A Classic Encounter With Tchaikovsky

Roll over Beethoven, tell Tchaikovsky the news….Chuck Berry was a poet. In fact I did a blog just a few days ago on that song. Look for the Leon Russell story (here). But last night at Classic Encounter we prepared for a whole evening of music by this marvelous, romantic Russian composer. What is it with these Russians….is it the long, cold winters, the vodka, or both? Some of the most passionate music and literature comes from this country. So, let the class begin.

My regular lecture partner, Martha Gilmer, was in Rome checking up on Muti. So the CSO’s Nick Winter filled in for a second time. He had so much fun last night he emailed Martha in Rome and told her not to come home. Calm down, Nick. We’ll call on you again because that Martha is quite the jet setter. Nick got the evening underway with some unusual biographical clips on Tchaikovsky. It is Classic Encounter, so don’t expect the expected. Here’s a bit on his childhood headaches.

Then Ken Russell’s depiction of Tchaikovsky dealing with rock star like fame. A Hard Days Night. But a bit more phallic and violent than the Beatles.

And finally, a portrayal of Tchaikovsky’s disastrous marriage and his dealing with his homosexuality, which couldn’t be easy in 19th century Russia.

Any biographical detail yet to be covered I turned over to the capable wit of Monty Python.

But let’s hear some of the music performed that evening by the remarkable Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No 2.

We also heard Tchaikovsky’s reworking of themes by Mozart. One was the Ave Verum Corpus. Back in my choir days, this was one of my favorites. Hearing the orchestral version last night reminded me of the joy of singing music like this. It really does take you to a different place. Spiritual in a most unique way. Here’s a choral version of what we heard last night.

In doing research on Tchaikovsky, I discovered an album from the 60′s where they arranged Beatle songs in the style of Tchaikovsky. It’s in my Amazon shopping cart and you’ll be hearing it someday on Breakfast With The Beatles. The Fabs must have liked it because they used one of the selections from their album in the film Magical Mystery Tour.

Tchaikovsky, especially this time of year, is most known for the Nutcracker Suite. You may be aware of Emerson, Lake and Palmer’s Nutrocker. But here’s the original, B. Bumble & The Stingers. Big hit in 1962.

Since we were going to hear two major pieces for the piano, we spent some time exploring the use of that instrument in rock and roll. Gary Brooker of Procol Harum is not only a fantastic vocalist, but excellent pianist. A Salty Dog.

Elton John certainly shows the classical influence in his piano work, and in the video shows some classical influence in his hair piece as well. Candle In The Wind.

And there’s Rufus Wainwright who plays some beautiful piano on Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah.

There are so many great jazz pianists, but I went with McCoy Tyner because he can play in the melodic and romantic style favored by Tchaikovsky. Here McCoy with Gary Bartz performing Fly With The Wind.

Piano has been an essential instrument in classical music, from Beethoven to Copland. In contemporary music it’s used a great deal by composers like Phillip Glass.

Plucking Strings has also been used in contemporary piano composition. Plucking with the fingers, a credit card or toothbrush. The possibilities are endless. Here is someone preparing for a piece by John Cage. As you can see, it’s not random. Very precise.

Here’s John Cage’s Sonata II For Prepared Piano.

Jazz pianist George Duke has come up with a product for musicians who use tape loops in their work. Something for every occasion.

Back to the Nutcracker. As a tribute to the holiday season I resorted to a character who showed up under a lot of Hemmert Christmas trees when my sisters and nieces were of a certain age….

To close the evening and acknowledge the 30th anniversary on Wednesday of John Lennon’s death, I played a Lennon song that reminds me of the beauty and romance of Tchaikovsky’s music….#9 Dream.

Beautiful. But for all the information and naughty bits in between the videos, you’ve gotta be there. We have one more program and then start a new four concert season in 2011. Join us. It’s fun and legal. Visit cso.org.