Passion for art, for art’s sake
When art has passion behind it, one cannot help but be moved by it in some way. Today I want to celebrate three artistic endeavours:
1. Gustavo Dudamel, Conductor
On January 31 we enjoyed a most amazing concert conducted by Gustavo Dudamel, a young (24!) Venezuelan conductor. I’ve always loved Barber’s Adagio for Strings, which you are likely to recognize, a particularly memorable use being in the movie “Platoon”. This had to be the most sensitive treatment I’ve ever heard, with the conductor almost caressing the piece tenderly. The sophistication was surprising given his relatively young age as a conductor. The orchestra played with a quiet passion which I’ve never quite heard from them before.
2. Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique
Patti introduced me to this, her favorite orchestral piece. Berlioz wrote it to demonstrate to an unrequited love just how deeply passionately he felt for her. Appropriately, it was scheduled for Valentine’s day. And what a performance it was! Of particular note is the last movement, where the violinists were literally jumping right out of their seats. The orchestra must’ve been exhausted by the end. I left the performance completely excited by the magnitude of what they were able to convey.
I should mention that the performance that same evening of Rachmaninov’s Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini by pianist Jon Kimura Parker was also exceptional.
3. General Fuzz
Thought I was going to list another classic piece didn’t ya? Ah, there’s so much wonderful kinds of music in the world.
I can’t remember how I came across this guy, and I’ll admit that I was drawn in by the lovely flash animation header on his site. It is really quite excellent, highly listenable and enjoyable electronic music. It happened to come up on shuffle in my office while someone was talking to me and they remarked, “That’s some very nice grooving music you’ve got going there”, without knowing it wasn’t some expensively produced pro album.
His music is free to download and listen to. I encourage you to check him out. He has a “real” job that allows him to write music just for the pleasure of making and sharing it. I’ve included him in this post because, to make such great music and give it away, with no expectation of anything in return, is surely an act of passion for art. And if a bit of recognition fuels his efforts, then I want to encourage that! He says he’s “on the cusp of releasing” his fourth album, so watch his site or join his mail list.