Alto the Music Nerd

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I think this is the first time I’ve ever been real friends with a girl.

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Erik Satie - Gymnopédie No.1 played by Daniel Varsano

Slide-show: black and white photographs of woods in Winter.COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMERCopyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is...

Trois Gymnopédies is a set of songs that just sound different depending on who’s playing them. I’m very fond of Daniel Varsano’s version of them. The way he showcases the mild dissonance of the melody versus the harmony just gives me such an intense feeling. I really feel like it’s what Satie had in mind for this piece. The main YouTube link is just first Gymnopédie, it’s my favorite. I love them all obviously, but if I can only show you guys one, I’d want it to be this one. I don’t know of a bad Satie song. I’d recommend him to anyone who likes this. Gnossienne no. 1 is very, very interesting, it’s got a entire like, detective show drama vibe. I mean, at least it does to me. But thanks for checking this out, guys.

[altosmusicblog]

It’s another modern song for you guys this time. This one was released just a few years ago (2015) by a group that calls themselves Guy Trevino and Friends. I actually know very little about this group but I’ve been listening to their music a lot lately, and this song is one of my favorites. It’s got such a 60′s game show sound, I almost want to call it kitschy. If you guys have any more info on this group, let me know, I’m very interested. If you like this song I recommend checking out more of the 60s gameshow-esque stuff, like Spanish Flea by Herb Alpert.

[altosmusicblog]

Performed by Michel Camilo, Giovanni Hidalgo

Something a bit more modern for you guys today, “And Sammy Walked In” was composed in 1989 from one of jazz music’s modern giants, Michel Camilo He’s performing it here, himself, on piano, while Giovanni Hidalgo takes care of everything else. There is a different take on this song on Michel Camilo’s album Essence, but I quite enjoy this version, as I feel this one is better paced. Both versions offer a song that is an explosion of energy and fun, though, so I do recommend you give the other version a listen. This piece was introduced to me through a Latin jazz album, which are often fun pickups if you see one just laying around in the store. You really never know what you’ll find and I always find a new favorite song when I pick one up. They’re usually pretty cheap and worth throwing caution to the wind for in this humble music nerd’s opinion!

[altosmusicblog]

Clair de Lune by Claude Debussy

Performed by Michael Ottoson

Clair de Lune being performed by Michael Ottosson! What a piece this is. Composed by Claude Debussy in 1890 as the third movement of Suite bergamasque. I don’t wanna hear any of ya’lls comments on Claude’s last name. The man was a genius and I ain’t here for it. (I’m just kidding, we all know he got de bussy) The song’s name means ‘Moonlight’, for the record.

One of those piano songs that are so good that even people who don’t normally listen to piano music can get into it. You’ve probably already heard it, this piece is iconic for very good reason. Michael’s soft, slow approach to this gentle song really drives it home. Bergamasque also sounds like burger mask so it is funny in a way too. I’ma put on my Bergamasque and listen to this one some more.

[altosmusicblog]

Nocturne (in E♭ Major) Opus 9 Number 2 by Frédéric Chopin

Performed by Austin Fray

Composed by my husbando Frédéric Chopin sometime between 1830 and 1832, this is the second in a set of three. Apparently it’s dedicated to someone named Marie Pleyel. My name is not Marie Pleyel for the record and I am upset about that. What do you do when you’re born in the wrong century for your one true love? 

A lot of classical music nerds will call me basic because this is the first Chopin piece I posted on my blog, probably. So sue me, it’s his most famous piece for a reason, and it’s my favorite. Austin is vivacious when the piece calls for it, without ever being too fast like a lot of the classical music CDs. When the piece starts to ease into its melancholic state, Austin slowly backs off a bit and allows the piece to fully express itself. Thank you for that! This piece is stunning if you play it right, and this is one of my favorite renditions of it.

[altosmusicblog]

Waltz from Sleeping Beauty by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Conducted by Peter Folliard

I’m pretty sure this is just known as the Waltz from Sleeping Beauty. Peter Folliard here is the conductor, but I don’t know what orchestra he is working with here and he doesn’t say. It’d be nice to know that so I can credit the orchestra, just saying, Peter! Anyways, this score was written in 1889 for a ballet titled The Sleeping Beauty, by none other than our boy Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, the waltz master himself.

Most of ya’ll will know this piece from cartoons. It’s a flexible piece that can transform from a goofy, silly song to a beautiful waltz to dance to depending on the tempo you play it at. You may also recognize it from Disney’s movie of the same name. Once Upon a Dream is a pretty rendition of this song! Folliard’s orchestra does a really good job with it. I personally love the accordion in this version.