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

[Haole]

You've been listening to the Scherzo from an unpicked work which shall go unmentioned - but it's on this album, which also includes the Tallis Fantasia:

http://www.amazon.com/Vaughan-Williams-Symphony-Fantasia-Tallis/dp/B000002S2O

And at $8, that CD is an absolute steal :eek:

Yep. That's the one. Norsk got me straightened out this too. Thanks.

Great work.

Yes, I guess I should be more specific on the Borodin. The first "Dance" is the 'Tanz der Polowetzer Madchen' and my pick, 'Polowetzer Tanze' is second. This is from a inexpensive BMG recording with the John Alldis Choir and National Philharmonic Orchestra with Loris Tjeknavorian. Recorded in 1977 and not too bad a package along with the Borodin ******** ** *.

[DoctorD]

What this draft needs are more chestnuts. More hoary masterpieces. More expressions of genius.

So my 8th pick is a madrigal.

John Bartlet Of all the Birds That I Do Know

This is not the first madrigal, or the most famous or the most well constructed, nor even in Italian. But it is bawdy and funny as hell. Just read the lyrics. Of All The Birds (http://www.cpdl.org/wiki/index.php/Of_all_the_birds_%28John_Bartlet%29)

I first heard this on the excellent Madrigal History Tour (http://www.amazon.com/Madrigal-History-Tour-John-Bartlet/dp/B000246J7M/sr=1-2/qid=1159185864/ref=sr_1_2/102-2879896-0479326?ie=UTF8&s=music). I was driving at the time and had to laugh out loud. Maybe this one should be on the "10 Best Classical songs to Pick up Girls" collection.

BTW, if you've never been to www.cpdl.org , check it out. A great site for anyone who likes classical music of all periods.

[Sachsen]

What this draft needs are more chestnuts. More hoary masterpieces. More expressions of genius.

So my 8th pick is a madrigal.

John Bartlet Of all the Birds That I Do Know

This is not the first madrigal, or the most famous or the most well constructed, nor even in Italian. But it is bawdy and funny as hell. Just read the lyrics. Of All The Birds (http://www.cpdl.org/wiki/index.php/Of_all_the_birds_%28John_Bartlet%29)

I first heard this on the excellent Madrigal History Tour (http://www.amazon.com/Madrigal-History-Tour-John-Bartlet/dp/B000246J7M/sr=1-2/qid=1159185864/ref=sr_1_2/102-2879896-0479326?ie=UTF8&s=music). I was driving at the time and had to laugh out loud. Maybe this one should be on the "10 Best Classical songs to Pick up Girls" collection.

BTW, if you've never been to www.cpdl.org , check it out. A great site for anyone who likes classical music of all periods.

I kept expecting someone from the Monty Python troupe to break into song on that one. African or European?

[Sachsen]

Man, this is getting hard. Only three picks left -- can't waste 'em. Problem is, I've got more than a half dozen pieces I want to pick still... ARGH!

Well, looking over my list, I see I haven't picked a concerto yet. Also, looking over the Big Board, I see Jean Sibelius has only been picked ONCE, and we're in the 8th round?!? :eek: A travesty I'm rectifying right now -- Sibelius is one of my three favorite composers (along with Bach and Vaughan Williams) and he deserves more attention than that.

http://www.classical-composers.org/img/sibelius.jpg

Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D minor, op. 47 by Jean Sibelius

What a wonderful work. Sibelius started playing the violin as a youngster, had asperations of becoming a virtuoso, and had a special affinity for the instrument throughout his life. This marvelous concerto was written about the same time as his fabulous ******** ** *, one of my other favorite Sibelius works, and both retain more than a hint of Tchaikovskyesque Romanticism about them.

The first movement begins with the solo violin in a moment of pure ice. You can practically see the wintry wind whistling through the northern forests of Sibelius's native Finland. It moves directly into a chilling introduction of the first theme and continues from there.

The Adagio is lovely and peaceful, and as always, the orchestra is right there along with the violin with full color.

One report labeled the final third movement, "a polonaise for polar bears." At once lumbering and loose, the soloist has some amazing virtuoso passages here that amaze and delight.

[Smiley321]

I don't see any Saint-Saens on the board, so I figure that this is still available

Danse Macabre, Saint-Saens

A great little tune I never tire of

[Norsk Troll]

For my 8th Round Selection:

Der Rosenkavalier

by Richard Strauss

Given that no one has yet touched Strauss (nor shown quite the interest in opera), perhaps I could have let this fall to the 10th and final pick. But for me it was one of the few "must-haves", so I am unwilling to risk it. Strauss is one of my favorite all-around composers, both symphonic and operatic, and if opera were not part of the contest, one of his orchestral works would undoubtedly be on my top 10 instead. But this opera appeals on so many levels - musically, the final half of Act III is simply fabulous (the whole opera, really, but this is the pinnacle). Some refer to Rosenkavalier as his most Mozartian opera, and in many ways they are right (oddly enough, ****** and ******* were early in his opera writing, and he actually pulled back from that more modern sound in his later works). Strauss captures bits of the humanity of the characters that you don't often find in this genre - from Octavian's youthful randiness that tones down when he finally falls in love with Sophie, to the Marshallin's having to acknowledge and accept that she is no longer young.

Strauss also had an incredible ability to write for the female voice, which finds no better expression than in the famous trio (2 sopranos and 1 mezzo) of Act III. Poignant is too simple a word to describe that music. He was no hack with the male voice either, and this opera even includes, as a mere throw away tune, the Italian show piece "Di rigori armato" that will usually show up on every tenor's solo disc.

As to recordings/performances, I have both the Erich Kleiber and Bernand Haitink recordings, and they both are excellent. But my love for this work started probably about 15 years ago or so, with a live performance at the Met, conducted by Carlos Kleiber, for whom the orchestra played magically. And the singers were nearly perfection: Anne Sofie von Otter as Octavian and Barbara Bonney as Sophie, forming the best pair of lovers ever (and they work together well in many other operas), with Felicity Lott as a superb Marschallin (perhaps a shade below the quality of Kiri Te Kanawa in that role, but not worth quibbling).

http://151.9.90.12/Cop_Usati/891_JDOJELQIIBUITZ.jpg

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/B000002RS8.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

Musical Program:
1 - Beethoven: 9th Sym.
2 - Wagner: Tristan und Isolde
3 - Mahler: 8th Sym.
4 - Grieg: Peer Gynt
5 - Tchaikovsky: 4th Sym.
6 - Verdi: Otello
7 - Vaughan Williams: Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis
8 - Strauss: Der Rosenkavalier


PS - I was pleased to just realize that I still have TWO picks remaining, not just one!

[Ghost]

for my sixth round selection ....


Dum















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Dar-ruuuuuuuuuuuuuuummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

BaBaumBaBaumBaBaumBaBaum


http://www.jules-massenet.com/r_strauss.jpg


Richard Strauss -- Also Sprach Zarathustra

Probably the most famous piece to a modern lay audience than any but Beethoven's Fifth. As far as I can tell, not selected yet.

[Ghost]

My seventh round selection :

http://www.8notes.com/wiki/images/180px-CharlesEdwardIves1913.jpg


Charles Ives -- The Unanswered Question

[Haole]

My eighth pick:


Spoiler: Warhorse coming.

























http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/6/6d/RoyRogers8479.JPG/250px-RoyRogers8479.JPG









Symphonic Dances (1940), Rachmaninoff



The final work from the master. Orchestration and instrumental coloring delights abound. Great melodies swirl with propulsive energy throughout. A modern show piece for great orchestras.

For those who worry about such things, yes, the piece does not end until you hear the gong....which is often skipped in radio broadcasts.

[Sachsen]

Nice warhorse ;)

[sardus_pater]

Well it's time for another Prokofiev, my favourite Prokofiev ;)

I also am surprised by P.'s appreciation here in this draft, but it is well deserved IMO.

My 8th pick is

Sergey Prokofiev - Romeo and Juliet - Suite No. 2 for orchestra - Op. 64 ter

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/be/Sergei_Prokofiev.jpg/180px-Sergei_Prokofiev.jpg

Highlight "Montagues and Capulets" (which is "dance of the knights" in the ballet) a marvellous piece which I love since I was an early teen, a simple yet powerful march.

[scottinkc]

For my eighth pick, I choose:

Mozart- Cosi fan tutte

Despite the most inconceivable premise in opera (The tenor is in love with a mezzo? The soprano loves a baritone? WTF?) This is a fun opera with all sorts of twists and turns and lovely, lively tunes.

[Panfilo]

Missa Solemnis- Ludwig Van Beethoven

I needed a Beethoven piece and if he considers this his life's work. Who am I to disagree. Probably the most important mass piece ever.

Gloria is Godly

NO Pun intended.

[YankHibee]

Alright, I'm taking the nerds out. Fifth round, I'm taking the music from Star Wars episode IV by John Williams. Say what you will, but this is probably one of the most influential classical pieces as far as everyday people go.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Wars_music

[DoctorD]

Alright, I'm taking the nerds out. Fifth round, I'm taking the music from Star Wars episode IV by John Williams. Say what you will, but this is probably one of the most influential classical pieces as far as everyday people go.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Wars_musicIt's OK. I thought about that one too. The Emperor's theme is chilling. Oops I guess that isn't in "episode 4".

[Sachsen]

Alright, I'm taking the nerds out. Fifth round, I'm taking the music from Star Wars episode IV by John Williams. Say what you will, but this is probably one of the most influential classical pieces as far as everyday people go.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Wars_music

I was wondering when the first movie soundtrack was going to go...

[Sachsen]

Only two rounds left -- these next two picks could make or break your draft -- don't screw up -- no pressure! ;)

Big Board has been updated.

Pending picks:
Michael K.'s 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th
Ghost's 5th and 8th
Karl K's 6th, 7th, and 8th
GringoTex's 6th, 7th, and 8th
YankHibee's 6th, 7th, and 8th
Sbry's 6th, 7th, and 8th
Iceblink's 8th
NGV's 8th

Round opus 1, no. 9 begins 26 September 2006 at 12:31am Honolulu time.

[Norsk Troll]

Nice warhorse ;)Naw, that's just a pony. ;)

(I'm still angry at Haole for stealing Stravinsky's Le Sacre and Debussy's Prelude)

[Haole]

Naw, that's just a pony. ;)


Careful, Roy might miss your drift and think you're dissing his anthropomorphic pony!


http://www.royrogers.com/store/media/trigger_rearing_magnet.jpg

[Michael K.]

Fallen way behind again. I've had a tough weekend, not least because I spent most of it Nyquiled into a stupor after catching a cold. But that's no excuse. I've also had to come to grips with the fact that you all know a hell of a lot more about this music, speaking broadly and deeply, than I do. That's all right, too - I've filled in many holes and learned a hell of a lot.

So, no Schoenberg by this point? At all? For real? Well, let's do something about that right now.

Arnold Schoenberg, Op. 4, Verklärte Nacht.



On a side note, I'm planning on going to see the Cleveland Orchestra open its new season this weekend - my birthday present to me.