Depressing Classical Music

A recording of J.S. Bach's 'Preludie in C' played by Neil Balfour.

When J.S. Bach began working on his epic Well-Tempered Clavier in 1722, chances are he wasn't thinking that it would become one of the defining musical texts in keyboard history. But, somehow, it has - and the Prelude No. 1 in C Major is where it all starts.

The Well-Tempered Clavier (there are two volumes of it, each containing a prelude and a fugue in each musical key) kicks off in C Major, the most 'natural' musical key, so he obviously made sure that the first entry is a good one. Few pieces of keyboard music sound so delicate and fragile, but there's a very Bach-ian stability to it as well. 

It's a strikingly simple piece to begin with, gently phasing through different chords and registers, but it's one of those pieces that demands to be tinkered with. Consequently, you'll hear plenty of different interpretations of this much-loved work.

Prelude No. 1 In C Major | Bach

My take on Chopin's saddest little prelude.  Two and a half minutes of ache.


Chopin Prelude No. 4 In E Minor, Op. 28

Please visit us at http://www.reverbnation.com/thesydneyconsort for concert info, tickets, music and more. 
All comments appreciated :)

ARTIST BIO

The Sydney Consort is one of Australia’s most energetic music ensembles devoted to early music of the 17th and 18th Century. 
Originally consisting of three members the group brings together Australia’s finest musicians and singers to a small chamber orchestra of up to fifteen performers. Formed in 1997 and led by artistic directors Monika and Stan Kornel, the Sydney Consort is an ensemble dedicated to bringing beauty and wisdom of Baroque music to a rapidly growing audience. The ensemble has performed music ranging from the 16th to 18th Century, as well as contemporary Australian music, and with concert themes such as English, French, German and Italian Baroque, Music and Poetry, and the Johann Sebastian Bach concertos. 

In the year 2000, the Sydney Consort celebrated the vocal and instrumental music of Bach, commemorating the 250th anniversary of the composer’s death with spectacular concerts at the St James’ Church. Frequently, the ensemble invites other well known and talented Australian artists, instrumentalists, and vocalists to further enrich performances and broaden the repertoire. The Sydney Consort performs regularly with Sydney actors and poets as a consequence of an ongoing relationship with the Poets and Writers Society. A concert of 17th Century English music and Shakespearian sonnets was a particularly successful product of this union of arts. 

The ensemble appears regularly on classical radio programs and on Sunday Live ABC Classic FM. From 2004 the group appeared for Musica Viva Australia with concerts in Sydney and NSW (countrywide program), and in June/July 2005 and 2007, the Sydney Consort performed on their European concert tour in Italy, Germany, Luxembourg, Denmark and Poland. The ensemble has been invited to return to Europe in 2009 and will perform in Luxembourg, Germany, Denmark, Prague and Poland

JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH - Sonata for harpsichord & violin in C minor (Siciliano)

"Tones sound, and roar and storm about me until I have set them down in notes."
-Ludwig van Beethoven



Ludwig Van Beethoven - Sonata No. 17 In D Minor For Piano, Op. 31 - 2 (The Tempest)- III. Allegretto

Hot Coffee - Winter Session 2 - Op.7 No.4

Beautiful Snowfall - Winter Session 2 - Op.7 No.5

Ludwig van Beethoven - Sonata No.14 in c sharp minor Op27 No.2 Moonlight
I. Adagio Sostenuto
Performed by HuiChun Lin 林 慧君

"Elegant Immortal Classics - HuiChun Lin Piano Recital 2009"
"德奧、雅緻、雋永集 — 林 慧君鋼琴獨奏會"
06/Jun/2009 臺中中興堂 TaiChung Taiwan


Curator
Vincent Music & Art 文生音樂藝術

Sponsors
The National Culture and Arts Foundation 財團法人國家文化藝術基金會
Department of Cultural Affairs Taipei City Government 臺北市文化局

Credit
Live Recording/Konzertmitschnitt 18/May/2008 臺中市中興堂
ArchiMusic Production 雅砌音樂錄音製作工程

All rights of the producer and of the owner of the recorded work reserved. Unauthorized copying, public performance, broadcasting, hiring or rental of this recording strictly prohibited.

Ludwig van Beethoven - Sonata No.14 in c sharp minor Op27 No.2 Moonlight I. Adagio Sostenuto

2 - 10 Claude Debussy  Suite Bergamasque, L.75  III. Clair De Lune

Tune Your Brain for Stress Relief

Liszt: Consolations, S. 172: No. 3 in D-Flat Major. Lento, placido

Chopin: Nocturnes

Chopin: Nocturne No. 8 In D Flat, Op. 27 No. 2 (2005 Recording)

Brahms - Symphony No. 3 In F Major, Op. 90 - III. Poco Allegretto

Johann Sebastian Bach: Violin Concerto in A minor, BWV 1041

Thomas Gould, violin
Senesino Players

Johann Sebastian Bach: Violin Concerto in A minor: 3. Allegro assai

My recording of the first part of Satie's Gymnopedies, a captivating piece of beautiful melancholia and serenity.



"Gaze, 
awed but composed, 
a thousand stars shine
in the clear night sky of a red, glowing moon,
illuminating lush, green gardens,
brimming with the fruits of nature, 
and pregnant from the rains 
of bountiful clouds
Follow the wind to where the ocean 
that leads to the end of the earth, begins
Stand, barefoot, facing the rising sun
as the waves caress the sandy shores of evermore
Hold, in your arms, something
greater than the planets, grander than 
the galaxies of the universe
Oh, creation!
Let the world breathe life unto my soul!
Watch, mesmerized,
the sun collapse into earth
and set alight into a magnificent ball of fire
See the ball of fire burst 
into a cosmos with a million bright colors,
rainbows upon rainbows, 
revolving in a great kaleidoscope of awe
Will, that you be the clouds, the waves, the storm, 
the dawn that breaks the thick of darkness,
the changing seasons and the earth that nourishes,
Life,
everlasting,
And everchanging."

Erik Satie - Premiere Gymnopedie

A sorrowful piece by  Remo Giazotto (formerly Tomaso Albinoni).

Astaria Ensemble Demo CD

Tomaso Albinoni - Adagio in G minor

Bodenseefestival 2011 - 10.06.2011

https://www.aleksandramikulska.com​

https://bio.to/aleksandra​

Beethoven - Sonata No. 23 in F minor op. 57 "Appassionata" (Live)

Wyoming Seminary Performing Arts Institute 2011 Concert recorded in The Great Hall on August 6th, 2011.

8/6/11

Sospiri, Op. 70 -  Edward Elgar

The Astaria Ensemble is a highly sought after and successful group of musicians. The members of the String Quartet, String Duo and 'Cello & Piano Duo, accomplished musicians in their own right, are no strangers to playing for royalty and celebrities, as well as touring with acts such as The Divine Comedy, Chris de Burgh, Katherine Jenkins and Russell Watson.

Their wealth of experience not only includes television and radio appearances but also recording soundtracks for programmes such as Dr Who and Planet Earth. The String Quartet has also recently released their own CD Album of Spanish and Latin American music entitled ¡FIESTA! 

All the musicians have performed as soloists, members of chamber groups or as part of orchestras at prestigious venues such as Symphony Hall Birmingham, Bridgewater Hall Manchester and Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, as well as taking part in music festivals such as the BBC Proms, St. Endellion and Worcester Live amongst others.

The Astaria Ensemble also has an established track record and wealth of experience of providing music for weddings, civil partnerships, corporate functions, special events and parties - please see the Testimonials page.

As part of their events - package the Astaria Ensemble always strives to make you feel special. They aim to offer a seamless musical accompaniment to compliment all aspects of your event.

All quotes are for tailor made musical programmes that are fully suited to your day, with music ranging from Elgar to elbow and Bach to the Beatles.

Tomaso Albinoni - Adagio in G minor

Astaria Ensemble

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