work in progress lolz
A fun fact about me is that 6+ years of being a cellist and playing in various orchestras has instilled in me a deep appreciation for classical music! While there is much I have yet to listen to, I wanted to create a page dedicated to some of my favorite works because I feel that classical music gets stigmatized for being elitist and/or boring. While my younger self may have believed that as well, over the years I have come to appreciate the genre for what it is. I am equal parts a huge fan of music theory and history, and I like to think that classical music is a blend of the two! I have left some descriptions/personal notes because I believe that (as with all art) classical music is easier to understand and appreciate with context.
Rhapsody in Blue
I love how this piece is able to blend elements of classical music and jazz composition! It’s a very playful piece that encapsulates how I imagine America during the roaring 20’s to be like. My favorite part is the clarinet solo at the beginning.
Cello Concerto in E Minor, Op. 85
Probably every cellist’s favorite cello concerto. Concertos are solo pieces with an orchestra accompaniment that are meant to showcase the virtuosity and technical ability of the soloist. What I believe takes this concerto to the next level, though, is how it almost perfectly highlights the richness of the cello’s timbre that just isn’t present in most other instruments. Elgar's cello concerto is deeply melancholic and somber, with a touch of drama. I found this video by the composer David Bruce to be insightful regarding some of the historical context and common interpretations of this piece.
Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Minor, Op. 18
The second movement of this piece has me CRYING, SCREAMING, THROWING UP every time I hear it. It is so incredibly beautiful and saccharine; I beg you to give it a listen. I am in love. This piece is for all my yearners.
Scheherezade
I played this suite for a concert a few years ago! Scheherazade is wonderful both to listen to and to play, as it manages to have a diverse range of moods while still sounding cohesive. It is based off of the book One Thousand and One Nights. I enjoy the first movement the most, but as a whole, is one of my favorite symphonic works.
Clair de Lune
Although this piece is incredibly popular, I’m a huge fan of it for the nostalgia factor. It was one of the very first works of classical music that I can recall enjoying. I remember listening to it in the background of the fourth level of Speedrun 4 on Roblox. I remember listening to it through shared earbuds with a friend during the bus ride back from a school field trip. I remember listening to it half-asleep during countless, late-night car rides. Claire de Lune meant something to me before I even played an instrument. It is what I consider pure bliss to be. Although Debussy died nearly a century before I was born, I find it deeply profound how this work is able to capture the human spirit in such a timeless manner despite how rapid we are to embrace change as a society. When I listen to this piece, I feel that I will be able to find solace in my own solitude, that a vast and plentiful future awaits me beyond the horizon, and that everything is going to be okay in the end. To me, this piece feels like home. What more could I ask for?