Listening Diary: July 15, Essay Example

On July 15^th, I listened to Chicago’s WFMT from 10:00 to 12:00.  The presenter was Lisa Flynn, who seemed very knowledgeable about the pieces she played. Toward the beginning of the program, Flynn played Le Concert des Nations’s rendition of Handel’s Music for the Royal Fireworks. Particularly noticeable in the piece was the orchestra’s use of percussion. The drums often sounded like marching drums and their pace reminded me of fireworks. At other times the drum rolls added sounds like crashing waves. Even more noticeable than the drums was the brass section. The band played with boldness and confidence that made me think of soldiers marching home victoriously after a battle. Later sections seemed like they would have been fit for dancing. The songs beat was the familiar 1-2-3-2-2-3 type of rhythm. It was easy to see how such a song could have inspired patriotism and how well it would have fit with a regularly timed fireworks display. I had not heard this particular song before, although I have heard other pieces by Handel and this song shared some of the same traits.

Flynn also played “Ponce Prelude and Fugue on a Theme of Handel “by Jorge Federico Osorio. I did not enjoy this piece as much, because it was a little more depressing and dark, but the piano pieces were beautiful and it was a masterful work of music. Still, I was happy when the piece ended and Flynn played a piano quartet by Mahler, which she said was from Virgin Classics. It was surprising to me how full a sound only four instruments can produce. It really sounded like a full orchestra.  The piece itself was beautiful. I was impressed by the violin and cello especially. The quartet had a very sad feeling to it that reminded me a little of a dramatic silent movie. I had not heard either the Ponce Prelude or the Mahler Quartet before, and, because both were rather depressing, I do not think I would seek either out again, even though the players seemed talented. There were not any commercials between these songs. Though there were some within this segment.