Weekend Concert 24: The Kings of Instruments' First Times
2007/1/14 14:49:43
Regarding those legendary kings of instruments throughout history, there are countless tales. Since no performance records have survived, these legends can only remain legends. The first in history to drive all of Europe simultaneously mad was Paganini on the Violin. He pioneered the age of virtuosic instrumental performance, and without him, it's genuinely questionable whether instrumental performance could have reached its current level. Without Paganini, there probably wouldn't have been the later Liszt — a Paganini of the Piano, who also transcribed many of Paganini's virtuosic works for Piano.
Of course, neither man's performance can be heard anymore. But the music they composed has survived to this day. From a purely compositional standpoint, both were fine composers, though comparatively, Liszt was more important — his works had a profound influence on late Romanticism and even twentieth-century music. However, by the highest musical standards, neither man's works can be called immortal. They opened up more possibilities for instrumental performance, making many techniques and skills available, but music is not technique and skill — music transcends all that.
In the era when Paganini drove Europe mad, Beethoven and Schubert were both very lonely; In the era when Liszt swept across Europe, Brahms was equally silent. But in the end, those who could stand at the pinnacle of music's temple were Beethoven, Schubert, and Brahms — not Paganini and Liszt. Yet today, in this barren age, when we can't even find the likes of Paganini or Liszt, all we can do is gaze up at their works in awe.
Today's program features each man's first concerto written for their own instrument：PaganiniD MajorNo. 1Violin Concerto、Lisztflat E MajorNo. 1Piano Concerto。Though not their finest works, they're already enough for today's people to gaze up at in awe。
Replies
Chán Zhōng Shuō Chán 2007/1/14 15:11:58
[Anonymous] nn
2007-01-14 15:05:37
Checking in, saying hello. OP, Happy weekend, thanks!
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Good, it should be working now. Everyone, please enjoy the music.
Please turn off all other background music.
Chán Zhōng Shuō Chán 2007/1/14 15:16:32
[Anonymous] Little Brat
2007-01-14 15:10:46
Hi OP, I've read your stock articles. The earlier parts I can follow, but the later stuff about Chán Zhōng Shuō Chán's trend hubs and 3rd-type buy points, I don't quite understand. OP, could you find time to make a chart explanation? Thanks
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Haven't I already used ICBC and several other examples? If you look at the charts yourself, it's not hard to understand.
Let's not talk about stocks on the weekend.
In the end, stock trading is a contest of cultivation and character. The true masters of stocks are ultimately masters of philosophy and art. In modern society, those who don't understand the capital markets have no right to survive in the contemporary world — but those who only understand the capital markets also cannot live well in it.
If you only approach it through technique, you'll forever remain a mere craftsman — never a true master.
Chán Zhōng Shuō Chán 2007/1/14 15:24:44
Everyone, in ancient times there was the so-called "seven-day Chan retreat." In modern society, finding seven days for a Chan retreat is an extreme luxury. But each week, take one hour — cast off all bonds, leave behind all crowds — alone, in your room, on a mountaintop, in a river, under the starry sky, amid the echoing valleys of the wilderness — open your eyes that have no eyes, your ears that have no ears, gaze down upon this world, listen to this world. This is what it truly means to live as a human being. Otherwise, you're simply a machine.
This place only welcomes humans. This place only turns machines back into humans.
Chán Zhōng Shuō Chán 2007/1/14 15:28:49
[Anonymous] nn
2007-01-14 15:22:10
As a classical music novice, let me also give OP a suggestion. OP seems to look down on pop music, but today I watched an interview with Chen Gang, the composer of Butterfly Lovers — he was quite open-minded. He advocates listening to music with three ears: classical, pop, and avant-garde should all be embraced. I think that's better. OP, what do you think of Butterfly Lovers? Please reply
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Butterfly Lovers is merely a noisy agitation in a barren musical wasteland. The true essence of music is not there. The caliber of people like Chen Gang doesn't even reach the level of Paganini or Liszt.
Music has its hierarchical order — a natural, "unworried" hierarchical order. Though there's a November Chopin, Jay Chou and Chopin are utterly incomparable. Music is not for listening — if music is about listening, then what's needed is ears that have no ears.
Chán Zhōng Shuō Chán 2007/1/14 15:30:15
[Anonymous] LLL
2007-01-14 15:25:54
It seems like there's no player today? Only the background music player — does everyone have it?
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Try refreshing. It should be there.
Chán Zhōng Shuō Chán 2007/1/14 15:33:07
[Anonymous] Intermediary
2007-01-14 15:26:02
Chan-jie, what do you think of the Euro? I feel Europeans are quite gentlemanly. I'm also bullish on the Euro's trend.
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If "gentleman" is a universal synonym for "hypocrite," then it doesn't matter how you put it. If "gentleman" means what the Analects means by "gentleman," then that expression is highly problematic. As for the Euro, I already discussed it years ago in that chapter on currency wars — no revision needed now.
Chán Zhōng Shuō Chán 2007/1/14 15:38:06
Heading off first, goodbye.
Chán Zhōng Shuō Chán 2007/1/14 15:42:20
[Anonymous] Onlooker
2007-01-14 15:37:15
Butterfly Lovers is merely a noisy agitation in a barren musical wasteland.
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We have "Moon Reflected in the Second Spring," "Ambush from Ten Sides," "High Mountains and Flowing Water" — those who are kindred spirits understand. As you said, music doesn't need ears, so naturally there are no schools or genres.
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One more remark before I leave: China's classical music is great, and China's folk music is also great. But in professional music composition, especially in an era when music must serve some purpose, great works are simply impossible.
As for China's professional music composition, the Yellow River Cantata is its peak. Apart from that and some May Fourth-era Art Songs, this ID doesn't think there's anything particularly worth preserving in China's professional music composition.
This may sound extreme, but it's the truth.
Music comes from the soul's breakout, not from political clamor. In an era without souls, there is no music.
Chán Zhōng Shuō Chán 2007/1/14 15:54:24
One more thing, if I may.
If we're talking about politics' impact on music, it was even worse in the former Soviet Union — but why did they have Shostakovich and others? Who does China have? Don't tell this ID about showmen like Tan Dun. In an era when even Zhao Jiping can be hyped up as a master, what music can you expect from China?
For China to have professional, respectable music (I'm not talking about classical or folk music — those are the ancients' creations, before which contemporary people can only feel shame), first produce a Shostakovich!
Who today can compare with Shostakovich?
China's road of music — the path is long and the journey far.
Heading off, goodbye.
Chán Zhōng Shuō Chán 2007/1/14 15:06:23
[Anonymous] Li
2007-01-14 14:51:14
My computer's got a problem — can't play anything. Rare chance to grab the first comment, so let me just sit here a moment.
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It's not your computer that has the problem — it's the website acting up a bit. It should work in a little while.