Rivers
Hundreds of composers wrote and continue to write music directly inspired by the distinctive features of great waterways. The depth and multi-layered velocity of the Rhine has proved an irresistible inspiration for German composers just as the metaphorical and social resonances of the Mississippi have to Americans. Sometimes, composers take rhythmic inspiration from a river's steady pace. At others, they just want to conjure the wonder, joy or pride we feel when faced with rivers themselves or the industrious bustle that surrounds them. But one piece here isn't directly connected to a river. Jean Sibelius long strived to imitate the organic flow of rivers – their steady accumulation of content from various tributaries – in his symphonies. His Seventh Symphony is one of the greatest examples of a 'river in sound' there is. Playlist curated by Andrew Mellor.
- Smetana•Má vlast (My Fatherland) for Orchestra JB 1:112•2. Vltava (The Moldau)
- Daugherty•Rio Grande (2015)•
- Ornstein•Impressions of the Thames (Impressions de la Tamise) (1920)•
- Dyson•Sweet Thames Run Softly (1954)•
- Raillard•Summer Evening at the Rhine, for Guitar (2000)•
- Harrison•Gallery for Solo Violin (2012)•Room 2 • 3. Early Responses to the Thames 1990 I: Twilight...Dawn
- Strauss II (Jr.)•An der schönen blauen Donau (The Blue Danube), Waltz op. 314•Andantino – Tempo di Valse
- Grofé•Hudson River Suite (1955)•1. The River
- Wagner•Götterdämmerung WWV 86D: Morgendämmerung und Siegfrieds Rheinfahrt (Dawn and Siegfried's Rhine Journey, Prologue)•Sehr ruhig, ohne zu schleppen - Ziemlich rasch - Sehr aufgeregt - Schnell - Rasch
- Cornelius•Rhenish Songs W 123•1. Am Rhein (By the Rhine)
- Arensky•Son na Volge (Dream on the Volga) op. 16: Overture•Maestoso - Più vivo - Allegro - Meno mosso - Allegro - Moderato assai - Allegro - Maestoso
- Stravinsky•Song of the Volga Boatmen (1917)•Song of the Volga Boatmen
- Williamson•Travel Diaries - London for Piano (1961)•5. Thames Barges
- Confrey•African Suite (1924)•3. Mississippi Shivers
- Ivanovici•Waves of the Danube•
- Schumann•Symphony No. 3 in E flat major op. 97 “Rhenish”•I. Lebhaft
- Schumann•Symphony No. 3 in E flat major op. 97 “Rhenish”•II. Scherzo. Sehr mäßig
- Schumann•Symphony No. 3 in E flat major op. 97 “Rhenish”•III. Nicht schnell
- Schumann•Symphony No. 3 in E flat major op. 97 “Rhenish”•IV. Feierlich
- Schumann•Symphony No. 3 in E flat major op. 97 “Rhenish”•V. Lebhaft
- Smetana•Má vlast (My Fatherland) JB 1:112: 2. Vltava (The Moldau) (Arr. for Harp)•
- Lumbye•Donau Blumen (Danube Flowers)•
- Falla•Los remeros del Volga (1922)•
- Ketèlbey•Sur le Volga (On the Volga) (1916)•Sur le Volga (On the Volga)
- Shostakovich•Encounter at the Elbe for Voice and Piano op. 80 (1948)•The Dawn is Rising
- Strauss II (Jr.)•An der Moldau, Polka française op. 366•
- Janáček•Dunaj (The Danube), Symphonic Fragment JW IX/7•I. Andante
- Janáček•Dunaj (The Danube), Symphonic Fragment JW IX/7•II. Adagio
- Janáček•Dunaj (The Danube), Symphonic Fragment JW IX/7•III. Allegro
- Janáček•Dunaj (The Danube), Symphonic Fragment JW IX/7•IV. Vivo
- Sibelius•Symphony No. 7 in C major op. 105•
- Moyzes•Dolu Váhom (Down the Vah), Suite for Orchestra op. 26 (1935, rev. 1945)•5. Dunaju do náručia (Into the Danube's Embrace)
- Fučík•The Mississippi River (Version for Concert Band) op. 160 (161)•The Mississippi River
- Telemann•Ouverture-Suite for 2 Oboes, Strings and Basso continuo in B flat major TWV 55:B11•VI. L'Espérance de Mississippi. Vistement
- Strauss II (Jr.)•An der Elbe (On the Elbe), Waltz op. 477•
- Castelnuovo-Tedesco•Concert Overture 'Antony and Cleopatra' op. 134•On the Nile - A Rock Near Actium - A Mausoleum in Alexandria