Today I had the pleasure of hearing some of the finest organ playing I have heard in decades. It was playful, inventive, lyrical, virtuosic, engaging to the max. I was stunned at how much I enjoyed it and even more stunned to discover that two of the works he played were by Durufle, whose music usually leaves me chilled--another case of how the performer can bring the music to life!
If you have the chance, go hear him.
Sunday, June 16, 2013
Our Stupid Poebel
Last night I played Mozart's variations on Unser dummer Poebel meint. I asked a dear friend in the audience, as she had grown up in Mannheim, to translate this title. What a good thing I did! I had always assumed Poebel to be someone's name. My translation would have been: Our Stupid Poebel is of the Opinion. Turns out Poebel stands for the guy in the street, no not quite, the Lumpenprole.
How politically incorrect can you get. Then I remember The Good Soldier Schweik, one of the great Poebels of all time: If you haven't read it get on it. You never do or did know what exactly might be behind the fellow's expressed opinion or behavior.
There is a lot to think about politically.
Musically there is also a lot to think about. I have never heard anyone play these variations. I can feel them turning into one of my big numbers. They are surely Mozart at his fullest virtuosic maturity: How do I know what to do with them? Years and years of listening to grasp the idiomatic humor of musical devices that, in themselves, as notated, are entirely static.
How politically incorrect can you get. Then I remember The Good Soldier Schweik, one of the great Poebels of all time: If you haven't read it get on it. You never do or did know what exactly might be behind the fellow's expressed opinion or behavior.
There is a lot to think about politically.
Musically there is also a lot to think about. I have never heard anyone play these variations. I can feel them turning into one of my big numbers. They are surely Mozart at his fullest virtuosic maturity: How do I know what to do with them? Years and years of listening to grasp the idiomatic humor of musical devices that, in themselves, as notated, are entirely static.
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