I thought

I would put up two versions of the same episode. It is difficult to

pick one sometimes. There may be a different feeling in each. Let me

know what you think.In this episode we play the Meditation from the Opera Thais by Jules Massenet.The

Thais comes from an interlude towards the end of the opera. It is

usually played on the violin. It is marked Andante Religioso and there

is a reflective mood throughout.This piece is special to me

because, over the years, my mother has played it in church on the

violin. I wanted to do a good job with it. We hope you enjoy it.For feedback you can e-mail [email protected] or visit the website cellojourney.com

I thought

I would put up two versions of the same episode. It is difficult to

pick one sometimes. There may be a different feeling in each. Let me

know what you think.In this episode we play the Meditation from the Opera Thais by Jules Massenet.The

Thais comes from an interlude towards the end of the opera. It is

usually played on the violin. It is marked Andante Religioso and there

is a reflective mood throughout.This piece is special to me

because, over the years, my mother has played it in church on the

violin. I wanted to do a good job with it. We hope you enjoy it.For feedback you can e-mail [email protected] or visit the website cellojourney.com

In this episode we play the cello concerto in C Major by Joseph Haydn.

We decided to play it with organ since it sounds more like an orchestra

and it makes a nice match. We are playing in a wonderful church called

Mountainview United Church. We hope you enjoy it.For feedback you can e-mail [email protected] or visit the website cellojourney.com

In this episode we play the Kol Nidrei by Max Bruch.  This piece is

based on a Jewish prayer recited in the synagogue at the beginning of

the evening service on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.  You can find

out more information at the following link:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kol_Nidre

The episode is re-posted because the video file was incomplete.  Sorry about that.  It should work better now.For feedback please visit cellojourney.com or e-mail [email protected]

In this

episode we play the Sicilienne by the French composer Gabriel Faure. I

recently went on a trip to Quebec and had a chance to eat some great

French meals. As a result, I did a bit of French cooking myself. I

noticed that the common theme in this type of cooking is how

ingredients tend to fit well together. A sauce will fit everything else

that is on the plate. Flavors and textures go in and out of each other

to create a greater whole. This piece is similar in that its melodies

fade in and out of each other. Harmonies, colors and textures blend

well together and undergo subtle changes. I hope you can sense that in

the music.For feedback you can e-mail [email protected] or visit the website cellojourney.com

In this episode we play the variations by Ludwig van Beethoven on a theme by Mozart, “Bei Männern, welche Liebe fühlen?.  This is based on a theme from the opera The Magic Flute originally sung by a soprano and a baritone in a duet.  Musicians in Beethoven's time were very adept at playing and improvising variations.  They could even improvise on a melody or favorite tune given to them by a member of the audience.  Beethoven wrote many variations for piano solo and many variations for cello and piano.  We hope you enjoy it.website: cellojourney.come-mail: [email protected]

In this episode we play the first of three Fantasiestucke (Fantasy

Pieces) by Robert Schumann. This piece was originally written for

clarinet and piano but I think it sounds good on the cello. Schumann

often wrote sets of miniatures that each have their own mood. In this

one there is some tension between triplets (three notes per beat) in

the piano and duplets (two notes per beat) in melodies in both the

cello and piano. This adds unrest to this emotional and romantic piece.

We hope you enjoy [email protected]

In this episode I play another dance by Johann Sebastian Bach.  It is the Allemande from Suite No.2.  What I like about this piece is how it flows along and how each phrase seems connected to another phrase.  I hope you enjoy [email protected]

Saint-Saens.  This is a rather fast passionate and exciting piece.  

Part of its passion is in its abrupt changes of tempo and loudness. 

Even though it is exciting, it is in B minor and hence in a sad mode. 

Also many of its melodies come down rather than go up.

This prelude is the

introduction to Suite No.2 by Johann Sebastian Bach. Even though this

prelude is a bit sombre, I think it has a special warm mood to it. It

communicates something about life being confusing at times and how it

can be difficult to make sense of things. I think this piece is about

trying to make sense of things and putting them together. I hope you enjoy

it.To leave feedback please visit:[email protected]