Tchaikovsky: 1812 Overture

[DaveF]

Great stuff Fergus. I pretty sure that I dont have this on CD so I'll make some time to listen to that youtube clip above. I've a few ideas myself on a work to present but I'll need some time to research it.

[fergus]

Superb Fergus, you're starting with a high standard for all but fair play, that's exactly what the likes of myself needs. Huge thanks.

Cheers Ivor. I tried to keep it "low tech." to make it more accessible. I am sure that you know the work but have you ever listened to it before? Don't forget to post some thoughts after a listen or two as that is what this is supposed to be all about. I hope that you like it and get something from it.

[fergus]

Great stuff Fergus. I pretty sure that I dont have this on CD so I'll make some time to listen to that youtube clip above. I've a few ideas myself on a work to present but I'll need some time to research it.

Cheers Dave. TBH you will not need a CD version unless you actually want to own one as that clip is very adequate.
Look forward to your future contribution.

[Ivor]

Superb Fergus, you're starting with a high standard for all but fair play, that's exactly what the likes of myself needs. Huge thanks.

Cheers Ivor. I tried to keep it "low tech." to make it more accessible. I am sure that you know the work but have you ever listened to it before? Don't forget to post some thoughts after a listen or two as that is what this is supposed to be all about. I hope that you like it and get something from it.

I'm pretty sure I have recording somewhere... not sure if vinyl or CD. That said I can't say I've ever actually listened to it before. But now I will, thanks again.

[jaybee]

That was brilliant!

I had skimmed through it just the once but when input it on for the girls I was able to talk them through what each part of the music meant; and they loved it !!

Although it may cause issues when were on holidays as the French are now, and forever will be "baddies"!

[fergus]

That was brilliant!

I had skimmed through it just the once but when input it on for the girls I was able to talk them through what each part of the music meant; and they loved it !!

Although it may cause issues when were on holidays as the French are now, and forever will be "baddies"!

I am delighted that your girls got some benefit from the analysis Johnny. It makes the music come so much more alive for kids when they can visualise a story behind the music. Kids' imaginations are wonderful and the 1812 is quite dramatic. I recall Fran having a similiar experience with his kids when he did the same with The Four Seasons.

[Seán]

This is a lovely thread Fergus, well done.

When I was in my teens I was exposed to a wide variety of different music and I took an instant liking to: Skid Row, Jimi Hendrix, Buddy Rich, Duke Ellington and, interestingly enough, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. A friend of mine had recordings of the First Piano Concerto and the 1812 Overture in his father's classical music collection. I loved both of them. What I found with Tchaikovsky's music was that, unlike Mozart's and Beethoven's, it has instant appeal, it is not complicated, is luxurious, contains gorgeous melodies and is full of drama. His 1812 Overture was, for me, a marvellous introduction to classical music.

I had a copy of the Dorati recording, I bought it in 2010 (I think) but I lent to out a couple of years ago so I do not have any recordings of the 1812 in my collection, which is a crying shame. I will have to correct that anomaly now that Fergus has whet my appetite to listen to it again. Heavens know, I need something to distract me and to help to wean me off my current Mozart (only) binge.

[fergus]

This is a lovely thread Fergus, well done.

When I was in my teens I was exposed to a wide variety of different music and I took an instant liking to: Skid Row, Jimi Hendrix, Buddy Rich, Duke Ellington and, interestingly enough, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. A friend of mine had recordings of the First Piano Concerto and the 1812 Overture in his father's classical music collection. I loved both of them. What I found with Tchaikovsky's music was that, unlike Mozart's and Beethoven's, it has instant appeal, it is not complicated, is luxurious, contains gorgeous melodies and is full of drama. His 1812 Overture was, for me, a marvellous introduction to classical music.

I had a copy of the Dorati recording, I bought it in 2010 (I think) but I lent to out a couple of years ago so I do not have any recordings of the 1812 in my collection, which is a crying shame. I will have to correct that anomaly now that Fergus has whet my appetite to listen to it again. Heavens know, I need something to distract me and to help to wean me off my current Mozart (only) binge.

Interestingly, two of the pieces that you mentioned above namely Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1 and his 1812 Overture were also works that I took an immediate liking to in my early teens and still listen to both of them.

Stick with Mozart for as long as you need to Seán; nothing wrong there. Tchaikovsky was a very great admirer of Mozart so you have a good connection there.

[Seán]

This is a lovely thread Fergus, well done.

When I was in my teens I was exposed to a wide variety of different music and I took an instant liking to: Skid Row, Jimi Hendrix, Buddy Rich, Duke Ellington and, interestingly enough, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. A friend of mine had recordings of the First Piano Concerto and the 1812 Overture in his father's classical music collection. I loved both of them. What I found with Tchaikovsky's music was that, unlike Mozart's and Beethoven's, it has instant appeal, it is not complicated, is luxurious, contains gorgeous melodies and is full of drama. His 1812 Overture was, for me, a marvellous introduction to classical music.

I had a copy of the Dorati recording, I bought it in 2010 (I think) but I lent to out a couple of years ago so I do not have any recordings of the 1812 in my collection, which is a crying shame. I will have to correct that anomaly now that Fergus has whet my appetite to listen to it again. Heavens know, I need something to distract me and to help to wean me off my current Mozart (only) binge.

I just can't get enough of his symphonies, they are wonderfully joyous works.


Interestingly, two of the pieces that you mentioned above namely Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1 and his 1812 Overture were also works that I took an immediate liking to in my early teens and still listen to both of them.

Stick with Mozart for as long as you need to Seán; nothing wrong there. Tchaikovsky was a very great admirer of Mozart so you have a good connection there.

I can't get enough of his music particularly his symphonies, they are gloriously uplifting works.

[jaybee]

Funnily enough, it was a Tchaikovsky piece that also tipped me in my teens from knowing CM through school studies, to actively seeking out new works...

For me it was Serenade for Strings Op.48

I have the Paavo Beglund version (with the Dvorak Serenade) and it would be on my Desert Island list