I do not listen to as much instrumental music as I would like and when I do listen, I often have it on as background while I do something else. This makes me miss out on actually appreciating the music. I have wanted to listen to all of Beethoven's symphonies in order for a while now. What better way than to exercise to them? Since many musicologists, who are far more academically qualified than I, have analyzed these masterful symphonies, I shall give you, dear reader, my general and exercise-related impressions.
I listened to Bernstein and the NY Phil again, because why not. The artistry is amazing and the interpretation feels so clean and natural. The first movement starts slowly but changes to a bright, quick tempo about three minutes in, which was perfect for my warm-up walk into my jog. I found myself jogging in time with the music, which set a very swift pace. I was halfway done with my jogging route by the time the first movement ended. I highly recommend this movement for a workout if you were a marching band kid who has a habit of walking in time with music. The second movement is also fairly upbeat, but too slow for my stride. Very genteel and refreshing, it somehow pulls at the heartstrings. The third movement is short and adorable. Not a good tempo for me, but it made me smile. The fourth movement is perfect for a long jog. It has fantastic energy and the tempo is great for a comfortable jogging speed. I recommend the first and fourth movements for a workout playlist. Stats: Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 36 I. Adagio molto - Allegro con brio (12:37) II. Larghetto (11:41) III. Scherzo: Allegro (3:23) IV. Allegro molto (6:09) Total time: 33:50 Verdict: Two fabulous movements to exercise to: mezzo-forte.
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I do not listen to as much instrumental music as I would like and when I do listen, I often have it on as background while I do something else. This makes me miss out on actually appreciating the music. I have wanted to listen to all of Beethoven's symphonies in order for a while now. What better way than to exercise to them? Since many musicologists, who are far more academically qualified than I, have analyzed these masterful symphonies, I shall give you, dear reader, my general and exercise-related impressions.
The particular rendition I listened to is Leonard Bernstein conducting the New York Philharmonic. I chose it because Bernstein's interpretations are legendary, as is the New York Phil. Also, it is easy to find on Spotify. The first movement has a lot of energy, but the beat was too fast to match to my jogging pace. The terraced dynamics make for interesting listening, but didn't help my energy. On a side note, I love the unsettling opening chords. It really got my attention from the beginning, especially since I was expecting a pompous "PAY ATTENTION RIGHT NOW! THE PIECE IS STARTING AND HERE'S YOUR HEART ATTACK FOR TODAY" tonic chord. The second movement created this buoyant, lovely atmosphere that made for a scenic and relaxing end of my jog. Again, though, it was just the wrong tempo for my step. A little too slow this time. Movement three came on during my cool-down walk. It is adorable and exuberant. Wrong tempo again, but fabulous if you need a short palate-cleanser in the midst of a pop playlist. Movement four has excellent, driven energy. This is a perfect addition for a long-distance jog playlist. The tempo is a tad too slow for my short-person stride, but there is so much wonderful forward momentum in the music that it would be ideal for the end of a lengthy jog. Stats: Symphony No. 1 in C Major, Op. 21 I. Adagio molto - Allegro con brio (9:09) II. Andante cantabile con moto (7:42) III. Menuetto - Allegro molto e vivace (3:18) IV. Finale. Adagio - Allegro molto e vivace (5:43) Total Time - 25:52 Verdict: Not quite right for my workout, but I enjoyed it: mezzo-piano. |
AuthorMaayan is a Manhattan-based opera singer. Archives
January 2019
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