What are you listening to at the moment? One Post Per hour

[MrLinc]

Amaranthe, "Drop dead cynical"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdyExxpd3Pg

[Trip]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IuJfA0LguQk

[HawkeyeBerlin]

The Alan Parsons Project - The Turn of a friendly Card (1980)





https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgY7qYaoMWQ

[HawkeyeBerlin]

Barclay James Harvest - Gone to Earth (1977)





https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qd0WYp7fdVM

[krixxx]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9LM89VKBaA

performed by Ensemble Il Trittico

I. Allegro moderato assai
II. Allegro vivace, quasi presto
III. Andante, quasi larghetto mosso
IV. Allegro brioso, patetico

It can be argued with some success that the present tendency to judge Raff by his orchestral, and particularly his symphonic, output is doing him a disservice and detracts from Raff's claim to a permanent place in the musical pantheon. The concentration on his orchestral oeuvre, for example, ignores the fact that he wrote much more music for chamber ensembles than he did for orchestral forces. An examination of many of his chamber works shows a consistency of inspiration not found in some of the symphonies.

One such chamber master work is Raff's Piano Quintet in a op.107- called by him a Grand Quintuor to emphasise the symphonic scale of the work. Although Raff wrote a Fantasy for piano and string quartet, the Piano Quintet shares with the Cello Sonata the distinction of being the sole example of its genre in Raff's chamber output. Perhaps one reason for its uniqueness is that he found writing it difficult. He wrote to his wife: "I can say that my strength increases with my task and this is necessary, for it is more difficult than a symphony or a string quartet, and I can well understand why even Beethoven kept his hands from it; since Schumann's sole quintet, nothing in this line has been accomplished".

On hearing the completed Quintet, Raff's great friend the conductor and pianist Hans von Bülow wrote to him: "I cannot but admit that your quintet is your best, and the most remarkable work in the field of chamber music since Beethoven". Dedicated to the King of the Netherlands, the piece was completed by Raff in 1862 and published by Schuberth two years later. Despite Raff's symphonic pretensions and its 35 minute length, the Quintet is a model of the best in his chamber music - unendingly melodious, each movement is built on classic principles and the whole work is in perfect proportion, employing and demanding great technical skill without either composer or performer degenerating into mere virtuosity.

The opening Allegro mosso assai is an extended dramatic piece which is contrasted by a much shorter Allegro vivace, quasi presto second movement. After this light relief comes a long, deeply felt Andante, quasi larghetto mosso - the emotional centre of the work. The finale Allegro brioso, patetico is another contrast - it is full of high spirits and makes a virtuosic conclusion to a masterful work.

[trailmaster]

Here are four quite good cello concertos by the Italian Classical composer Luigi Boccherini.

[-Wizz-]

Best songs of Elton John



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2iSTzyAoUYk

[Oswald]

The 100 Greatest Soul Songs of the 70s | Unforgettable Soul Music Full Playlist.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7aa50dxmZPI

0:00 Marvin Gaye - Wath's Going on. 3:52 Al Green - Let's Stay Together. 7:08 Harold Melvin & The Blues Notes - If You Don't Know Me By Now. 10:38 The Temptations - Just My Imagination (Running Away Whit Me). 14:25 Billy Paul - Me and Mrs. Jones. 19:09 Marvin Gaye - Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology). 22:19 Gladys Knight & The Pips - Midnight Train to Georgia. 26:11 Michael Jackson - Rock Whit You. 29:35 The Emotions - Best of My Love. 33:16 Teddy Pendergrass - Wake Up Everybody 40:50 The Stylistics - You Make Me Feel Brand New. 46:25 Marvin Gaye - Distant Lover. 50:42 Curtis Mayfield - Superfly. 54:35 Teddy Pendergrass - Close the Door (feat. Eric Gales). 59:19 The O'Jays - Love Train. 1:02:15 Minnie Ripertyon - Lovin' You. 1:06:02 The Chi-Lites - Have You Seen Her? 1:10:57 The Isley Brothers - For The Love Of You. 1:16:34 Heatwave - Always And Forever. 1:21:22 The O'Jays - Back Stabbers. 1:24:26 The Dramatis - In the Rain. 1:27:53 Roberta Flack - Killing Me Softly With His Song. 1:32:38 Rufus & Chaka Khan - Tell Me Something. 1:37:15 The Spinners - I'II Be Around. 1:40:27 Stevie Wonder - Living For The City. 1:44:07 The Stylistics - Betcha By Golly, Wow. 1:47:53 Michael Jackson - Don’t Stop 'Til You Get Enough. 1:53:58 Marvin Gaye - Go to Give It Up. 2:00:00 Phyllis Hyman - You Know How to Love Me. 2:07:34 Michael Jackson - Off The Wall. 2:11:21 The Chi-Lites - Oh Girl. 2:15:10 Bobby Caldwell - What You Won't Do For Love. 2:19:58 McFadden & Whitehead - Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now. 2:23:35 Marvin Gaye - I Want You. 2:27:32 Sister Sledge - We Are Family. 2:30:51 Earth, Wind & Fire - Shining Star. 2:33:43 The Isley Brothers - That Lady. 2:39:16 Commodores - Easy. 2:43:33 The Staple Singers - I'II Take You There.

[HawkeyeBerlin]

Enigma - MCMXC a.D. (1990)





https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXxEIZTkqMg

[HawkeyeBerlin]

Sade - The Best of (1994)





https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6bMZlY-meU