Leonard Bernstein

Music For The Day

Samuel HooperLeave a comment

Leonard Bernstein, here conducting “Chichester Psalms”, his own composition from 1965, performed by the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and Wiener Jeunesse Choir, at the Philharmonie Hall, Berlin:

 

Here in its entirety, because it is great.

Gotta love the 1980s hair, glasses and clothing too.

Awake, psaltery and harp:
I will rouse the dawn!

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord all ye lands.
Serve the Lord with gladness.
Come before His presence with singing.
Know that the Lord, He is God.
It is He that has made us, and not we ourselves.
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
Come unto His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His court with praise.
Be thankful unto Him and bless His name.
the Lord is good, His mercy everlasting
And His truth endureth to all generations.

Mahler’s Ninth Turns 100

Samuel Hooper1 Comment

Mahler’s Ninth Symphony was premiered on this day 100 years ago, and to celebrate, Gramophone Magazine has reviewed some of the finest recordings available.

I must confess – and I am sure this will forever mark me out as a classical music heretic, if the Glenn Gould appreciation hadn’t already done the job – that I am not a big Mahler fan. I have grown to like his first symphony a lot, especially the Leonard Bernstein/New York Philharmonic recording, but as a symphonist, in general, Mahler doesn’t do much for me. I feel that there is a lot of overwrought, introspective symphony-ing for the sake of it, especially in the ones where he felt it necessary to draft in vocal soloists and a massed chorus. Having said that, I’m sure I’m wrong.

However, I did listen to the various extracts selected by Gramophone, and enjoyed this one, conducted by Claudio Abbado:

 

So happy birthday, Mahler’s Ninth! I’m going to go listen to some Shostakovich now.