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Weekend of August 16, 2008

Is interpretation a form of improvisation?

Point/counterpoint: Violinist Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg says you don't have to change the notes to improvise -- interpretation is a form of improv. Pianist Robert Levin disagrees. We'll consider the question by comparing VERY different versions of the Bach Goldberg Variations. AND... some composers have written pieces intended to sound like improv, but... you have to play the notes they wrote. Schubert "Impromptus," and Poulenc "Improvisations."

Today's Playlist



hour 1

  • Carl Maria von Weber
    "Romanza Siciliana"
    D.C. Hall's New Concert and Quadrille Band
  • Bela Kovacs
    Homages to Bach and de Falla, from "Two Hommages"
    Clarinetist Jose Franch-Ballester
    Occidental Community Church, Occidental, California
  • Arthur Honneger
    Hommage a Maurice Ravel
    Pianist Gilles Vonsattel
    Spivey Hall, Morrow, Georgia
  • Carl Maria von Weber
    Overture to "Der Freischutz"
    The Dresden Philharmonic with conductor Rafael Fruhbeck de Burgos
    Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, West Palm Beach, Florida
  • Franz Schubert
    Impromptu No. 2 in E-flat, Op. 90, D. 899
    Pianist Ingrid Fliter
    Lobero Theatre, Santa Barbara
  • Francis Poulenc
    Improvisations
    Pianist Francis Poulenc
  • Johann Sebastian Bach
    One movement from "The Goldberg Variations"
    Pianist Glenn Gould
  • Johann Sebastian Bach
    One movement from "Goldberg Variations"
    Pianist Rosalyn Tureck
  • Johann Sebastian Bach
    One movement from "The Goldberg Variations"
    Pianist Murray Perahia

hour 2

  • Steve Howe
    "Aire para un Dia (Mood for a Day)"
    The Los Angeles Guitar Quartet
  • Eric Ewazen
    One movement from "Ballade, Pastorale and Dance for Flute, Horn and Piano"
    Flutist Marya Martin, hornist Erik Ralske and pianist Benjamin Hochman
    Bridgehampton Chamber Music Festival, Bridgehampton, New York
  • Johann Sebastian Bach and Gustav Mahler
    "Suite from the Orchestral Works of J.S. Bach"
    The Festival Symphony Orchestra with conductor Richard Rosenberg
    Hot Springs Music Festival, Hot Springs, Arkansas
  • Johann Sebastian Bach
    One movement from the Brandenburg Concerto No. 6
    The Los Angeles Guitar Quartet
    Kaul Auditorium, Portland, Oregon
  • Francis Poulenc
    Sonata for Flute and Piano
    Flutist Leone Buyse and pianist Jon Kimura Parker
    Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival, Orcas Island, Washington
Program Archive



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