Make Mine Music
My dad practically raised me on classical music. (And oldies, but that's another story.) I have very strong memories of sitting in the car with him and a piece coming on and him asking me if I knew which one it was which left me scouring my brain trying to pin down the name and composer.
I only mention this because the other night a bit came on the local classical station that I knew I'd heard but couldn't pin down. I racked my brain but it was getting late by that point and I ended up using Shazam to identify it. It turned out to be Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade. There was no wonder I had heard it before, it's one of my dads all time favorite pieces of classical music.
Anyway, this got me thinking about themes in classical music that most people know, or have at least heard before, but that might not be recognized as having come from that realm. So, in the spirit of my music posts, here is another.
Firstly, the bit that started it all, Rimsky- Korsakov's Scheherazade. The intro violin solo (0:44-1:25) is one that some may have heard. YouTube comments are notoriously stupid but in the comments for this video one sums it up rather nicely "if making love could be translated into violin notes, this is how it would sound." In this case I agree.
And in case you feel inclined to watch, here are Parts 2, 3, 4, and 5. (The entire thing is about 50 minutes long.
Next is Edvard Grieg, who has In the Hall of the Mountain King and Morning Mood, from his Peer Gynt suite both of which have been used quite a lot.
In the Hall of the Mountain King:
Morning Mood: (I don't think anyone can say they haven't heard this before.)
The next big name is Tchaikovsky. So much of his music is well known, quite a bit of it from the Nutcracker, but some of his work has become so synonymous with certain themes that it's hard to remember who wrote it.
The Romeo & Juliet Love Theme which has become so equated with sappy cupid love that it almost makes you wince to hear it now.
If you, however, ache to hear the entire 10 minute piece of which this is just a part, here it is.
The opening from his Swan Lake ballet.
And because I can, here is a metal version. ;)
The waltz from Swan Lake is also very well known.
Lastly his Waltz from Sleeping Beauty, which anyone who's seen the Disney version will know quite well.
Lastly we have La Gazza Ladra (or the Thieving Magpie) by Rossini. (Yes, the William Tell Overture Rossini.) This one is most famous for being used in A Clockwork Orange. (The well known part starts at about the four minute mark so you may want to skip ahead to that point but it's well worth sticking around through the end.
(Also, at the 5:40 mark, old dudes playing double bass. Totally makes my day.)
A bit of Rossini used to illustrate vry emportant thngz. (The classical starts at 1:15.)
There are many more than that. If there's interest I might do more again at a later date.
I only mention this because the other night a bit came on the local classical station that I knew I'd heard but couldn't pin down. I racked my brain but it was getting late by that point and I ended up using Shazam to identify it. It turned out to be Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade. There was no wonder I had heard it before, it's one of my dads all time favorite pieces of classical music.
Anyway, this got me thinking about themes in classical music that most people know, or have at least heard before, but that might not be recognized as having come from that realm. So, in the spirit of my music posts, here is another.
Firstly, the bit that started it all, Rimsky- Korsakov's Scheherazade. The intro violin solo (0:44-1:25) is one that some may have heard. YouTube comments are notoriously stupid but in the comments for this video one sums it up rather nicely "if making love could be translated into violin notes, this is how it would sound." In this case I agree.
Click to viewAnd in case you feel inclined to watch, here are Parts 2, 3, 4, and 5. (The entire thing is about 50 minutes long.
Next is Edvard Grieg, who has In the Hall of the Mountain King and Morning Mood, from his Peer Gynt suite both of which have been used quite a lot.
In the Hall of the Mountain King:
Morning Mood: (I don't think anyone can say they haven't heard this before.)
The next big name is Tchaikovsky. So much of his music is well known, quite a bit of it from the Nutcracker, but some of his work has become so synonymous with certain themes that it's hard to remember who wrote it.
The Romeo & Juliet Love Theme which has become so equated with sappy cupid love that it almost makes you wince to hear it now.
If you, however, ache to hear the entire 10 minute piece of which this is just a part, here it is.
The opening from his Swan Lake ballet.
And because I can, here is a metal version. ;)
The waltz from Swan Lake is also very well known.
Lastly his Waltz from Sleeping Beauty, which anyone who's seen the Disney version will know quite well.
Lastly we have La Gazza Ladra (or the Thieving Magpie) by Rossini. (Yes, the William Tell Overture Rossini.) This one is most famous for being used in A Clockwork Orange. (The well known part starts at about the four minute mark so you may want to skip ahead to that point but it's well worth sticking around through the end.
(Also, at the 5:40 mark, old dudes playing double bass. Totally makes my day.)
A bit of Rossini used to illustrate vry emportant thngz. (The classical starts at 1:15.)
There are many more than that. If there's interest I might do more again at a later date.