Word: virtuoso
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: all
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
...theme of the Polonaise appears in the bass (played as if a solo part by Harnoncourt himself) with an incredibly florid counterpoint in the flute part. The beauty and care taken by Harnoncourt in his accompaniment is outstanding. The usual fate of this section is to have a frantic virtuoso display by the flutist over a barely-audible figured bass...
...16th century: David, dancing a jig before the Lord. Exuberance, indeed, was the most endearing characteristic of these relatively provincial Flemish masters. St. Leonard's carved altarpiece of the life of St. Anne-it stands 9 ft. high and contains more than 75 figures-is a virtuoso piece, designed to astonish. But through its mannered intricacies, the dumpy Flemish women and men are arguing and gesturing, holding towels for childbirth, embracing and being judged: it is a fascinating exercise in the reconciliation of Scripture with life as it was lived by 16th century Bible readers...
...recordings. For the last six years, every concert something else--a musical manifestation of a unique juncture in time and space, with thematic relevance to all others. Not only were they creative, but each (with Pigpen standing at the side guzzling beer or reaching for his harp) a technical virtuoso. And just exactly why can't one be considered a virtuoso on the electric guitar or bass? (Just check out any of Jimi Hendrix's last albums for the word on encompassing the creative possibilities of a particular instrument). They made it up as they went along, and it came...
Despite a lifetime of bad church anthems. Maurice Greene (1695-1775) showed the particularly English fondness and skill with brass music. His little Suite of Trumpet Voluntaries belies an unflattering reputation as a feeble Purcell. Only in this set of pieces did Tarr display the kind of virtuoso talent for which he is generally known. The sense of ensemble--excellent throughout the evening--was pertect here in the brilliant parallel thirds where the organ registration sounded like a second trumpet. Equally successful was the encore, a Telemann Air de Trompette, performed with a tremendous sense of style galant grace...
...Marcel Duchamp (1887-1968). To artists nurtured on Duchampian irony, the very idea of the culture-hero, which Picasso embodies, is suspect. The last 15 years have seen a reaction against the cult of expressive personality in art, and Picasso has caught the backlash. He took the virtuoso's role, enlarged it, identified it with himself, and reamed out all its possibilities. Hence nobody else can play it: there is no act left to follow. Picasso's current work means little or nothing to other artists, and no living painters influence him. He inhabits an iso lation which...