Music of the Day: Beck – Symphony in g minor op.3-3

Today’s music is Symphony in g minor, op. 3-3, by Franz Ignaz Beck (1734 – 1809).
Beck was a disciple of Johann Stamitz. He was considered to be a talented person of the next generation of the Mannheim School, but after injuring his opponent in a duel, he left Germany and went to Italy and France. He lived a tumultuous life, including being involved in the French Revolution.

In comparison to the mild‐mannered Mannheim School’s works, dominance of strong emotions looking like a “Sturm und Drang” in his works seems to reflect the very trajectory of his life.

https://youtu.be/njnF992nAlw

Franz Ignaz Beck (1734 – 1809) – Symphony in g minor op.3 no.3
Michael Schneider & La Stagione Frankfurt

Music of the Day: Congo (Kanyok) – Song and Ensemble

Today’s music is song and ensemble by the Kanyok people of the Congo, probably recorded in the 1950s.

The sound is characterized by a sense of color that shines brightly like the Congolese sun and a pleasant percussion that sways gently as it bounces. The energy of the music is pretty strong, but it is worth noting that the music is sublimated into exhilarating rhythms rather than intense emotions.

The recording was by Hugh Tracy, who lived in South Africa and continued to record traditional music of the southern half of Africa. His works are not only valuable recordings of African traditional folk music, but there is nothing in his local recordings that is not musically interesting.

https://youtu.be/QjtyFDVe7Js