Study music continues. If the last one wasn't long enough of a youtube clip, well this one is almost an hour and a half long. Behold, Dmitri Shostakovich's glorious Leningrad Symphony! Conducted by the legendary maestro Bernstein. If you don't know who that composer is, shame on you, you uncultured ape. Now go to wikipedia and become a cultured chimpanzee like myself.
Originally, Shostakovich dedicated this piece to the life and deeds of Vladimir Lenin, so there's something for you Leftists in there too.
In any case this won't be the last Shostakovich post, so stay tuned. What? You didn't think this was a classical music blog? You must be mistaken. This is a music blog. Anything goes.
Okay, I know. Franz Liszt has been dead for more than a hundred years. Then again, if you don't like it get your own damn jukebox. Don't you try to change the channel on my private property. Anyways, Lisztomania, defined by the wise god of wikipedia, was 'the intense fan frenzy directed toward Franz Liszt during his performances', characterized by 'intense levels of hysteria demonstrated by fans, akin to the treatment of celebrity musicians today, but in a time not known for such musical hysterics'. Quoting is a great way to feed laziness by the way. So yes, I'm feeling Lisztomania, because you have no idea how brilliant this guy was. The technique his pieces displayed, the sheer skill level he presented on his compositions. This one is quite famous: La Campanella.
Yes, I'm already throwing my panties at the stage right now. Just awe-inspiring. I do say I play the piano, but this is a level that I haven't ascended to yet. I mean, this puts pretty much everyone who came before him to shame, save for Ravel or something. Even Beethoven's pieces (mind you he is my favourite) pale in the face of such wondrous technical brilliance. Just listen to this one.
Gosh! My piano playing was for nothing! It was all for nothing! Why was I even taught how to play it if I was only going to feel shame in the face of these awesome pieces? Why! Why!
Not only is Krystian Zimerman a bulldozer of a pianist, but here he is just a shining beacon. Okay, but let's turn the heat down a bit this one. I think my Lisztomania is actually making me maniacal.
In any case, Franz Liszt was a genius. A Hungarian pianist from the 19th century, he was known as the most technically advanced pianist of his age, so no wonder he was able to produce such virtuosic gems such as the ones I've presented here. I know. It's a bit strange, not really in the realm of anything conventional but hey, this blog is anything but conventional. So take it or leave it. I mean, you should know Liszt, since they even made a song about Lisztomania. So this was a educational experience for you all then. Thank me later. This was the Dreaming Jukebox, and I'll be constantly throwing rainbow in your face.
That statement right there was for my crew in London right now. You know who you are. Us three musketeers, although I going to presume only 'one' (only you will get it, 'one') of you read this blog so please let the other person know.
In other news, the Morelenbaum2/Sakamoto Trio comes in threes. I mean, it's in the damn name so if you could not guess that go cry in the corner. Kidding. I would never want to put anybody in the corner. I've been to the corner and trust me, it's not a pretty place.
Back to what I was saying, to introduce, Jacques and Paula Morelenbaum are a Brazilian husband and wife duo. Jacques does many things like composing and producing, but in this context he is the cellist. Paula is the singer. Ryuichi Sakamoto is a Japanese pianist (Yes, I admit it, I have a weird musical fetish with Japanese musicians! Now please! Stop pointing fingers at me!) who is quite known around the world for his solo work, including composition and production as well, just like Jacques. All three of them are very accomplished professional artists. So this is quite the combo here. A dangerously fabulous chemical mix of three great musicians. The genre is like, jazz/contemporary classical. Anyways I'm wasting words. Music on please!
So great. Paula's voice is perfect for the ambiance set by the music. Kind of makes me sit back and really enjoy this spaghetti I'm eating. I've been eating spaghetti for the past week. Why? Well these damn jars of sauce were on sale, and so were these spaghettis, so I bought a whole bundle. That's what you do when you're a student, and well goddamn I'm ready to try anything if something will make this spaghetti taste better. Fortunately I think the music is helping.
If there was a purest form of mood, like, good mood, then this would be it. I don't even, let me just quietly eat my dinner in peace. Please. I just want to listen. I'm new to this as much as you are.
Why is Paula's voice so perfect? Why is everything about this so refined, and just, pure beauty? Why? Why? WHYYYYYYYYYYY
Too bad though, the last time these guys released an album as an ensemble was 2003. So I'm going to assume that they don't tour anymore. I'd like to buy the album though, because this is just one of those rare bands that you need to have a physical copy of.
Lastly, a shout out to my friend Kotaro, once again, whose deep taste in music has brought the sincerest pleasure of discovering this wonderful band. Yo KoKo, I know you're reading this. Arigato, and may you do whatever you dream to do. This is the dreaming jukebox after all.
Oh Herro, you decided to come back? Why did you? Did you not see the sign that this is a music blog where I do whatEVER I want to do? Oh you did. Okay well let's get started.
I felt like appreciating some Beethoven and Tchaik so I turned up one of my favourite orchestras in the world, the Seoul Philharmonic. If I may add why I like them, no it's not because I can tell that they're better than other orchestras. Simply it's because it is conducted by my childhood idol, Chung Myung-Whun.
Here's some Eroica. That's 'Eroica' mind you, Italian for heroic, there's no 't' in there.
Sorry about not warning you that this was a 55 minute clip. To redeem myself on that mistake here's Tchaik no. 6 with 50 minutes. 5 minute less of your time, not too bad eh?
By the way, do you know what I hate the most when I go to classical concerts? PEOPLE COUGHING. HOLD YOUR FUCKING COUGHS YOU FUCKING PEOPLE, JUST CHOKE ON IT DON'T LET IT OUT.
Sorry, I got a bit out of hand there. But this is a space where I pour my rage and anger and infuse it with the dark side so that I can barter the blog page with a Sith Lord for a nice red lightsaber. I hear it's quite a handy flashlight.
Let me get back on track though. Mr. Chung was a prodigious pianist from a young age, studied conducting at Julliard, and trained under great musicians like Artur Schnabel and Maria Curcio (that's wikipedia working its magic). Needless to say he is now a superstar in Korea, recognized for his wide contribution for classical music in the country. He was even nominated as a UNESCO man of the year.
The Seoul Philharmonic is also a bombshell of an orchestra. Certainly the best of Korea, and one of the finest in Asia if not the world. It was the first Asian orchestra to get a contract with the Deutsche Grammophon, one of era-defining classical record labels. Now there will be some people who will say 'Yeah, but Vienna Philharmonic does it better hurr durr durr.' Well to those people, I will kindly unfurl my middle finger at you and keep it straightened until you get my point.
However, let me not explain it further. Let me just, explain through the music.
Glorious. Beethoven is always glorious. There is a reason why I keep on playing his sonatas. Hopefully though, you found today's entry entertaining. I shall bid you good night, until tomorrow's whatever randomness I think of.
It's that time of the year again. Happens twice exactly, once around Christmas, and once before summer. So like everyone else, I'm going into my supercharge preparation mode in anticipation of the coming of another great academic earthquake.
Call me weird or crazy or both but sometimes I really like the final season. Cozy and warm in a hole somewhere filling through books, papers and notes, sipping tea with a bit of that icing on the cake that is study music. So here are some calm softening pieces of music that will sooth your cranium from its tension.
First off is another Korean artist, Jae Hyung Jung, a Paris trained piano virtuoso. Recently he gained public recognition in Korea through a show program called Infinity Challenge, and although it's a little tragic that musicians such as he aren't able to gain any fame purely through music, I do approve of this one because I watch the show, and I would've never found him out otherwise.
This song is called To Those in Love. The piece is essentially simple and calm, but unlike Yiruma who is also a famous Korean pianist, it plays with emotions and feelings a bit more complicated and in depth than Yiruma. Also I'm not a big fan of Yiruma. His songs are too plain and darn happy in my opinion.
A particular point I like about Mr. Jung is that he is versatile with his melodies, switching from consonance to dissonance oh-so-naturally, without a hint of a melodic kink anywhere. His French influence seeps pleasantly from his music and is evident in that sweet aroma of neo-classics and jazz embraced together in a serene balance whenever Mr. Jung passes his fingers over the black and white keys.
I'm going to post some more of his pieces down below. I know many aren't into this sort of music, but do give a listen. You might just find yourself relaxed and steady, balanced in between the chaotic stress-fest that is University and the peaceful serenade of Mr. Jung. I'll be joining you soon after I pump a can of redbull into my system.
