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I’m in a little Glenn Branca phase right now. Sometimes his pieces are too much. This video is probably my favorite performance of his. I like the way he ‘conducts’ the guitar orchestra like it’s a dance. His convulsions are similar to kids slam dancing to hardcore; the same way his pieces are like elongated punk songs. Also he’s from my hometown of Harrisburg, PA.
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I am lucky enough to live in a city with a phenomenal symphony that does student discounts. The Romantic era of classical is my favorite and Mahler never disappoints. Hearing this live healed me. Check out the adagietto movement if you can’t sit through the whole thing.
Feb 23, 2025
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Today, he came to give a talk in my composition forum. Super interesting person and a genius creative. His work explores a lot of a grey area between music and theater. This specific piece left an impression on me during his presentation.
https://youtu.be/EV2lUyZj4XE?si=I1q6z7Sjb5w4yI2R
Feb 15, 2024
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I got Apple Music classical recently. absolutely love it. If you’re reading this and haven’t taken the classical-pill yet, you have to give it a try. It has all the calming space out lock in effects of ambient music— but if you care to really tune into the music itself it’s astonishing how beautiful it can be. Growing up, I thought it was music for the diaperproles— babies & senior citizens. I was so wrong. Such grace, such clarity, such overwhelming force, such tenderness, such vehement, electrifying ENERGY all expressed completely wordlessly. By a means that surpasses words. Wordcelsisters, we never stood a chance…
I’ve been on a huge Russians kick currently. Prokofiev, Rachmoninov, Stravinsky, Scriabin, Tvhaikovsky. Some pieces that I’ve really been enjoying recently, in no particular order:
Schumann’s piano concerto in A minor performed by Marta Argerich.
Rossini’s overture from la gazza ladra
Prokofiev‘s dance of the knights from Romeo & Juliet
Stravinsky’s rite of spring
Vladikir Ashkenazy’s rendition of Chopin’s 15th nocturne
I’m also convinced that “Smile Sessions” is the best pop album ever made. If anyone can provide any evidence to the contrary I’d be delighted. But in the meantime, I’ll continue listening to ”The Teenage Symphony to God” front to back ad infinitum
Apr 27, 2024
Top Recs from @sharleen
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I would never tell a lie.
Jan 18, 2024
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The Sacred Idol is a gorgeously cinematic soundtrack that was made for a movie that was never released. It’s mysterious and fantastical. It transports you to some other imaginary dimension. I suggest you avoid looking at pictures of Les Baxter as this may ruin the music for you. The genre of exotica is kinda fucked up mashing up disperate cultures of South America, Africa, the Southeast Asia and the Levant without having any knowledge of the cultures. I’m half Peruvian-half Lebanese, so I too am a mashup of disparate cultures. There must be some metaphor within exotica for people like me. Growing up 1st gen American never feeling fully connected to either of my ethnicities and maybe I relate to this pictorial version of “exotic” cultures.
Jan 18, 2024
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I could watch these for hours. It’s like a magic trick or optical illusion. And I can't imagine what the rehearsals are like.
Jan 18, 2024