Explore 19th century Germany as we delve deep into the life of Richard Struass who composed this week’s piece, Don Juan. We explain the story behind this iconic tone poem and who influenced Strauss to compose it.

To pair with Don Juan, we introduce you to Kelly-Marie Murphy’s piece, “Dark Nights, Bright Stars, Vast Universe” (2023) which was commissioned by the National Arts Centre Orchestra and serves as a direct response to Strauss’ Don Juan.

Kelly Marie Murphy Links: Dark Nights, Bright Stars, Vast Universe Recording: https://youtu.be/VRCEetmSrMM?si=p5A3om5NYI2rqUio

Website: https://kellymariemurphy.com/

National Arts Centre Website: https://nac-cna.ca/en/event/notes/33723#kelly-marie-murphy-new-work-for-naco-world-premiere-naco-commission

Recordings of Don Juan by Frankfurt Radio Symphony: https://youtu.be/XG4uBRBMdzY?si=RG-PI092KMUYwXa9

Thank you to Taran Plamondon (@editionsplamondon) for our theme music. If you need this kind of work done, or any other music arranging, engraving, or printing, you can find more info about his services at http://www.editionsplamondon.com

Make sure to follow us on social media @measuresofprogresspod and subscribe to our YouTube channel! You can email us at measuresofprogress@gmail.com if you have any comments, questions or ideas for future episodes.

Thanks for listening! :)

Bibliography: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1kLzrYUXbUkPcIprQry_pt3OMvePgzuVhAgdrf_chN8Q/edit?usp=sharing

In this episode, we discuss Nikolai Rimsky-Krosakov’s orchestral suite, Scheherazade. Find out the turmoil that was facing his home country of Russia at the time, how he (literally) learned from his own students, and how he transformed the folk stories of “1001 Nights” into the masterpiece we all know today.

We also explore its similarities to Gabriela Lena Frank’s composition, Leyandas: An Andean Walkabout (2001). Learn how she explores her personal heritage and culture through her music and how she attempts to mix western classical traditions with traditional Andean music in a more informed manner than Rimsky-Korsakov…

Gabriela Lena Frank links:

Creative Academy of Music: https://www.glfcam.com/people/gabriela

Leyandas: An Andean Walkabout recording: https://youtu.be/pbnEeXOcWgo?feature=shared

Instagram: @gabrielalenafrank

BBC Music Interview: https://www.classical-music.com/features/composers/gabriela-lena-frank

Thank you to Taran Plamondon (@editionsplamondon) for our theme music. If you need this kind of work done, or any music arranging, engraving, or printing, you can find more info about his services at www.editionsplamondon.com

Make sure to follow us on social media @measuresofprogresspod and subscribe to our YouTube channel! You can email us at measuresofprogress@gmail.com if you have any comments, questions or ideas for future episodes.

Thanks for listening! :)

Bibliography: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1kLzrYUXbUkPcIprQry_pt3OMvePgzuVhAgdrf_chN8Q/edit?usp=sharing

In this episode, we discuss Maurice Ravel’s Le Tombeau de Couperin (1919). Learn about the tragic backstory behind this composition, Ravel’s inspirations, and why oboists both love and hate this piece of music.

We also explore its similarities to Leo Purich’s composition Canopies/Canopées (2020-2022) which was commissioned by the National Youth Orchestra of Canada and performed during their 2022 Borealis tour.

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Leo Purich links:

Canopies/Canopées recording: https://youtu.be/w688B4V6XR0?feature=shared

Website: www.leopurich.ca

Instagram: @leo_purich_composer

Bandcamp: https://leopurich.bandcamp.com/album/virtual-carolling-2020

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Rigaudon Dance video courtesy of: Trilion Pictures present Handel’s Water Music (1987)

Rigaudon recording: Hungarian National Philharmonic Orchestra with Zoltán Kocsis (2003)

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Thank you to Taran Plamondon (@editionsplamondon) for our theme music. If you need this kind of work done, or any music arranging, engraving, or printing, you can find more info about his services at editionsplamondon.com

Make sure to follow us on social media @measuresofprogresspod and subscribe to our YouTube channel for video format!

You can email us at measuresofprogress@gmail.com if you have any comments, questions or ideas for future episodes.

Thanks for listening! :)

Bibliography: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1kLzrYUXbUkPcIprQry_pt3OMvePgzuVhAgdrf_chN8Q/edit?usp=sharing

According to Katherine Bergeron, canon “refers to a sort of measuring stick, a physical model that both embodies a standard of measure and makes possible its reproduction. The canon is, in this sense, an ideal of order made material, physical, visible…”

In this episode, join us for a conversation on the musical canon and its pros and cons. We believe this is an important topic and we want to be part of the conversation. Canon has informed what we perform and why we perform it. Understanding the implications of the canon helps us to move forward as more pieces are composed and new ideas are shared.

If you wish to read more on this topic, please check out the sources we used to create our discussion below.

Thank you to Taran Plamondon (@editionsplamondon) for our theme music. If you need this kind of work done, or any music arranging, engraving, or printing, you can find more info about his services at https://editionsplamondon.com

Make sure to follow us on social media @measuresofprogresspod and subscribe to our YouTube channel for video format! You can email us at measuresofprogress@gmail.com if you have any comments, questions or ideas for future episodes.

Thanks for listening!

Bibliography: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1kLzrYUXbUkPcIprQry_pt3OMvePgzuVhAgdrf_chN8Q/edit?usp=sharing

Welcome to our podcast, Measures of Progress! We're very excited to start sharing with you all the wonderful facts about the classical pieces we know and love, but also introducing you to contemporary pieces that, let's be real, deserve more attention.

Make sure to follow us and leave reviews so other people can find us! If you prefer video format, subscribe to our YouTube channel (same name) where you can find all our episodes.

If you wish to email in suggestions for future episodes, comments or just to say hi, you can do so at: measuresofprogress@gmail.com

Thank you to Taran Plamondon (@editionsplamondon) for our theme music. If you need this kind of work done, or any music arranging, engraving, or printing, you can find more info about his services at www.editionsplamondon.com

Follow us on Instagram @measuresofprogresspod

From three oboists just trying to hype classical music :)