The 12 Days of Internet music: Day 9

Edvard Grieg, 1891 painting by Eilif Petersse

“Artists like Bach and Beethoven erected churches and temples on the heights. I only wanted... 
to build dwellings for men in which they might feel
happy and at home.” ~ Edvard Grieg ~

Edvard Grieg, the great Norwegian composer/pianist from the Romantic period is probably most identified with his incidental music to Henrik Ibsen's play Peer Gynt, which was subsequently adapted into two suites of music that contained the highly identifiable selections, “Morning Mood,” “Solveig's Song” and "In the Hall of the Mountain King."

Grieg was not only an accomplished pianist, but a composer of many other works, that when heard, never fail to paint vivid landscapes of his country by combining classical traditions with native folk music.

An excellent example of this melding of musical styles is present in Grieg’s Sonata no. 3 in C minor for Violin and Piano, 2nd Movement, “Allegretto expressivo alla Romanza.”

The piece is lush and lyrical. The piano and violin easily converse and compliment one another while bringing forth romantic images.

The recording below is a superb interpretation by two young artists, violinist David Radzynski, a graduate student at the Yale School of Music, and Israeli pianist Ron Trachtman.

The sonata, one of three composed by Grieg, was the artist’s favorite and was completed in 1887.

The recording by Radzynski and Trachtman was taken from a live performance at the Jerusalem Music Center, May 19, 2009.

https://www.instantencore.com/music/player.aspx?ListItemId=6819069

12 Days of Internet music: Day 7

Portrait by Catherine Wicks

It’s Christmas morning and below is something special, “Da Day Dawn,” an ancient and haunting Shetland aire that traces its roots from the Norse.

Traditionally performed in the early hours of Christmas morning to awaken members of the household for the day’s celebration, this version was presented at the Great Hall in West Brookfield, Massachusetts on December 2, 2007 by Celtic/Classical violinist/violist/ composer, Samantha Gillogly.

May you awaken to the promise of a beautiful day filled with peace and love.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HUCJ7DYBGg

Another bargain: Free downloadable sheet music

Earlier today, I posted another bargain on my second website. If you have a child who is interested in classical music or is wanting to learn classical music for piano, voice, chamber groups or orchestra, here is profile and a link for free sheet music downloads from composer, Charles McCreery. His compositions are tonal, tuneful and accessible for children of all age groups and abilities. Enjoy.

The lovers, the dreamers and me: Jim Henson remembered

Today marks the birth date of one of those rare, multi-talented entertainment hyphenates, puppeteer-actor-producer-director-writer and composer, Jim Henson, whose legacy lives on in some of the finest children’s programming ever created. Born in 1936 in Greenville, Mississippi, Henson accomplished an outstanding, award-winning body of work in his 53 years of life, encompassing both television and film. Widely known as the creator of “The Muppets,” it was Henson’s skilled presentation of some of these beloved fabric characters, such as “Kermit the Frog” that provided dual stars for him and his amphibian characterization on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame. It was also Henson’s puppetry talents that were instrumental to the success of one of the longest running and most honored children’s programs, Sesame Street. Henson’s life was cut short May 16, 1990, dying within a matter of days after contracting a streptococcal infection. Today, Henson’s creative work continues through his family-run Jim Henson Company, the Jim Henson Foundation and the multitude of products that bear his signature. Henson’s alter ego, better known as “Kermit the frog” lives on as well and is voiced by the talented actor, Steve Whitmire. Henson once said, “When I was young, my ambition was to be one of the people who made a difference in this world. My hope is to leave the world a little better for having been there.” On September 26, 1992, Henson was proclaimed, "Humanitarian, muppeteer, producer and director of films for children that encourage tolerance, interracial values, equality and fair play," when he was posthumously awarded the Children’s Peace Award. This honor, which is part of the Courage of Conscience Awards, places his name and work alongside that of humanity’s finest contributors: names such as Mahatma Gandhi; John Lennon and Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King. 

The next time you hear the song  “Rainbow Connection” from the 1979 hit film, The Muppet Movie, which was originally sung by Henson as Kermit, remember the man who gave so much to us all.