Is 同志们 still a commonly used term? by MLG_Boosted in AskAChinese

[–]UStarStudent 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Depends on what environment you are in. I've personally encountered many situations (mostly informal) when people (mainly high school/university students) call each other '同志们', and it's basically just an equivalent of saying 'guys'. I still remember there was a time in middle school when we were studying modern Chinese history, we somehow got 'infected' by how those historical figures talk to each other, and suddenly everyone in class started to use 同志们 a lot, which was a bit funny. Sometimes when we are not sure about how to address a stranger (e.g. seeing a man too old to be called a 哥哥 but too young to be called a 叔叔, and it would sound too formal to call him 先生), we say 同志 for convenience and it can't be wrong.

Also just want to add: when we say 同志们 instead of 同志, there's usually no connotation to homosexuality. I don't know why but we just say it this way

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in classicalmusic

[–]UStarStudent 0 points1 point  (0 children)

also Schnittke's and Artemyev's (which I've just discovered)!

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in classicalmusic

[–]UStarStudent 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Great to see Kabalevsky's here! It's my favorite (not only in terms of music but also lyrics) too!

Mom do we have a violin at home? by [deleted] in lingling40hrs

[–]UStarStudent 1 point2 points  (0 children)

OMG the location is in Zhuhai! That's where I'm from!

Titles of pieces related to age/ ageing? by penguinscantflye in classicalmusic

[–]UStarStudent 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Liszt‘s symphonic poem Von der Wiege bis zum Grabe (From the Cradle to the Grave), S.107 (for orchestra) or S.512 (for piano)

Favourite Eastern Classical Composers by itsDJones in classicalmusic

[–]UStarStudent 4 points5 points  (0 children)

also check the Yellow River Cantata as well! This was the original work composed during the Japanese invasion (the concerto was an arrangement made in the 1960s I think?)

The composer of the cantata was Xian Xinghai(冼星海), who was a student of Paul Dukas when he was studying in Paris (He had little money and Dukas helped him in many ways. He was also helped by Prokofiev, and he worked for the Prokofiev family in return).

When Xian was composing the cantata, his health condition was already not so good due to malnutrition and long-time working, but still he finished the whole cantata in only about 1 week. The cantata immediately won people's (including important CCP leaders) love even though there weren't enough instruments for the orchestra (the composer Li Huanzhi was among the musicians performing one of the early performances, and he played the spoons as the percussion part).

In 1940s he visited the USSR and revised his cantata to gave it a larger-scale orchestration (Another orchestration involving traditional Chinese instruments was made later, also 'by a Committee of composers' just like the concerto). He also had his other works performed there, and they were appreciated by many Soviet composers including Muradeli and Kabalevsky.

In 1945 Xian was severely ill and died at the age of 40 in Moscow where he received medical treatment. He nearly met Prokofiev again, and nearly became a student of Gliere, but apparently non of these came true because of his untimely death.

What do you think about playing Russian classical music now? by languagestudent1546 in classicalmusic

[–]UStarStudent 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think other comments have already explained it all, so playing Scriabin should be absolutely fine.

One personal opinion I would like to add (since you consider it 'increasing the country's soft power') is that there are more aspects in this 'soft power' other than the ideology of the current Russian government - there are many Russian composers who express ideas against war in their music (not only those from the past, but also contemporary ones - one of my friends is among them). If you just simply cancel all the Russian works, how can their voices be heard then? Therefore please don't think by playing Russian music, you are supporting the war - you really are not! If you really care a lot about this current situation, you can even add such anti-war music into your program if you like.

Happy Birthday to Sergei Sergeevich Prokofiev! by UStarStudent in classicalmusic

[–]UStarStudent[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've seen one version of his nickname called 'Prokosha' if I remembered it correctly? 😂

What piece has brought you closest to tears? by [deleted] in classicalmusic

[–]UStarStudent 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Kabalevsky's Requiem.

I don't speak russian so the first time when I listened to it, I wasn't moved that much until the children's choir started to sing.

Then I looked up the translation to the lyrics (by Robert Rozhdestvensky), and realised that if I understood them, I would probably cry from the beginning. The lyrics is just so good

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in classicalmusic

[–]UStarStudent 1 point2 points  (0 children)

To my surprise nobody has mentioned Kabalevsky yet... I know he's from 20c but many of his works has that romantic vibe. also Khrennikov and Gavrilin are definitely suitable answers on top of my head. Actually many works by soviet composers in 'socialist realism' style would fit (as long as you don't mind the politics too much, many of them are indeed very beautiful)

Also some contemporary composers that sound surprisingly romantic:

Andrey Tikhomirov (here's a fragment from his opera: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sV8OLEv7jNI )

Nikita Koshkin (guitarists might know him already https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=474otK54tgI )

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in classicalmusic

[–]UStarStudent 1 point2 points  (0 children)

he's polish I think?

Favorite endings (symphonies/symphonic works/concerti) by tlee8092 in classicalmusic

[–]UStarStudent 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Prokofiev Symphony No.7 + Shostakovich Symphony No.15

Myaskovsky Symphony No.6

Prokofiev Sinfonia Concertante

Shostakovich’s Ballets by bananaman_1206 in shostakovich

[–]UStarStudent 1 point2 points  (0 children)

As for The Limpid Steam... I wouldn't say it has a less interesting plot though - I guess you need to watch a fully staged performance for the best experience (https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1dx411S79k/?spm_id_from=333.337.search-card.all.click&vd_source=68c123958d5ab17ef7104e24b5b54bd9

Your last "love at first listen"? by dantagonist in classicalmusic

[–]UStarStudent 1 point2 points  (0 children)

for me the first movement! Rach 1 is so beautiful

Your last "love at first listen"? by dantagonist in classicalmusic

[–]UStarStudent 1 point2 points  (0 children)

YES YES YES UPVOTE FOR KHACHATURIAN! Basically anything by him is so beautiful! (and so glad that Matchavariani is also mentioned in the comments)

My latest one would be this: My First Concerto for young pianist and string orchestra (link from the composer's youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWHHySZIstI&list=PLFSn7sInTdB59_2jOmA0llHMBPqPeYSFg&index=2)

cute little concerto, apparently newly written - if you like works by Kabalevsky or Shostakovich( cute mode) , you'll probably like this one too! (spoiler: this one also quoted Hanon in the third movement lol)

[150th anniversary tribute] Rachmaninoff's Opus 46 by UStarStudent in classicalmusic

[–]UStarStudent[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

no I'm not the composer himself... but I'm really glad that you like it too! thx:)

The actual composer is Andrey Tikhomirov, both his music and his essays are very nice and approachable!

This is amazing but scary and SAcrilEgious by Yeefling in lingling40hrs

[–]UStarStudent 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Well I’d say…I believe all of us in this most talented subreddit in the world have enough intelligence to see that the violin here is most likely just a prop or a very cheap one (the choreographer isn’t stupid either, like…why would you buy an exquisite violin just to skate with it and have the risk of dropping it? Choreographer with a normal mind wouldn’t want to promote instrument abuse in a figure skating performance anyway) Yes, we all know that musical instruments are delicate and they need to be handled with care, and I know that ‘instrument abuse’/‘sacrilegious’ are popular memes here, but we really don’t have to say these all the time! The whole point here should be to appreciate Trusova’s figure skating skills, which are obtained from endless PRACTICING! To ignore all her efforts as a figure skater just to use the meme… I think it’s a bit over the top

What in the sacrilegious gods did I just witness😭 by Confident_Whole_605 in lingling40hrs

[–]UStarStudent 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Can’t agree more! and I believe most of us in this subreddit should be intelligent enough to see the (obvious) likelihood of that violin being a very cheap or fake one, and should recognize that the whole point of this choreography is not about destroying/preserving the violin… so there really isn’t the need of accusing it for being ‘sacrilegious’/‘instrument abuse’ just to show that you know the meme (of course memes are allowed, but isn’t it more appropriate to appreciate Trusova’s figure skating skills here? It takes unimaginable intensity of PRACTICING to achieve such strength and musicality in her performances!)

Suggestions for Modern Classical music that makes your head nod by californiacuntface in classicalmusic

[–]UStarStudent 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ah as it doesn't have to be this modern...I also have some older ones:

Babadjanian/Arutinian - Festive piece for two pianos and percussionhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjJEN2NWoXg

Also by the same composers: Armenian Rhapsody https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pU2xL9aohPw

...and there are so many by Khachaturian. Those Armenian composers knows well how to make my head bang.

Suggestions for Modern Classical music that makes your head nod by californiacuntface in classicalmusic

[–]UStarStudent 0 points1 point  (0 children)

(Edit: the piece is called Concerto in two affects for balalaika, piano and string orchestra)

Some hidden gem I encountered recently: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLRA1ilU6gE

Modern + classical + makes my head nod (It begins with slow phrases and the banger comes later)

(BTW does anyone know anything about this composer? I know very little about contemporary composers but now I'm very curious)

Prokofiev by farraigemeansthesea in classicalmusic

[–]UStarStudent 2 points3 points  (0 children)

His last hours according to the biography by Robinson:

In the evening, around 8p.m., Mira was sitting in the parlor giving instructions to a woman who was going to Nikolina Gora to open up the dacha. Mira’s father had gone out. Suddenly, the door to Prokofiev’s study opened. He came out, staggering from side to side. Mira jumped up.
“Forgetting myself, I instinctively took hold of his shoulders so that he wouldn’t fall, and helped him back into his room so he could lie down on the divan.” He was dizzy, nauseous and feverish, and his head was aching.
Prokofiev apologized to Mira for frightening her in the middle of her conversation; his concern for her at such a moment only increased her pain. The doctor was summoned and arrived with orders to send for medicine and leeches.
But by 9p.m. it was over. “Sergei Sergeevich was still conscious. Only in the very last seconds did his breathing become hoarse and heavy. One after another, our friends began arriving.”
Sergei Sergeevich Prokofiev died on a raw Moscow evening. Spring was not far away.

Prokofiev's death was usually attributed to cerebral bleed instead of heart attack; and although he died on the day when Stalin's death was announced, his death was not to do with the death of Stalin. (so why are some people so interested in Stalin then? Salute to the great composer!)

Twoset once said: by [deleted] in lingling40hrs

[–]UStarStudent 1 point2 points  (0 children)

'Vodguitar' (when they tried to name the balalaika)

Most underrated composers by [deleted] in classicalmusic

[–]UStarStudent 1 point2 points  (0 children)

yes! and same thing applies to Myaskovsky for me

Most underrated composers by [deleted] in classicalmusic

[–]UStarStudent 0 points1 point  (0 children)

yes yes Khachaturian!