Prelude Posters - Sibelius Symphony No. 2

"Music begins where the possibilities of language end." - Sibelius

Jean Sibelius, the great Finnish composer, worked primarily in the symphonic form and in the tradition of previous romantic orchestrators.  His novel use of thematic transformation and structural organization made him a true inheritor of the symphonic tradition in line with Beethoven.  Sibelius himself was a curious public figure and his personal demons haunted his work and hindered his output at times.  The symphonies, though, are unique and unlike any others in the canon; they garner huge popularity with audiences, composers, conductors, and performers.  The Symphony No. 2 is less Tchaikovskian than his first, but still one can hear influences.  We have listened to many interpretations of this masterpieces and prefer the more stark versions which follow closely to the score and minimize the lushness which can become a bit treacle.  Salonen conducting is an excellent choice all around.  Our imagery is made up of dashed lines--similar to the opening string motif--and dot elements which are significant articulations in the melodic material which follows in the woodwinds.  These motifs are explored throughout the work in the most unique and organic manner which are hallmarks of this composers style.

Posters prints are available in our shop here; check out more products including pillows, phone cases, large prints here.

Prelude Posters - Lutoslawski Concerto for Orchestra

"Isn't it part of the great attraction of music that what is said cannot be expressed in any other way?"       - Lutoslawski

Our interpretation of this undeniable masterpiece of the 20th century, the Concerto for Orchestra by Lutoslawski, was inspired by the folkloric, simple musical material remixed into the modernist orchestral composition fabric.  Simple shapes, bold primary colors, and line are infused with mid-century art and minimalist Bauhaus design.  This style correlates, for us, to the Concerto for Orchestra.  The complete work is enthralling and at times brutal; Europe was turning the lights back on from the darkest period during the composition.  

Poster prints available in our shop; phone cases, accessories, pillows, etc. available here.

Prelude Posters - Chopin Raindrop Prelude - 24 Preludes op. 28 by Chopin

"I tell my piano the things I used to tell you."  - Chopin

Chopin's gifted sensitivity as performer / composer had a powerful impact on the evolution of music.  His novel harmonic language, evocatively embellished melodies, and breakthrough use of the smallest form to capture sometimes single musical feelings and often highly varied expression created a path for the impressionists and beyond.  The Preludes, which traverse through all 24 harmonic keys in the manner Bach established, have been named, renamed, and enjoyed as sometimes programatic compositions even though they were never intended this way by the composer.  Here is our take on the Raindrop Prelude.

in


Poster print available in our shop; more print sizes, pillows, totes, etc. available here.

Prelude Posters - Scheherezade by Rimsky-Korsakov

"I think it is a thousand times better to compose in direct contact with the physical medium of sound than to work in the abstract medium produced by one's imagination."  - Rimsky-Korsakov

Scheherezade by the great Russian master of orchestration, Rimsky-Korsakov, is a perennially popular work whose colorful tone painting always showcases fine orchestras and orchestral section leaders.  Gergiev's performance with Vienna is one of the finest available for online listening.  Gergiev is brilliant at bringing out the ferocious qualities in music which have softened during centuries of performance, in particularly composers from his own country, Russia.

Buy posters in our shop here; prints, phone cases, etc. available here.

Prelude Posters - Beethoven Symphony No. 3

"Don't only practice your art, but force your way into its secrets."  - Beethoven

Beethoven Symphony No. 3 was not a work I greatly appreciated until relatively recently.  It can be difficult, particularly with pieces which carry some implied importance and historical weight, to listen with an open mind and be free from all the cluttering opinions surrounding the provenance.  Also, until exploring the historically informed performance practice, this symphony always seemed to plod along; conductors such as Norrington, Harnoncourt, and the recent Paavo Jarvi collaboration with the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen have all awakened the primal quality of this highly original symphonic masterpiece for me as a listener.  Here is our visual interpretation if this symphony.  We have worked to create imagery for the Beethoven Symphonies No. 3, 5, and 9 so far in this tonal palette and visual style.

Poster available here.  Phone cases, pillows, tote bags etc. available here. 

Prelude Posters - Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 3

"Music is enough for a lifetime, but a lifetime is not enough for music."  - Rachmaninov

Rachmaninoff's music is an island of nostalgia in the world of music history.  The turbulent turn of the century, both politically and in the arts, was full of upheaval and reassessment of previous traditions.  This composer wrote in the style of the previous generation of romantic composers and has gained a legion of adherent fans of his work through its immediate accessibility; that is not to say that there are not rewards in the study and close listening of his exceptional craft.  Rachmaninoff was also one of the last performer/composers in the tradition of the previous generations--Mozart, Beethoven, Liszt, Paganini, etc.  The well known recording made with the Philadelphia Orchestra conducted by Ormandy are true gems;  it is not often that we can hear the classical music composer perform their works.  In addition to this vintage recording, we explored in the recent recording of Stephen Hough and the Dallas Symphony.  Hough is a remarkable pianist and our library of his recordings continues to grow.  Here is the our design created for the Piano Concerto No. 3.

Poster available here.  Pillows, phone cases, totes etc. available here. 

Prelude Posters - Bach Cello Suites

"I was obliged to be industrious. Whoever is equally industrious will succeed . . . equally well."  - Bach

Bach Cello Suites are staples of the cellist, guitarist, double bassist, violist, and bassoonist solo repertoire.  The music captures an incredible introspective quality and to hear them performed as an entire set is always an enlightening experience.  J. S. Bach's oeuvre is truly remarkable as a synthesis of the Baroque idiom.  As we designed this visual to accompany my listening experience, we explored the performances of Casals--the earliest proponent of these as complete works rather than technical etudes--, Fournier, Starker, Wispelwey, and Isserlis.  We also delved into the double bass recordings by Edgar Meyer and the guitar transcriptions.  Each performance is unique and true artistry essential.

Prints available in our shop.  Phone cases, pillows, tote bags, mugs etc. available here.

Dmitri Shostakovich

Today we are celebrating the birth anniversary of Dmitri Shostakovich, born 1906.  His life is one of the most well-known and historically iconic in all of classical music.  The creative life of people in Soviet Russia was surely traumatic and that is heard throughout the defiant and at times tortured music of this composer.  The "DSCH" musical motif is incorporated into many of his most famous pieces as a kind of musical signature.

Here's a great performance of the Symphony No. 5.  It is an emotional, epic piece which has an often quoted history of its own. 

Buy Prints here.

Schoenberg - Verklarte Nacht

Today we are celebrating the birthday anniversary of Schoenberg, most notably known as the inventor of 12-tone music, was also a composer of lush post-romantic works before his transition to modernism.   This work, Verklarte Nacht, was inspired by a Dehmel poem which is well worth the time to read and study as it captures something of expressionism in this form.  I've attempted to approximate the scene set at the outset of the poem.

Purchase prints here.

Mozart - Hunt Quartet

September 1st is the anniversary of the Six String Quartets dedicated to Haydn by Mozart in 1785.   Here's a poster design for this great masterpiece of chamber music.  Also, as a fan of historically informed performances, enjoy this great performance by Quatuor Mosaiques

Image sources: Wikipedia & Fine Art America