As you, my much beloved friends, may have noticed, I have a great love of relating to you all my experiences at musical concerts and other such artistic events. This is another such relation.
On Friday 2 November 2007 I visited Maestro Paavo Järvi and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra for a concert consisting of Stravinsky's Chorale Variations, his Symphony of Psalms, and Beethoven's Third "Eroica" Symphony. The latter I will only address briefly because my interest here chiefly lies in the Stravinsky works. Everyone knows that Beethoven's "Eroica" Symphony is brilliant.
The Chorale Variations are Stravinsky's treatment of J.S. Bach's Von Himmel Hoch Da Komm' Ich Her, or in English, From Heaven Above to You I Come. The Symphony of Psalms is a setting of various psalms in Latin in three movements. In case it is not blindingly apparent, both of these are sacred works. In addition, both hail from Stravinsky's neoclassical period, telling us that they are written with great reason and order in mind. Why the church, especially its sectors that are interested in order and reason, does not put these to use is beyond me. Both are excellent, both euphonically and technically, and they deserve more attention among the great multitudes of the people than they receive.
On a side note, Stravinsky also set the Latin Mass in this style, choosing such because his native Russian Orthodox Church forbade the use of any instruments except bells to accompany its singing.
As for the Beethoven, I am convinced that he was added for the sole purpose of selling tickets. Stravinsky, despite his great popularity among musicians, is much less popular among the public, except perhaps The Firebird and The Rite of Spring. Beethoven, however, is fairly universally beloved. Thus he was played last to send the whole crowd home happy.
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