Beautiful Music

Some cheery concertos by Tomaso Albinoni are my offering to you today. Albinoni referred to himself as the “Venetian Dilettante.” He was born into a wealthy paper-manufacturing family, so he had the luxury of pursuing his musical avocation. Dilettante or not, he clearly had talent as a composer, and aren’t we fortunate to be able […]

Here is some beautiful music from off the beaten path: it’s early music from Spain and the Spanish Jewish people. La Rondinella’s SEPHARDIC JOURNEY is a captivating collection of traditional music from the 15th century. It is haunting, exotic, and lovely.  

Today’s Beautiful Music in Difficult Times is from Georg Philipp Telemann’s TAFELMUSIK series. When he composed it, Tafelmusik was advertised as a subscription series available for music lovers to purchase and receive in installments. It’s a little like public radio today, providing an ongoing stream of musical enjoyment that is funded by listeners donations. THANK

It’s May 5 — Cinco de Mayo. In honor of the Mexican holiday, today’s offering of Beautiful Music in Difficult Times is gorgeous sacred baroque music from Mexico. From their recording MEXICAN BAROQUE, Chanticleer sings choral music by Ignacio de Jerusalem and Manuel de Zumaya, two important composers in Mexico in the 18th century.  

Today’s offering of Beautiful Music in Difficult Times is a musical banquet courtesy of Seattle Baroque and George Frideric Handel. It’s Handel’s Alexander’s Feast Concerto, from a 2010 live performance at Seattle Town Hall.          

For today’s installment of Beautiful Music in Difficult Times, some jolly horn music by Georg Philipp Telemann, played by the great horn player Hermann Baumann. The German virtuoso is 85 years old now. He started playing horn at age 17, after having been a singer and jazz drummer! Listen to how he makes his horn

Today’s installment of Beautiful Music in Difficult Times is a remembrance of cellist Lynn Harrell, who died a few days ago. It’s impossible to adequately encapsulate such a long and remarkable musical life, so here are some highlights to celebrate his artistry and character.        

We are welcoming the month of May with some springtime music from the renaissance: O Lusty May, Now is the Month of Maying, and other sunny and buoyant songs from their recording ALL IN A GARDEN GREEN.        

On this final day in April, I offer you flute Sonatas by George Frideric Handel. They’re played by Jean-Pierre Rampal, an iconic 20th century musician who blazed a trail for flutists to be taken seriously as soloists on the concert stage. Lots of young flute players — including myself! — were inspired by his artistry

April is National Gardening Month. Have you been spending time outside working on your garden? For today’s offering of Beautiful Music in Difficult Times, it’s 17th century German chamber music by Johann Erasmus Kindermann. This fun Sonata is subtitled “Giardino corrupto” — literally corrupt garden, a maze. The composer crafted the score itself as a