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If you really love classical music and jazz but can’t stand those elitist review magazines, you will find this a refreshing change of pace. Here we discuss music seriously but not pompously. If you enjoy classical music because it’s “calming” or “beautiful,” however, you’ve come to the wrong place. Yes, a few pieces have their place because of exquisite construction, but for the most part this is a site where you will read about and be directed to performances that have guts and passion and feeling. If you don’t feel the music you play, do us all a favor and give up. The world needs shoe repairpeople and apple pickers too, you know.
The best composers and musicians had/have something to say, and I particularly love those who said something that challenges you and makes you think. The late Jon Vickers used to say that “great art asks questions, but doesn’t provide answers.” I firmly believe that great music is the most positive force in our lives because it has the power to inspire and elate us as well as make us think. Even more, great music will never let you down. It will ALWAYS be there for you to give emotional and intellectual support. Your job, friends, even relatives may disappoint you and let you down, possibly even betray you, but music will never do that. Its power to move and inspire you is eternal and everlasting.
If you are one of those who feel attracted to classical music but don’t know where to start, I recommend The Rough Guide to Classical Music (4th edition). If you want to learn quickly about jazz, try Jazz 101: A Complete Guide to Learning and Loving Jazz by John F. Szwed. Or just hang around this site and read the reviews and blogs posted here.
I will be working on a recommended performances guide as time permits, and posting parts of it here as they are finished. In addition, I will be reviewing new releases on and off as the spirit moves me.
Enjoy!
*****READ ALL ABOUT LYNN’S BOOK: FROM BAROQUE TO BOP AND BEYOND!*****
*****OR MY 2006 BOOK ON THE HISTORY OF RECORDING & ITS RELATIONSHIP TO ART MUSIC: SPINNING THE RECORD*****
THE PENGUIN’S GIRLFRIEND’S GUIDE TO CLASSICAL MUSIC!
You’ll love it! Or you won’t!
Now complete all the way through Composers – X/Y/Z! Click on the link above to access it!
Even Newer!
Toscanini In and Of His Time
An approach to Arturo Toscanini’s conducting style and musicianship in a different light. A work in progress, I’ve uploaded the first six segments for your enjoyment (I hope). Feedback appreciated. Now complete through the year 1952 and including a facsimile of the 1950 NBC Symphony-Toscanini Tour Booklet. Now complete through my final posting, “The Toscanini Recordings – 2.”
OR
Check out my latest blog posts:
An Interesting Historic “Parsifal”
The Michel Berthiaume Quartet is Uncompromised
Roberta Rust Celebrates Her Direct Contact with Composers
The Morgenstern Trio plays Transformations
De Saram Plays Works for Solo Cello
The Ãtma Quartet Plays 20th-Century Polish Works
The Zier Romme Quartet Tells Stories
The Amazing Elton Britt
The Belcea Quartet Plays Janáček & Ligeti
Enter Our “Cheerful Chaconne” Contest!
Vol. 1 of Bernstein’s “Young People’s Concerts” Released
Quattro Mani Plays Stefan Wolpe
Kahánek Plays Kalabis
Ásdís Valdimarsdóttir Explores the “Voice of the Viola”
Raaf Hekkema Re-Writes “Dido and Aeneazz”
Quartetto di Cremona’s Fabulous Schubert
The Busch Trio Records Dvořák
The Yves Theiler Trio’s New CD
Niescier Plays With Her New York Trio
Rebecka Ahvenniemi’s Strange Music
Thomas Wilson’s Fascinating Symphonies
The OGJB Quartet Steps Forward With “Bamako”
Discovering Jean-François Le Sueur
Segerstam Conducts Beethoven
The Siggi Quartet Plays South of the Circle
Jeffrey Holmes Burns Bridges!
Alberga’s Fascinating String Quartets
Gluck’s “Hidden Opera”…by Salieri
More Wacky Music from Harry Partch
Mark Turner Meets Gary Foster
Vinikour Plays 20th-Century Harpsichord Concerti
Edith Ruiz Plays Contemporary Piano Music
Trio Musicalis Plays Contrasts
Salieri’s “Les Horaces” a Little-Known Gem
Bernard Roberts Plays Stephen Dodgson’s Sonatas
Wayne Wallace Explores the “Rhythm of Invention”
Darrell Ang Does Kabalevsky
Roorda Plays Composers of 1920s France
New Recording of Loewe’s Grand Trio
Mälkki Conducts Bartók
Mercadante’s “Il Giuramento”
Glenn Miller
Gražinyté-Tyla’s Powerful Weinberg
For links to older blog posts (beginning March 2016) click HERE
Questions? Comments? Suggestions? Contact me at artmusiclady(at)outlook .com
Other sites of wonder to discover:
The Opera Scribe
Jazz in Europe
Emily’s Music Dump
The Music Parlour – Historical Releases
Jazz Lives
Composer Charles Ruggiero
Jazz Radio Network
WWFM Classical Streaming
Jazzbreak (many sound clips & videos available here)
John Todaro Photography
boa sorte/good luck .Lonie Levister from Nazare, Portugal
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Very nice site, Lynn! I would expect no less from you.
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Thanks…I hope to make it even better as time goes on!
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You’re off to a great start! Congratulations!
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Sounds like the perfect site to get one self oriented and off ine right direction to experience these genres of music. Tnanks for taking this project on and so willingly sharing. Bob in Canada. PS: I learned of your site via Marie Lamb on Facebook.
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My thanks to EVERYONE who has been visiting my site and reading my reviews! My stats are way up, which makes me very happy, and more importantly, helps the wonderful artists I write about. Now if only I can get the jazz people to read the classical posts and vice-versa!
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This is very interesting, You’re a very
skilled blogger. I have joined your rss feed and look forward
to seeking more of your wonderful post. Also, I’ve shared your site in my social networks!
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Thank you!
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After watching the video of Turandot with Corelli and Udovich, I looked her up online because I had never heard of her before. That’s how I found your comments about her singing. I don’t know if she is the best Turandot ever but she sang In questa reggia with as little screaming as possible. I’m not a musician, but even I can comprehend what a fiendish piece of music it is.
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Lynn – where might I purchase your books? Scott King
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My book on the fusion of jazz and classical is available for free reading or download on my website here: https://artmusiclounge.wordpress.com/from-baroque-to-bop-and-beyond/
My Penguin’s Girlfriend’s Guide to Classical Music is available here: https://thepenguinsgirlfriendsguide.wordpress.com/about/
And my work-in-progress (still not completely finished) on Arturo Toscanini is available here: https://artmusiclounge.wordpress.com/toscanini-in-and-of-his-time/
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