Home | List of Articles | Submit an Article | Contact Us

Music of the Spheres with the Las Vegas Philharmonic

Music Of The Spheres with The Las Vegas Philharmonic
Read Jetsetters Magazine at www.jetsettersmagazine.com
Read this entire feature free with photos at:
http://www.jetsettersmagazine.com/archive/jetezine/classic/vegas04/sphere/sphere.html

Composers have long described the natural world in music: Beethoven wrote his sensual “Pastoral” Symphony, Stravinsky the tempestuous “Rite of Spring,” Led Zeppelin the “Misty Mountain Hop.” (You may have different examples.) Few, however, can surpass Gustav Holst’s spectacular suite, The Planets, performed tonight by the Las Vegas Philharmonic.

Excluding the earth, and written before Pluto was designated the ninth planet, this work comprises seven movements describing the seven other known planets as they relate to classical mythology. Each movement is distinct in style and, according to the composer, not related to the others musically. However, the chosen sequence makes for a very moving and unique musical experience.

First things first, of course. Great orchestral performances normally start with overtures, and English composer William Walton’s Johannesburg Festival Overture set a lively, upbeat tone. Written for the South African capital’s seventieth anniversary in 1956, the piece is full of melodic European optimism, flavored in the middle with a pulsating percussion passage drawn from traditional Zulu music.

Although Sir Edward Elgar composed his Cello Concerto in E Minor around the same time as Holst wrote most of The Planets, Elgar’s piece reflects more earthly matters — namely, the horror of the Great War that had just ended. Appropriately, the Philharmonic’s guest soloist for this piece was the expressive virtuoso Daniel Gaisford, who sat directly facing the audience to present the drama of this concerto.

Until the twentieth century, European wars were largely affairs of honor in which small royal armies did battle far from the cities. A few soldiers were lost on each side, and the public rooted for their sides like distant soccer teams. World War I, with its industrial-strength killing machines, changed everything and gave the continent a sense of lost innocence. Elgar’s concerto is a lament for a bygone age, filled with sad, sweet passages throughout its three movements. Even the final “allegro” section is utterly devoid of the optimism we heard in Walton’s overture.

Read this entire feature free with photos at:
http://www.jetsettersmagazine.com/archive/jetezine/classic/vegas04/sphere/sphere.html

- By Robert LaGrone, Las Vegas Entertainment Editor. Read Jetsetters Magazine at www.jetsettersmagazine.com

About the Author

Robert LaGrone, Las Vegas Jetsetters Magazine Entertainment and Classical Music Editor. Read Jetsetters Magazine at www.jetsettersmagazine.com

Related Articles:

Music... The Perfect Remedy To A Long & Tiring Day - Music is a part of our lives almost every day. Even if you do not consider yourself to be a big music fan, you still unconsciously listen to music everyday. One big place where we hear music is on the television. There is background and "mood" music in sitcoms and TV shows that you watch everyday. We have all heard those catchy

How Did the End Come for the Cylinder Disc Driven Music Box? - Copyright 2005 Monique Hawkins The music box has a long and interesting history. Long before collectors sought the dresser top music jewelry boxes, inlaid music boxes, and pop up ballerina music boxes that are the popular today, the cylinder or disc driven music box was the entertainment in many homes in the 1800?s. These vintage music boxes ...

Alternative Sales Sources for Your Music - Following, is a list of alternative sources that may be interested in carrying your music for sale for their particular clients and customers, if only they were aware of your music. Most of the clients and customers are already "captive" audiences who are waiting on a product or service, so why not promote (and sell) to them as they wait?< ...

Digital Music; Home Studio Music Recording - Home recording has come a long way in the last few decades. Many people do not realize that much of what they hear on T.V. and in commercials is electric. Many people still have a negative connotation about how electric music sounds. They think that it must always have a cheesy sound. Part of this stigma is the confusion over midi. and wav. s ...

Would Chopin Have Passed A Music Quiz? - Q. My children are very interested in playing music. Is there such a thing as a music quiz for kids? A. Sure there's such a thing as a music quiz, and you can find one right inside of your head. Just reach up there, pull it out, and put it down on paper. I'm serious. Who knows where your children's musical interests lie better than you? Righ ...

How Unique Automata Make Valuable Assets to A Music Box or Antique Collector - Copyright 2006 Monique Hawkins Music box and antique collectors should consider not limiting themselves to inlaid music boxes, musical jewelry boxes, carousel music boxes, antique clocks, antique cars, antique jewelry and the like. Collecting unique automata is also very rewarding. In addition, some also contain musical movements. Three inte ...

Vision Music USA Takes Their Services To The Next Level - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 1, 2004- Vision Music USA, LLC an independent musician’s resource specializing in Artist Development is now offering many new services to help musicians, including Merchandise, Graphic Design, Website Design and CD Duplication to name a few. Vision Music USA is a one-stop resource for i ...

For a Complete list of Articles with summaries Click Here