Advantages: Haunting, passionate music to get lost in. Disadvantages: It's classical and this puts people off before they even try it.
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Although Schubert left no indication of his inspiration for this piece it is known that he had around the time of composing it played the Viola in Beethoven?s stringquartet No. 14 in C sharp minor, Op. 131 (1826) of which Wagner has commented, ?a soul in distress?, followed by pleasant visions, a new yearning for life, beauty, gentleness, yearning, love, whims, humour, hilarity? and then ?transition to resignation and painful renunciation? ? one man?s reaction and sure proof of the music?s ability to evoke both strong emotion and powerful imagery.?
This music sent Schubert ?into such transports of delight and enthusiasm that all feared for him?.
Beethoven had died the previous year (1827) and Schubert had not only visited him shortly before his death but was also a torchbearer at his funeral.
I am no authority on music, I can ...
Advantages: Music to take you beyond this world Disadvantages: Needs a bit of patience
Patient if it helps) was written for a harpsichord player called Goldberg to play to his employer, a minor nobleman who suffered from insomnia. You or I might nowadays turn on the radio to help us to sleep; the nobleman sent for Goldberg.
Chamber music is just music for a small number of instruments ? anything from one to ten or so. The work I want to convince you is worth your while this time is the StringQuintet by Schubert. Right ? let me guess: your eyes have glazed over and you?re wondering why you even read this far! It?s the label thing again: if I?d called it Franz Meets His Maker you might have been slightly less put off. Just bear with me, OK?
******Franz Schubert?******
Poor Schubert lived a short life: born 1797, snuffed out in 1828 by syphilis, which dominated the last four years of his life. Yet in his thirty ...
Advantages: Excellent backing tracks, competent vocals, a couple of strong pop hits Disadvantages: Not much in the way of soul, some dull tracks, all rather dated now
mind that in 1972 "The Black & White Minstrel Show" was still one of the top rated TV shows, which tells you something about the era.
The Pearls were signed to the Bell label ? which had some hugely popular acts on their roster including the Bay City Rollers, Barry Blue, David Cassidy and Gary Glitter. The UK arm of the label focused mainly on commercial pop and the Pearls fitted into this perfectly. Interestingly the US arm tended to focus more on soul music.
A String of Pearls
Going back to my dad?s old Sanyo radio cassette recorder there was a song which was oft played by myself back in 1974 called ?Guilty?. Performed by the Pearls I loved it and have vague recollections of a Top of the Pops performance which incorporated judges? wigs. I have hunted high and low for this clip on the internet and sadly can only conclude it was ...
