The Well-Tempered Ear

Classical music: Happy New Year! What music would you like to hear today? The holiday is a chance to start over, and music by Haydn adds to the occasion. Plus, here is one critic’s roundup of the best concerts of 2015

ALERT: What were the Best Concerts of 2015? The Ear can’t really disagree with the picks made by veteran critic John W. Barker, who usually writes for Isthmus but who also contributes to this blog. The Ear would certainly add the debut recital by UW-Madison violinist Soh-Hyun Park Altino. But these days no critic can get to all the concerts that take place in Madison.

Here is a link to the roundup that Barker did for Isthmus. You have to scroll down to get to Barker’s story: 

http://isthmus.com/arts/isthmus-critics-look-back-stellar-year-2015/

By Jacob Stockinger

Today is January 1, 2016.

Happy New Year!!

The Ear thinks of a new year as a kind of new day.

It’s a chance to start over.

After all, that is why people make New Year’s resolutions.

So here is something from YouTube to help: The cheerful and optimistic opening movement, with a lively sonic sunrise of renewal from the early Symphony No. 6 in D major, “Le Matin or “Morning,” by Franz Joseph Haydn (below), who also composed a famous ”Sunrise” String Quartet later in life.

WHAT MUSIC WOULD YOU LIKE TO HEAR ON NEW YEAR’S DAY? PLEASE TELL US IN THE COMMENT SECTION