Archive for 'Classical Corner'
Best of Winter 2013
Lawrence Schenbeck selects favorite new classical recordings from those released in the last four months or so.. [...]
Persuasive Percussion
There's more to modern percussion than the kick drum. If you can hit it, stroke it, or shake it, it'll give your ears a feast and your audio equipment a darn good workout. [...]
Tchaikovsky Begins
Tchaikovsky's first three symphonies are full of color, drama, and great melodies. Two new recorded cycles show just why these works are worth hearing, again and again. [...]
Bad Girls
Classical music is Not Dead Yet, but did we really need an opera about Anna Nicole Smith? Lawrence Schenbeck reflects on some truly great Bad Girls in opera history. [...]
Better than Fruitcake: Mozart, Britten, More
Unusual gift suggestions, including rarities from Mozart and Zelenka, bracing masterworks from Britten and Bach, and well-roasted chestnuts from Martha Argerich. [...]
Young Verdi
How Verdi got started as a composer, revealed in new recordings from a surprising source. [...]
Best Classical Summer 2012
Our quarterly collection of great new classical recordings. [...]
Timbre
Also called "harmonics," tone color, or overtones. They're everywhere in music, and they matter enormously. [...]
Two Russian Masters of the Symphony
Two of the greatest symphonic composers of the 20th century were born and died in Russia. Their music lives on, and for good reason. [...]
Fun With Counterpoint
What is counterpoint, and how does it invigorate all kinds of musical textures? Lawrence Schenbeck offers an introduction plus lively examples. [...]
Best Classical Spring 2012
Our quarterly survey of the best new classical recordings. Music by Dvorak, Glazunov, Bach, Bizet, Mahler, and more. [...]
Brahms: The Remix
Once again, someone has "reconsidered" the Brahms Symphonies, but this time the results are more consistently gratifying. [...]
New Old Stock
The best new classical music being created today isn't all that new. Or all that classical. [...]
Bagatelles and Dithyrambs
Exploring short piano works, rich in character and expression, from two early-20th-century composers who deserve more attention. Plus: three new recordings you need right now! [...]
To See or Not To See
Does video enhance or distract from the classical music experience for audiophiles? Will Blu-Ray revolutionize recorded opera, or can audio-only formats still hold value? [...]
Best of Winter 2012
Richard Strauss in the Alps; Bach's Goldbergs arranged for viol consort; the longest, largest symphony ever written; stunning Bach oratorios from Retrospect; a triumphant 20th-century program from the Oregon Symphony. All this and more in our [...]
Bottom Five
Lawrence Schenbeck talks about his favorite music by his least-favorite composers. Some surprising choices, both ways. [...]
Chamber Music Magic
Lawrence Schenbeck surveys music for two, three, or four strings, featuring exceptional new recordings from young performers. [...]
Schubert. Innigkeit. Discuss.
Lawrence Schenbeck welcomes in the new year with new recordings of Franz Schubert's timeless music and thoughts about his harmonic innovation. [...]
‘Tis the (Choral) Season
Lawrence Schenbeck recommends new choral recordings that would make nice gifts, with asides on record packaging and choral music's place in American life. [...]
More Mystery Composers
Once again, Lawrence Schenbeck tests your knowledge with a quiz on two classical composers, widely separated by time and space. [...]
An Ives Geography
Lawrence Schenbeck explores New England and Noo Yawk City with "maverick" composer Charles Ives. [...]
Classical Corner: Fall Record Roundup
Lawrence Schenbeck offers advice on the most desirable classical recordings of the last few months. [...]
Classical Corner: Mahler 101
Gustav Mahler is featured in this month's Classical Corner. A fascinating look at a modern composer that you'll enjoy. [...]
Classical Corner: Baroque Orchestral Suites
Dance fever is nothing new. Lawrence Schenbeck discusses great Baroque dance music in new and old recordings of Bach, Rameau, and Handel by Jordi Savall, Frederick Fennell, Charles Mackerras, and others. [...]
Classical Corner Mystery Composers
Lawrence Schenbeck introduces three "Mystery Composers" whose music should be more widely enjoyed. [...]
Classical Corner Beethoven
For years, the great tenor saxophonist Lester Young carried around an old recording of “Singin’ the Blues” made by Frankie Trumbauer and his band in 1927. When he was asked why, Young said “ the [...]
Classical Corner Vivaldi
Antonio Vivaldi is recognized as one of the greatest Baroque composers of all time. In this edition of Lawrence Schenbeck's Classical Corner, we learn about this composer and enjoy his music. [...]
Classical Corner Stravinsky
In this second edition of Classical Corner, Lawrence covers the great Igor Stravinsky with musical excerpts and lots of help understanding the composer's methodology and work. A must read. [...]
Classical Corner Mozart
Classical Corner: a new series on classical music that delves deep into what makes it work. A fascinating piece about Mozart and the language his music speaks includes musical examples. [...]
Recent Comments
- Treat the cause or the symptoms? (8)
oliver T. Finch: Simple. Treat the cause and there won’t be any symptoms.Regards.
Brooklyn: A listener’s ears adjust to the room. If you were to walk with me from one room to another as I...
stimpy2: I like Dennis’s suggestion very much.
Dennis Penner: What would be really interesting would be to have speaker/room response measurements before and...
Paul McGowan: That is correct and worse – when you’re not in the position there’s suckouts and...
- Jelly rolls (3)
oliver T. Finch: Excellent posts. I look forward to them everyday. Very informative too.I am being convinced more...
Paul McGowan: Oh my goodness yes, depending on the capacitor type the inductance is certainly an issue – for...
coppy: Great articles, Paul, Thanks. And thanks also to all those knowledgeable folks who add their comments as...
- If you have to ask ….. (1)
demeter: “…You cannot hear 1Hz – but you can hear 20Hz and you can feel 16Hz and even...
- Capacitors (1)
Bassman23: It’s been a very long time since I earned my Third Class broadcasting license. Thanks for the...
- Direct coupling (3)
Paul McGowan: The 20 year period between 1973 and 1993 peaking in the early 80′s
oliver T. Finch: What is the second golden era of audio? This a new term to me. Regards.
Soundminded: The purpose of capacitors in the signal path in amplifiers and preamplifiers is to allow independent...
- Gas pedals and plucks (9)
Soundminded: Yes as I pointed out in another thread some time ago the sound of the string itself is barely audible...
Paul McGowan: Sorry, I didn’t mean to suggest “more energy” in a literal sense – I guess...
Soundminded: If you could get more energy out than you put in without an external power supply or built in stored...
Paul McGowan: I’d have to agree with Mark on this one – it really depends on whose hands to instrument...
Paul McGowan: You are absolutely correct about resonance build up – just think about how a whistle or a pipe...
- Ringing (3)
Soundminded: I don’t agree. One way to measure frequency response is one frequency at a time. The input and...
Paul McGowan: Well, correct me if I am wrong but those frequency response peaks won’t occur without...
Soundminded: “We don’t see this added energy in typical audio measurements such as THD and IM because these...
- Just pluck it! (1)
Soundminded: Bowing a string is just like plucking it many times a second. As the taught rosined horsehair on the...
- Music loving animals (5)
Mike48: Our late cat listened with me often. I always thought he enjoyed the music, and he especially seemed to...
oliver T. Finch: In yesterdays post it was mentioned that if the leading transients were removed the sustained...
Newk Yuler: When my cat was younger he would look around the room when I played something atmospheric with birds...
Gordon: http://news.nationalgeographic .com/news/2001/01/0105biomusic .html MUSIC: NOT JUST A HUMAN LANGUAGE...
socal77: Our dog has been listening to a lot of “burn-in” tracks lately, in fact she is listening to...
- Lion’s roar (9)
Soundminded:
Oh but I am horrified. I went into the wrong profession. Had I only known I could have this...Paul McGowan: Mark, don’t be horrified – and please don’t feel anything other than welcome here....
Soundminded:
It is not my intent to intimidate anyone and I am horrified at the thought that my postings have...
Treat the cause or the symptoms?
Simple. Treat the cause and there won't be any symptoms.Regards.
Treat the cause or the symptoms?
A listener's ears adjust to the room. If you were to walk with me fro
Treat the cause or the symptoms?
I like Dennis's suggestion very much.
Treat the cause or the symptoms?
What would be really interesting would be to have speaker/room respons
Treat the cause or the symptoms?
That is correct and worse - when you're not in the position there's su