This takes me back to music class. Havent felt this kind of thought process in a long while, your voice and point lead me to gather my own thoughts in a way i havent created my own way/thoughts about music since 2001
Outstanding analysis, as I expected after enjoying your "Till Eulenspiegel." I hesitate to single out any of his tone poems as a particular favorite, since I greatly enjoy them all. They are like old, lifelong friends. I agree that this one gets too much undeserved flak, but even Strauss readily acknowledged that he couldn't please everyone. I hope you explore the others, each of which tell their own tales. I appreciate your enthusiasm for this great and unique composer.
Thanks again. We have other videos in production: Glazunov Cortege Solenelle, op. 89 (you'll love it), Mahler 7-Finale, Taneyev Oresteia Overture, and a series of 5 fun-filled short episodes on Harmony. Much more on the horizon in 2024, but it takes a LOT of time to produce these shows. LR
@@HassoBenSoba Sounds like a great lineup. As a Mahler devotee for over 50 years, I'll be interested particularly in the 7th finale. His intentions in his music and what (supposedly) he "meant" tend to be highly editorialized by analysts and writers. Mahler himself asked only that we listen to his music and find our own meaning in it, if any, which really is not all that complicated. I certainly appreciate your efforts. Thanks for doing the work it takes to create them.
Another great video!...this was one Strauss tone poem that I never gave enough time to really experience in full, and now thanks to your energy and enthusiasm for it, I feel a new appreciation...I think reading about it ( the generally negative reviews that you mentioned at the beginning surrounding the premiere, etc ) biased my own view of it from the start, but now, actually listening to it and understanding its brilliant construction, gives me a fresh outlook on it...and so please continue your Crusade in general...can't wait to see who you do next!
I first heard this piece a decade ago, and it left me with a mixed impression. That first exposure came with none of the original program, and I found the piece to be a bit incoherent, largely because I could tell "lots of things were going on", but I couldn't get a handle on what they were. I now have a much greater appreciation for the meticulous construction of it, and the significance of the descriptive motifs. Really only this presentation was able to unclutter the jumble in my head that I used to think embodied this work.
@joelfenner It would be nice if Lawrence would do even more symphonic tone poems like this...I didn't really know what was 'happening' in Till Eulenspiegel until his video about that one either! So, the Strauss tone poems that don't really have specific poems attached to them make for enlightening videos! I wouldn't mind his breakdowns for the late Dvorak tone poems either...or some of the Sibelius too
Now that you mention it, I'd love to do a video on either Dvorak's op. 109 and 110 (:Golden Spinning Wheel" and "Wood Dove"), both of which I've conducted and both of which are endlessly fascinating works. But these episodes take a lot of time to produce (watch for Glazunov, Taneyev, and Mahler soon). ALSO-- do you know D'Indy's "ISTAR" Variations? Please check it out on this channel..a sublimely beautiful, unique work. And please share these videos! LR
@HassoBenSoba I actually know the ISTAR variations alot better now after having watched your great video breakdown of it last year...looking forward to anything you put out really...there's always something new to learn! Thanks for considering the Dvorak tone poems, and lately, I have been sharing the links to your videos as soon as I get through them...please keep up the good work!!!
Thank you very much for this fantastic video! I’m ashamed always thinking this the least interesting work of Richard Strauss, but you made clear it is NOT! Even my beloved Franz Schmidt was mentioned; may we hope for a video in some future of his 2d symphony? Since I love this work very much besides the 4th it would be my greatest wish…. Thank you again for this wonderful chanel!❤
Your praise is humbling and much appreciated. We have a slate of shorter episodes upcoming (as variety cannot be a bad thing), with some much neglected Russian composers, among other gems, on the slate. Franz Schmidt, we can assure you, is one of LR's favorite composers, thus a Schmidt 2nd Symphony episode may yet be in the cards.
Several are by Emil Rau (1858-1937); a few are by other artists from about the same era (for instance, baby in cradle at 6:38 is by Richard Sohn in 1869). Many of Rau's subjects are actually Tyrolean (hard to tell at casual glance). Give a timestamp, and we can probably help you identify a particular one.
While there are 100 million drones wasting their worthless lives listening to Lady Goo Goo, or, is it Gaga?... ...there are a few thousand, fortunate...domesticated... souls savouring Strauss' masterwork😀
