Bring out your inner green with this lovely pastorale for string orchestra by Irish composer Arthur Duff.

Observing the progression of musical ideas and fashion can be truly fascinating. What is good (even acceptable) today might sound ridiculous a century from now.

Case and point: Julius Caesar. A popular subject; there are many famous plays, operas, and movies about him – especially his death. When I think of imperial Rome, a very specific musical sound comes into my head. It’s the sound that was shaped by films such as Spartacus, Gladiator, The Life of Brian (not the silly songs – the incidental music), and of course, the video game Civilization (see 7:05). But that “epic” sound wasn’t always the sound of Rome. When Handel wrote his opera Giulio Caesar, the overture fit the style of his time. Nowadays, we can still enjoy the music, but I’d wager that most people wouldn’t associate this sweet, delicate sound with the leader of brutal, powerful, imperial Rome:

Again, reflecting on our modern associations with musical style, hearing this music makes me think of powdered wigs and ruffly coats, not togas. The music is great, but not Caesarian. Give me the music of Miklós Rózsa, and his score to the 1950s film, Julius Ceasar!

When I began this blog, I vowed to do it for at least one full year. I’m doing it for myself, but let me say how much I appreciate you, the readers, for your feedback, responses, and your support.

I made a long list of pieces I wanted to present and write about. I’m slowly chipping away at that list. But every once in a while, I stumble across something new and fascinating – you know, like when you go past page 2 of your google search?

Seriously though, among the vast wasteland of trash, you can dig up some real gems. Here’s one I click on because, well, it had a cool picture. And it ended up being a really cool piece of music … and a very interesting story.

Before this post, I had never heard of Sir Eugene Aynsley Goossens. He is the third musician named Eugene Goossens, all from the same family, who lived in the same house, in London. Goossens conducted the British premiere of Stravinsky‘s Rite of Spring, and was the conductor of the Rochester (New York) Philharmonic and instructor at the prestigious Eastman School of Music. Sounds pretty normal, right?

So now it gets interesting. Goossens had an colorful affair with Australian Rosaleen Norton, an artist, occultist, and witch, at a time when Australia was socially conservative. He was stopped at the Sydney airport and searched; his bags had some curious photos, masks, incense, and other objects – enough to cause a huge scandal at the time, and ending Goossen’s musical career.

Here is Goossen’s 1913 “The Eternal Rhythm”, which I had never heard before; I quite like it. It sounds very much like the post-romantic works of the time, and smacks especially of Scriabin.