Avshalomov/Bernstein 6: The Jeremiah Symphony

Posted on January 28, 2019

Since so much has been written and documented about Bernstein’s work, this blog will focus more on Avshalomov; the discussion of the piece at leonardbernstein.com is the best single source on the Jeremiah and its context.

I’ll add only that although the third movement, “Lamentation”, which was originally written as a standalone piece, receives most of the attention, the second movement “Profanation”, also stands out.... Read More ›

Avshalomov/Bernstein 7: The Taking of T’ung Kuan 1

Posted on January 28, 2019

Avshalomov wrote The Taking of T’ung Kuan as his master’s thesis at Eastman, age 24.  He described its genesis:

“Here I was then, at the famous Eastman School of Music, one of the schools which father had suggested years back.  He had so many ideas for me that I was bound to take up one or another of them sooner or later.  His... Read More ›

Avshalomov/Bernstein 8: The Taking of T’ung Kuan 2

Posted on January 28, 2019

The Taking of T’ung Kuan is rather simple in construction: A-B-A, roughly, built on a 5-note heroic-fanfare motif announced at the start. That structure, however, contains nonstop “thrilling and effective” drama, as William Bergsma characterized it.  Bergsma continued: 

The five-note theme, in various rhythmic changes, is a constant thing….This brings out Avshalomov’s dramatic side.  So constant a preoccupation with a small thematic morsel leads... Read More ›

Avshalomov/Bernstein 9: The Taking of T’ung Kuan and PYP

Posted on January 28, 2019

The Taking of T’ung Kuan has had an especially significant role in PJS/PYP’s history: it was played for the thirtieth anniversary concert in 1954, for Avshalomov’s 25th anniversary in 1979, and again in 1988 before it would be performed as a part of the regular program in the 1989 European tour.  There is no one better qualified to discuss this aspect than... Read More ›

PROGRAM NOTES: ANTONÍN DVOŘÁK’s Symphony No. 6

Posted on November 1, 2018

By Carolyn Talarr

The Sixth symphony by Czech composer Antonin Dvorak, while timelessly powerful and poignant, illustrates the extreme effects that nineteenth- and twentieth-century European nationalist politics had on the arts.  Although commissioned by the conductor of the Vienna Philharmonic, the symphony had to premiere in Prague in 1881 because of Viennese musicians’ protests against non-Germanic music.  The Vienna Philharmonic wouldn’t perform it until... Read More ›

PROGRAM NOTES: TCHAIKOVSKY’s Violin Concerto, Mvt. I

Posted on October 29, 2018

By Aaron Greene, winner of PYP’s 2018-19 Soloist Competition

Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto was not always one of the most recognizable pieces in classical music. In 1878, Hungarian violinist Leopold Auer was supposed to premiere the concerto, but declined at first, saying it was not well-suited to the instrument. Instead, Adolf Brodsky, who was concertmaster of the New York Philharmonic, gave the... Read More ›