Monday 28 December 2009

Saturday 26 December 2009

Thursday 24 December 2009

Anniversary

Today it's exactly one year ago I started this blog. I can't say much about the reasons - it was Christmas, and I felt I wanted to do something new. During this time, I had a Swedish bookblog and I was thinking of starting an English blog too - I would then reach out to more readers. I didn't wanted to have a new bookblog, though. So I just started with something simple - a kind of musicblog where I would post my favourite pieces as Youtube-videos. I didn't have any great expectations, since it would be so simple, I hadn't really seen anybody else doing that - only posting Youtube-videos and nothing else. So I was really glad when I was starting to get followers. I had no idea this would gather so many people with a genuine interest in and love for classical music and art!

I hope that all kind listeners and 'watchers' of this blog will have a Merry Christmas, and I also hope you all will enjoy this first part of Bach's Christmas Oratorio:






Merry Christmas!

Tuesday 22 December 2009

Monday 21 December 2009

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing



Note: Now I have categorized all my posts (162) to make this blog somewhat easier to overlook. Well, now it's quite a list so I'm not sure if it has done anything better. Build your own opinion by scrolling down. You will see all the labels at the right side of the page.

Sunday 20 December 2009

Bacchus with Nymphs and Cupid

Bacchus with Nymphs and Cupid by Caesar van Everdingen, c. 1660

Portrait of a Two-Year-Old Boy

Portrait of a Two-Year-Old Boy by Caesar van Everdingen, 1664

Wednesday 16 December 2009

The Music Lesson

The Music Lesson by Jean-Honoré Fragonard, 1769

G.F Händel: Sonata for Recorder in D Minor HWV367 - Mov. 5-7/7



5. Alla breve

6. Andante

7. A tempo di menuet

Sunday 13 December 2009

Portrait of a Young Woman

Portrait of a Young Woman by Domenico Ghirlandaio, 1485

Antonio Vivaldi: "Filiae Maestae Jerusalem" - "Sileant zephyri"



Largo

Sileant zephyri,
Rigeant prata,
Unda amata

Frondes, flores non satientur.
Mortuo flumine,
Proprio lumine
Luna et sol etiam priventur.

Counter-tenor: Andreas Scholl

Saturday 12 December 2009

Antonio Vivaldi: Cantate "Cessate, omai cessate" - " Ah, ch'infelice sempre"



Larghetto & Andante Molto


Ah, ch'infelice sempre
Me vuol Dorilla ingrata,
Ah sempre piú spietata,
Mi stringe à lagrimar.

Per me non v'è ristoro
Per me non v'è speme.
E il fier martoro e le mie pene
Solo la morte può consolar.

Counter-tenor: Andreas Scholl

Sunday 6 December 2009

A Woman Drinking with Two Men

A Woman Drinking with Two Men by Pieter de Hooch c. 1658

Thursday 3 December 2009

G.F Händel: ''Dixit Dominus'' in G minor, HWV232



Psalm 110 "Dixit Dominus" for Strings and Basso continuo in G minor, HWV232

1. Dixit Dominus

2. Virgam virtutis tuae

Sunday 15 November 2009

David with the Head of Goliath

David with the Head of Goliath by Caravaggio, c. 1601-1602

Saturday 14 November 2009

Jan Dismas Zelenka: Miserere in C minor ZWV 57, mov. 1-2/6



1. Miserere I

2. Miserere II (after ricercar by Frescobaldi)

Jan Dismas Zelenka: Miserere in C minor, mov. 3-6/6



3. Gloria Patri I

4. Gloria Patri II

5. Sicut erat

6. Miserere III

Tuesday 3 November 2009

Marie-Antoinette: C'est mon ami



Romance pour soprano & harpe

(One day too late. I should've posted this yesterday)

Sunday 11 October 2009

A. Vivaldi: L'Estro Armonico - Concerto no 2 in G minor, Opus 3, RV578



1. Adagio e spiccato

2. Allegro

3. Larghetto

4. Allegro

Portrait of a Lady in White


Portrait of a Lady in White or Girl with a Fan by Titian, c. 1553

Thursday 17 September 2009

Saturday 5 September 2009

Madame Bergeret

Madame Bergeret by François Boucher, 1746

A. Vivaldi: Concerto for violin in A Minor RV 356



1st movement

Performed by Europa Galante

Conductor: Fabio Biondi

Tuesday 1 September 2009

Charles Avison/Domenico Scarlatti: Concerto Grosso No. 3 in D Minor



1. Largo andante

2. Allegro spiritoso

3. Amoroso

4. Allegro

Performed by Cafe Zimmerman
Conductor: Pablo Valetti

Sunday 30 August 2009

A. Vivaldi: Le Quattro Stagion; L'inverno



1. Allegro non molto

2. Largo

3. Allegro - Lento - Allegro

Performed by Concerto Italiano
Violin: Francesca Vicari
Conductor: Rinaldo Alessandrini

Monday 24 August 2009

Lucretia

Lucretia by Andrea del Sarto, 1513-14

Friday 21 August 2009

Fable


Fable by El Greco, c. 1570-75

Sunday 16 August 2009

Monday 10 August 2009

A. Vivaldi: The Four Seasons; Winter

I. Allegro non molto

II. Largo

III. Allegro

Baroque Violin: Giuliano Carmignola

Saturday 8 August 2009

Green Monkey

Green Monkey by George Stubbs, 1798

Monday 3 August 2009

A Lady Writing


A Lady Writing by Johannes Vermeer, c. 1665-66.


Thursday 23 July 2009

Sunday 5 July 2009

Jane, Countess of Harrington


Portrait of Jane, Countess of Harrington by Joshua Reynolds, 1775

J.S Bach: Harpsichord Concerto in D Major BWV1054



Movement 1/3.

Portrait of Suzanna Huygens


Portrait of Suzanna Huygens by Caspar Netscher, 1667-69

Wednesday 24 June 2009

Johann Friedrich Fasch: Orchestral Suite in D Minor FWV K:d4



Movement 6-8/8

6. Menuet I

7. Réjouissance

8. Menuet II

The Melancholy

The Melancholy by Lucas Cranach the Elder, 1553 (click to enlarge!)

Monday 22 June 2009

The Breakfast

The Breakfast by François Boucher, 1739 (click to enlarge!)

Tuesday 16 June 2009

Monday 15 June 2009

The Messenger

The Messenger by Johannes Verkolje, 1674

The Morning Walk

or Mr and Mrs William Hallet by Thomas Gainsborough, 1785

Monday 8 June 2009

A. Vivaldi: Juditha Triumphans RV644 "Agitata infido flatu"

It amazes me that this was first performed by teenage girls at the Ospedale della Pietà, the institution for orphan girls where Vivaldi taught. What talent!

Thursday 4 June 2009

Sunday 31 May 2009

Venus Blindfolding Cupid

Venus Blindfolding Cupid by Titian Vechellio c. 1560-65.

Wednesday 27 May 2009

Henry Purcell: Dido's Lament

Soprano: Emma Kirkby

From Purcell's beautiful opera, Dido and Aeneas.

Dido ItalicItalic

(Detail from Rubens' painting Dido and Aeneas.)

Monday 25 May 2009

Saturday 23 May 2009

The Concert

The Concert by Gerard Terborch, c. 1675

Saturday 2 May 2009

Portrait of a Young Girl with a Fan

A Young Girl with a Fan by Pietro Rotari, probably painted in the 1750's (I have searched and searched, but I couldn't find the year, so this is a mere guess. Please inform me, if anyone knows the exact year.)


Mrs Abington as Miss Prue

Mrs Abington as Miss Prue in Congreves comedy Love for Love, by Joshua Reynolds, 1771

The Cumaen Sibyl

The Cumaen Sibyl by Domenichino (Domenico Zampieri), c. 1620-23

Friday 1 May 2009

Lully and Molière: Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme



Francois-Nicolas Geslot (tenor)
Arnaud Marzorati (baryton)
Claire Lefilliâtre (sopran)
Conductor: Vincent Dumestre
Ensemble: Le Poème Harmonique
Director: Benjamin Lazar

Saturday 25 April 2009

Portrait of Mrs Abington


Mrs Abington by Joshua Reynolds, 1764-1773

Detail:

Thursday 9 April 2009

Portrait of a Young Girl

By Agnolo Bronzino, 1541-1545

Tuesday 31 March 2009

Friday 27 March 2009

Thursday 19 March 2009

G.F Händel: Harpsichord Suite in D Minor HWV428 - Mov. 6/6



6. Presto

G.F Händel: Harpsichord Suite in D Minor HWV428 - Mov. 5/6




5. Air

G.F Händel: Harpsichord Suite in G Minor HWV432 - Mov. 3-5/6





3. Allegro 4. Sarabande 5. Gigue

Tempus Fugit Award

Although this is not particularly an 18th Century blog, I've received:
"The TEMPUS FUGIT Award is given to writers & living historians whose journals represent the best aspects of the 18th Century. These writers aim to inform and entertain the public with tales from events, historic research & experiments and highlights from 18th Century arts and culture. It is the hope of TEMPUS FUGIT that this award will forge a web of friendship and knowledge that will aid in creating a tight community of reenactors and living historians on the internet and beyond. Winners of the TEMPUS FUGIT Award should pass this award along to six other 18th Century blogs that meet the above criteria, and include this text with the Award, as well as a link back to the TEMPUS FUGIT blog."
*
"Ninon showcases some of the best music and art from various eras of the past, always worth a look."
*
This award is from Tempus Fugit, The Doctor's fabulous blog about his doings and medical treatments in the 18th century. What can I say, I'm honoured. Thank you, Doctor!
There are only three blogs I'm aware of right now that, in my opinion, truly meet the above criteria, and those are:

Sunday 8 March 2009

Ladies and music

Music: J.S Bach - Suite in A minor :))

Saturday 7 March 2009

The art of Leonardo da Vinci



Music: Bach's Prelude And Fugue No. 13 In F-Sharp Major BWV 882


0:01 - The Last Supper
0:14 - Portrait of an Unknown Woman (La Belle Ferroniere)
0:24 - St. John the Baptist
0:35 - Portrait of Ginevra de'Benci
0:48 - Study of an Old Man's Profile
0:59 - Madonna Litta
1:11 - The Annunciation
1:23 - The Virgin of the Rocks
1:33 - Portrait of Cecilia Gallerani (Lady with an Ermine)
1:43 - The Lady of the Dishevelled Hair (La Scapigliata)
1:53 - John the Baptist
2:02 - Virgin and Child with St. Anne
2:14 - St. Hieronymus
2:24 - Madonna with the Carnation
2:33 - Portrait of a Musician
2:45 - Mona Lisa (La Gioconda)
2:58 - Self-Portrait



Video by the divine eggman913 :)

Friday 6 March 2009

Wednesday 4 March 2009

"This blog invests and believes in the PROXIMITY-nearness in space, time and relationships..."


"This blog invests and believes in the PROXIMITY-nearness in space, time and relationships. These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement! Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers! Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this clever-written text into the body of their award."


Another award! Now, I'm truly flattered, thank you dear Ms Lucy!

I'm giving this award to


Lucy from Enchanted by Josephine (I have to! :))

Catherine from A Thousand Clapping Hands (yes, again :))

MIRANDA aka FashionQueen :) , my sister


Alexandre Fabbri from Brasserie Alizé

The Doctor from Tempus Fugit

Elena Maria Vidal from Tea at Trianon


(I know, that's just seven, but..)

Saturday 28 February 2009

Wednesday 18 February 2009

Musing: Portrait of a Young Girl with a Prayer Book by Agnolo Bronzino



1541-1545


Agnolo Bronzino was a Florentine painter and poet who was widely known for his beautiful portraits (he painted many of them in Cosimo di Medici's court) and exquisite style. His models looked often cold and distant, as the young girl we see here. She is not very happy, is she? The prayer book, which she holds with a delicate hand, may be a reminder of a religious upbringing. I don't think she chose the subject herself - you can almost picture it: a small, indifferent girl thinking of the hours to come, hours of sitting, being dressed up in her finest clothes, a mother giving her a small prayer book, then they explain to her how to sit, how to hold the prayer book etc. And so, she is immortalized.

The Excessively Diverting Blog Award

Musica & Arte has been nominated by Tempus Fugit for an Excessively Diverting Blog Award .
Started by the blogging team at Jane Austen Today the "aim of the Excessively Diverting Blog Award is to acknowledge writing excellence in the spirit of Jane Austen’s genius in amusing and delighting readers with her irony, humor, wit, and talent for keen observation. Recipients will uphold the highest standards in the art of the sparkling banter, witty repartee, and gentle reprove."

I'm most flattered, thank you, Doctor! Now, I have to nominate seven other blogs, but unfortunately most of them I would nominate has been nominated already, so here follows:

A Thousand Clapping Hands - beautiful postings, and even more beautiful pictures! It's a joy to visit her blog.


Tea at Trianon - Always informative and very interesting posts about Marie-Antoinette, traditions and culture!


Enchanted by Josephine - Wonderful blog about history, historical fiction and Josephine & Napoleon, of course!


Recipients, please claim your award by copying the HTML code of the Excessively Diverting Blog Award badge, posting it on your blog, listing the name of the person who nominated you, and linking to their blog. Then nominate seven other blogs that you feel meet or exceed the standards set forth. Nominees may place the Excessively Diverting badge in their side bar and enjoy the appreciation of their fellow blogger for recognition of their talent.

Thursday 5 February 2009

J.S Bach: Concerto for four harpsichords (BWV 1065)


A. Vivaldi: Trio Sonata "La Follia" in D Minor RV63

(I'm not sure if I have posted this piece before... well, you'll have to remind me then! :)

I just have to say how much I dislike this new manner Youtube has - putting the title on the video like that. So undecorative!!

Wednesday 28 January 2009

J.S Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier Book 1

Prelude and Fugue in C minor

I became obsessed with this piece (the prelude) at the age of 13-14, and started to practice. Of course, I never managed to learn the piece fully.

Since that, I have discovered it in some movies, and I just love the scenes they include this piece in. For example -

Le Silence de la Mer (2004). A young girl, Jeanne refuses to speak to the German officer who stays at her grandfather's house during the occupation of Paris in World War II. But eventually, there's a certain, silent sympathy between the two, and in one scene when the officer is leaving the house and Jeanne wants to warn him (you can see why in the movie, I don't want to spoil anything) she doesn't find any other way than starting to play the piano - Bach's prelude in C minor.

The Forsyte Saga - in one of the episodes there is a scene where the lovers Fleur and John have an argument and then, when John's mother can't stand the tension anymore, she starts playing Bach's prelude in C minor.

The Triplets of Belleville - a wonderful, French animated film, where the Prelude is one of the very themes of the film, variated in several ways (there's even a jazz version!).

J.S Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier Book 1

Prelude and Fugue in D Major.

Tuesday 27 January 2009

J.S Bach: Goldberg variations, aria, BWV 988

Performed by Pierre Hantaï

Enjoy this sweet little masterpiece. :)

They used this as soundtrack for the movie Stupeur et tremblements a French/Japanese film. Then I loved the fact that they had a piece of Bach in a film which is set in the 80's (?) in a horrible office. But since I've seen the film (which was not so good, I think) I can't think of anything else when I hear this piece. So awful when you associate good music with experiences you don't want to associate it with, isn't it? Same thing usually happens when I read a book and listen to music at the same time. Later on, when listening to the music, it often strikes me how genuinly it has captured the atmosphere of the book.

Wednesday 21 January 2009

Masked Beauties in Vivaldi's Winter

I really like this one. But I hate the fact that the beginning (one of the best parts!!) is missing.


Sunday 18 January 2009

Musing: The Lady with an Ermine by Leonardo da Vinci


A young woman is looking away from us in a quite idealized manner, holding a white ermine in her lap. She almost resemble a fashionable woman from the 20's with her necklace of black pearls and a black ribbon over her forehead - and an almost modern face. But she is a lady from the 15th century, this portrait being painted of her c. 1489-90 when she was about 16-17 years old. She was one Ludovico Sforza's, the Duke of Milan's official mistresses and a talented singer, musician and poet. According to some sources, her salon was the first in Europe, where she entertained the Milanese intellectuals discussing philosophy, art and other subjects. It was also here she invited Leonardo and became friends with him.

At first, I was puzzled by the fact that she is holding an ermine in her lap (clasping it with a slender hand - how different from the rounded, feminine hands seen in Rococo portraits!). Ermines are small predators, surely they wouldn't let you hold them without clawing or biting? And back then, they weren't pets either, people made collars and other fashionable accessories of them instead.
Then I found out that it might hint at the woman's name - Cecilia Gallerani - galée meaning ermine in Greek. It may also be a reference to her lover's membership of the Order of the Ermine. And then, of course - ermine is a symbol of purity and virtue - quite important things to a sophisticated Renaissance woman - a patron of the arts (according to a contemporary writer) - as Cecilia Gallerani.

Saturday 17 January 2009

Thursday 15 January 2009

Antonio Vivaldi: Nulla in mundo pax sincera

With soprano Emma Kirkby.




1. Aria:

Nulla in mundo pax sincera,
Sine felle; pura et vera
Dulcis Jesu est in te.

Inter poenas et tormenta,
Vivit anima contenta,
Casti amoris, sola spe.

---

There is no true peace in the world
without bitterness; in you, sweet Jesus,
it is pure and rightful.

Amongst anguish and torment
lives the contented soul,
its only hope, chaste love.

Jean-Philippe Rameau: Pièces de clavecin en concerts no. 1

Performed by Scott Ross.

Tuesday 13 January 2009