I am participating in the Blogging from A to Z Challenge, and my theme this year is classical music. Check out the list of other participants by clicking here! Q
is for Quartet. Today’s featured
video is Claude Debussy’s Quartet in G Minor, Op. 10, Movement 2 performed by
the Danish String Quartet.
· Claude
Debussy was a French composer who lived from 1862 to 1918.
· In
1884, Debussy won a four-year scholarship at the Académie des Beaux-Arts, but
he found the environment there boorish and stifling and he was often too
depressed to compose. He desired to follow his own path and said, "I am
sure the Institute would not approve, for, naturally it regards the path which
it ordains as the only right one. But there is no help for it! I am too
enamoured of my freedom, too fond of my own ideas!”
· One of
Debussy’s most famous piano pieces in the Suite
bergamasque, which includes Clair de lune as its third movement.
· Some
people think that Debussy structured some of his works mathematically. A book
by Roy Howat, indicates that “some of Debussy's pieces can be divided into sections
that reflect the golden ratio, frequently by using the numbers of the
standard Fibonacci sequence.”*
 |
| The Tallinn String Quartet |
· A
string quartet consists of two violins, a viola, and a cello. The current form
of string quartets was developed by Joseph Haydn. Most well-known composers since
the 18th century have written string quartets.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/String_quartet
http://www.classicfm.com/composers/debussy/
For
this challenge, I’m keeping a playlist of the videos I’m using plus some extras
for anyone who wants to hear more. I will update with the latest letter each day.
The video I added to the playlist today is the Suite bergamasque: III. Clair de
lune, and not abandoning letter Q,
it is performed by the Quebec
Symphony Orchestra.
Do have a favorite
string quartet piece? Or is there another type of quartet you are fond of (i.e.
barbershop, guitar)?
I imagine the stiff rules of the time were tough for creative types. Some of us don't like rules!
ReplyDeleteStephanie, if composers never went against the rules, music would never change, so I'm glad many of them did :)
DeleteMusic with mathematics? That's awesome. I'll have to see if my husband's familiar with this as he is a mathematician.
ReplyDeleteTamara, I did read all about how Debussy's music was connected, but I like the connection between nature and the Fibonacci sequence.
DeleteLearned something new with what comprised a quartet. I do like barbershop quartet. It was fun to watch the guys in Disneyland riding their bikes and singing barbershop quartet songs!
ReplyDeletegood one for Q :)
betty
Thanks Betty! I enjoyed the barbershop quartet in the Music Man, seeing one in person and on bikes would be awesome :)
DeleteFabulous post- what a great theme for the A to Z Challenge! I look forward each day to seeing what else you have come up with!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Kathe! It is my pleasure to share these great composers!
Deletewonderful
ReplyDeleteThanks Denise!
DeleteAn inflexible environment can suck the creativity right out of you.
ReplyDeleteSandra, I totally agree, your description makes me think of my job and its creativity-sucking.
DeleteI love Debussy's piano music, but not really heard much of his other work. Listening to this piece for the first time, it has Debussy written all over it! If I didn't know he'd written it, I certainly would have suspected it.
ReplyDeleteQuartets? I don't know that I have a favorite. The Beatles, perhaps? ;)
Visiting from the A-to-Z Challenge
Colin D. Smith
Colin, thanks for the visit! Debussy's quartet is quite lovely. The Beatles made an excellent quartet :)
DeleteI liked playing in quartets, although I didn't get to do it much. Not really a good woodwind quartet. Or is there?
ReplyDeleteLiz, I do not know of any woodwind quartets off the top of my head, I guess another YouTube search is in order :)
DeleteI like a string quartet. It's interesting about the mathematics and Debussy.
ReplyDeleteBirgit, string quartets are very pleasant to listen to, I enjoy the sound of those instruments combined.
Delete