#ClassicsaDay #SummerClassics Week 4
It was a busy summer for the Classics a Day team. In June, we marked African-American Music Appreciation Month. In July we celebrated national holidays in the U.S. and Canada. So that just left August to have a summer theme.
For my part, I chose to choose anything except Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons.” In the process, I discovered some interesting music (and composers) I’ll explore further.
Here ere are my picks for the fourth week of #ClassicalSummer.
8/19/19 Josef Suk: Summer Impressions, Op. 22b
Suk’s 1902 Op. 22 featured two seasons: 22a was Spring, and 22b was Summer. The three movements of 22b are “At Midday,” “Child’s Play” and “Evening Mood.”
8/20/19 Henry Purcell: The Fairy-Queen
Purcell’s 1692 musical work is considered a masque rather than an opera. The musical segments featured original text, not taken from Shakespeare’s play.
8/21/19 Heinrich Wilhelm Ernst: Polyphonic Study No. 6 – Concert Variations on “The Last Rose of Summer” in G major
Moravian violinist Heinrich Ernst was considered one of the greatest performers to follow Paganini. His specialty was playing polyphonically (two or more notes simultaneously).
8/22/19 Friedrich von Flotow: “Letzte Rose” from Martha
Flowtow’s 1847 opera “Martha” is set in Richmond, England during the reign of Queen Anne. Flowtow’s setting of “The Last Rose of Summer” became a hit.
8/23/19 Paul Hindemith: On hearing “The Last Rose of Summer.”
This song comes from a 1944 collection by Hindemith, “( English Songs.” As the title suggests, the work obliquely references the popular tune.
