#ClassicsaDay #ClassicalDistancing Week 3

Normally the Classics a Day theme for May involved May Day (#SovietaDay). Having a theme centered around social distancing/self-quarantine seemed more appropriate. The challenge for May is post works for unusual solo instruments or works about solitude.

Here are my selections for the third week of #ClassicalDistancing

05/18/20 Anon. 14th C. - Medieval dance

The hurdy-gurdy was originally developed to accompany church and monastery choirs in the Middle Ages. While a popular Renaissance instrument, after 1600 it was used mainly for folk music.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) - Adagio for glass harmonica

Creating sound by rubbing fingers on partially-filled glasses is nothing new. Benjamin Franklin's mechanical version was. And for a very brief time, composers wrote music for it.

05/20/20 John Cage (1912-1992) - Suite for Toy Piano

Playing a toy piano in a classical concert may sound silly. But Cage took the instrument seriously and wrote his suite accordingly.

05/21/20 Garrett Hecker - Three Pieces for Four Timpani

Hecker's 2020 work references Elliot Carter's "Eight Pieces for Four Timpani" (with original material added).

05/22/20 Stephen W. Beatty - 1044

The heckelphone was invented by Wilhelm Heckel in 1879. This double reed instrument sounds an octave lower than an oboe, and is so heavy it rests on a support peg -- like a cello.