It is of great pleasure that I finally get down to writing a blog entry on classical music. When there is something that timeless, it’s easy to put the idea off to another day, and another day. Most of you may not know that deep inside of this metal head, rocker wannabe of mine is a passionate lover for the classical genre. I used to play clarinet for the Hong Kong Youth Orchestra, saxophone for my school band, and I used to be able to hum the melody of famous classical pieces from beginning to end, with my favorite being the five Mozart’s violin concertos. While boys were used to play games during school recess, my best friend and I would race to the piano and I got to hear him playing his grade 8 and subsequently diploma pieces, day after day, month after month, year after year. Before finally yielded to the temptation of pop music – thanks to Madonna’s album “Like a Virgin” – I listened to nothing but classical for all my life up to late teens.
Classical players interpret classical music. Of those whom I am familiar with, I enjoy listening to Hilary Hahn’s recording the most. One day, I may complete collecting all her albums. To be honest, if you were to line up two world class violinists side by side and ask me to opine on which one is better, I probably wouldn’t be able to do that. Having said that, I do believe that Hilary Hahn has great technique and such a versatile violinist she is, she has recorded the works of Bach, Beethoven, Barber, Meyer, Brahms, Stravinsky, Mendelssohn, Shostakovich, Elgar, Paganini, and Schoenberg since 1997. It is because each album comes with a personal note from Hilary Hahn herself, as well as a commendatory write-up on the history and the technique involved in the recorded piece of work, it is much easier to appreciate what goes into each album.
And I immensely enjoy reading Hilary Hahn’s journal at her website as well. If you are not into classical music or do not have the time and patience, you may not enjoy reading her rather long entries. It’s not all about rehearsals, live performances, and technical details. You get to read the different cultures she encountered during her International touring, the bizarre things that the crowd did, the dress that shrank after sent for dry cleanning right before the performance, and her thoughts on a huge crowd versus a small crowd that passionately loves her music. I used to think it is OK to film live performances using my own phone or camcorder. One time, Hilary Hahn actually stopped the performance halfway and gently requested one audience to switch off the recording device. To her, performing live is to be able to be librated from the recording environment and be spontaneous. In that sense, the artist doesn’t have to be conscious over recording and instead, plays for the moment. Now I understood.
“Mozart: Violin Sonatas” was released in 2005, coincided with the 250th anniversary of Mozart’s birth. Hilary Hahn plays the violin while Natalie Zhu plays the piano. There are many good things to go for in this album. I love Mozart’s work, and I love hearing the sound of the violin and piano.
Mozart’s violin sonatas flavor melody over counterpoint giving each instrument an equal role. “Sonata in G major K. 301” was composed when Mozart was 22, full of joy he was, and it could well be inspired by his growing relationship with the Weber’s family’s daughter Aloysia whom he fell madly in love with. In the same year, his mother died in Paris with him by her side. An extremely painful period of his life and it shows in “Sonata in E minor K. 304” – the only violin sonata that is composed in a minor key. The second movement “Tempo di Menuetto” is my favorite Mozart violin sonata composition. It starts with a memorable melancholic melody by the piano, and then the violin takes over the lead role with piano as the accompaniment. The roles then reverse and two melodies emerge from each instrument as the movement continues. Familiar melancholic melody appears from time to time till the movement comes to an abrupt ending.
While both the K. 301 and K. 304 only has two movements, “Sonata in F minor K. 376” composed at the age of 25 comes with three. This sonata is a dedication to his pupil Josepha Auernhammer whom Mozart deeply admired as a pianist. Because of its graciously beautiful theme, I guess that is the reason why K. 376 has become the opening sonata for this album.
The last sonata of the album, “Sonata in A major K. 526”, signified the time when his father, his only teacher, died when Mozart was 31 years old, married with one child. It was not as sad as K.304 – the one that was composed when his mother passed away. Some say that it is a libration from paternal authority. I personally feel that it is an emotional piece that honors his father in one glorious gesture.
“Mozart: Violin Sonatas” is a collection of five violin sonatas composed in key moments of Mozart’s life. It is certainly one worth examining if you are into Mozart.
Related website: Hilary Hahn’s Official Site
23 replies on “Hilary Hahn and Natalie Zhu – Mozart Violin Sonatas”
Hey, those B minor, A major are giving me nightmares. Gosh, you play the clarinet, AND the saxophone! I play the piano but ever since I stop practising, I’ve since returned to the basics of just knowing how to play “Twinkle Twinkle Little Stars” Ha. Yes. I’m that bad.
GOSH! you are a man of many hidden talents!!!
you listened to classical music till your teens?
wow!
the only thing i remembered from my teacher was a music period called “baroque” (i don’t even know if i spelt it right!)
Classical music! Wow! I would never have guessed!
You’re astounding!
Tigerfish – I often think that it doesn’t matter what you play, even something as simple as “Twinkle Twinkle”. Long time ago when I self taught myself on how to play a piano and I would repeat a simple song for hours. It was fun, that much I remember. I think I must have driven my neighbors mad that time, come to think of it.
G – You remember correctly! The Baroque period has great composers such as Vivaldi and Bach. Then comes the Classics period as defined by Haydn and Mozart. Beethoven has led the Romantic era with an explosion of great composers such as Chopin, Mendelssohn, Wagner, and Tchaikovsky just to name a few!
CSC – Gosh! No lah … ha ha ha. Back in HK, at least back in my time, many kids take up music as our hobby. Everyone has to learn a music instrument such as recorder. There are quite a number of orchestras around for amateurs to join. I wonder what Singapore is like for the younger crowd. After I settle down in Singapore, I have been trying to find an orchestra to join but with no success. I guess starting a band is the way to go.
Gosh Wilf! you seem to know EVERYTHING!
I must learn from you!
G – Aiyo, far from it! I too am learning from what you share in your webbie.
I think we all should have brains like sponges that keep absorbing what’s out there – like in our much younger days. Keep learning, keep experiencing. I often think that that is the fun part in life.
Singapore? Yes, many many kids take up piano lessons and so forth. My two sisters did too. I guess I didn’t.
I know of quite a few girls who also took piano lessons. It seems to be the norm here too.
You had no success in finding an orchestra? Isn’t there a Youth Orchestra of Singapore?
CSC – Very true. A few of my colleagues here have learned how to play piano before. I haven’t met any who takes it all the way to diploma though.
I tried looking for a Youth Orchestra when I first arrived in Singapore. Guess now I fall outside the age bracket … ha ha ha.
That is such a pity. No place to play.
You are right about people not taking it all the way. Most people I know stopped at grade 4 or so. I know only of one person who got hers from the Trinity College of London.
Mozart was an unmatched genius in his own right but his music was mostly assignments to hand in to the court officials. And it was a pity that he died an early and tragic death. I used to play the clarinet too but the band was streamlined into a full brass band and woowinds were discarded. But if given a chance, I’d like to learn to play contemporary music.
i’m taking piano. waiting for my grade 7 exam. sooooo nervous. =x
i used to be not very proud of my classical background. it’s just that people don’t understand. and i feel bad about it. but when i was in poland, singing classical music in a church, there’s this one thank you statement from a priest that moved us all..
“Thank you for performing this classical music. Classical music concerts are usually unaffordable for the ordinary people and you guys just made it available for them. This is indeed a blessing of God”
CSC – I guess that’s a difference between I genuinely want to learn a musical instrument as compares to my parents or teachers ask me to? At least that’s my impression.
Ghim Seng – Ah, you played the clarinet too? I actually tried to play a brass instrument before now that you’ve mentioned. But vibrating my lips to get a certain octive seems too hard for me. If you wish to learn contemporary music, I guess saxophone would be one option ya? Since you have already learned how to play clarinet.
I often think that sax could be quite modern, compares to clarinet. That was why I made a switch back then.
Sylv – You should still be very proud of your classical background! I am so envious of your skill … ha ha ha. How I wish I could play the piano properly.
I often think that classical music moves people beyond the language and racial barriers. You may wish to film your classical performance and post it into YouTube. I for sure can be your fan.
Well I didn’t choose a brass instrument because to me it’s uninteresting and too simple haha. So I went for clarinet. Didn’t consider saxophone as it is heavy as I want something light yet complicated! In fact I want to continue to learn clarinet but there seem to be only lessons for flute. But well I also have a 2nd-hand flute! And yes if time and finance permit, I’ll learn flute to play some very nice melodies!
Ghim Seng – Oh, I did try flute before I moved to UK for study. I was looking for something light and not too expensive (clarinet, saxophone, and piano are pretty expensive). But I just couldn’t get my lips to blow into that hole in a certain way. I guess it is a talent that I certainly don’t have. So I made a switch to guitar instead.
this is not the classical piece we performed, but it was a performance of us..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wt40vcPlNSI
Sylv – Wow, that is the kind of classical piece that I enjoy listening to. I know the mood is different but that piece does remind me of some parts of Mozart’s Requiem. Don’t know why.
Great stuff you have! Thanks for sharing.
it’s not really classical.. It was some kind modern.. The arrangment was made by this Brazilian composer Ernani Aguiar.
I will be glad to invite you if my choir is holding a concert.
Sylv – Please do. I would gladly attend! It would be the first time I watch this particular kind of performance live instead of from a CD. My email address is at the “About Me” page 🙂