V is for Virtuoso
Showing posts with label V is for Virtuoso. Show all posts
Showing posts with label V is for Virtuoso. Show all posts
V is for Virtuoso
Erik Satie composed Trois Gymnopédies in 1888 at the age of 22. He was trained in piano but never excelled within that training. His work defied classical compositions, they were short, ambient, dissonances against harmony.
With the compositions were instructions for how each piece was to be played: Gymnopedie No. 1 - Lent et douloureux (slow and mournfully), Gymnopedie No. 2 - Lent et triste (slow and sad), Gymnopedie No. 3 - Lent et grave (slowly and solemnly).
But they are not all tears a slouched shoulders. The sound is calm, unpretentious, and compatible with bath time, bed time, and suppertime.
V is for Virtuoso??
Warning:This is a rant:
I just got home from a visit to PEI. My intentions are always to have a relaxing time in the country and not worry too much , and I did have a bit of that, but in addition I found myself in front of the television worrying for humanity after seeing 'what's new' on the Much Music video station. Maybe I'm just getting old but I was appalled by the visual messages being portrayed to the younger generation, I had horrible HORRIBLE Gaga nightmares. Sure the entertainment and music industry has always been a shocking one exploiting and promoting sexuality, violence what one can do with their hips, I've seen a lot in my days so I really felt shocked that I was shocked.
I didn't see any artistic merit in any of the videos that I watched over the 5 days.... at all I can't recall one detail (shame on you directors), every voice was distorted with synthesizers that even my Mother could point out, there were no dance moves I wanted to record and rewind over and over until I had mastered them (my old Much Music hobby) and the lyrics made me want to slit my wrists and rightfully so because the majority of songs I heard were about feeling crazy or were just so completely stupid and shallow.
It made me angry, it made me want to be an activist that demonstrates against the unethical social practices of the music industry, is anyone else with me?!
Luckily in the broader picture there are some great bands and musicians that are getting signed by bigger labels and they are collaborating on some pretty amazing videos which I've been viewing on the internet, I was just slapped in the face when I watched the television and felt yucky. I like this juxtaposition of Grammy winners for best new artist a lot happened in 10 years...
And here is another Fiona treat as I am now reminiscing about the days I felt inspired watching Much Music.
V is for Virtuoso
It's Spring, nature is rejuvenating after a cold winter, the birds are singing, croci blooming, and I have the blues. So how do I coax myself into the dreary days these past view mornings?
Queen has always been my classic favorite, I've been saying for awhile if I ever became an uber millionaire I would hire men that looked and performed like the band to play at my loft one soir, then I'd chain em up and make them stay forever. I would probably make children with the Freddy Mercury character....is it odd that I find him very attractive in his pre-mustache days?
V is for Virtuoso
"...a virtuoso was, originally, a highly accomplished musician, but by the nineteenth century the term had become restricted to performers, both vocal and instrumental, whose technical accomplishments were so pronounced as to dazzle the public."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)