Wow really enjoyed Wie Lange Noch! Powerful singing. So great to hear the backstory and read over some of the lyrics too! Thanks for including that in your writing!!
You’re so welcome! Glad you’re enjoying your weekend with these works. 💙
Teresa Stratas is one of my favorite singers, especially when she performs Weill’s music. I shared a video of her singing his setting of Youkali earlier this week on Notes, if you want to check that out as well:
Listening now!! She the drama she creates is amazing, wow. I just looked up Kurt Weill and he composed some well known jazz standards! No wonder he sounded familiar- there is much music and history about him I clearly don't know. Lol! I love September Song and Speak Low.
Oh yes — there's so much to adore about Weill, especially for someone interested in jazz! I can't help but to feel transported to Weimar Germany when I listen to his music. Glad you're enjoying these discoveries! 💙
Firstly, it's incredible to get classical music recs and ideas from you, Michael. Even with a background in concert band, I often don't know where to start!
Secondly, as always, I enjoy so much the research and personal explanations. That poem is just beautiful!
Glad you enjoyed, Kate! We're definitely kindred spirits in our interdisciplinary approach to all things art. 💙
And I'm so happy to be bringing you this music to explore. Another reader has dubbed me Substack's "sad classical music DJ," which I think I have no choice but to add to my business cards. 😀
Loved this post. I used to noodle around on a hand-me-down, out-of-tune piano as a kid and I played the Moonlight Sonata by ear. To be honest it didn't sound much like the original but it was my own interpretation. Just goes to show the power of the piece. It certainly captured my imagination!
I enjoyed this so much it was as much as I could do to get to the end of it before restacking. Thanks Michael!
I'm so happy to hear you enjoyed today’s musical exploration! (And I love the image of you reading while an itchy trigger finger is waiting to hit restack. 😂)
Thank you for sharing your childhood memories about Beethoven. I'm so jealous of your ability to play it by ear! The first movement of the Moonlight Sonata was one of a handful of pieces I could play as a kid — a perfect way to work through the sullen emotions of a teenager in the ‘90s.
You're absolutely right: the fact that this music can be interpreted and played by pianists of every skill level is a testament to the work’s fundamental power, and its ability to cultivate meditative states of being. I'll never get tired of it. 💙
It’s so interesting you both mention playing Moonlight! As I was trying to listen with a fresh ear, I simply couldn’t help but recall my short lived piano days as a child. I know I learned Für Elise and I think I attempted this one. Anyway, I YT rabbited myself to a tutorial of this piece played very slowly and aerial of the keyboard with colorful blocks to prepare pianists for each chord/note (like Guitar Hero does). Everyone in the comments sang praises for this method and claimed that it finally helped them not just play but memorize this piece. All this to say how magical it was that Beethoven wrote music that was just as accessible as it was mystifying. (And did this partially deaf!) Perhaps another reason why it’s so beloved!
And the others you included... equally as captivating!! I know I’ve heard the Galuppi piece before but not being able to place it enhances the emotion, as is it haunts me! And after this past week of horrors in the world stage, “Sanglots” and "Wie lange noch?" are poignant and even cathartic in a strange way. You’re right, Teresa Stratas’ version is gut-wrenching. I followed along the English translation as she sang, every syllable ensconced in some form of pain, from heartbreaking bewilderment to seething rage. So many of us are screaming out to the universe: how much longer??!
Oh my god, Katie, I spent so many hours at the keyboard as a child trying to hammer out Für Elise. Definitely one of those pieces I knew by ear first, but when I looked at the score, none of the rhythms didn't make any sense. And there are like five bars in the middle where Beethoven just lets it rip — an excruciatingly difficult passage that comes out of nowhere! 🤣
I'm glad you were able to find some emotional catharsis in the Poulenc and Weill. I had mapped out this post two weeks ago, but writing it last week with all the horror and chaos swirling around the world made those already profound works even more poignant and timely. How much longer, indeed! 💙
So funny!!! My mom played it when I was really little, so I was determined! I don't think I got very far though. I'm sure I gave up at the "let 'er rip" section 😂
Sometimes we just need the refuge of both music, and dare I say, history? When we look closer at the wider longevity of the human species toiling away on earth, everything feels a little less heavy somehow. At least for me. And again, we have music as our balm when the heavy hits heaviest.
Wow really enjoyed Wie Lange Noch! Powerful singing. So great to hear the backstory and read over some of the lyrics too! Thanks for including that in your writing!!
You’re so welcome! Glad you’re enjoying your weekend with these works. 💙
Teresa Stratas is one of my favorite singers, especially when she performs Weill’s music. I shared a video of her singing his setting of Youkali earlier this week on Notes, if you want to check that out as well:
https://substack.com/@michaelwriteswords/note/c-43283756
Listening now!! She the drama she creates is amazing, wow. I just looked up Kurt Weill and he composed some well known jazz standards! No wonder he sounded familiar- there is much music and history about him I clearly don't know. Lol! I love September Song and Speak Low.
Oh yes — there's so much to adore about Weill, especially for someone interested in jazz! I can't help but to feel transported to Weimar Germany when I listen to his music. Glad you're enjoying these discoveries! 💙
Wow that poet Robert Browning had great ears! Did everyone do interval training back then? 🧐 Enjoying these pieces on a lovely Saturday afternoon 😌
Hahaha, right? He must have had quite the keen ear!
Pretty sure Michael has invented a new artistic persona we all desperately need: sad classical music DJ. 🎶🎧🎶🎧
Omgomgomgomg, adding that to my business cards ASAP, Sara. That's a title I'll wear with pride! 💙
Firstly, it's incredible to get classical music recs and ideas from you, Michael. Even with a background in concert band, I often don't know where to start!
Secondly, as always, I enjoy so much the research and personal explanations. That poem is just beautiful!
Glad you enjoyed, Kate! We're definitely kindred spirits in our interdisciplinary approach to all things art. 💙
And I'm so happy to be bringing you this music to explore. Another reader has dubbed me Substack's "sad classical music DJ," which I think I have no choice but to add to my business cards. 😀
Ha, that’s brilliant! 🩵
Loved this post. I used to noodle around on a hand-me-down, out-of-tune piano as a kid and I played the Moonlight Sonata by ear. To be honest it didn't sound much like the original but it was my own interpretation. Just goes to show the power of the piece. It certainly captured my imagination!
I enjoyed this so much it was as much as I could do to get to the end of it before restacking. Thanks Michael!
I'm so happy to hear you enjoyed today’s musical exploration! (And I love the image of you reading while an itchy trigger finger is waiting to hit restack. 😂)
Thank you for sharing your childhood memories about Beethoven. I'm so jealous of your ability to play it by ear! The first movement of the Moonlight Sonata was one of a handful of pieces I could play as a kid — a perfect way to work through the sullen emotions of a teenager in the ‘90s.
You're absolutely right: the fact that this music can be interpreted and played by pianists of every skill level is a testament to the work’s fundamental power, and its ability to cultivate meditative states of being. I'll never get tired of it. 💙
It’s so interesting you both mention playing Moonlight! As I was trying to listen with a fresh ear, I simply couldn’t help but recall my short lived piano days as a child. I know I learned Für Elise and I think I attempted this one. Anyway, I YT rabbited myself to a tutorial of this piece played very slowly and aerial of the keyboard with colorful blocks to prepare pianists for each chord/note (like Guitar Hero does). Everyone in the comments sang praises for this method and claimed that it finally helped them not just play but memorize this piece. All this to say how magical it was that Beethoven wrote music that was just as accessible as it was mystifying. (And did this partially deaf!) Perhaps another reason why it’s so beloved!
And the others you included... equally as captivating!! I know I’ve heard the Galuppi piece before but not being able to place it enhances the emotion, as is it haunts me! And after this past week of horrors in the world stage, “Sanglots” and "Wie lange noch?" are poignant and even cathartic in a strange way. You’re right, Teresa Stratas’ version is gut-wrenching. I followed along the English translation as she sang, every syllable ensconced in some form of pain, from heartbreaking bewilderment to seething rage. So many of us are screaming out to the universe: how much longer??!
Loving this side series, Michael!! Thank you!! 💙
Oh my god, Katie, I spent so many hours at the keyboard as a child trying to hammer out Für Elise. Definitely one of those pieces I knew by ear first, but when I looked at the score, none of the rhythms didn't make any sense. And there are like five bars in the middle where Beethoven just lets it rip — an excruciatingly difficult passage that comes out of nowhere! 🤣
I'm glad you were able to find some emotional catharsis in the Poulenc and Weill. I had mapped out this post two weeks ago, but writing it last week with all the horror and chaos swirling around the world made those already profound works even more poignant and timely. How much longer, indeed! 💙
So funny!!! My mom played it when I was really little, so I was determined! I don't think I got very far though. I'm sure I gave up at the "let 'er rip" section 😂
Sometimes we just need the refuge of both music, and dare I say, history? When we look closer at the wider longevity of the human species toiling away on earth, everything feels a little less heavy somehow. At least for me. And again, we have music as our balm when the heavy hits heaviest.