#ClassicsaDay #ClassicalNine Week 1

September is the ninth month of the year. And so the #ClassicsaDay team decided to make the number the theme. For September 2018, the challenge is to post classical works that have to do with the number nine.

 I chose to alternate between nonets, opus nine compositions and works with a catalog number of nine. Here are my posts for the first week:

Samuel Coleridge-Taylor: Nonet in F minor, Op. 2 (1894)

The standard makeup of a nonet is for five winds and four strings. This nonet is for oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn, violin, viola, cello, contrabass, and piano. It was published when Coleridge-Taylor was only 19.

Anton Arensky: Marguerite Gautier, Fantasia for Orchestra, Op. 9 (1886)

Marguerite Gautier is the title character of "Camille" by Alexander Dumas. Arensky's tone-poem was inspired by similar works of Tchaikovsky.

Alan Hovhaness: Symphony No. 9 "Saint Vartan" Op. 180 (1951)

Vartan is a major saint in Armenia. It was a natural subject for Hovhaness, who was proud of his Armenian heritage. Written in 24 short sections, the work tells the story of the Armenian (led by Vartan) against the Persians.

Louis Spohr - Grand Nonetto in F major, Op. 31 (1813)

Spohr's Nonet was the first work for nine instruments to use the title "Nonet," His instrumental combination -- flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn, violin, viola, cello, and double bass -- became the model for nonets throughout the Romantic period.

Ludwig Schuncke - Caprice No. 1 in C major, Op. 9

Schuncke was an extremely talented pianist and composer. His close friend Robert Schumann predicted a brilliant career for Schuncke. But it was not to be. Schuncke died at age 23, leaving only a handful of works behind. His Op. 9 Caprice is dedicated to Clara Wieck.