17th November 2009

Cameron Carpenter in concert: Horowitz’s Carmen Variations

While exploring through The New York Times website recently, I came across a review of an organ concert by Cameron Carpenter, an up-and-coming American organist known for his showmanship, technique, and his arrangements for organ.

Anyway, the concert review linked to a video of him performing his orchestration of Vladimir Horowitz’s Carmen Variations. This was performed on the Marshall & Ogletree organ at Trinity Wall Street, which readers of this blog will remember was the same organ whereupon Robert Ridgell played his tribute to the King of Pop on the King of Instruments.

Enjoy!

-Edward Jensen

21st August 2009

Music break: Ravel’s “Le tombeau de Couperin”

Those who know me know that I am a big fan and student of Classical music. As we approach the start of the Fall 2009 semester, I thought I’d post one of my favorite orchestrations: Maurice Ravel‘s Le tombeau de Couperin, which was composed in 1919. As is wont in Ravel’s orchestrations, tonal color and __ are used rather effectively.

I hope you’ll agree with me in these two videos by the BBC Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Esa-Pekka Salonen at the 2007 BBC Proms. The first video has first two movements and the final video is the final two movements.


movements I (Prelude) and II (Forlane)


movements III (Menuet) and IV (Rigaudon)

-Edward Jensen