Let the Games Begin: The Classical Music Draft, Part I

[YankHibee]

How bout more Stravinsky...I'll take the Firebird ballet--the big one, not the later suites.

[Norsk Troll]

Do you guys realize that out of 16 drafters, 14 of us have posted picks today? Now THAT's the way to have a draft!!!!

[Sachsen]

Do you guys realize that out of 16 drafters, 14 of us have posted picks today? Now THAT's the way to have a draft!!!!

No kidding, I've been typing like mad to update the Big Board!

Pending:
Sbry for rounds 3 and 4
Haole for round 4

And... TIME FOR ANOTHER RULE CHANGE! :D :D :D

Thinking about it... if we have to wait a full 24 hours since our last pick before picking again, we've essentially established a new de facto draft order.

So instead, everyone will get to pick anytime during each new 24 hour period, starting at 5:31am Central time each day.

So tomorrow is the 5th round, and y'all can pick anytime during the day, regardless of when you last picked. Have at it!

EDIT: Big Board has been updated!

[DoctorD]

Thanks for your hard work Sachsen.

Although we should really start at 8:01 am Newfoundland time.

[Haole]

P.S. David's book (still in print) was the inspiration for Goedel, Escher, Bach and is a good read.

Thanks for the memories: 'Goedel, Escher and Bach' - fine book indeed.

[Haole]

My fourth pick:

Concerto for Orchestra (1943), Bartok


More on this to follow. I'm surprised it's lasted this long and I thought it best to throw it down before too late.


In brief, I've been in awe of this piece since my first encounter. The work encompasses all that's good in modern orchestral music.

It appears that Bartok spent less than two months writing the piece after he was commissioned by Koussevitsky. Take a quick look at the score and try to imagine the genius at work with the orchestration alone. The wealth of melody, complex harmony and absolutly stunning rhythmic variation is a great concert experience.

The Bartok 'Concerto' is the gold standard for top-flight orchestras. A modern masterpiece and a programming favorite since its' creation.

I have a number of recordings by Ozawa and the BSO, Bernstein and the New York but, Reiner's recording with the Chicago from the '50's is still my favorite...a magnificent recording by one of the world's great orchestras.

[Sachsen]

Thanks for your hard work Sachsen.

Although we should really start at 8:01 am Newfoundland time.

OK, fine... have it your way. ;)

[DoctorD]

Thanks for the memories: 'Goedel, Escher and Bach' - fine book indeed.
I wrote to Hofstader about something after reading Le Ton beau de Marot and got a brief note back. Someday I can sell his autograph on e-bay.

[Haole]

:

Symphony No. 6 in F Major, Op. 68 (“Pastoral”) by Ludwig van Beethoven

This is one of the few symphonies I would gladly listen to many times in a row. Is it Beethoven’s best symphony? Probably not – that may go to the unmentioned work, or the 7th, or the 9th. But in my opinion, this symphony, chock full of some of the best tunes he ever wrote, and they come one right after another, is the most fun.

Car-tripping in New England with this on permanent rotation is bliss.

You beat me to this one. It is my favorite Beethoven. The careful craftmanship and splendid melodies are timeless. I think this is essential to any collection.

[Haole]

"Nessun Dorma" aria from Turandot opera- Giacomo Puccini.


One of the most beautiful songs ever written for an opera.

Pavarotti version is Godly.


Ditto that.

You dinged my list too, Panfilo.

This is one of the great-show stoppers in the world for me. I can listen to this over and over again... and often do.

[sardus_pater]

tramontate stelle, tramontate stelle... all'alba vincerò, vinceeròòò, viiiincEEEEEEEEEEROOOOOOOOOOOOOO'

BTW Il mio mistero è chiuso in me.

Yeah, that's brilliant stuff, I would doubt anyone who's not moved by that aria. It's moving and exhilarating at the same time.

I never managed to attend Puccini's Turandot but I watched XXXXX and that well known aria, I cannot directly mention, is almost as beautiful.

While I am not an opera guy, meaning, I wouldn't listen to an entire opera at home, an entirely different experience is to attend a good opera in a theatre.

[sanariot]

Have to run for a while, so I'll pick and give some comment later.

Albinioni - Adagio in G Minor

Nice pick!

[sanariot]

My 3rd, 4th and 5th round picks are (respectively):

Ravel - Bolero
Bach - Air on the G String
Gershwin - An American in Paris

[DoctorD]

My fifth round pick is Josquin Des Prez Missa Pange Lingua.

This is a great example of a Renaissance mass in 4 voices. Josquin plays around between four-part and two-part polyphony. When he moves into 2-part polyphony he uses all combinations of voices and all sorts of techniques. So throughout the mass you'll be listening to 4 voices, then all of sudden 2 drop out and a duet between two voices continues. Then the other two come back in and the first two drop out after a few notes. And so on.

But beyond all the technical stuff, its basically great listening.

The Tallis Scholars recording of it is well done.

[Sachsen]

And with my 5th round pick, I choose both the OLDEST compostion in the draft, as well as the first by a female composer...
http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/B00000141Q.01._SS500_SCLZZZZZZZ_V1115667726_.jpg
Symphonia armonie celestium revelationem by Hildegard von Bingen

Completed circa 1150 AD!

If you ever get tired of music that's overbloated, bombastic, or muddled, and feel like it's all just TOO MUCH, just return to the past. The VERY far past.

These crystal clear songs by the German nun are stripped of every unnecessary rhythm, nuance, and, generally, instrumentation -- either performed a cappella or with only hurdy gurdy drones as accompaniment. The vocal performances contain very little harmony; the mostly-unison melodies are refreshing in their simplicity.

I find this work incredibly soothing - a literal balm for the soul. You don't have to be religious or necessarily spiritual; I think music such as this touches something inside each of us, and can bring all sorts of calm and peace regardless of any particular beliefs we may or may not have.

[Sachsen]

My 3rd, 4th and 5th round picks are (respectively):

Ravel - Bolero
Bach - Air on the G String
Gershwin - An American in Paris

Do you want the whole 3rd Orchestral Suite, or just the Air?

I'll go ahead and give you the whole thing, unless you instruct otherwise.

And let's hear some impressions of your picks! :)

[DoctorD]

And with my 5th round pick, I choose both the OLDEST compostion in the draft, as well as the first by a female composer...

Symphonia armonie celestium revelationem by Hildegard von Bingen

Naxos has done a good job with early vocal music. I know of two Renaissance music examples where the Naxos recording is superior to the "big name" recording. And simply making the stuff widely available earns them points.

[Smiley321]

The run on Prokofiev has forced my hand - I was expecting this to go to the last round, but I can't afford to let it:

Prokofiev - Lt. Kije Suite

Not sublime or magnificent, just some great melodies that hold a special significance for me. Most "socialist realism" was an abomination but Prokofiev was a towering exception.

[Iceblink]

I think some of my picks are still going to be safe...

For my fifth round pick, I choose Aaron Copland's short horn piece "Fanfare for the Common Man"

Instantly recognizable.
Used in countless movies... well, maybe countable, but a lot!

It's the music of heroes! Pride! America!

(Check out that asyndeton, bitch!)

[DoctorD]

I think some of my picks are still going to be safe...

For my fifth round pick, I choose Aaron Copland's short horn piece "Fanfare for the Common Man"

Instantly recognizable.
Used in countless movies... well, maybe countable, but a lot!

It's the music of heroes! Pride! America!

(Check out that asyndeton, bitch!)Let's hear a shoutout for ELP!