Have you ever listened to “From the Top,” the NPR podcast described on their site (HERE) as “America’s largest national platform celebrating young classically-trained musicians”?
I’ve heard a few episodes via WQXR, New York City’s one and only classical music radio station. Recently, I was perusing From the Top’s web page, and I came across an episode which includes a 12-year-old cellist performing “Polonaise de Concert” by David Popper. David Popper? Who in the world was David Popper? The only Popper I am aware of is Mr. Popper from “Mr. Popper’s Penguins,” the humorous classic of American children’s literature about a humble house painter and his brood of high-stepping penguins (info HERE). I looked up David Popper, described on Wikipedia (HERE) as a “Bohemian cellist and composer,” and decided to listen to his “Polonaise de Concert.” A polonaise is defined as “a slow dance of Polish origin in triple time, consisting chiefly of an intricate march or procession,” but Popper’s begins with and embraces a spirited Latin flair throughout. However, the proud and peppy opening theme doesn’t last long before the polonaise moves on to a second theme. Overall, the piece showcases a variety of Latinx moods and themes. Popper's polonaise looks like a fun piece to play, and it is an enjoyable piece to listen to. However, it definitely has the feel of a technical practice piece suitable for a concert or recital, allowing the cellist to show off versatility in technique. I did enjoy Popper’s polonaise though I wish he had extended or developed some of the themes. Chopin’s Polonaise in A Major, the “Polonaise Militaire,” for example, includes fitting repeats throughout the piece to allow the distinct themes to be savored. That is not the case in “Polonaise de Concert.” Still, it is a captivating piece, and I enjoyed it very much.
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A New Hope:As the header above says, each week I will listen to a piece of classical music that I've never heard before, and then I will report out what I thought about it. Archives
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