(Dis)Arrangements

(Dis)Arrangements 4: Mozart and Tchaikovsky

Mozart’s arrangements take slight liberties: His sources strayed from Bach’s original, not because Mozart thought to make improvements.

(Dis)Arrangements 4: Mozart and Tchaikovsky

Mozart’s arrangements take slight liberties: His sources strayed from Bach’s original, not because Mozart thought to make improvements.

(Dis)Arrangements 3: Shostakovich Preludes

To accompany their Brandenburg Concerto release, Ensemble Caprice’s director arranged six preludes and one fugue from Op. 87 in complementary instrumentation. It doesn’t sound like Shostakovich – more like polytonal Rameau.

(Dis)Arrangements 3: Shostakovich Preludes

To accompany their Brandenburg Concerto release, Ensemble Caprice’s director arranged six preludes and one fugue from Op. 87 in complementary instrumentation. It doesn’t sound like Shostakovich – more like polytonal Rameau.

(Dis)Arrangements 2: Goldberg Fever

A recent check disclosed 228 available recordings of Bach’s Goldberg Variations. Most are for a single keyboard as intended, but there are also arrangements and transcriptions. Here’s a random scattering of BWV 988 arrangements and digressions.

(Dis)Arrangements 2: Goldberg Fever

A recent check disclosed 228 available recordings of Bach’s Goldberg Variations. Most are for a single keyboard as intended, but there are also arrangements and transcriptions. Here’s a random scattering of BWV 988 arrangements and digressions.

(Dis)Arrangements

The Four Seasons has been deftly mutilated… Richter never forgets that harmony lies at Vivaldi’s core, regardless of repetition or the solo line. I imagine that Hope must hereafter worry he might confuse one for the other in performance.

(Dis)Arrangements

The Four Seasons has been deftly mutilated… Richter never forgets that harmony lies at Vivaldi’s core, regardless of repetition or the solo line. I imagine that Hope must hereafter worry he might confuse one for the other in performance.

Piano Factory 8. (D. 840)

In 1825 Schubert abandoned a C major piano sonata. After Schubert died in 1828 his brother Ferdinand gave the manuscript to Schumann who then passed it to first publisher K.F. Whistling. Whistling presumed the sonata was left incomplete because of the composer’s death and erroneously gave it the nickname “Reliquie” (Relic).

Piano Factory 8. (D. 840)

In 1825 Schubert abandoned a C major piano sonata. After Schubert died in 1828 his brother Ferdinand gave the manuscript to Schumann who then passed it to first publisher K.F. Whistling. Whistling presumed the sonata was left incomplete because of the composer’s death and erroneously gave it the nickname “Reliquie” (Relic).

Der kranke Pierrot

As important as the thrice-seven poems of Op. 21 have been to my musical development, I can no longer sit still through Pierrot lunaire.

Der kranke Pierrot

As important as the thrice-seven poems of Op. 21 have been to my musical development, I can no longer sit still through Pierrot lunaire.

Neben Wagner

Leveraging Google’s big-brother technology, I discover that I’ve only mentioned the lucky recipient of “Mad King” Ludwig II’s patronage in passing. In this line of work, avoiding Wagner is like a wine snob steering clear of Bordeaux.

Neben Wagner

Leveraging Google’s big-brother technology, I discover that I’ve only mentioned the lucky recipient of “Mad King” Ludwig II’s patronage in passing. In this line of work, avoiding Wagner is like a wine snob steering clear of Bordeaux.

Eternal Schubert and Disarrangements

Normand Forget arranges with a light hand, avoiding obvious colors and associations. Indeed the intermittent alto flute, bass clarinet, oboe d’amore and Baroque horn add smoky hues.

Eternal Schubert and Disarrangements

Normand Forget arranges with a light hand, avoiding obvious colors and associations. Indeed the intermittent alto flute, bass clarinet, oboe d’amore and Baroque horn add smoky hues.

Mostly Symphonies 7.

Weiner completed his arrangement in 1955, and this is apparently the first recording. The challenges and decisions are huge.

Mostly Symphonies 7.

Weiner completed his arrangement in 1955, and this is apparently the first recording. The challenges and decisions are huge.

Anomalies Pleasant and Surprising

Berio may have been the postwar generation’s most sentimental if not most wistful composer. Unlike many of his peers, he acknowledged music’s history and would freely adapt, orchestrate and reinterpret the music of others, as well as his own.

Anomalies Pleasant and Surprising

Berio may have been the postwar generation’s most sentimental if not most wistful composer. Unlike many of his peers, he acknowledged music’s history and would freely adapt, orchestrate and reinterpret the music of others, as well as his own.

Schoenberg’s “Mis-Handel-ing” and Other Curiosities

We dwell rather on a few monstrous creations by composers who should have known better. Step at your own risk behind a dingy sideshow curtain to gawk at a shelf of specimens in dirty jars.

Schoenberg’s “Mis-Handel-ing” and Other Curiosities

We dwell rather on a few monstrous creations by composers who should have known better. Step at your own risk behind a dingy sideshow curtain to gawk at a shelf of specimens in dirty jars.