Tags
Alexei Savrasov, Chromatic scale, Gautier Capuçon cello, J. S. Bach, Lyrical landscape, Shostakovich, Stéphane Tétrault cello, Twenty-four Preludes and Fugues
A spring day by Alexei Savrasov (Wikiart.org.)
Alexei Savrasov (24 May 1830 – 8 October 1897) was Isaac Levitan‘s (1860 – 1900) mentor. He created the “lyrical landscape.” I have already featured Savrasov, but deleted the post inadvertently. A new post is under construction.
We are still listening to Russian music and looking at the works of Russia’s artists. The piece of music I have inserted below is a lovely interpretation of one of Shostakovich‘s (25 September 1906 – 9 August 1975) Twenty-four Preludes and Fugues on the chromatic scale. Chromatic scales contain twelve semitones (C – C# – D – D# – E – F – F# – G – G# – A – A# – B). J. S. Bach wrote 48 preludes and fugues on each scale, The Well-Tempered Clavier. These exemplify equal temperament, an invention of Vincenzo Galilei, Galileo’s father.
On equal temperament, see:
- Caccini’s “Ave Maria” (25 December 2015)
- The Renaissance: Galilei & Galileo (28 December 2011)
Our cellists are renowned French cellist Gautier Capuçon and Québec cellist Stéphane Tétreault. Few renditions of this Prelude, one of Shostakovich’s Twenty-four Preludes and Fugues, are so sensitive and touching. The pianist is Oleksandr Gaydukov.
Love to everyone 💕
Prelude – Duo pour violoncelles – Shostakovich (1950-51)
Pines on the shores of lake by Alexei Savrasov, 1890 (Wikiart.org.)
© Micheline Walker
11 December 2018
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Micheline's Blog 
I have not heard this trio of musicians before, and I thank you for posting this rendition; it is indeed wonderful!
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I believe this was a Master Class. Gautier Capuçon would be the Master and Stéphane Tétreault, the Student. I don’t think Capuçon and Tétreault had met before this event. Tétreault has since been given a Stradivirius. He is an excellent cellist. I love this performance. The two became one.
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I enjoyed it immensely, and I thank you again. So tender and nuanced!
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The Russian répertoire is extremely rich and the music is so “tender,” and it has moods (“nuanced”), including a three-minute piece. Take care of yourself.
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True, but not all musicians convey the fine nuances of the “moods.” These ones did! I dislike the adjective “tender” as a translation of the Russian word, yet there is no other translation. Frustrating, sometimes!
I wouldn’t consider Rachmaninov’s 2nd piano concerto tender, would you? Other than the sultry theme, of course.
Have a great day, Micheline!
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Tendre works in French: la Carte du/de Tendre. https://wordpress.com/post/michelinewalker.com/42922, but it doesn’t in English. Rachmaninov’s 2nd piano concerto belongs to another category. Rachmaninoff can be very powerful, despite gentle moments. I will look it up.
I have quite unexpectedly fallen rather ill: fever, very sore throat. It will go away.
Have a marvellous day.💕
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Those seasonal maladies are so annoying! To make you feel better, here it is:
Of all fantastic interpretations, such as Rubinshtein’s, and even Rachmaninov’s, I personally prefer Richter’s; I feel so much pride a dignity in it!.
Feel better, dear friend!
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Rachmaninoff is a doctor. The remedy worked. I have a sore throat and cannot speak well, but the fever went.
We’ll have to work hard on finding the right food for contraltos. That could help us combat little seasonal annoyances.💛
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I am glad you are feeling somewhat better!
The traditional Russian remedy is a glass of vodka (Russian glass is 12 oz, rather than 8 oz) mixed with hot pepper. That’s in case you don’t make your own Pertzovka, which is pure grain alcohol with chili peppers steeped in it, lightly diluted with water. I’ve never tried it, but once, in my adventurous teenage years, when I was running extremely hot fever the night before I was to play a final recital, a friend recommended to swallow a tablespoon of butter, drink up the ubiquitous glass of vodka – the main ingredient of most Russian remedies – followed by a second tablespoon of butter. I was desperate, so I did it. It knocked me down immediately, but I woke up in the morning as good, as new. Recovery was instant and complete.
Just saying…
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I will give this a try. It’s folk medicine, steeped in tradition. Many thanks.🕎
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Dear Micheline, most, if not all, Russian folk remedies are steeped in vodka! “The joy of Russia is drinking,” declared Prince Vladimir more than a thousand years ago, and Russia has been actively and exuberantly joyous ever since.
Feel better!
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I’ll make a note of this: “The joy of Russia is drinking.” This year the longest night will be on 21 December. I’ll drink to that. Comedy was born in the Kōmos: revelry!
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Beautiful music in a beautiful setting.
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I am finding little jewel. I thank you for writing.💕
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