Astor Piaszzolla is Composer of the Month

Astor Piazzolla (1921 – 1992) was an Argentinian composer and bandoneón player. Much of his music was written for tango (the national dance of Argentina). His works revolutionized the traditional tango into a new style termed nuevo tango, incorporating elements from jazz and classical music. An excellent bandoneonist, he regularly performed his own compositions with different ensembles. He is known in his native land as “El Gran Astor” (“The Great Astor”).

Here's a video of Astor Piazzolla from a live performance of "Adios Nonino"



In this video, Piazzolla plays the bandoneon. The music is "Milonga del Angel" (a Milonga is an Argentine form of music which "modulates from minor to major at certain times and its melody is reminiscent of the Argentinean tango" (link)



This video shows Yo-Yo Ma (Cello) and Nestor Marconi (Bandoneón) playing a tango,"Libertango"



This ist he Tango dance scene from the movie "Scent Of A Woman" (1992) in which Al Pacino plays a blind retired Lieutenant Colonel (for which he won an Oscar).
The music is "Por una cabeza" by Carlos Gardel and the girl dancing is Gabrielle Anwar.




photo of Piazzola from Wikimedia Commons

Early Birds Singing

Best viewed on a PC (sorry Mac users - it's a swf page)



To go to the web page itself, and play the birds in full screen, paste this link into your web browser:

http://www.primaryresources.co.uk/music/early_bird_singers.swf

Composer of the Month - LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN

Beethoven was a German composer. He was born in 1770 and died in 1827. He was a crucial figure in the transitional period between the Classical and Romantic eras in Western classical music, and remains one of the most acclaimed and influential composers of all time.

Beethoven was a prolific composer and wrote music for many different instruments and ensembles.

Did you know that Beethoven suffered from deafness, but still continued to write music and to conduct his pieces.

Beethoven - Moonlight Sonata (first movement) solo piano

Für Elise (Bagatelle in A minor)

Symphony Number 5 in C Minor, Opus 67 (Ist movement)

COMPOSER OF THE MONTH: ARTHUR HONEGGER

Arthur Honegger (1892 – 1955) was a Swiss composer who was born in France and lived for most of his life in Paris. His most frequently performed work is called Pacific 231, which creates the sounds of a steam locomotive through music. He wrote this piece in 1923. It is written for an orchestra to perform.



You can read more about Arthur Honegger at Artist in Residence.