#ClassicsaDay #SummerClassics Week 4

It was a busy summer for the Classics a Day team. In June, we marked African-American Music Appreciation Month. In July we celebrated national holidays in the U.S. and  Canada. So that just left August to have a summer theme.

For my part, I chose to choose anything except Vivaldi's "Four Seasons." In the process, I discovered some interesting music (and composers) I'll explore further.

Here are my picks for the fourth week of #ClassicalSummer.

8/19/19 Josef Suk: Summer Impressions, Op. 22b

Suk's 1902 Op. 22 featured two seasons: 22a was Spring, and 22b was Summer. The three movements of 22b are "At Midday," "Child's Play" and "Evening Mood."

8/20/19 Henry Purcell - The Fairy-Queen

Purcell's 1692 musical work is considered a masque rather than a opera. The musical segments featured original text, not taken from Shakespeare's play.

8/21/19 Heinrich Wilhelm Ernst Polyphonic Study No. 6 - Concert Variations on "The Last Rose of Summer" in G major

Moravian violinist Heinrich Ernst was considered on of the greatest performers to follow Paganini. His specialty was playing polyphonically (two or more notes simultaneously).

8/22/19 Friedrich von Flotow: "Letzte Rose" from Martha

Flowtow's 1847 opera "Martha" is set in Richmond, England during the reign of Queen Anne. Flowtow's setting of "The Last Rose of Summer" became a hit.

8/23/19 Paul Hindemith - On hearing "The Last Rose of Summer."

This song comes from a 1944 collection by Hindemith, "( English Songs." As the title suggests, the work oblequely references the popular tune.