Alexander Street: Music

Classical Music Library Free Download of the Week: Vaughan Williams' Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis

The first Vaughan Williams masterpiece, the Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis for double string orchestra and string quartet shows clearly for the first time the composer's distinctive voice. Written in 1910 and subsequently revised in 1919, it has become one of  Vaughan Williams' most popular works outside his native England.

Vaughan Williams was working on an edition of the English Hymnal when he came across Tallis' tune, written in 1567 for Archbishop Parker's Psalter. He became fascinated with the psalm tune, which seems to have triggered a leap forward in his compositional style, and used it as the basis for the Fantasia commissioned by the Gloucester Festival.

This recording is performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra; Christopher Seaman, conductor.

Download this work through March 13th, 2008.

Classical Music Library Free Download of the Week: Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1 in B flat minor, Op. 23

In November 1874 Tchaikovsky embarked on his first attempt at a concerto. Surviving a notorious critical attack by Rubinstein, the work was duly finished in 1875. An appreciative Hans von Bülow then gave the first performance of the Piano Concerto No. 1 in October. Rubinstein later recanted his view that the concerto was unplayable, badly composed and plagiarized; he helped it achieve major success at the Paris World Exhibition of 1878 and it has enjoyed popularity ever since.

The piece does indeed borrow from other sources; the first movement's theme is based on the Ukranian folk melody 'Song of the Blind'; the Prestissimo of the second movement quotes from a popular Waltz, and another folk song provides the basis for the Finale. The concerto's legendary difficulty has acquired it the nickname 'Hymn of the Virtuosi'.

This recording is performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra; Ronan O'Hora, piano; James Judd, conductor.

Download this work through February 28th, 2008.

Island-Style Valentine's Day

For those of us in the mid-winter lull, when the ice and snow seems never-ending, take a musical vacation to Tahiti this Valentine's Day.  When I first listened to these recordings, I was infected with their spirit and enthusiasm.  Its almost as if the sun and fresh air speaks directly through the music.  Hopefully it will tide you over long enough until we can have some warm, sunny days of our own!

Check out: the following (institutional access required):

Himene: Polyphonies Polynésiennes (Buda, 92689-2)
http://womu.alexanderstreet.com/View/314141

Spirit of Polynesia, (Saydisc,CD-SDL 403)
- recorded and produced by ethnomusicologist David Fanshawe
http://womu.alexanderstreet.com/View/363261

If you like these, stay tuned for more to come, including
Music of the South Pacific (ARC, EUCD 1709), also by David Fanshawe

and

Recordings from the "Belle Epoque" collection, from Manuiti Records, including  Tahitian artists and groups such as Emma Terangi,  Joel Avaeoru, and Coco's Temaeva.   

EMI comes to ASP

A few months ago, ASP acquired a contract with the EMI label for 55,000 CD tracks from their Classical Music library.  We are, needless to say, very excited about this addition to our Classical Music database.

There are a few more logistical procedures that remain to be sorted through, but be sure to keep an eye out in the coming months for the inclusion of these spectacular recordings!

-Dave Vaughn, Music Indexer