Buzz
In continuation of the previous list titled “10 Interesting Stories Behind Classical Compositions,” it's unfortunate that so many find classical music unengaging. These 10 additional pieces come with their own unique tales, aiming to share the beauty of classical music in its most divine form. These stories are presented in no specific order:
10. Il Barbiere di Siviglia Rossini
The Barber of Seville, a well-known opera by Gioachino Rossini, is often the version most people recognize. Yet, during Rossini's time, the composer Giovanni Paisiello had already created another Il Barbiere di Siviglia, which enjoyed immense popularity and was praised as Paisiello's greatest work. When Rossini's version premiered in 1816, supporters of Paisiello's work attended, interrupting the performance with loud boos, making it impossible for the audience to hear Rossini’s music, even bringing a cat onto the stage. Over time, Paisiello’s Barber faded into obscurity, and Rossini's version triumphed.
9. Messa da Requiem Verdi
In 1868, Maestro Rossini passed away. To honor his monumental impact on Italian opera, the esteemed composer Giuseppe Verdi brought together the foremost Italian composers to each contribute a movement for a Requiem Mass, which would be published as the Messa per Rossini. However, just 9 days before its planned premiere, the project collapsed. Verdi, who had composed the Libera Me movement, was deeply disheartened and severed ties with the conductor. Four years later, upon the death of writer Alessandro Manzoni, Verdi repurposed the Libera Me and composed the rest of the Requiem Mass, resulting in his passionate and powerful Messa da Requiem.
8. Das Lied von der Erde Mahler
During Mahler's era, many composers lived under the shadow of what was known as the Curse of the Ninth. Beethoven passed away after completing only nine symphonies, and other composers like Bruckner and Dvorak similarly completed just nine. As Schoenberg famously noted, 'It seems as if something might be imparted to us in the Tenth which we ought not yet to know, for which we are not ready.' Mahler, in particular, feared that his ninth symphony would be his last. As a result, after completing his Eighth Symphony, he merged two of his finest forms—the symphony and the art song—creating the 'Symphonic Song-cycle', Das Lied von der Erde, or The Song of the Earth. With this, Mahler believed he had broken the curse and proceeded to work on his Ninth Symphony, but sadly, he died before completing his Tenth.
7. Missa Papae Marcelli Palestrina
The third session of the Council of Trent, which took place in 1562-1563, was convened by the Vatican to address reforms in response to the Protestant Reformation led by Martin Luther. Among the various reforms, one of the most notable was the planned banishment of polyphony from church music, with a return to the monophonic Gregorian Chant. Canon 8 stated that 'the entire manner of singing in musical modes should be calculated not to afford vain delight to the ear'. This move was a reaction to the overly intricate polyphonic compositions of the time, which, although beautiful, made it difficult to understand the words being sung. The church believed this distracted from the spiritual focus of the mass. According to legend, Palestrina composed the Missa Papae Marcelli to demonstrate how polyphony could still be clear and intelligible. His masterpiece was so convincing that the Council ultimately approved the continued use of polyphony in church music.
6. The Well-Tempered Clavier Bach
The ability to play all the keys on a piano might seem like a given to us today, but this wasn’t always the case. In the Renaissance and Baroque periods, keyboards were tuned to unequal temperaments. This meant that each note had a specific frequency, so an A in C major would sound different from an A in D major. Only certain keys could be played on one keyboard. To resolve this issue, the concept of well-tempered tuning was introduced, allowing all keys to be played, albeit with some slight imperfections in tuning. This approach has endured until the present day. However, during Bach’s time, composers still mostly favored the more familiar keys. In response, Bach composed the two volumes of the Well-Tempered Clavier, writing a prelude and fugue for each of the 24 keys, from C major to G-sharp minor. With these 48 pieces, Bach demonstrated the possibilities and advantages of even the less conventional keys.
5. Symphony no.45, the “Farewell” Haydn
Franz Joseph Haydn, who served as court composer to Count Esterházy, faced a peculiar situation one summer when the Count extended his stay at the summer palace far beyond what was expected. This forced the musicians in his service to endure long separations from their families, leaving them frustrated and unhappy. In sympathy with the musicians, Haydn devised a clever plan to encourage the Count to return to his regular schedule. In the final movement of this symphony, the musicians gradually leave the stage, one by one, packing up their instruments and scores as they depart. This continues until only two violins remain, bringing the symphony to a close. The Count, catching the subtle hint, promptly decided to leave shortly after.
4. Im Abendrot Richard Strauss
Richard Strauss lived during a period of great upheaval in the world of music. While Austria embraced Serialism and France explored Impressionism, Strauss remained devoted to a traditional Romantic style, a stance that attracted considerable criticism. His life in Nazi Germany only heightened this tension, with his involvement in writing the fanfare for the Berlin Olympic Games sparking both support and condemnation from various factions. As Strauss neared the end of his life, he encountered the poem *Im Abendrot*, which deeply resonated with him. This inspired him to compose a Lied (art song) based on the poem. The piece is rich with personal references: the soprano voice recalls his wife, a soprano; the prominent horn passages evoke his father, a horn player; and, at the conclusion, Strauss quotes the 'Transfiguration' theme from his 60-year-old composition *Death and Transfiguration*. Amid the tumult of his life, this final work embodies serenity and acceptance, almost as if Strauss was embracing death itself. J.K. Rowling's words come to mind: 'he embraced Death as an equal and as a friend.' The Lied was published alongside three others as part of *Four Last Songs*.
3. Belshazzar’s Feast Walton
A masterpiece of the 20th century, *Belshazzar’s Feast* remains largely overlooked. I consider myself fortunate to have participated in the Asian premiere of this remarkable piece. It started as a small commission from the BBC but grew into a monumental work, requiring two choirs, a semi-choir, a large orchestra, a massive percussion section, organ, and two brass bands. The conductor Sir Thomas Beecham, with characteristic humor, encouraged Walton to incorporate as many instruments as possible: 'As you’ll never hear the thing again, my boy, why not throw in a couple of brass bands?' The result is a stirring and emotional musical journey that mirrors the biblical story of Belshazzar, accompanied by a dramatic orchestra. Walton, however, never fully took the work seriously. He even joked about the baritone solo, calling the list of Babylon’s riches a 'shopping list'. In one famous performance, Walton cued the choir to shout the word 'Slain!', then walked offstage, leaving the baritone soloist silent while the audience erupted into applause. The piece’s violent and vengeful nature caused the Anglican church to distance itself from it for many years.
2. Symphony no.7, 'Leningrad' Shostakovich
Any serious history student will recall the Siege of Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg), a prolonged and devastating blockade by Hitler’s Nazi forces during World War II. Alongside the Battle of Stalingrad, it stands as one of the most catastrophic events in Soviet history, marked by immense loss of life and the destruction of the city. Dmitri Shostakovich, who was in Leningrad during the siege, wrote his *Seventh Symphony* to honor the resilient citizens who helped the Soviet capital endure. The symphony became so emblematic of resistance that it was frequently performed in the US and the UK, even though both were fervently anti-Communist. Over time, Shostakovich revealed that the symphony also carried a hidden critique of Stalin, whose neglect of Leningrad contributed to its suffering. As Shostakovich remarked, 'Stalin destroyed it and Hitler finished it off.' The first movement, with its syncopated, irregular march juxtaposed against a more subdued theme, is believed to symbolize the Soviet army marching through Leningrad’s streets, a sarcastic commentary on the army’s role during the siege.
1. Der Ring des Nibelungen Wagner
Regarded as one of the most controversial composers, Wagner created *Der Ring des Nibelungen*, a monumental cycle of four operas that has become one of opera’s most iconic works. Wagner envisioned this cycle as a showcase for his concept of *Gesamtkunstwerk* (total artwork), where poetry, aesthetics, dance, and most notably music would all come together. He believed this fusion could unify the German people in a grand celebration of their exceptional art. It is not surprising that after Wagner’s death, his music gained prominence under the patronage of Hitler. Despite the ultimate downfall and condemnation of everything associated with Nazism, Wagner’s music endured, maintaining its respected place in the world of the arts. It seems that humanity is capable of distinguishing the merit of music and art from the ugliness of politics.
