Off the Scale #31 - George Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue

Hey everyone!

The "Off the Scale" machine rolls ever onward today as we look at a piece that, at the time, confused the scene as it was an attempt to fuse the rhythms of piano and jazz band together to form what became known as "Rhapsody in Blue".

I picked this up from a Leonard Bernstein CD I purchased earlier this year and, as promised back in episode 2, I've finally got around to dedicating an episode to this enthusiastic and enervating jazz/classical fusion piece.

Enjoy...

Off the Scale #30 - Ludwig van Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 14 (otherwise known as the "Moonlight Sonata")

Hello everyone!

As promised all the way back in episode 2, I now bring to you Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata. Just like the last one, Rhapsody in Blue, I didn't mean to leave it so long to celebrate this, it's just sort of happened as I've been trawling through my archives for classical music to celebrate.

Enjoy...

Off the Scale #29 - Highland Cathedral by Michael Korb

Hello everyone!

Today, on bringing my series shining the light on my favourite classical violinist, André Rieu to a close, I thought I'd focus upon one particular member of his Johann Strauss Orchestra; Manoe Konings.

I first heard "Highland Cathedral" from André's latest CD "Amore" that I got for Christmas last year and was instantly captivated, in part, I think, because I have quite a strong Scottish heritage which, apart from the fiery temperament, means there's always something particularly moving about the bagpipes I find.

It's as though (if you can pardon me whilst I make quite a detour for a moment!) it appeals through my blood to me from my ancestors. I feel, if I'm honest, it's as though it's some kind of ancestral gift passed down through previous generations; to fully feel and appreciate the music of my heritage as though it courses through my very bloodstream.

Have a listen for yourself and you can make your own mind up...

LS025 - Let The Focus be on God's Glory, Not My Own

Hi everyone!

First off, thanks for your patience whilst I took the time away from my blog, I needed that break more than I would probably care to admit. Yes, it was longer than I anticipated to be away from blogging, but that's just the way it goes sometimes; you realise that you need more space than you thought you needed at the time.

Anyway, I'm back now so whilst the quantity might drop over the next few weeks, aside from my weekly series celebrating classical music, I want to aim for the quality to remain the same as it was before I took my break...

Off the Scale #28 - Mama by André Rieu

Hey everyone!

How are you liking this series I've been doing celebrating the performances of André Rieu? I hope that you have enjoyed them so far because we are not quite finished yet.

This time, I thought I would celebrate one of his own compositions, a piece simply titled "Mama"...

Off the Scale #27 - Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah

Hey everyone!

This week I'm aiming for something a little different as I'm linking you to a song I've liked ever since I heard a Jeff Buckley cover some years ago and was instantly hooked. The man who wrote this, Leonard Cohen, is someone that a lot of you may have heard of (or not depending on where you are reading this from). For me, when André Rieu covered this track last year as a tribute to Cohen, it was like re-discovering the comfort of an old coat I used to enjoy wearing all over again.

If you will pardon that laboured metaphor, I am sure that you will agree that, whilst classical music will survive without the incessant need to connect with a younger audience, covers like these cannot do the genre any harm at all...

Off the Scale #26 - Rosen aus dem Süden by Johann Strauss II

Hello everyone!

Welcome to the next edition of my classical music series and today I will be starting a series celebrating Dutch violinist and composer; André Rieu.

This particular piece of music I first heard back in 2012, I think, and this is what drew me to Rieu's style of conducting.

Off the Scale #25 - Asturias by Isaac Albéniz

Hello everyone!

Here we are, the quarter century milestone celebrating all things classical music, did you ever see that coming?! I didn't!

When I started this series back in February, I never expected to get here so fast, yet here we are so a big thank you for your support!

This week, we're keeping in with last week's theme of classical guitar music and it's the turn of Isaac Albéniz and his piece knowns simply as "Asturias"...

Off the Scale #24 - Recuerdos De La Alhambra by Francisco Tárrega

Hello everyone!

Thank you for sticking with my classical music series "Off the Scale", it means a lot to me to consider that I am helping to grow people's interest in classical music every single day. Simply by doing my bit for the genre.

Today we are going to look at one of my favourite pieces of classical guitar music; Francisco Tárrega's "Memories of Alhambra", otherwise known as Recuerdos De La Alhambra...

Off the Scale #23 - Parce Mihi Domine by Cristóbal de Morales

Hello everyone!

Welcome to the twenty third edition of "Off the Scale" and I have a very special one for you as I've only really been able to name this one this year; taken straight from his Officium Defunctorum, may I present to you Cristóbal de Morales' Parce Mihi Domine.

I have heard this one a few times on Classic FM's Smooth Classics programme and, until recently, haven't been able to name it until now. The smooth jazz lines featured in this peace are perfect for bringing out an emotional state that can at times be either reflective or melancholic, proving that music can cause you to be a great feeler of your emotions...