Welcome to Week 61 of The Works! Start with this week's podcast episode.

The pieces for this week are listed below, along with links to scores where available. Here is the Spotify playlist for Week 61.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Piano Concerto No. 21 - score
     recommended recordings: Casadesus with Cleveland Orchestra/Szell; Perahia with English Chamber Orchestra; many others!

Franz Peter Schubert
Selected Lieder:
     Im Abendrot, D. 799 - score - text and translation
     Der Einsame, D. 800 - score - text and translation
     Dithyrambe, D. 801 - score - text and translation
     Abendstern, D. 806 - score - text and translation
     Auflosung, D. 807 - score - text and translation
     Nacht und Traume, D. 827 - score - text and translation
     Die Junge Nonne, D. 828 - score - text and translation
     Des Sangers Habe, D. 832 - score - text and translation
     Der Blinde Knabe, D. 833 - score - text and translation
     Totengrabers Heimweh, D. 842 - score - text and translation
     Die Allmacht, D. 852 - score - text and translation
     Auf der Bruck, D. 853 - score - text and translation
     Lied der Delphine, D. 857 - score (this song is No. 2 from these “2 Scenes”) - text and translation
     An Mein Herz, D. 860 - score - text and translation
     Der Liebliche Stern, D. 861 - score - text and translation
     Der Wanderer an den Mond, D. 870 - score - text and translation
     Das Zugenglocklein, D. 871 - score - text and translation
(various recordings are recommended)

Vladimir Ussachevsky and Otto Luening
Poem in Cycles and Bells
Rhapsodic Variations

Louis Armstrong
Selected tracks from 1947-1957 as collected in the compilation album, Satchmo: A Musical Autobiography

Welcome to Week 56 of The Works! Start with this week's podcast episode.

The pieces for this week are listed below, along with links to scores, opera libretto and synopsis, and other helpful information. Here is the Spotify playlist for Week 56.

Ludwig van Beethoven
Fidelio - score - libretto and synopsis
     recommended recording: conducted by Klemperer
     video recommendation: conducted by Haitink

Domenico Scarlatti
Keyboard Sonatas: K. 24, 426, 427, 158, 159, 46, 30, 120, 213, 140, 224, 87, 219 - scores
     recommended recordings: Kipnis; Parmentier

Franz Peter Schubert
Fantasie in C Major, “Wanderer” (D760) - score
     recommended recording: Pollini

Gerald Finzi
Clarinet Concerto - score (this work is NOT public domain in most countries)
      recommended recording: Plane/Northern Sinfonia

Malcolm Arnold
English Dances, Set 1 (1950) and Set 2 (1951)

The Beatles
Please Please Me (1963 UK album)
With the Beatles (1963 UK album)
A Hard Day's Night (1964 UK album)
Selected non-album songs from 1963: From Me to You; Thank You Girl; She Loves You; I'll Get You; I Want to Hold Your Hand; This Boy

Welcome to Week 55 of The Works! Start with this week's podcast episode.

Bonus playlists mentioned in the podcast: Hip-hop 1979-1992; Hip-hop 1993-2000

The pieces for this week are listed below, along with links to scores, song texts and translations. Here is the Spotify playlist for Week 55.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Piano Concerto No. 18 - score
     recommended recordings: Goode with Orpheus Chamber Orchestra; Andsnes with Norwegian  Chamber Orchestra

Ludwig van Beethoven
Leonore Overture No. 1 - score
Leonore Overture No. 2 - score
Leonore Overture No. 3 - score
Fidelio Overture - score (this is the page for the whole opera)
     recommended recordings: Berlin Philharmonic/Karajan; Cleveland Orchestra/Szell; Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra/Masur

Franz Peter Schubert
Selected Lieder:
     Der Wanderer, D. 489 - score - text and translation
     Ganymed, D. 544 - score - text and translation
     An die Musik, D. 547 - score - text and translation
     Auf der Donau, D. 553 - score - text and translation
     Liebhaber in allen Gestalten, D. 558 - score - text and translation
     Der Strom, D. 565 - score - text and translation
     Gruppe aus dem Tartarus, D. 583 - score - text and translation
     Blondel zu Marien, D. 626 - score - text and translation
     Der Wanderer, D. 649 - score - text and translation
     Abendbilder, D. 650 - score - text and translation
     Nachtstuck, D. 672 - score - text and translation
     Fruhlingsglaube, D. 686 - score - text and translation
     Die Vogel, D. 691 - score - text and translation
     Des Frauleins Liebeslauschen, D. 698 - score - text and translation
     Im Walde, D. 708 - score - text and translation
     Lob der Tranen, D. 711 - score - text and translation
     Versunken, D. 715 - score - text and translation
     Geheimes, D. 719 - score - text and translation
(various recordings are recommended)

Hans Werner Henze
Symphony No. 7
     recommended recordings: City of Birmingham Symphony/Rattle

Louis Armstrong and His Hot Five (or Hot Seven)
Selected 78 rpm singles from 1926-27

Welcome to Week 45 of The Works! Start with this week's podcast episode.

The pieces for this week are listed below, along with links to scores and texts/translations where available. Here is the Spotify playlist for Week 45.

Ludwig van Beethoven
String Quartet No. 9 (Op. 59 No. 3) - score
     recommended recordings: Tokyo Quartet; Guarneri Quartet; The Lindsays

Franz Peter Schubert
Selected Lieder:
     Suleika, D. 720 - score - text and translation
     An die Leier, D. 737 - score - text and translation
     Im Haine, D. 738 - score - text and translation
     Am See, D. 746 - score - text and translation
     Die Liebe hat gelogen, D. 751 - score - text and translation
     Nachtviolen, D. 752 - score - text and translation
     Heliopolis II, D. 754 - score - text and translation
     Der Musensohn, D. 764 - score - text and translation
     Wandrers Nachtlied II, D. 768 - score - text and translation
     Der Zwerg, D. 771 - score - text and translation
     Wehmut, D. 772 - score - text and translation
     Auf dem Wasser zu singen, D. 774 - score - text and translation
     Dass sie hier gewesen, D. 775 - score - text and translation
     Du bist die Ruh, D. 776 - score - text and translation
     Lachen und Weinen, D. 777 - score - text and translation
     Viola, D. 786 - score - text and translation
(various recordings are recommended)

Muzio Clementi
Piano Sonata, Op. 24 No. 2 (sometimes called Op. 41 No. 2 or Op. 47 No. 2) - score
Piano Sonata, Op. 25 No. 5 (sometimes called Op. 26 No. 2) - score
Piano Sonata, Op. 33 No. 3 - score
     recommended recordings: Demidenko; Horowitz

John Cage
Imaginary Landscape No. 4
Williams Mix
Fontana Mix
Rozart Mix

Miles Davis
Selected tracks from The Complete Live at the Plugged Nickel 1965 (starting with the 6 tracks released as Highlights from the Plugged Nickel)

Welcome to Week 37 of The Works! Start with this week's podcast episode.

The pieces for this week are listed below, along with links to scores and other helpful information. Here is the Spotify playlist for Week 37.

Johann Sebastian Bach
6 Sonatas for Violin and Continuo, BWV 1014-1019 - scores
     recommended recordings: Ngai; van Dael; Blumenstock; Manze

Franz Peter Schubert
Piano Quintet, D. 667 “Die Forelle” ["The Trout"] - score
     recommended recordings: Curzon/Vienna Octet; Ma/Ax/Frank/Meyer/Young

Bernd Alois Zimmermann
Requiem fur einen jungen Dichter - information

Miles Davis
Cookin' with the Miles Davis Quintet (1957)
Relaxin' with the Miles Davis Quintet (1958)
Workin' with the Miles Davis Quintet (1960)
Steamin' with the Miles Davis Quintet (1961)
     All of the above consist of tracks recorded on May 11 and October 26, 1956.

Welcome to Week 36 of The Works! Start with his week's podcast episode.

The pieces for this week are listed below, along with links to scores, opera libretto and synopsis, and other helpful information. Here is the Spotify playlist for Week 36.

John Dunstaple (Dunstable)
Missa Rex seculorum - score
Motets:
     Preco preheminenciae - score
     Veni Sancte Spiritus - score
     Quam pulchra es - score
     Ave regina celorum - score
Recommended recordings: Orlando Consort; Hilliard Ensemble; Clemencic Consort

Franz Peter Schubert
Selected Lieder:
     Erlkonig, D. 328 - score - text and translation
     Am Tage Aller Seelen, D. 343 - score - text and translation
     Sehnsucht, D. 359 - score - text and translation
     Lied eines Schiffers an die Dioskuren, D. 360 - score - text and translation
     Am Bach im Fruhling, D. 361 - score - text and translation
     Sprache der Liebe, D. 410 - score - text and translation
     Seligkeit, D. 433 - score - text and translation
     Erntelied, D. 434 - score - text and translation
     Gott im Fruhlinge, D. 448 - score - text and translation
     An die untergehende Sonne, D. 457 - score - text and translation
     Ruckweg, D. 476 - score - text and translation
     Geheimnis, D. 491 - score - text and translation
     Wiegenlied, D. 498 - score - text and translation
     Am Grabe Anselmos, D. 504 - score - text and translation
     Die abgebluhte Linde, D. 514 - score - text and translation
     Der Schiffer, D. 536 - score - text and translation
     Am Strome, D. 539 - score - text and translation
     Auf dem See, D. 543 - score - text and translation
     Die Forelle, D. 550 - score - text and translation
(various recordings are recommended)

Bernd Alois Zimmermann
Trumpet Concerto “Nobody Knows the Trouble I See”

George Gershwin
Porgy and Bess - synopsis
     recommended recording: Glyndebourne Chorus/London Symphony/Rattle
     also the symphonic suite Catfish Row, recorded by St. Louis Symphony/Slatkin

Sonic Youth
Sister
Daydream Nation

Welcome to Week 31 of The Works! Start with this week's podcast episode.

The pieces for this week are listed below, along with links to scores and texts. Here is the Spotify playlist for Week 31.

Franz Peter Schubert
String Quartet No. 14, “Death and the Maiden” - score

Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach
Rondo in C minor, H 283 (Wq 59:4) - score
Sonata in F major (Prussian Sonata No. 1), H 24 (Wq 48:1) - score
Sonata in B-flat major (Prussian Sonata No. 2), H 25 (Wq 48:2) - score
Rondo in A major, H 276 (Wq 58:1) - score
Sonata in F minor, H 75 (Wq 63:6) - score
Sonata in A minor (Wurttemberg Sonata No. 1), H 30 (Wq 49:1) - score
*The Hogwood recording of H 75 is on a clavichord - see this video about how this instrument works; it's discussed in podcast episode 32.

John Dowland
First Booke of Songes or Ayres - scores - texts

Heitor Villa-Lobos
Bachianas Brasileiras No. 2 - score
Bachianas Brasileiras No. 4 - score
     note: Villa-Lobos' works are not in the public domain in all countries, so please follow your own country's laws when deciding whether to download the scores.

Thelonious Monk
Monk Alone: The Complete Columbia Recordings (selections)
Selections from other performers' recordings of some of Monk's compositions

Welcome to Week 30 of The Works! Start with this week's podcast episode.

The pieces for this week are listed below, along with links to scores, texts, and translations. Here is the Spotify playlist for Week 30.

Domenico Scarlatti
Keyboard Sonatas: K. 460, 461, 478, 479, 502, 516, 517, 518, 519, 529, 544, 545, 546, 547 - scores
     recommended recording: Pinnock (the Spotify playlist includes this entire album, which does not follow the order of K numbers; there is also an alternate recording of each sonata)

Franz Peter Schubert
Selected Lieder:
     An Emma, D. 113 - score - text and translation
     Gretchen am Spinnrade, D. 118 - score - text and translation
     Trost in Tranen, D. 120 - score - text and translation
     Schafers Klagelied, D. 121 - score - text and translation
     Rastlose Liebe, D. 138 - score - text and translation
     Als ich sie erroten sah, D. 153 - score - text and translation
     Nahe des Geliebten, D. 162 - score - text and translation
     An den Mond, D. 193 - score - text and translation
     Seufzer, D. 198 - score - text and translation
     Meeres Stille, D. 216 - score - text and translation
     Wandrers Nachtlied, D. 224 - score - text and translation
     Der Fischer, D. 225 - score - text and translation
     Erster Verlust, D. 226 - score - text and translation
     Heidenroslein, D. 257 - score - text and translation
     Wonne der Wehmut, D. 260 - score - text and translation
     An die Sonne, D. 270 - score - text and translation
     An den Fruhling, D. 283 - score - text and translation
     Lied (Es ist so angenehm), D. 284 - score - text and translation
     An den Mond, D. 296 - score - text and translation
     Augenlied, D. 297 - score - text and translation
     Der Jungling an der Quelle, D. 300 - score - text and translation
     Der Tod und das Madchen, D. 531 - score - text and translation
     (various recordings are recommended)

Philip Glass
Violin Concerto
      recommended recordings: Anthony; McDuffie; Kremer

Thelonious Monk
The Thelonious Monk Orchestra at Town Hall
Big Band and Quartet in Concert

It's Week 20 of The Works! Start with this week's podcast episode in which we briefly review last week's works and look ahead to this week's playlist.

Here is the Spotify playlist for week 20.

Here are this week's pieces, along with links to the scores where available and texts with translations:

Ludwig van Beethoven
String Quartet No. 5 - score
String Quartet No. 6 - score

Franz Peter Schubert
Schwanengesang - score - text

Arnold Schoenberg
Erwartung - score - synopsis
A Survivor from Warsaw - text - score (not public domain in US)

Erik Satie
Parade - score - information

Tim Buckley
Goodbye and Hello
Happy Sad
     bonus: Dream Letter (Live in London 1968)
 

Welcome to Week 10 of The Works: we've made it to double digits! Start with this week's episode of the Listening to the Works podcast, then find the pieces for this week on the Spotify playlist.

Here are the pieces for this week, including links to the scores and texts where available.

Ludwig van Beethoven
String Quartet No. 3
String Quartet No. 4
Recommended recordings: Takacs Quartet; Quartetto Italiano; Guarneri Quartet

Franz Peter Schubert
Winterreise (text and translation here)
Recommended recordings: Peter Schreier/Andras Schiff; Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau/Gerald Moore (Fischer-Dieskau recorded this song cycle several times with different accompanists; all are recommended)

Pierre Boulez
Rituel in memoriam Bruno Maderna
Notations I-IV for orchestra (originally for piano from 12 Notations)
Recommended recordings: Orchestre de Paris/Barenboim for both pieces; BBC Symphony/Boulez for Rituel

Freddie Keppard
Complete recordings

King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band
Complete 1923 recordings

Week 3 of The Works begins with the new podcast episode, in which I review last week's pieces, share a little bit about my experience with opera as a non-opera-buff, and preview the works coming up this week.

Here is the Spotify playlist containing the recordings for Week 3.

Here are pieces on this week's list, including some links to the scores where available:

Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina
Missa Papae Marcelli
Missa Inviolata - this video is the only performance I could find.

Franz Liszt
Transcendental Études

Aaron Copland
Dance Symphony
Short Symphony

Giuseppe Verdi
Rigoletto - here is the libretto with an English translation, and here is a synopsis of the opera.

Week 2 of The Works begins with the new podcast episode, in which I review last week's pieces, discuss Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure, and preview the works coming up this week.

Here is the Spotify playlist containing the recordings for Week 2.

Here are pieces on this week's list, including some links to the scores where available:

György Ligeti
Cello Concerto

Franz Schubert
Die Schöne Müllerin (find the song texts and translations here)

Agustín Barrios
Guitar Works (see Spotify playlist for specific pieces)

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Piano Concerto No. 9

Big Joe Turner
This link shows the compilation album Big, Bad, and Blue as a 3-CD set with 61 tracks, but on Spotify it only has 28 tracks, so I have included all of those plus 6 more of his most important singles.

Eubie Blake
This link shows an LP of piano rolls made from Blake's playing between 1917-1921, recorded in 1973 under Blake's supervision. My Spotify list includes all of these songs, but I can't be sure they're the same recordings. A few other Blake pieces, played by himself, are also on the list. Most of his scores are not yet public domain, but this one is (in the US only).

Other Ragtime Composers
James Scott: Grace and Beauty and Ragtime Oriole
Tom Turpin: Saint Louis Rag
Joseph Lamb: American Beauty and Nightingale Rag