10 More Classical Composer Number Letters H-V

1. George Frideric Handel B HWV HG
2. Joseph Haydn HV or Hob
3. Gustav Holst Holst H
4. Franz Liszt L LW S
5. Felix Mendelssohn MWV
6. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart K or KV WSF
7. Franz Schubert D
8. Robert Schumann WoO
9. Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky P TH
10. Antonio Vivaldi P RN RV

(Also Camille Saint-Saëns R; Georg Philipp Telemann TWV)

10 Classical Composer Catalogue Number Letters B-G

AI generated

1. Johann Sebastian Bach S or BWV
2. Béla Bartók BB DD or Sz
3. Ludwig van Beethoven WoO H Bia or DHT
4. Hector Berlioz H
5. Georges Bizet WD
6. Johannes Brahms WoO
7. Frédéric Chopin A; A, C, D, E, P and S; G; KK; WN
8. Claude Debussy L
9. Antonín Dvořák H B S T
10. Edvard Grieg EG

Lumos in West Hampstead

My kind wife took me down to a church in West Hampstead (a horrible high church with a statue of Jesus I'm afraid) where we spent an hour listening to Lumos. The Lumos style is to put hundreds of candles out (battery operated but looking like the real thing) and then preform. This time round it was a violin, a viola and a cello and mstly Einaudi compositions. So a very pleasant time that we enjoyed. I've almost never been into a church to listen to music before, although many people do I know.

Mozart's Requiem ENO

If you have an hour to spare check BBC Iplayer and the ENO performance of Mozart's Requiem. Well worth a listen. Skip to 7:38 if you only want the music. Link here.

Mozart

I picked up a nice hardback biography of Mozart by Paul Johnson the other day and have read it with enjoyment. I like short biographies and Paul Johnson, although he is a bit schoolteacherish, is a good writer. He does well with Mozart who was clearly a genius. As a Catholic himself Johnson is good at bringing out the religious dimension. He is also keen to debunk some of the Mozart myths as seen in Amadeus, etc. The chapter on opera was the hardest to read as I know nothing about opera and have no wish to change that particularly. It is clear though that if writing operas was the only thing Mozart had done he would be rightly famous. Yet it is far from being all that he did.

Reading the biography prompted me to gather my Mozart CDs (there must be nine or ten of them) and start listening to them again. Yes, he is amazing.

Handel Sarabande

Stirring stuff

10 Classical works for children

woodley wonderworks, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

1. Carnival of the animals by Saint-Saens
2. Toy Symphony by L Mozart or Haydn
3. Noye's Fludde by Britten
4. Young persons guide to the orchestra by Britten
5. Peter and the wolf by Prokofiev
6. Children's corner suite by Debussy
7. Hansel and Gretel by Humperdinck
8. The Nutcracker suite by Tchaikovsky
9. Mother goose by Ravel
10. The sorcerers' apprentice by Dukas

10 Cataloguers of Classical Music

1. Johann Sebastian Bach (BWV)

Schmieder, Wolfgang (1950).

Thematisch-systematisches Verzeichnis der musikalischen Werke von Johann Sebastian Bach: Bach-Werke-Verzeichnis (BWV). Leipzig: Breitkopf & Härtel. BWV (The designation BWV, an abbreviation of Bach-Werke-Verzeichnis, which Schmieder created, is more usual for Bach's works, but S numbers are found in some older references; subsequent 2nd and 3rd editions are mostly reprints).

2. Béla Bartók (BB, DD or Sz)

Somfai, László (1996).

Béla Bartók: composition, concepts, and autograph sources. Ernest Bloch lectures. 9. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press. ISBN 0-520-08485-3.

BB

Dille, Denijs (1974).

Thematisches Verzeichnis der Jugendwerke Béla Bartóks: 1890-1904. Kassel: Bärenreiter. ISBN 978-3-7618-0437-7.

DD

Szőllősy, András (1948).

Bartók Béla válogatott zenei írásai. Zenetörténet kézikönyvei. 3. Budapest: Mágyar Kórus.

Sz 

(Bartók's works have been designated by numbering systems developed by three different catalogers. Szőllősy's chronological index is the most frequently used. It includes Bartók's musicological writings as well as his compositions.)

3. Ludwig van Beethoven (Hess, WoO or Bia)

Hess, Willy (1957). Verzeichnis der nicht in der Gesamtausgabe veröffentlichten Werke Ludwig van Beethovens. Zusammengestellt für die Ergänzung der Beethoven-Gesamtausgabe. Wiesbaden: Breitkopf & Härtel.

Hess

Kinsky, George; Halm, Hans (1955).

Das Werk Beethovens; thematisch-bibliographisches Verzeichnis seiner sämtlichen vollendeten Kompositionen. München: G. Henle Verlag.

WoO

Biamonti, Giovanni (1968). Catalogo cronologico e tematico delle opere di Beethoven, comprese quelle inedite e gli abbozzi non utilizzati. Torino: ILTE.

Bia

(The Biamonti Catalogue sought to incorporate all works listed in other places, including the Beethoven Gesamtausgabe, the Kinsky-Helm catalogue (WoO numbers) and the Hess catalogue). 4. Johannes Brahms (WoO)

McCorkle, Margit L. (1984).

Johannes Brahms: thematisch-bibliographisches Werkverzeichnis. München: G. Henle. ISBN 3-87328-041-8.

WoO

5. Claude Debussy (L)

Lesure, François (1977).

Catalogue de l'œuvre de Claude Debussy. Centre de documentation Claude Debussy Publications. 3. Genève: Minkoff. ISBN 2-8266-0657-3.

L

6. Antonín Dvořák (H, B, S or T)

Herbert, Peter J. F. (1988).

Antonín Dvořák, Complete Catalogue of Works. [Great Britain]: Dvořák Society for Czech Music. OCLC 315534955.

H

Burghauser, Jarmil; Clapham, John (1996). Antonín Dvořák: thematický katalog [thematic catalogue]. Prague: Bärenreiter Edition Suprahon. ISBN 978-80-7058-410-1.

B

Šourek, Otakar (1917). Dvořákś Werke ... ein vollständiges Verzeichnis in chronologischer thematischer und systematischer Anordnung. Berlin: N. Simrock. OCLC 7629267.

S

Trufitt, Ian T. (1974).

Antonín Dvořák, Complete Catalogue of Works. Great Britain: Dvořák Society of Great Britain. OCLC 11677657.

T

7. Joseph Haydn (Hob)

Hoboken, Anthony van (1978) [1957].

Joseph Haydn; thematisch-bibliographisches Werkverzeichnis. Mainz: B. Schott’s Söhne. ISBN 978-3-7957-0003-4.

Hob.

(The Hoboken-Verzeichnis was created in 1957. Haydn's string quartets are still generally referred to by their opus numbers.)

8. Felix Mendelssohn (MWV or S)

Wehner, Ralf (2009).

Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy: Thematisch-systematisches Verzeichnis der musikalischen Werke (MWV). Leipziger Ausgabe der Werke von Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy. Serie 13, Werkverzeichnis. Band 1 A. Wiesbaden. ISBN 978-3-7651-0317-9.

MWV

Seiffert, Max (1908). Ausgewählte Werke. Denkmäler der Tonkunst in Bayern. 17, 9. Leipzig: Breitkopf & Härtel.

S

9. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (K, also WSF)

Köchel, Ludwig van Ritter (1964).

Chronologisch-thematisches Verzeichnis sämtlicher Tonwerke Wolfgang Amadé Mozarts; nebst Angabe der verlorengegangenen, angefangenen, von fremder Hand bearbeiteten, zweifelhaften und unterschobenen Kompositionen (6. Auflage, bearbeitung von Franz Giegling, Alexander Weinmann, Gerd Sievers ed.). Wiesbaden: Breitkopf & Härtel.

K

(Mozart's opus numbers are particularly scattered and useless and are no longer used at all (for instance, there are two sets of violin sonatas both called Op. 1). Köchel's Chronologisch-thematisches Verzeichnis sämmtlicher Tonwerke W. A. Mozarts was published in 1862 and has been substantially revised four times since then. KV numbers (short for Köchel-Verzeichnis) are often used for Mozart's works in Europe.

Wyzewa, Teodor de; Saint-Foix, Georges de (1912).

W.-A. Mozart, sa vie musicale et son œuvre de l'enfance à la pleine maturité (1756-1777): Essai de biographie critique, suivi d'un nouveau catalogue chronologique de l'œuvre complète du maitre. Paris: Perrin et Cie.

WSF

10. Antonio Vivaldi (F.  M, P, RN or RV)

Fanna, Antonio (1986).

Opere strumentali di Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741): catalogo numerico-tematico (2a edizione riveduta e ampliata ed.). Milano: Ricordi. ISBN 88-7592-022-2.

F

Malipiero, Gian Francisco (1968). Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741): Catalogo numerico-tematico delle opere strumentali. Milano: Ricordi.

M

Pincherle, Marc (1948). Antonio Vivaldi et la musique instrumentale. Paris: Floury.

P

Rinaldi, Mario (1944). Catalogo numerico tematico delle composizioni di Antonio Vivaldi, con la definizione delle tonalità, l'indicazione dei movimenti e varie tabelle illustrative. Roma: Editrice Cultura moderna.

RN Ryom, Peter (1973).

Antonio Vivaldi: thematisch-systematisches Verzeichnis seiner Werke (RV). Wiesbaden: Breitkopf & Härtel. ISBN 978-3-7651-0372-8.

RV

(Bonus:

Richard Wagner (WWV)

Deathridge, John; Geck, Martin; Voss, Egon (1986). Wagner Werk-Verzeichnis (WWV): Verzeichnis der musikalischen Werke Richard Wagners und ihrer Quellen erarbeitet im Rahmen der Richard Wagner-Gesamtausgabe. Mainz: Schott. ISBN 978-3-7957-2201-2.

WWV

[Also includes Wagner's literary works])

10 Haydn Symphonies with nicknames

Thomas Hardy, Public domain,
via Wikimedia Commons

Haydn wrote over a hundred symphonies. Some of them have nicknames

1. Surprise (94)

2. Clock (101)

3. Military (100)

4. London (104; 93-104 are together known as the London symphonies as 82-87 are known as the Paris symphonies)

5. Schoolmaster (55)

6. Farewell (45)

7. Philosopher (22)

8. Fire (59)

9. Drumroll (103)

10. Palindrome (47)

10 Composers beginning with B

1. Bach, Johann Sebastian
2. Beethoven, Ludwig van
3. Berlioz, Hector
4. Bizet, Georges
5. Brahms, Johannes
6. Bruckner, Anton
7. Boccherini, Luigi
8. Borodin, Alexander
9. Bartok, Bela
10. Bruch, Max
This is a repeat performance I see. Check here.

10 Romantic Composers

1. BRAHMS, Johannes 1833 - 1897 German composer and pianist considered a leading composer in the romantic period.

2. WAGNER, Richard 1813 – 1883) German composer, theatre director, polemicist and conductor. primarily known for his operas.

3. TCHAIKOVSKY, Pyotr Ilyich 1840 – 1893 Russian composer of the late-Romantic period, some of whose works are among the most popular music in the classical repertoire.

4. PAGANINI, Niccolo 1782 – 1840 Italian violinist, violist, guitarist and composer. The most celebrated violin virtuoso of his time, he left his mark as one of the pillars of modern violin technique.

5. LISZT Franz 1811 – 1886 Prolific Hungarian composer, virtuoso pianist, conductor, music teacher, arranger, organist, philanthropist, author, nationalist and Franciscan tertiary.

6. CHOPIN, Frederic 1810 – 1849 Polish composer and virtuoso pianist who wrote primarily for the solo piano. Gained and maintained renown worldwide as a leading musician of his era. His "poetic genius was based on a professional technique that was without equal in his generation."

7. MUSSORGSKY, Modest Petrovich 1839 – 1881 Russian composer, one of the group known as "The Five". An innovator of Russian music, he strove to achieve a uniquely Russian musical identity, often in deliberate defiance of the established conventions of Western music.

8. MENDELSSOHN, Felix 1809 – 1847 Short lived German composer, pianist, organist and conductor formerly known as Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy.

9. BERLIOZ, Hector 1803 – 1869 French Romantic composer, best known for his compositions Symphonie fantastique and Grande messe des morts (Requiem). He made significant contributions to the modern orchestra with his Treatise on Instrumentation.

10. DVORAK, Antonin 1841 – 1904 Czech composer. After Smetana, he was the second Czech composer to achieve worldwide recognition. Following Smetana's nationalist example, he frequently employed aspects, specifically rhythms, of the folk music of Moravia and his native Bohemia.

10 Classical Era Composers

1. HAYDN, Franz Josef 1732 - 1809 Prolific Austrian composer, instrumental in the development of chamber music such as the piano trio.

2. MOZART, Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus 1756 - 1791 Prolific Austrian composer. Created a string of operas, concertos, symphonies and sonatas that profoundly shaped classical music.

3. BEETHOVEN, Ludwig van 1770 - 1827 Compos r and pianist, a crucial figure in the transition between the Classical and Romantic eras in Western art. He remains one of the most famous and influential of all composers.

4. CIMAROSA, Domenico 1749 - 1801 Writer of operas who though certainly not as famous today as some of his contemporaries, was in his time both celebrated and handsomely rewarded for his works.

5. SALIERI, Antoni0 1750 - 1825 Italian classical composer, conductor, and teacher.

6. CLEMENTI, Muzio 1752 - 1832

7. BACH, Carl Philip Emmanuel 1714 - 1788 German musician and composer, fifth child and second (surviving) son of J S Bach. His second name honours his godfather Georg Philipp Telemann. An influential composer in the transition between baroque and classical periods.

8. GLUCK, Christoph Willibald Ritter von 1714 - 1787 Composer of Italian and French opera in the early classical period.

9. STAMITZ, Carl Philipp 1745 - 1801 German composer of partial Czech ancestry. The most prominent representative of the second generation of the Mannheim School, founded by his father Johann.

10. SCHUBERT, Franz Peter 1797 - 1828 Short lived Austrian composer who died before his 32nd birthday but was extremely prolific in life, composing over 600 secular vocal works (mainly Lieder), seven complete symphonies, sacred music, operas, incidental music and a large body of chamber and piano music.

10 Composers whose names begin with B

I'm surprised to see we've not done this before
1. Bach
2. Byrd
3. Beethoven
4. Brahms
5. Bruch
6. Borodin
7. Bartok
8. Berlioz
9. Bizet
10. Britten

10 Great English Classical Composers

1. John Dowland
2. William Byrd
3. Henry Purcell
4. George Frederic Handel (actually a German, but resided in England for a large portion of his life)
5. Edward Elgar
6. Frederick Delius
7. Gustav Holst
8. Ralph Vaughan Williams
9. Benjamin Britten
10. Malcolm Arnold

Old Technology 03

Two things came together rather well last week. I managed to track down a copy of a 1985 vinyl record by a German guitar duo called Les Deux Amis playing Focus classics recently and it arrived the day after I brought my son home from Cardiff Uni with his little record player. So last week there I was doing something I haven't done in a while - playing an LP.

It soon came back to me. Carefully remove the piece of plastic from its cardboard cover and paper sleeve, making sure not to touch the surface. Pop the record on the turntable, place the needle and out comes the music.

There's quite a bit of crackle and the listening experience is not as good as CD and mp3 I think. You have no pause button so interruptions are a pain. I do like that thought - when side one finishes I'll make a cuppa. You also feel reluctant to skip tracks for fear of causing damage.

The album itself is very satisfactory. All the early Focus classics are given the classical guitar treatment with a little bit of Bach thrown in for good measure at one point.

Hendrix Handel Style

That last blog sent me looking for Handel in Hendris style.

Not there.

So how about Hendrix in Handel style?

Cassette 09 Haydn

Haydn wrote over a hundred symphonies and around 40 of them have nicknames. This cassette that I picked up in dearly deaprted Woolies some years ago contains the philopsher, clock and military (22, 100 and 101). Haydn is quite acessible and good fun.

Castrol Mahler

I think it was this brilliant advert from the eighties that persuaded me I might like Mahler. This is from his seventh symphony not his fifth.

Cassette 08 Mahler

Just when you thought this series was dead in the water ... Sorry. If you try and get into classical music someone at some point will recommend Mahler to you. I dutiful bought this cheap edition of Mahler's fifth many years ago and didn't really fall in ,love with Mahler I'm afraid.

Cassette 07 Brahms

I've never been big into Brahms but I bought this cassette back in the nineties as I had so enjoyed Thijs Van Leer's version of part of the third symphony (poco allegretto) on his 1988 album Reflections. Sadly the rest of the third symphony seems to me not quite so good as that section. What clinched it for me to buy this particular presentation was the addition of Brahms' Variations on a theme of Haydn. This is the piece that Focus adapted for the opening section of their magnum opus Hamburger Concerto. (See here) When I was in Secondary School the music teacher Mr Measey used to play some classical piece as we marched out of morning assembly. Most of it was lost on me but I remember one glorious morning when he played the Brahms variations. It's a great piece.