Trio Thursday

It is payday once again and I have lots to do, but I thought I would take a minute to put some entertainment up for you guys. There is no earth shattering news to cuss and discuss and my news feeds have provided no inspiration.  Therefore, I will go with the Music and the Men for your edification and titillation.

Your Musical Moment for today features Johann Sebastian Bach's Goldberg Variations, BWV988 with a twist.  The Goldberg Variations, BWV 988, is a work for harpsichord by Johann Sebastian Bach, consisting of an aria and a set of 30 variations. First published in 1741, the work is considered to be one of the most important examples of variation form. The Variations are named after Johann Gottlieb Goldberg, who may have been the first performer.

Bach's Goldberg Variations, like so many other of the master's works, proves remarkably adaptable for a string trio. Purists may balk at such arrangements, but Bach himself was an avid arranger of other composer's works, often shedding new light on them with his transfer to a different medium. That's what happens in Dmitri Sitkovetsky's arrangement of the Goldbergs for string trio, an ensemble that can -- and does, in this performance -- bring a greater tonal variety and expressiveness to the work than is available to the harpsichord. The trio members here are noted soloists in their own right, but play together beautifully as an ensemble. Julian Rachlin's sweet-toned violin adds flavor, Nobuko Imai's dusky viola projects inner lines with authority, and Mischa Maisky tones down his huge cello sound to provide a fitting foundation to the ensemble. Their light-hearted Variation 8, a Gigue, is aptly playful; Variation 21 gets a soulful performance, Variation 24 offers blistering virtuosity, while they demonstrate gentle sweetness and warmth in the Adagio, Variation 25. The music is marvelous, the playing superb, and the sonics are lifelike. This one should not be missed.

For something similar but different musically, I have a treat for you over on my tumblr, the soundtrack for Super Mario World re-envisioned as if it were a complete suite for String Trio in a classical style. The arranger (also a performer) worked to remain faithful to the original melodies while adding in a number of "hidden" changes (some more obvious than others!). 

To go along with my trio theme I have going today, the Man Art collection for today is comprised of Sculpted Hunks in Threesomes, you will find them below the play list.  Over on my tumblr, the photo only contains one Hottie of the Day!, but he is my favorite Brazilian, Marlon Teixeira.  Thanks for the visit, see you again soon.  Until next time as always, Enjoy!