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Savage Soundtrack! Part 4: Classical Tunes
16 years ago
General
On last night's journal-- have you ever noticed how serious people get when you're not trying to take a subject seriously?
But for now, let's calm the turbulent seas with a few choices of classical music, some probably familiar, others not that I enjoy listening to and thought might fit into a few situations in the story.
Pavane, Opus 50, by Gabriel Faure -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpgyTl8yqbw
This song has been sampled and covered so many times, it's hard to find someone who's heard the original! Well, this one's pretty close...
Polovtsian Dances, from Prince Igor, by Borodin -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8C8frqCKKg
With both gentle and forceful qualities and wonderful transitions between the two, this song in particular has special significance to me because a childhood song that I enjoyed, "Stranger in Paradise", used the same melody. When I learned that it was from a ballet and heard the original for the first time, I was instantly hooked.
Requiem in D Minor, KV 626, by Mozart -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qj_wkOA2MIk
When I first heard this I was floored to hear that it was Mozart's work. I was so used to his flowery and jolly work that something this forceful came as a complete surprise, being both haunting and heraldic.
Nimrod, from Enigma Variations, by Elgar -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUgoBb8m1eE
A moving, emotional piece that was originally designed by Elgar as a testament to one of his close friends. It has a peaceful, triumphant, yet mournful quality to me. I think everyone has their own interpretation of what this song means, which is part of its enduring popularity, I think.
Hungarian Dance No. 5, by Brahms -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3X9LvC9WkkQ
Funny story. Someone just decided to break the internet, so I can't hear this piece. Worse, I've forgotten how this one goes (not because it's unmemorable, but because I'm forgetful).
Clair De Lune, by Claude Debussy -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlvUepMa31o&feature=fvw
Debussy's classic piano solo. If you haven't heard this before, well, I can't think of any excuses for you so you'll have to make one. Sorry!
Fear No More The Heat O' The Sun, by Gerald Finzi -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGcuFWpT0G0
A twentieth century artist, Finzi tends to get lost in history and shifts in musical tastes, but to me his work has good variety and taste. I wish I had a better example to bring forward, but again, YouTube appears to be broken and this is the only link of his I have available.
'Andante' from Clarinet Concerto, by Aaron Copland -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACO5DjpS8YM
The first time I heard this piece I was nearly moved to tears. Then I punched myself in the face and called myself a big pussy. Then I found a passable version on YouTube, bookmarked it, and listened to it twice a day for some time. If you're not similarly moved, don't worry! It just means you're not crazy.
The Linden Tree, by the Osipov Folk Orchestra -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7ShTNb_wVQ
This is a truly rare piece, one that I'm not sure you can even find on CD, so YouTube may be the only place to readily listen to it. Why is it so hard to find? This was recorded in the earlier years of the Soviet Union. It was something of a diplomatic venture to allow western recording studio technicians into the USSR to record the famous Osipov Folk Orchestra, and their recordings were sold modestly in vinyl but were never remastered or updated, to my knowledge. It recently reappeared in a trailer to "World in Conflict: Soviet Assault", and I had to ask Massive Entertainment personally where they got it from.
Being the cynic I am, I'm sure that Warner Media Group is gonna come by and take out the audio track to force people to pay for the music, which is not for sale as far as I know. Hackers, if you need something to do on a Saturday night, try getting into WMG's financial records and utterly ruining them. You'd be doing society a great favor by slashing these assholes' paychecks.
But for now, let's calm the turbulent seas with a few choices of classical music, some probably familiar, others not that I enjoy listening to and thought might fit into a few situations in the story.
Pavane, Opus 50, by Gabriel Faure -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpgyTl8yqbw
This song has been sampled and covered so many times, it's hard to find someone who's heard the original! Well, this one's pretty close...
Polovtsian Dances, from Prince Igor, by Borodin -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8C8frqCKKg
With both gentle and forceful qualities and wonderful transitions between the two, this song in particular has special significance to me because a childhood song that I enjoyed, "Stranger in Paradise", used the same melody. When I learned that it was from a ballet and heard the original for the first time, I was instantly hooked.
Requiem in D Minor, KV 626, by Mozart -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qj_wkOA2MIk
When I first heard this I was floored to hear that it was Mozart's work. I was so used to his flowery and jolly work that something this forceful came as a complete surprise, being both haunting and heraldic.
Nimrod, from Enigma Variations, by Elgar -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUgoBb8m1eE
A moving, emotional piece that was originally designed by Elgar as a testament to one of his close friends. It has a peaceful, triumphant, yet mournful quality to me. I think everyone has their own interpretation of what this song means, which is part of its enduring popularity, I think.
Hungarian Dance No. 5, by Brahms -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3X9LvC9WkkQ
Funny story. Someone just decided to break the internet, so I can't hear this piece. Worse, I've forgotten how this one goes (not because it's unmemorable, but because I'm forgetful).
Clair De Lune, by Claude Debussy -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlvUepMa31o&feature=fvw
Debussy's classic piano solo. If you haven't heard this before, well, I can't think of any excuses for you so you'll have to make one. Sorry!
Fear No More The Heat O' The Sun, by Gerald Finzi -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGcuFWpT0G0
A twentieth century artist, Finzi tends to get lost in history and shifts in musical tastes, but to me his work has good variety and taste. I wish I had a better example to bring forward, but again, YouTube appears to be broken and this is the only link of his I have available.
'Andante' from Clarinet Concerto, by Aaron Copland -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACO5DjpS8YM
The first time I heard this piece I was nearly moved to tears. Then I punched myself in the face and called myself a big pussy. Then I found a passable version on YouTube, bookmarked it, and listened to it twice a day for some time. If you're not similarly moved, don't worry! It just means you're not crazy.
The Linden Tree, by the Osipov Folk Orchestra -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7ShTNb_wVQ
This is a truly rare piece, one that I'm not sure you can even find on CD, so YouTube may be the only place to readily listen to it. Why is it so hard to find? This was recorded in the earlier years of the Soviet Union. It was something of a diplomatic venture to allow western recording studio technicians into the USSR to record the famous Osipov Folk Orchestra, and their recordings were sold modestly in vinyl but were never remastered or updated, to my knowledge. It recently reappeared in a trailer to "World in Conflict: Soviet Assault", and I had to ask Massive Entertainment personally where they got it from.
Being the cynic I am, I'm sure that Warner Media Group is gonna come by and take out the audio track to force people to pay for the music, which is not for sale as far as I know. Hackers, if you need something to do on a Saturday night, try getting into WMG's financial records and utterly ruining them. You'd be doing society a great favor by slashing these assholes' paychecks.
I definitely do not have enough music by Fauré.
I'm a big fan of more contemporary classical music, especially from 19th and early 20th century artists. I tend not to like the baroque stuff.
I also played piano when I was younger, so that had something to do with it. I'd love to take lessons again - this time at the Eastman School - but don't have the money at the moment. :-/
My taste runs the gamut; I have favorites from medieval all the way to the 21st century. As you'll find with many people, there's a lot of modern music I don't care for, but there are a lot of gems out there, too!
Thanks again for sharing.