Antonin Dvorak - Serenade for strings
Mov. 4 - Larghetto
Chamber Orchestra of Belgium - conducted by Benjamin Haemhouts
Live recording @ Concertgebouw Amsterdam
20-03-'13

Dvorak - Serenade for strings - Mov. 4

This piece originates from Robert Schumann's 'Album für die Jugend' - a collection of 43 short works that were composed for his three daughters. The opus 68 'Album für die Jugend' is, unlike 'Kinderszenen', meant to be played by children, although the collection is divided in two parts - and the second is marked 'Für Erwachsenere', from no. 19, 'Kleine Romanze', onwards. 

'Wilder Reiter', or - as it is more commonly referred to, 'The Wild Horseman', is the eight piece of the collection. It is a short and easy, albeit wonderful piece due to its evocative, enthralling composition. It is essentially a lesson in staccato phrasing (one can really imagine the horseman trotting about), and teaches the pianist how to lead the cantabile with both hands, while accompanying with the other. The first section, where the melody is led by the right hand, is repeated. What follows is an intermezzo, if you will, where the left hand leads the melody - an inverse variation on the first section. The piece concludes with a third repetition of the first section. 

I am fascinated by the images that the piece conjures. Is the horseman clad in medieval armour, riding past you in a jousting roundabout? In measures 5 through 8 I deliberately retained some intensity in favour of conveying how the horseman has galloped past the listener (who is of course, stationary), and is making another pass. The second section, measures 9 through 16, seem to indicate the 'wild' in the horseman. Is he perhaps struggling to contain the horse, who has run amok? But then the first section is repeated, and the controlled, frivolous atmosphere reassures and consoles the listener. 

illustration: Géricault - 'Head of White Horse', ca. 1810, Musée du Louvre, Paris

R. Schumann - Wilder Reiter (The Wild Horseman) op. 68 no. 8 in A minor

''Va pensiero'' from the Opera "Nabucco" - Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi. Chorus and Orchestra of the Accademia Nacionale di Santa Cecilia.

Va’ pensiero sull’ali dorate
Attraversa le montagne e vola
Sugli oceani.
Raggiungi la terra, trova il luogo
Dove vanno tutti i bambini
Ogni notte dopo aver sentito questa ninnananna.
Lì troverai i loro eroi vivi
Che proteggono la loro innocenza
Benedicili tutti perchè il loro animo semplice
è tanto puro e meraviglioso.

Va’ pensiero sull’ali dorate
Fai continuare questo sogno bellissimo
Per tutta la notte.

Presta loro le tue ali dorate
Tutte le paure voleranno via
Prendili per mano
Aiutali a trovare una strada facile
Riportali alla luce, riportali alla luce
Alla quale appartenevano un tempo
Dove possono restare
Bambini per tutto il tempo che vogliono.

Va’ pensiero sull’ali dorate
Attraversa le montagne e vola
Sugli oceani.
Raggiungi la terra, trova il luogo
Dove vanno tutti i bambini
Ogni notte dopo aver sentito questa ninnananna.
Ogni notte dopo aver sentito questa ninna nanna

Traducción al castellano:

¡Vuela pensamiento, con alas doradas,
pósate en las praderas y en las cimas
donde exhala su suave fragancia
el aire dulce de la tierra natal!
¡Saluda a las orillas del Jordán
y a las destruidas torres de Sión!
¡Oh, mi patria, tan bella y abandonada!
¡Oh recuerdo tan grato y fatal!
Arpa de oro de los fatídicos vates,
¿por qué cuelgas silenciosa del sauce?
Revive en nuestros pechos el recuerdo,
¡háblanos del tiempo que fue!
Canta un aire de crudo lamento
al destino de Jerusalén
o que te inspire el Señor una melodía
que infunda virtud al padecimiento.
que infunda virtud al padecimiento.
que infunda virtud al padecimiento.
virtud al padecimiento.

Va pensiero / Nabucco. Guiussepe Verdi

Rachmaninov Concerto n°2 para piano e orquestra - Solista: Sofya Gulyak

Rachmaninoff - Piano Concerto No.2 - 1o movimento - Sofya Gulyak

Chopin's etude, known as the Revolutionary etude in the key of c minor. It features a powerful combination of fast and furious left hand running passages with right hand intense chords. Towards the end, and after an unexpected change of key to G-flat major, the music suddenly struggles between major and minor keys, ending triumphantly in a powerful "victory" chord of C MAJOR. Chopin did not call the etude "Revolutionary" but it is said to represent the struggle of his native country, Poland, as it was being invaded by Russia. The ending in a big, loud C Major Chord is very meaningful, as it could represent victory to his homeland.

Frederic Chopin (Poland)- Etude op. 10, No.12 in c minor "Revolutionary"

Vladimir Horowitz-Etude In C Minor Op 25 No 12 Chopin

DONALD RUNNICLES conducts
SIBELIUS Symphony No. 7

This performance was recorded during concerts January 18-21, 2018.

SIBELIUS Symphony No. 7

C.P.E. Bach: Solfeggietto

Ocean Etude – Chopin     
played by: Ron Mcbain

Ocean Etude – Chopin

Franz Liszt:  Concert Étude No. 3 in D-flat Major, "Un Sospiro"

Chopin - 'Military' Polonaise in A Opus 40 Number 1

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R. Schumann - Wilder Reiter (The Wild Horseman) op. 68 no. 8 in A minor

Llendryon