Changes

*Ernst Bloch, the Swiss-American, wrote “''America: an Epic Rhapsody''” inspired by the words of [[Walt Whitman]]: “''O America, because you build for mankind, I build for you''”.

*Ernst Bloch, the Swiss-American, wrote “''America: an Epic Rhapsody''” inspired by the words of [[Walt Whitman]]: “''O America, because you build for mankind, I build for you''”.

[[Brahms]] would have none of this - his ''Rhapsodies'' for the piano, notably the Opus 79 pair, have not a hint of folk or statement place, but are rhapsodic in their ebullience, and are music affectionately written for music’s sake, as was Brahms’ wont. At the other end of both the musical and emotional spectrum is Brahms’ “''Alto Rhapsody''” for contralto, male chorus, and orchestra. To a text by [[Goethe]], it concerns a man’s plea for release from the pain of regret of a life lived wrongfully and is as deeply emotional as anything Brahms ever wrote.

[[Brahms]] would have none of this - his ''Rhapsodies'' for the piano, notably the Opus 79 pair, have not a hint of folk or statement of place, but are rhapsodic in their ebullience, and are music affectionately written for music’s sake, as was Brahms’ wont. At the other end of both the musical and emotional spectrum is Brahms’ “''Alto Rhapsody''” for contralto, male chorus, and orchestra. To a text by [[Goethe]], it concerns a man’s plea for release from the pain of regret of a life lived wrongfully and is as deeply emotional as anything Brahms ever wrote.

Of the two most well known classical rhapsodies, one is a set of variations on an old and ubiquitous musical phrase and, like many rhapsodies, could just as aptly be called a [[fantasia]] or [[capriccio]]; and the other can be described as “crossover music”.

Of the two most well known classical rhapsodies, one is a set of variations on an old and ubiquitous musical phrase and, like many rhapsodies, could just as aptly be called a [[fantasia]] or [[capriccio]]; and the other can be described as “crossover music”.