Tonic Jukebox History
WEEK 79 - Potpourri
For our penultimate week I have turned to my list of music that I wanted to feature but which had not made it into one of our themed weeks. The list is much longer than this, so yet again many pieces have still not seen the light of day. So here is a completely random selection in which I hope you will find old favourites and make new discoveries.
Monday September 13
Chanson de Matin (Morning Song)
Chanson de Matin is a musical work composed by Edward Elgar (1857-1934) for violin and piano, and later orchestrated by the composer. Its first publication was in 1899.
Recording
Tuesday September 14
Non più mesta (no more sadness)
One major omission from Tonic Jukebox (until now) has been Cecilia Bartoli (born 1966) who is an Italian opera singer. She is best known for her interpretations of the music of Bellini, Handel, Mozart, Rossini and Vivaldi, as well as for her performances of lesser-known music from the Baroque and Classical period. She is known for having the versatility to sing both soprano and mezzo roles.
Non piu mesta is an aria from Rossini's opera La Cenerentola.
Recording
Wednesday September 15
Waltz from the Masquerade Suite
Masquerade was written in 1941 by Aram Khachaturian (1903-1978) as incidental music for a production of the play of the same name by Russian poet and playwright Mikhail Lermontov. The music is better known in the form of a five-movement suite.
Recording
Thursday September 16
Méditation (from Thais)
Méditation is a symphonic intermezzo from the (set in Egypt) opera Thaïs by French composer Jules Massenet. The piece is written for solo violin and orchestra. The opera premiered at the Opéra Garnier in Paris on March 16, 1894. I saw my first opera (Tosca) at the Opéra Garnier in 1965. It is a terrific opera and together with the stunning building, I was hooked on opera from that moment.
Here are two recordings of this wonderful piece. The first is from the present day and features the popular violinist, Nicola Benedetti. Born in 1987, Benedetti is a Scottish-Italian classical solo violinist. Her ability was recognised when she was a child, including the award of BBC Young Musician of the Year when she was 16, and also many other awards.
Nicola Benedetti recording from 2019
Once is never enough for this piece, so ...
Fritz Kreisler (1875 – 1962) was an Austrian-born American violinist and composer. One of the most noted violin masters of his day, and regarded as one of the greatest violinists of all time.
Fritz Kreisler recording from 1928
Friday September 17
Lascia ch'io pianga (Let me weep)
Lascia ch'io pianga is an aria from Handel's opera, Rinaldo. It is a heartfelt plea for liberty.
Let me weep over my cruel fate, and let me sigh for liberty.
May sorrow shatter these chains, for my torments just out of pity.
Bryan included this piece in week 9, sung by Barbra Streisand.
I decided it would be a major omission from Jukebox if we did not include a 'proper' version.
Here is one of my favourite opera singers, Joyce DiDonato.
I strongly advise not comparing the two. Just listen to this one twice.
Recording
(The first act of the opera is set in Jerusalem.)
Weekend September 18/19
The Westminster Waltz
Robert Joseph Farnon (1917 - 2005) was a Canadian-born composer, conductor, musical arranger and trumpet player. As well as being a composer of original works, he was commissioned by film and television producers for theme and incidental music. In later life he composed a number of more serious orchestral works, including three symphonies, and was recognised with four Ivor Novello awards and the Order of Canada.
Recording
Handel in the Strand
Another major omission from Tonic Jukebox until today was Percy Grainger.
Percy Aldridge Grainger (1882 – 1961) was an Australian-born composer, arranger and pianist who lived in the United States from 1914 and became an American citizen in 1918. He played a prominent role in the revival of interest in British folk music in the early years of the 20th century.
Percy Grainger’s title for this piece was originally Clog Dance. But he changed the name to Handel in the Strand because the piece suggested both the music of Handel and the then home of London musical comedy, The Strand. (Classic FM)
Recording
Chanson de Matin (Morning Song)
Chanson de Matin is a musical work composed by Edward Elgar (1857-1934) for violin and piano, and later orchestrated by the composer. Its first publication was in 1899.
Recording
Tuesday September 14
Non più mesta (no more sadness)
One major omission from Tonic Jukebox (until now) has been Cecilia Bartoli (born 1966) who is an Italian opera singer. She is best known for her interpretations of the music of Bellini, Handel, Mozart, Rossini and Vivaldi, as well as for her performances of lesser-known music from the Baroque and Classical period. She is known for having the versatility to sing both soprano and mezzo roles.
Non piu mesta is an aria from Rossini's opera La Cenerentola.
Recording
Wednesday September 15
Waltz from the Masquerade Suite
Masquerade was written in 1941 by Aram Khachaturian (1903-1978) as incidental music for a production of the play of the same name by Russian poet and playwright Mikhail Lermontov. The music is better known in the form of a five-movement suite.
Recording
Thursday September 16
Méditation (from Thais)
Méditation is a symphonic intermezzo from the (set in Egypt) opera Thaïs by French composer Jules Massenet. The piece is written for solo violin and orchestra. The opera premiered at the Opéra Garnier in Paris on March 16, 1894. I saw my first opera (Tosca) at the Opéra Garnier in 1965. It is a terrific opera and together with the stunning building, I was hooked on opera from that moment.
Here are two recordings of this wonderful piece. The first is from the present day and features the popular violinist, Nicola Benedetti. Born in 1987, Benedetti is a Scottish-Italian classical solo violinist. Her ability was recognised when she was a child, including the award of BBC Young Musician of the Year when she was 16, and also many other awards.
Nicola Benedetti recording from 2019
Once is never enough for this piece, so ...
Fritz Kreisler (1875 – 1962) was an Austrian-born American violinist and composer. One of the most noted violin masters of his day, and regarded as one of the greatest violinists of all time.
Fritz Kreisler recording from 1928
Friday September 17
Lascia ch'io pianga (Let me weep)
Lascia ch'io pianga is an aria from Handel's opera, Rinaldo. It is a heartfelt plea for liberty.
Let me weep over my cruel fate, and let me sigh for liberty.
May sorrow shatter these chains, for my torments just out of pity.
Bryan included this piece in week 9, sung by Barbra Streisand.
I decided it would be a major omission from Jukebox if we did not include a 'proper' version.
Here is one of my favourite opera singers, Joyce DiDonato.
I strongly advise not comparing the two. Just listen to this one twice.
Recording
(The first act of the opera is set in Jerusalem.)
Weekend September 18/19
The Westminster Waltz
Robert Joseph Farnon (1917 - 2005) was a Canadian-born composer, conductor, musical arranger and trumpet player. As well as being a composer of original works, he was commissioned by film and television producers for theme and incidental music. In later life he composed a number of more serious orchestral works, including three symphonies, and was recognised with four Ivor Novello awards and the Order of Canada.
Recording
Handel in the Strand
Another major omission from Tonic Jukebox until today was Percy Grainger.
Percy Aldridge Grainger (1882 – 1961) was an Australian-born composer, arranger and pianist who lived in the United States from 1914 and became an American citizen in 1918. He played a prominent role in the revival of interest in British folk music in the early years of the 20th century.
Percy Grainger’s title for this piece was originally Clog Dance. But he changed the name to Handel in the Strand because the piece suggested both the music of Handel and the then home of London musical comedy, The Strand. (Classic FM)
Recording