Alexander Street: Music

Classical Music Library Free Download of the Week: Chopin's Polonaise in F sharp minor, Op. 44

The Polonaise has its origins in several Polish folk dances. By the eighteenth century, the stylised Polonaise used by composers had acquired its defining characteristics: triple time, moderate tempo, repetition of rhythmic figures, and a lack of upbeats. Chopin was the greatest composer of polonaises and the Op. 44 Polonaise is one of his best.

Composed in 1840-1, Op. 44 begins to break down the strict ternary form of the earlier polonaises, and anticipates the later hybrid Polonaise-fantasie.

This recording is performed by France Clidat, piano.

Download this work now through May 8th, 2008.

Bachfest - Leipzig Germany

The city of Leipzig in the German state of Saxony, geographically located East of Berlin, is known for its rich, historical, musical background and to this day remains an epicenter of musical research and education.

One of the most notable composers associated from this beautiful German city is Johann Sebastian Bach, who served as a cantor at Thomasschule [A University preparatory school] in Leipzig for 27 years, as well as principal music director for a few prestigious churches in the city.

The Bach legacy continues to live on in Leipzig, and throughout the world – and especially in Alexander Street’s Classical Music Library and Classical Scores Library.

An annual festival is held each year to showcase the Bach family contributions to classical music, as well as the legacy of those individuals influenced by his work. The festival, which generally lasts a week, has several concerts and showcases and provides an opportunity for the classical music lover to celebrate the life and works of one of the most influential composers.

This year’s festival is:

June 13 to June 21, 2008.

For more information on Bachfest Leipzig visit http://www.bach-leipzig.de/index.php?id=23&L=1.

For those who are unable to make it this year, Bachfest Leipzig 2009 will be held June 11 1o June 21, 2009.

Classical Music Library Free Download of the Week: Bruch's Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor, Op. 26

By far the most popular of Max Bruch's works, and one of the most popular violin concertos in the repertoire, Bruch started composing the Concerto No. 1 in G minor in 1864. It was finally completed four years later after numerous revisions and suggestions from great violinists such as Joseph Joachim and Ferdinand David.

This recording is performed by the Luxembourg Radio Symphony Orchestra, Dimitri Chorafas (Conductor); Jean-Pierre Wallez (Violin).

Download this work now through April  24, 2008.

Young Mozart

Hello, blog-viewers.

I'm beyond excited to announce that I've just finished indexing an opera that Mozart wrote when he was 14-years old: "Mitridate, re di Ponto."  It premiered on the day after Christmas in 1770 and was well-received, despite many doubts that it would fail due to its composer's young age.  The opera enjoyed some 20 performances in its day, but was never performed again until the early 20th-century.

It is with extreme elation that I bring this score to all of you!