'd consider some opera, one of my favourites is Nabucco's Va Pensiero. Another is Die Zauberflote's Papgeno.
    But if not, oh, how could one not mention Mozart's symphony 40 in G, I know it is an almost redundant favourite to mention, but it does call to mind that brilliant Amadeus film that came out in the '80's, which I think deserves a media comeback…

  9. Bach's Cello Suite No. 1 for something a little more quiet. Bach in general, Vivaldi in general, especially the Oboe Concerto in C major – I played oboe, and while it tends to be a more brooding instrument, it can be joyful, too, and this is a fine piece for it. Handel in general, especially the delightful Sarabande.

  10. Any of the Bach Cello suites are amazing. Anything by Copland – Appalachian Spring (13 instrument version) and Quiet City are my favorites. Contemplative, but joyful. Poulenc, Debussy, Satie as someone else mentioned. Dvorak Symphony for the New World.

  11. It was actually Rachmaninoff you heard, though it was an inspiring performance nonetheless! I would recommend his piano concertos. If you ever have an opportunity to hear one performed live, your life and soul will be changed. For an upbeat and fun listening, try the Copland Clarinet Concerto. (I am a doctoral student at the UMKC Conservatory and will stop now before I go on and on …) Enjoy!

Comments are closed.