Greetings, my friends!
I thought this week I would share with you three videos involving symphonic music with escapism in mind. It has been rough few days, and I sense that we will need moments in our days to just escape reality and go a a very sweet relaxing or uplifting time with good music.
Enjoy as you wish and when you wish.
1. Vorspiel to Das Rheingold by Richard Wagner.
In this video you get the first 4 minutes of a 5 hour opera! This Vorspiel, or “Prelude” (Intro) shows the first dress rehearsal from the pit and backstage of the Metropolitan Opera. James Levine is preparing the orchestras for the first run through. Backstage we see the stage hands operate the huge, vast mechanics of the actual Rhine River. The orchestra brilliantly composed by Wagner, sonically produces the sound of the river flowing. It is deep in the river where the myth of the opera begins. It is deep in the Rhine that the gold that resides, guarded by the Rhine Maidens. Marvel at the music, marvel at what develops on stage. (Watch it more than once and figure out what is happening on the stage!)
2. Prélude à l’aprés-midi d’un Faune (Prelude to an Afternoon of a Faun) by Claude Debussy
Simple beautiful music. A painting in sound. This is pure feel good relaxing music.
3. Symphony No. 1 in C Minor Movement 4 Adagio – Più andante – Allegro non troppo, ma con brio by Johannes Brahms
The fourth movement of this masterpiece takes us to the Alps. Imagine finding yourself in the mountains with quiet majestic beauty and then you hear the Alphorn playing what we call Westminster Chimes, but is a true folk tune in the Alps. Following that is the famous majestic tune that will never leave you without an open heart and feeling the wonder and beauty of Mother Nature. The exhilarating rhythmic melodic roller coaster of pure sound will leave you feeling refreshed and just darn good!
This is a lot to listen to, but this is to help you get through these rough times leaving us asking what’s next.
Blessings!
Ben