CCC 043 - Peteris Vasks

This installment of the Consonant Classical Challenge features Latvian composer Peteris Vasks. Vasks is the son of a Baptist minister, and his music reflects a deep spirituality. For the most part, Vasks compositions have a serenity to them, with slow-moving harmonies.

His choral composition Dona Nobis Pacem is a good example of Vasks' compositional style.


The subject matter doesn't have to be overtly religious, though. The Concerto for cor anglais (English horn) is one of Vasks's most popular works. And although it's an orchestral work with no stated program, it still has that same sense of spirituality as his liturgical compositions.


Many people wrongly associate contemporary composition with angry, confrontational sounds. Vasks music is anything but. His music is personal and expressive, and exudes an aura of calm. Imagine the effect his Musica dolorosa for string orchestra would have on an audience bracing themselves for an onslaught of atonality.


Peteris Vask has composed orchestral works, concertos, chamber music and choral works that have been enthusiastically embraced by performing groups and audiences -- in Europe. His recordings do sell well in this country, but his music is largely absent from the concert halls of America. And to me, that's something of a puzzle, as Vasks should (I think) appeal both to traditional concert-goers as well as folks just discovering classical music.

Recommended Recordings

Peteris Vasks: Symphony No. 3; Cello Concerto [Hybrid SACD]

Peteris Vasks: Message - Cantabile (1979); Cor anglais Concerto (1989); Message (1982); Musica dolorosa (1983); Lauda (1986)

Music of Peteris Vasks

Collecting -- and collecting information 4

I continue to gather information about Japanese tin toy cars of the 1950's-60's the hard way -- by direct research. All of this, of course, in preparation for a talk I've been volunteered to give (the purpose of the Collecting -- and collecting information series).

A recent purchase (see The Straco Layout, Part 26 - Maxing out the Motorway) provided me with some more information about this subject, and additional examples of ways one can learn more about a hobby.

The purchase had six vehicles -- three trucks and three cars -- that looked as if they were all part of set. They had the same brand, the same chassis, the same general build and -- most importantly -- the same patina. Because of the brand, I know they were made by the Japanese toy company Namura, but when? I can find no reference works on the subject. (click on images to enlarge)

Mobil retired the "Mobilgas" brand in 1962. Could that be
a clue as to this toy's age?

I know that these type of toy cars were made in Japan between the mid 1950's to early 1960's (when small toy cars were either made of plastic or diecast metal). One of the trucks is marked "Mobilgas." a brand name Mobil Oil used after WWII until it was discontinued in 1962. I'm guessing the truck was made around 1962-63. It wouldn't make sense to market a toy with an outdated logo on it (remember, these were for children to play with, not for adults to collect).

I have another reason for thinking this was made towards the end of the era. The lumber truck that's part of the set is newer than the one I already own (call it truck A).

I think truck B (top) is newer than truck A (bottom).
Note the lighter patina and brighter colors of B.

Truck B (left) and truck A (right).
Note the improved design of the
truck B chassis.

There are some minor differences, especially in the chassis. The newer model (truck B) has a reinforced and painted frame. Note the age of truck A's frame. If truck B were older, the white paint would be closer to yellow, and have accumulated more dirt.

Because the of all six of the Namura chassis are identical, I'm assuming the same age for the three cars as for the trucks. This, even though the body design suggests more of the automotive styles of the pre-fin 1950's than the 1960's. The police car (car B)in this set is far different than the one I picked up earlier (see The Straco Layout, Part 21 - The Flat Arm of the Law).

Both cars bear the "TN" trademark
of Japanese toy company Namura.

Both bear the Namura brand, but represent to different levels of quality. Again, the patinas suggest the flat police car (car A) is slightly earlier than car B, but not by much.

Car A uses small stamped wheels made from recycled tin; car B has more expensive rubber wheels. Car B has a friction motor, while car A has nothing. The frame of car A is unfinished tin, while car B has a painted white frame.  And car A is much flatter than car B, requiring less tin to make. Both sport colorful lithography, though.

Bottom line: car A was made to hit a much lower price point than car B. If nothing else, I now know that Namura built at least two different lines of small toy vehicles -- and probably more.

Car A (left) and car B (right). Although very different
in construction, there is a strong family
resemblance in the lithography design.

Of course, any of my assumptions could be wrong, which would change everything. But I don't think they are. Maybe when all this is said and done I should write the reference work I'm so desperately looking for!

Mirian Conti shines in Nolstalgias Argentinas

Nostalgias Argentinas: Piano Music of Argentina
Mirian Conti, piano
Steinway & Sons

Argentine-American pianist Mirian Conti has long championed the music of South America, recording a cycle of Villa-Lobos piano concertos, a collection of Spanish composers and one ofArgentine composers. Her new release, Nostalgias Argentines focuses on Argentine composers of the 1920's, many of whom are little-known to American listeners.

 Conti may well change that with this recording. The piano works all have the flavor of South America, mixed with a European post-romantic aesthetic. The result is an attractive blend of lush harmonies and strong rhythmic pulses. Several of the works are based on traditional Argentine music, such as the Danzas tradicionales of Remo Pignoni.

Carlos Guastavino also uses folk melodies as the basis for a set of imaginative piano minatures in his Caontos populares.

Mirian Conti does an excellent job with this material. Technically challenging works are performed with seeming ease. The balance between classical and folk elements never waivers -- at no time does the music sound like a pastiche of Argentine folk music. Conti makes the music bounce, without being a slave to the beat. Rather, she relaxes the tempos when the piece needs to breathe. The end result is a thoroughly delightful piano recital that -- while full of unfamiliar music -- should appeal to just about anyone.

The Straco Layout, Part 26 - Maxing out the Motorway

I believe I'm finally finished with one phase of the Straco Express layout (read more about the whole project here). With one purchase, I've accumulated enough vehicles to properly populate the roads on the display. (click on images to enlarge).

A set of six Namura vehicles came up for auction on eBay, and I was fortunate enough to have the winning bid. I'm not sure whether all six were sold originally as a set, but I would not be surprised if that were the case. They all are about the same age, made the same way (more on that later), and have similar shapes. At the very least, I would guess that the three cars were sold as a set, and the three trucks as another set.

Three Namura cars: Fire Chief, Police, and Taxi.

The three cars all share the same body style, and are only different in their lithography. Two of the three trucks (the lumber truck and the Mobilgas truck) have identical bodies. The school bus is a little different, but the contour of the cab is the same as the those of the other two vehicles.

Three Namura trucks: School Bus, Lumber Truck, Mobilgas Truck

Truck A (bottom) appears older
than truck B (top).

I already had a Namura lumber truck, and my original plan was to keep the one in better condition and sell the other. Now I don't think I will. The new arrival (call it B) seems to be made later than the first one I picked up (call it A). The undersides are different -- truck A has an unpainted carriage, while truck B not only has a painted one, but one with an embossed "Y." That embossing gives the undercarriage a little more strength.

The "TN" trademark that appears on the door of truck A has been moved to a less conspicuous place on the rear of truck B. By comparing the patinas of the two vehicles, it's easy to tell which is the newer model (truck B).

Another clue  to relative age: truck B
(left) appears newer than truck A
(right). Note also the reinforcement
of the chassis on truck B.

There are some other interesting differences between these new arrivals and vehicles already on the display -- which I'll explore in depth in the Collecting -- and collecting information series.

With this influx of traffic, the Straco Express display appears bustling with activity. And the variety of bright primary colors gives the layout the toy-like look I wanted.

What's next? I'd like to have some more buildings and/or trees -- but those will be a little harder to find. It may be a while before there's another post!


Total cost for the project:

Layout construction:

• Pegboard: $4.95
• Flathead Screws: $0.40
• Molding: $2.49
• SilClear: borrowed from a friend
• Green Paint: left over from another project
• Wood Screws: $3.60
• Felt Pads: $1.99

Power Pack: $5.90
Small Houses: $3.00
Testor's Gray Paint for road: $1.29
Bandai Areo Station: $8.99

Vehicles:

• Two Japanese toy cars: $2.00
• A.W. Livestock truck: $4.99
• Taxi: $2.99
• Ambulance: $2.99
• Two Japanese patriotic cars: $6.99
• Namura Police Car $2.52
• Haji three-wheel sedan $3.00
• Namura lumber truck $3.48
• 1950's  sedan $2.99
• 6 Namura vehicles $16.99
  

Total Cost: $81.55

Running the Road to Recovery - 5

Running the Road to Recovery is about coming back from an illness. In June, 2012 I was in training for a 4-mile race, and was able to run 3-4 miles at a decent (OK, mediocre) rate of speed. A kidney infection that triggered a secondary infection to my knees derailed my training. But only temporarily.

We took some time off to visit family (that's why my last post was almost a week ago). Across the street from our relatives is the practice track for the local high school. It seemed like a good time to get some base metrics, so I spent a few days just on the track. It was eye-opening.

Admittedly, my runner's watch isn't the top of the line, but I had no idea it was so inaccurate. The first day I ran exactly one mile around the track. My watch recorded 1.09 km  -- which is about 0.67 of a mile. So now I'm just using the watch to record the time, and mark the distances with careful measurement. Note the difference.

Date	Time	Distance	Run/Walk	Rate
8/27/12	33:14	3.21k	all run	5.8k/h
8/20/12	38:22	2.36k	3 min./30 sec.	3.60k/h
8/13/12	32:37	1.95k	1.5 min./30 sec.	3.60k/h
8/5/12	29:49	1.76k	1 min./30 sec.	2.88k/h
7/30/12	13:30	.80k	1 min./30 sec.	2.88k/h