Edmonton Symphony conductor Alex Prior's musical picks for symphonic newbies
Alex Prior provides listeners with a gateway into the world of symphonic music.
Have you always wanted to venture into the world of symphonic music, but didn't know where to start? Well let Edmonton Symphony's new conductor, Alex Prior, help you out.
We asked Prior to provide us with a gateway of sorts for newbies interested in getting into the classical realm, and below are the three pieces he thinks will convert any music fan.
J.S. Bach: Nun seid ihr wohl gerochen, the finale of the 6th cantata of his Christmas oratorio
"It's just the very sound of happiness, of joy. Nothing, for me, brings light and joy into the room as much as this piece. It's just full of firework-like high trumpets and a heavy, beautiful, rich, mellow bass line on top of which the choir has this chorale of victory."
Leoš Janáček: Overture to the opera The Makropulos Case
"It's not an obvious choice however I'm very confident in it. In many ways this piece has a real zeal for life. It's one of those pieces where you definitely want to head bang and move in your seats and even stand up and run if you can. It's all that and it has elements of village folk music which I love so much."
John Adams: Harmonielehre, third movement
"It's just a whirlwind of a piece. He's a composer I truly adore and a person I somewhat worship. I couldn't imagine my life without his music."