shostakovich’s viola sonata, redux May 31, 2008
Posted by Charles Noble in : appreciation/criticism, music, soloists & recitals, add a commentZach Carstensen (who writes for the excellent NW music blog collective The Gathering Note) posted the following comment to my first post on Shostakovich’s Viola Sonata:
I suppose it is well known that Shostakovich’s failing health made the sonata one of the composers sparsest works of music. Yet, I have always thought the piece reminds me of some of Webern’s chamber compositions…I posed the following question to a violist up here in Seattle:
“The sonata seems almost like its crosswise with itself. On the one hand Shostakovich describes it as “clear” and “brilliant,” yet on the other it does have a mournful air around it. The piece’s resignation is almost to be expected since it was his last work. Similarly, the sonata is incredibly sparse, with what seem like allusions to Berg and Webern, but also incredibly complicated and dense in parts. Is it possible to reconcile all of these differences?”
shostakovich and his viola sonata May 29, 2008
Posted by Charles Noble in : appreciation/criticism, music, viola, 6comments
I’m playing the Shostakovich Viola Sonata Op. 147 on Sunday afternoon, and I’ve been searching various printed volumes and the internet for more information about its genesis and about Shostakovich’s life in general.
I stumbled upon the following, a letter written by the then president of the Soviet Composers’ Union, Boris Tischenko. It was found amongst the pages of the manuscript of the Viola Sonata, and I think it’s quite interesting.
It’s also hard to come by on the internet, since the site seemed to be down, but thanks to the miracle of Google’s site caching, I was able to recover it. It was translated by Sergei V. Korschmin, who I believe is on the faculty of the University of Queensland, Australia. (more…)
season review back and forth May 29, 2008
Posted by Charles Noble in : appreciation/criticism, music, the orchestra world, 5commentsI opened my in box yesterday to find the following response to my post about the 2007-2008 season from OSO music director Carlos Kalmar. He has allowed me to print it in it’s entirety. I think it’s a thoughtful response, and one that might prove informative and illuminating. I’ve included my response to his email as well. There has also been a healthy discourse with OSO resident conductor Gregory Vajda in the comments section of that post as well. (more…)
are three angles enough? May 28, 2008
Posted by Charles Noble in : the orchestra world, add a commentThird Angle may soon need a Fourth Angle to supplement all of their recent activities, especially in the recording studio - read all about it here.
majestic & transformative May 28, 2008
Posted by Charles Noble in : chamber music, music, add a commentThis should be a great concert, featuring some of Portland’s best classical musicians - I’ll actually be there for this one!
An Evening of Majestic and Transformative
Chamber Music
Thursday, May 29 @ 8 PM
The Old Church
1422 SW 11th Ave., Portland, OR
Program:
Shostakovich: Quintet for Piano & Strings
Gerald Cohen: Trio for Viola, Cello & Piano
Schoenberg: Verklärte Nacht
Performers:
Greg Ewer & Ron Blessinger, violins
Michelle Mathewson & Viorel Bejenaru, violas
Justin Kagan & Dorothy Lewis, cellos
Cary Lewis, piano
Admission at door: $10
Doors open at 7:00 PM
2007-2008 season - a look back May 27, 2008
Posted by Charles Noble in : appreciation/criticism, music, the orchestra world, 14commentsOK, the holiday weekend is over, a (slight) chance to relax was had, and now it’s time to take a retrospective look back at the 2007-2008 season from the point of view of an on stage musician.
Overall, my major impression from the season is that I had to learn quite a bit of unfamiliar music. Not only music that I’d never heard before: (more…)
a nice ride May 25, 2008
Posted by Charles Noble in : cycling, portland, add a commentThere was no denying it, Saturday was the perfect day to go for a ride. My quandary was that I also needed to have energy to practice, so an ‘epic’ ride was not in order. So, I decided to tackle a route that has long fascinated and scared me: Terwilliger Blvd. (more…)
a look back, pt. 1 May 23, 2008
Posted by Charles Noble in : music, the orchestra world, add a commentI thought I’d start off next Monday by taking a retrospective at the 2007-2008 OSO season, both on stage and off. But for now, a list of the works we performed this season on the Classical Subscription and Inside the Score series. I’m always somewhat dumbfounded when I look through a list like this after the season ends. My first thought is, we did all that??!! (more…)
local musician with ties to china earthquake May 23, 2008
Posted by Charles Noble in : News, add a commentDavid Stabler has a gripping blog entry about trumpeter Jay Chen, whose brother and his family live in the city of Chengdu, about 50 miles from the epicenter of the recent magnitude 7.8 earthquake. I cannot imagine the hell of having to wait for three days to know if my brother and his family were still alive, as Jay did.
Jay has been a frequent substitute/extra with the OSO over the past few years, and I know that all of us with the orchestra and in the musical community at large wish him and his family well.
He’s also producing a benefit concert for the victims of the earthquake, to be held on Sunday, June 1 at 4:00 p.m. at First United Methodist Church (1838 SW Jefferson Street).
All proceeds go to the Red Cross fund for victims of the earthquake.
Ride of Silence May 23, 2008
Posted by Charles Noble in : cycling, portland, the orchestra world, add a comment
Ride of Silence - Portland-4.jpg | Originally uploaded by BikePortland.org
click photo to enlarge
Thursday evening a Ride of Silence was held in Portland to remember fallen cyclists from the past year. A worthy endeavor in which I wish I’d been able to take part.
For more coverage and info see bikeportland.org.
