Beethoven conceived this piece for a liturgical ceremony--the elevation of his friend and ... more
patron Archduke Rudolf to high ecclesiastical office--but in the end delivered the music several years late. During that time, the piece had grown beyond the limitations of an actual service and become something else entirely. Like Bach's B-minor Mass, Beethoven's Missa Solemnis is one of the most gigantic settings of the text in existence, and one of the most difficult choral works ever for the singers. Nikolaus Harnoncourt's performance seems to thrive on the challenge. He directs an exciting and very human interpretation that's sung with impressive fervor and played to the hilt. This is the real McCoy. --David Hurwitz
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Advantages: Refreshingly Different Disadvantages: None
Don't be put off by the title Missa Luba 'An African Mass' or think that it's 'too high-brow'!
Missa Luba is a wonderful example of African rhythms and percussive instrumentation - drums and shaken gourds - with traditional African 'call and response' melodies together with additional harmonies. Based on the traditional Mass the work consists of just five tracks - Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, Agnus Dei - and is just over fifteen minutes long.
The remainder of the recording consists of 10 Kenyan Folk Melodies. These too are as wonderful and refreshing as the Missa Luba .
Ideal for the 'serious' listener, as background music or for those who wish to listen to something a little different.
Go on. Give it a try; you will be glad you did. After all you have nothing to loose but much enjoyment to be gained.
This is my first ...
Advantages: A new way to hear Beethoven Disadvantages: Surpassed by some later period cycles
INTRODUCTION
Beethoven's nine symphonies cover one of the major cornerstones of symphonic literature along with the likes of Haydn, Brahms and Sibelius. Beethoven was born in turbulent times when the common people's dissatisfaction toward the ruling monarchs in Europe was reaching new heights which finally culminated in the French Revolution in 1789. Against this came Beethoven, who was born into a family of musicians in Bonn in 1770. His father wanted to coin in on the child prodigy market created by Mozart whose father had exploited his genius in a similar way. But Beethoven was no Mozart. He wasn't born a child progidy and his performing skills were nowhere near as natural as they were with Mozart. Still he made rapid progress as a piano virtuoso and an amateur composer. He was even supposed to take some lessons with Mozart in Wien ...
Advantages: Outstanding music on period instruments Disadvantages: Swaping C.D'S in music player.
The 9 symphonies by Ludwig Van Beethoven. (1770 - 1827)
Performed by The London Classical Players.
Conducted by Sir Roger Norrington.
With the Schutz choir of London.
Not everybody likes classical music. Even those who do, do not all like the same things.
This boxed set of CD's if different from previous recordings.
Firstly, it is played on period instruments. This is not to everybody?s taste.
These instruments are not like today?s instruments. For instance, the violin has a cleaner but more plaintive tone. The woodwinds
each has a colour and clarity of tone that blends to a harmonious whole. The timpani, those smaller drums, are hit with hard sticks more reminiscent of military drum sounds. The horn section has a different feel to it.
Considering the lapse of some 184 years, it would be strange if the sounds ...
