Musicians And Composers On Stamps

Anton Bruckner (1824-1896) was an Austrian composer known for his symphonies, masses, and motets. Here is an image of a stamp featuring a portrait of Bruckner and sheet music, printed by lithography, and issued by Germany on October 9, 1996 to commemorate the centenary of the composer's death, Scott No. 1947, plus a YouTube link to a performance of Bruckner's Symphony No.4 in E flat major, "Die Romantische," by Daniel Barenboim conducting the Wiener Philharmoniker, Royal Albert Hall, London, in 2007: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETC6yIi00Cc

- nethryk

Hugely under-rated composer in the West; beloved in Germany and Austria. His music is an acquired taste but full of beautiful moments. His scherzi attract the ear by their driving brilliance but it is the slow movements where the beauty unfolds. Fourth, seventh and eighth symphonies are where to start in appreciating his music, but then the field is open to a wealth of other great experiences. Might be better to hear his music in live performance. By the way, his phiz appears on Austrian stamps as well.

NBSTAMPER - Interesting commentary. Thanks!

Gabriel Urbain Fauré (1845-1924) was one of the foremost French composers of his generation; his musical style influenced many 20th century composers. Here are images of a semi-postal stamp depicting Fauré, the score of his 1913 opera Pénélope, and the main figures from the painting Ulysse et Pénélope, by Italian artist Francesco Primaticcio, known as Le Primatice (1504-1570.) This stamp was designed by Jean Pheulpin, engraved by René Cottet, and issued by France on June 25, 1966, Scott No. B397, Y&T No. 1473. Also, here are images of a photo of Fauré (c.1900) by Eugène Pirou (1841–1909), and of Le Primatrice's 1563 painting.

- nethryk

Nethryk
Perhaps you tire of my commentary on your beautiful posts? Perhaps Faure's most famous non-operatic composition was his "Requiem". Unlike the big funeral masses by Berlioz, Beethoven, Mozart, Britten et al, the Faure Requiem is a very subdued and peaceful work, full of lyrical beauty and none of the ear-splitting climaxes in the other works. Our local symphony (Symphony New Brunswick), of which I am president, performed the work in three New Brunswick cities in May. It is particularly interesting in that the first few movements are carried by the orchestra's lower strings (violas, celli and basses) giving the work a dark, sombre mood; it is not until well into the piece that the violins, reduced woodwind section and brass begin to brighten things up. I like the stamp a lot - great engraving job.

NBSTAMPER - Thanks again! By all means please do continue to provide your expert comments concerning my posts. They are "music to my ears."

Ángela Peralta (1845-1883) was an operatic soprano of international fame and a leading figure in the operatic life of 19th century Mexico. Called the "Mexican Nightingale" in Europe, she had already sung to acclaim in major European opera houses by the age of 20. Although primarily known for her singing, she was also a composer as well as an accomplished pianist and harpist. Here is an image of a stamp featuring a portrait of Ángela Peralta, printed by photogravure, and issued by Mexico on August 30, 1983 to commemorate the centenary of her death, Scott No. 1323, plus a full-length photographic portrait of Peralta circa 1875.

- nethryk

You got me on this one; never heard of her! Not crazy about the stamp either! That said, keep going, this is an enjoyable thread.

Joseph-Maurice Ravel (1875-1937) was a French composer known especially for his melodies, orchestral and instrumental textures and effects. He was one of the most prominent figures associated with Impressionist music. Here is an image of a semi-postal (charity) stamp featuring a portrait of Ravel, designed by French artist Michel Ciry (1919- ), engraved by René Cottet, and issued by France on June 6, 1956, Scott No. B308, Y&T No. 1071, plus a photograph of Ravel in 1925, and a YouTube link to a performance of Ravel's Daphnis et Chloé Suite No. 2 (1912) by Georges Prêtre conducting the Wiener Philharmoniker, Musikverein, Vienna, 2006: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tc281Uzu7iU

- nethryk

Maurice Ravel is not one of my favourite composers - perhaps the popularity of his widely known "Bolero" has turned me off. He did write some fine music; perhaps the best can be found in his chamber and piano music but I don't know it well enough and don't go out of my way to listen to it. Along with Claude Debussy, he was one of the main figures in French "Impressionist" music which I guess mimicked the famous contemporary French artists of the same ilk. I love the great Impressionist painters but the composers have not grabbed me in the same way. I am also not fond of his transcription of the famous Mussorgsky piano piece, "Pictures at an Exhibition". I guess others, like Leopold Stokowski didn't either, since he wrote his own transcription which I think is better. As an aside, Symphony New Brunswick's wind ensemble, Ventus Machina, found a transcription of this work for woodwind quintet which they performed here last season. Nethryk, I didn't check the thread to see if a stamp of Modeste Mussorgsky exists, but surely Russia has commemorated him.

NBSTAMPER - I'm sure that an image of a Modest Mussorgsky commemorative stamp will show up here sooner or later.

Josef Gabriel Rheinberger (1839-1901) was a German organist and composer, born in Liechtenstein. Here is an image of a stamp depicting Rheinberger conducting and a couple of Turkish-looking gents admiring a caged bird, designed by Austrian artist Martha Griebler (1948- ), combined engraved by Wolfgang Seidel and photogravure, and issued by Liechtenstein on September 3, 2003, Scott No. 1208, plus a photographic portrait of the composer by German painter, lithographer and photographer Franz Seraph Hanfstaengl (1804-1877), and a YouTube link to a performance of Rheinberger's lovely "Ave Regina" by the Vox Humana, directed by Bence Sándor: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nz-K4AzFGK8

- nethryk

Pau Casals I Defilló (El Vendrell, Catalonia, 1876 – San Juan de Puerto Rico, US, 1973), was a Catalan cellist and conductor. He is generally regarded as the pre-eminent cellist of the first half of the 20th century, and one of the greatest cellists of all time. He played at the United Nations, NY, and at President JFK's White House.





He was also a prominent Catalan Patriot, and made a famous (for us!)speach at the UN Gral Assembly to defend Catalan Freedom rights, starting with the words: "I'm a Catalan..."

Cursus - Nice Pablo Casals item! Thanks for sharing.

Stanislaw Moniuszko (1819-1872) was a Polish composer, conductor and teacher whose output includes many popular and patriotic songs and operas, and he is generally referred to as the father of Polish national opera. Here is an image of a stamp featuring a portrait of Moniuszko, designed by J. Konczak, engraved by Eugeniusz Tirdiszek, and issued by Poland on November 25, 1958, Scott No. 832, plus a color lithograph portrait of the composer by Adolphe Lafosse (c. 1810-1879), and a YouTube link to a rousing performance of the Overture for Stanislaw Moniuszko's opera Halka ("Helen," 1848) by the Orchestra of the Podlasie Opera and Philharmonic: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIjiT0IS_PI

- nethryk

Johann Michael Haydn (1737-1806) was an Austrian composer of the Classical period, and the younger brother of Joseph Haydn. Michael Haydn's sacred choral compositions are generally regarded as his most important works. Here is an image of a stamp featuring a portrait of Haydn and a view of the city of Salzburg on the Salzach River, where the composer spent most of his adult life, designed by Friedl Weyss-Lampel, engraved by Rudolf Toth, and issued by Austria on September 14. 1987 to commemorate the 250th anniversary of Michael Haydn's birth, Scott No. 1409, plus a photo of a similar city view from the Festung Hohensalzburg, and a YouTube link to a performance by the Choir of The King's Consort, and the King's Consort, directed by Robert King, of some of the music from Haydn's sublime Requiem Missa: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjhUVXhNhV8

- nethryk

like this thread a lot ... Nethryk has beautiful stamps and scans

anyway found this today (actually I've had this cover for some time but I overlooked the topical stamp attached to it). It's a bit ragged and I've purchased a mint version to display with the cover.

Germany 1995 Carl Orff (Composer) 100th Birth Anniversary depicting Musical Score and Characters from "Carmina Burana". Since I wasn't familiar with the composer or the opera, I went and found it on my music service and am currently listening to it ...

clifhiker
In recent years, "Carmina Burana" has become something of a classical cultlike favourite and is being performed quite frequently. I heard my first live performance last year in the Johnny Mercer Centre in Savannah, Georgia by the Savannah Philharmonic. A very big hall which was almost sold out. Wonderful performance! The music sounds great on CD but nothing beats a live performance of a dramatic and fully orchestrated score like this.

clifhiker - Thanks! I remember that music from Carl Orff's Carmina Burana was used to great effect in the soundtrack for John Boorman's 1981 film Excalibur.

Francisco de Asís Tárrega y Eixea (1852-1909) was a Spanish composer and classical guitarist of the Romantic period. Here is an image of an engraved stamp featuring a portrait of Francisco Tárrega, issued by Spain on February 22, 1977, Scott No. 2029, Edifil No. 2341, plus a photo of the musician playing a guitar, and a link to a YouTube video of a solo performance by virtuoso guitarist Emmanuel Rossfelder of variations on Tárrega's Carnival of Venice: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmF0FcazbFc

- nethryk