Music and Politics-Dvorak Symphony No 9 in E minor Op 95

I recently went crazy about Dvorak Symphony No 9 in E minor Op 95 or aptly named "From the New World" as the Czech composer wrote it during his stay in America and it was premiered also in New York by the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. The name Dvorak has been sort of a tongue twister as I never learnt correctly how it should be pronounced and would quietly go look for the piece on my own on the shelf instead of asking for assistance at the risk of embarrassing myself.

I personally have 5 complete versions of this piece and the last version and sixth version I heard and saw over the internet was very special in that it was performed by the premiering Orchestra New York Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Lorin Maazel in Pyongyang, North Korea in 2008. The significance being that the New York Philharmonic Orchestra is the first foreign orchestra to perform in this very closed country. This sort of qualify it as being music diplomacy.

The live recording done in Pyongyang and widely telecasted and netcasted had almost 100% audience discipline with hardly any audience nuances like coughing etc audible and it might as well have been a studio recording as such. Normally, you sacrifice a bit of imperfections in live recordings for the added exuberances of the performing artist but this live recording could have been as cold if not colder than a studio recording. Perhaps it could be that the recording was done during winter or the political climate was not right. Lorin Maazel also did not seems to display a very involving performance himself. In fact, the conducting could be described as somewhat aloof and remote. Not the usual style of Maazel. Although the symphony is keyed in minor but it is no where near melancholy and does have colorful passages in terms of the native American folk music influence.

Chicago Symphonic Orchestra-I have two versions from this orchestra. An older recording under Fritz Reiner and the second recording being conducted by James Levine. Although the Reiner version being made in the 1950s suffered from higher noise floor, RCA did a good job in re-mastering it and the playing was also more melodic then dramatic compared with the later recording by James Levine with the same orchestra. Chicago was also the place where Dvorak spent most of his time whilst in America and it was also where he felt more welcomed compared to New York. Perhaps, there is less competition for the lime light as Chicago is a smaller city.

The other 3 recordings are made on the European continent where Dvorak was born. Witold Rowicki did an outstanding job leading the London Symphony Orchestra on this piece with the right amount of emotive highs and lows and the timpani playing is well accentuated on this piece but some have a different opinion as an over bearing out of control percussionist.

Neeme Jarvi lead the Royal Scottish Orchestra to a triumphant mood with very good brass and woodwind portions especially the french horn playing was very regal fitting of such a piece. The final recording by the Swedish National Orchestra lead by Thomas Dausgaard is most probably sonically the best sounding being one of the more recent recording enjoying better technology and it is also a very technically well framed by Dausgaard under his 'Opening Doors' range of recording done for BIS.

I am glad to have married music and politics by this article on my blog. Happy weekend.

Peter Lye aka lkypeter
Safe Harbor. Please note that information contained in these pages are of a personal nature and does not necessarily reflect that of any companies, organizations or individuals. In addition, some of these opinions are of a forward looking nature. Lastly the facts and opinions contained in these pages might not have been verified for correctness, so please use with caution. Happy Reading. Peter Lye

The Singapore Pledge Debate

The Singapore pledge has moved from becoming a daily ritual during my school days to grow on my altruistic ensemble over the years. I heard somethings about a parliamentary debate on the pledge on the car radio. Shock pulled my other part of my body from my bed a few kilometers away. No danger as my wife was driving and I was desperately trying to catch up on lost sleep.

I decided not to read a singe shred of this topic so that I can form my own opinion unadulterated by you reporters and journalists alike. No pun intended. Up to now, I have kept this faith and will launch into penning my thoughts on such topics in an unadulterated manner.

To me the pledge represents a couple of things namely:

a. A state that we would like to arrive at at year X in the future.
b. A common compass to point us towards the year X destination.
c. A common moral goal post for a secular society polarized across various divider like race, religion, language and social standing.
d. Justice is blind and fair. (the lady with a blindfold on top of old supreme court has always caught my attention). Not the woman but the concept it conveys.

Singapore is a young nation whether you use 1819 or 1959 or 1965 as birth years. Not only that, the multi-ethnic composition right from the start did not help and a sprinkling of riotous events along racial and religious lines did not help. It seems that the low flash point thinner to glue the society together as one never had a chance and the low flash point thinners were used in the raw with disastrous results as we look back using our rear view mirror and hopefully wiser.

On why the pledge written by Rajaratnam and revised by Lee Kuan Yew should stay the way it is to allow it to sink deeper roots a few more generations for it to be internalized in the future generations. I am not suggesting that we continue on a track and not change it for old time sick to bring us all into destruction. By not changing the pledge which we have very little reasons to do so after such a short period will transmit to the younger generation the meaning of sacredness and longevity of some of our institutions. Seeing my two kids grow up and the youths that I interact with, it seems that we need not worry about them adopting to the fast changing environment that is becoming second skin to many of them but to root them in the areas that needs longevity together with their dynamism transform Singapore into unique society in the world and no longer the little red dot as we are commonly known as.

On the question of equality, there seems to be an existing dichotomy like granting the Malays in Singapore certain special privileges. And if I read it correctly, the ruling party might be concerned that the pledge might be used as instrument to rally SIngaporean into one be made to polarized the nation and allow racial overtones color our largely islamic and Malay geographical neighbors. Many countries like New Zealand, USA, Canada,Malaysia and Australia practices some form of first nation rights to certain groups to varying degrees.

This could also have been prompted by religious activism world wide and this worries me too and in a secular society, we should at all times be able to live as one people with different races, religion and practices. Tolerances, understanding, and respect shall be hall marks by which we live by.

Peter Lye aka lkypeter

Safe Harbor. Please note that information contained in these pages are of a personal nature and does not necessarily reflect that of any companies, organizations or individuals. In addition, some of these opinions are of a forward looking nature. Lastly the facts and opinions contained in these pages might not have been verified for correctness, so please use with caution. Happy Reading. Peter Lye