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Title Classics For Driving Subtitle Invigorating Music For The Open Road Artist Various Format: Double CD Cat. No.: METRDCD577 Barcode: 698458707727 Playing Time: CD1 - 75:09 CD2 - 66:34

Music can help to enliven the dullest of journeys and invigorate your mind when it seems the motorway will never end. This specially selected 2CD collection of the greatest classics from Bach to Sibelius will help to inspire and refresh you on any journey.

Track List CD1 1 Holst - The Planets: 'Jupiter' (James Judd conducting The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra) 2 Tchaikovsky - Serenade For Strings In C major: I Pezzo In Forma Di Sonatina (Vassil Kazandjiev conducting The Sofia Chamber Orchestra) 3 Beethoven - Symphony No.9 In D Minor: II Molto Vivace (Otmar Suitner conducting Staatskapelle, Berlin) 4 Bach - Violin Concerto In E Major BWV1042: I Allegro (Hans Stadlmair conducting The Munich Chamber Orchestra, Jean Jacques Kantorow - violin) 5 Smetana - Má Vlast: 'The Moldau' (Václav Neumann conducting Czech Philharmonic Orchestra) 6 Mozart - Symphony No.41 'Jupiter': IV Molto Allegro (Herbert Blomstedt conducting Staatskapelle, Dresden) 7 Shostakovich - Symphony No.9 In E Flat Major: I Allegro (Eliahu Inbal conducting Wiener Symphoniker) 8 Saint-Saëns - Symphony No.3 'Organ': IV Maestoso – I Allegro (Emmanuel Krivine conducting Orchestre National De Lyon) CD2 1 Handel - Water Music: Suite No.1 – Overture (Camerata Bern) 2 Mendelssohn - Violin Concerto In E Minor: I Allegro Molto Appassionato (Antoni Ros-Marbá conducting The Netherlands Chamber Orchestra, Jean-Jaques Kantorow - violin) 3 Mahler - Symphony No.2 'The Resurrection': III Scherzo (Eliahu Inbal conducting The Radio-Sinfonie-Orchester, Frankfurt) 4 Schumann - Symphony No.1 In B Flat Major 'Spring': II Allegro Animato E Grazioso (Eliahu Inbal conducting The Radio-Sinfonie-Orchester, Frankfurt) 5 Mozart - Clarinet Concerto In A Major: I Allegro (David Zinman conducting The English Chamber Orchestra, Paul Meyer, clarinet) 6 Berlioz - Symphonie Fantastique: IV Marche Au Supplice (Eliahu Inbal conducting The Radio-Sinfonie-Orchester, Frankfurt) 7 Janacek - Sinfonietta: IV Allegretto (Eliahu Inbal conducting Deutsches - Symphonie Orchester, Berlin) 8 Sibelius - Symphony No.5 In E Flat Major: III Allegro Molto (Akeo Watanabe conducting Japan Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra)         Sleevenotes   The open road - the wind ruffling your hair as the delightful countryside rushes past your convertible Aston Martin on a perfect summer afternoon... At least, that's the plan, but we all know that driving on today's roads usually becomes either a stressful nightmare or a boring plod. Music can help to enliven the dullest of journeys and invigorate your mind when it seems the motorway will never end, and this specially selected collection of the greatest classics from Bach to Sibelius will help to inspire and refresh you on any journey. CD1: 1. Holst: The Planets – ‘Jupiter, The Bringer Of Jollity’ Gustav Holst’s “The Planets” was first performed in 1920 and remains one of the most enduring favourites of the orchestral repertoire. Holst structured his epic suite around the planets of the solar system, but based on their astrological meanings as suggested by classical mythology. The scoring was exceptionally bold and colourful for its time and Jupiter - “The bringer of Jollity” - is no exception; it has lately become most famous for its extensive use of the melody known today as the hymn “I vow to thee, my country” (the words were added later) which dominates the central section of the piece. 2. Tchaikovsky: Serenade For Strings – I. Pezzo In Forma Di Sonatina One of Tchaikovsky’s most relaxed and genial pieces, the Serenade for Strings (1880) nevertheless begins in fairly grand fashion with an impassioned statement for the full string orchestra. However, the pace soon quickens into an exciting allegro which makes brilliant use of the full range of effects of the string instruments. 3. Beethoven: Symphony No.9 – II. Molto Vivace The “Scherzo” (traditionally a fast central movement) of Beethoven’s great 9th Symphony is a masterpiece of the genre. Although “Scherzo” literally means “joke”, there is little jocular about this piece – rather, it is darkly energetic and rhythmically complex, featuring a particularly striking timpani part. The piece was used to memorable effect in the ultra-violent classic film “A Clockwork Orange”. 4. Bach: Concerto For Violin And Orchestra In E Major – I. Allegro Bach’s extraordinary compositional skills are heard to great effect in this concerto, one of two for solo violin and orchestra which were written in the same year (1720). The fascinating interplay between soloist and orchestra becomes increasingly complex as the relationship between them unfolds, but any sense of antagonism quickly subsides and the two happily co-exist in this sunny and life-affirming piece. 5. Smetana: The Moldau When Smetana wrote “The Moldau” in about 1876 he was in the final stages of an illness which left him profoundly deaf. It was written as part of an epic cycle of patriotic symphonic poems entitled “Ma Vlast” (My Fatherland) – intended as a tribute to his beloved homeland of Bohemia. “The Moldau” is by far the most famous piece of the cycle, and its popularity is richly deserved – the wonderfully evocative music depicts in detail the flow of the mighty River Moldau from its trickling source to its majestic culmination where it flows into the Elbe. Along the journey, we are carried as a passenger past vivid scenes of rural peasant life such as a hunting party and a merry feast. 6. Mozart: Symphony No.41 “Jupiter” – IV. Molto Allegro Mozart’s last symphony was written shortly before his death in 1791 and displays the incredible mastery of form and melody that Mozart had achieved by that point. The Finale is essentially a tour-de-force of counterpoint and “fugue” (a highly complex compositional device whereby lines constantly imitate one another). Mozart’s incomparable skill allows him to generate an astonishingly intricate structure of lines working both with and against each other, as well as some extremely bold passages of dissonance that would no doubt have shocked the listener of the day. 7. Shostakovich: Symphony no.9 – I. Allegro Shostakovich’s 9th Symphony is, on the surface at least, one of the most bright and sparkling symphonies that he wrote, but beneath that jokey exterior one can easily detect a bitterly sardonic undercurrent - Shostakovich’s hidden response to the oppressive Stalinist regime under which he suffered. The piece begins with a rather quirky idea for just a few instruments but as it progresses darker moods gradually begin to dominate the music and the movement ends abruptly with an angry gesture. 8. Saint-Saens: Symphony no.3 “Organ” – IV. Maestoso Composed in 1886, Saint-Saens amazing “Organ” symphony expands the traditional range of the symphony orchestra to include both organ and piano. One could be forgiven for wondering why this piece is not called an Organ “concerto”, but in fact Saint-Saens skilfully integrates the massive sonorities of the organ into the fabric of the orchestra so that the two exist side by side as equals, with the organ rarely assuming a virtuosic solo role. Nevertheless, the last movement opens with a spectacular series of chords on the organ at its full capacity. CD2: 1. Handel: Water Music (Suite no.1) – 1. Overture Handel’s superb “Water Music” is actually a collection of many short pieces written by Handel over several years and which were first performed together in 1717 as incidental music for one of the King’s magnificent summer parties which were held on fleets of royal barges along the Thames. The overture is a splendid example of the genre and would probably have been performed as an introduction to the festivities. 2. Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto – I. Allegro Mendelssohn’s wonderful Violin Concerto, written in 1844, has become a favourite work of the repertoire thanks to Mendelssohn’s extraordinary gift for melody - evident in the beautiful writing for solo violin with its long, singing lines. Although the orchestra is mainly used here in a supporting role, Mendelssohn’s compositional skill is plain to see in the clarity and variety of the orchestration. 3. Mahler: Symphony no.2 “The Resurrection” – III. Scherzo Completed in 1893, Mahler’s enormous second symphony is known as the “Resurrection” mainly for the transcendental quality of its gargantuan final movement (at over thirty minutes in length it is longer than most other symphonies in their entirety!). The brilliant scherzo, a grotesquely distorted waltz, clearly takes its inspiration from the scherzo of Beethoven’s 9th symphony and begins with the familiar timpani strokes from the earlier piece. One of the most striking aspects of the piece is the way in which the darker undercurrents gradually accumulate until they finally explode in a desperate, anguished outburst in the closing pages of the movement. 4. Schumann: Symphony no.1 “Spring” – IV. Allegro Animato Schumann’s charming, youthful “Spring” symphony was composed in 1841 in one of the few happy periods of the composer’s troubled life. The Finale is a celebration of Spring, and despite Schumann’s advice that it wasn’t to be taken too “frivolously” it is really a succession of exuberant melodies and themes which announce the arrival of summer with glorious abandon. 5. Mozart: Concerto For Clarinet And Orchestra – I. Allegro Mozart wrote his justly famous Clarinet concerto in the last year of his life when he was just 34 years old. It displays all the hallmarks of Mozart’s mature works – a warmly emotional quality and exceptionally elegant formal balance. The first movement has a beautiful, sunny character and infectious charm. 6. Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique – IV. March To The Scaffold Written in 1830, Berlioz’s amazing “Symphonie Fantastique” would have been a shocking experience for most early 19th century concert-goers. It was intended to depict a journey from youthful love which soon descends into madness and despair with a horrifying vision of execution followed by a macabre witches’ sabbath. Berlioz was actually known as a heavy opium user, and the Symphonie Fantastique could well be the first real drug-induced piece of music in history! 7. Janacek: Sinfonietta – IV. Allegretto Janacek originally wrote the Sinfonietta’s first movement in 1926 as a brass fanfare for a gymnastics festival in Prague, but he later added four other movements and increased the scoring to include some strings and wind instruments. The lively fourth movement, subtitled “The streets of Brno”, is a vigorous and energetic scherzo which some may remember as the theme music for the TV series “Crown Court”! 8. Sibelius: Symphony no.5 – III. Allegro Molto Sibelius was a notoriously self-critical composer who actually burned the nearly-completed score of his eighth symphony and failed to write any music for the last thrity years of his life. The genesis of his great 5th symphony was typically troubled, undergoing numerous revisions until this final version was settled on in 1915. The bustling opening of the movement soon gives way to one of Sibelius’ most stunning and memorable melodies which sweeps majestically through the orchestral texture. The most unusual and striking moments of the piece – the bold silences which separate the final chords – were actually a last-minute idea that Sibelius added in the final revision. Martin Halstead Martin Halstead currently teaches music theory and analysis at the University of London. He has also written programme notes for many concerts and events including the BBC Proms and Edinburgh Festival. He specialises in 20th century and contemporary music, but also likes nothing more than relaxing with some Chopin.