Alexander Street: Music

Download of the Week: Mendelssohn's Symphony No. 4 in A, op. 90 'Italian'

In May 1830, having just turned down the chair of music at the Universtiy of Berlin, Mendelssohn took up Goethe's suggestion and began a trip to Italy. Still only 21, the youthful composer found much to inspire him and began work on the Italian Symphony when he reached Rome in October. Trips to Naples, where Mendelssohn was greatly moved by the poverty of the Neapolitans, Florence, and Milan followed, before returning to Germany via Switzerland. He completed the Symphony in Berlin and first performed it on March 13th 1833 in London.

This recording is performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra; Stefan Sanderling, conductor.

Download this work now through May 22nd, 2008.

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.

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.

Classical Music Library Free Download of the Week: Ginastera's Estancia Suite, Op. 8a

On a tour of South America with the American Ballet Caravan in 1941, Lincoln Kirstein commissioned a ballet from Alberto Ginastera with an Argentine subject. The composer responded with the one-act Estancia.

Choosing a typical Argentine estancia (a cattle ranch on the pampas) as his setting, Ginastera taps into the 'gauchesco' literary tradition, quoting from the epic poem Martin Fierro in numbers sung by a baritone. Gauceschos were Argentine cowboys who worked the cattle, and Ginastera quickly became the musical voice of their tradition.

The piece was first performed in Buenos Aries on 12 May 1943.

This recording is performed by the Carlos Chavez Symphony Orchestra; Fernando Lozano, conductor.

Download this work through April 11, 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.

Classical Music Library Free Download of the Week: Tchaikovsky's The Seasons, Op. 37b

Nikolai Bernard, editor of the periodical Nouvelliste had already commissioned vocal works from Tchaikovsky for publication. In late 1875, however, he approached Tchaikovsky again with an unusual request; twelve piano miniatures, each based on a seasonal text, to be published monthly in Nouvelliste. Tchaikovsky accepted the challenge and, over twelve months, produced his best known piano work, The Seasons.

This recording is performed by Ronan O'Hora, piano.

Download this work through January 3rd, 2008.

Classical Music Library's Free Download of the Week: Prokofiev's Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 1, Op. 80

Written mainly in 1946, with some material dating back to 1938, the First Violin Sonata is a gloomy and intense work. Prokofiev worked closely with its dedicatee David Oistrakh on the violin part, and the result is a work that exploits the range and qualities of the instruments to their fullest potential. Oistrakh gave its first performance with Lev Oborin on 23 October 1946.

An impassioned and anguish-filled first movement contains some remarkable passages including what the composer described as "wind in a graveyard" (rapid violin scales over a piano chorale). The second movement, by way of contrast, is an exuberant and violent Allegro brusco. A colorful Andante follows before the finale, with its remarkable and mercurial cross-rhythms and gentle epilogue.

This recording is performed by Gaëtane Prouvost (Violin), Abdel Rahman El Bacha (Piano).

Download this work through Dec 13, 2007.

Classical Music Library Free Download of the Week: Mahler's Symphony No. 5 in C sharp minor

Mahler's Symphony No. 5 was written in the calm surroundings of Mainerigg and completed in 1902. His first purely orchestral symphony since the 1st, the fifth marks a new approach to narrative: rather than a song or extra-musical text, Mahler himself becomes the subject of his symphonies.

The Symphony is divided into three sections. The first section opens with a funeral march followed by a turbulent Allegro. The scherzo that comprises section two is the heart of the work, and was composed first. The final section consists of a triumphant rondo finale preceded by the famous Adagietto introduction.

This recording is performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra; Frank Shipway, conductor.

Download of the Week: Kreisler's Caprice Viennois

The eminent violinist Fritz Kreisler was also a talented composer who wrote operettas, a string quartet and some songs. However, he is chiefly known for his works for the violin, virtuosic showpieces commonly played as encores. Exhibiting Kreisler's rare gifts for
melody and inventive harmonies, these miniatures are much-loved by audiences and violinists alike.

The beautiful lilting melody of Caprice Viennois is introduced after a mysterious introduction. The sensual richness of the violin's double stops (playing two notes at once) creates a wonderfully languorous atmosphere, interrupted only by a comic passage of frenetic activity. The piece ends with the violin posing a final question that the piano softly dismisses, matter-of-factly!

This recording is performed by Jonathan Carney, violin; Ronan O'Hora, piano.

Sorry, this work is no longer available for free download.  Find the latest downloadable work here.
 

Download of the Week: Grieg's Holberg Suite, Op. 40

Grieg spent the summer of 1884 composing music to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Holberg, the celebrated Norwegian writer and historian. In addition to a male-voice cantata, the composer also produced a suite for piano, From Holberg's Time. Commonly known as the Holberg Suite, the work was arranged for strings the following year and has become one of the composer's most popular works.

From Holberg's Time is a charming take on a Baroque Suite, using the names and formal structure of eighteenth century dances to create a varied and entertaining work.

This recording is performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra; Yuri Simonov, conductor.

Sorry, this work is no longer available for free download.  Find the latest downloadable work here.

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