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

[Sachsen]

Not that she doesn't love you, Sachsen, but really - I mean, have you thought of the cost to have all those performers there? Sure, it's what you wanted, but you're dead, and she has to think about the best way to spend that money on herself and the kids!

Well, OK, maybe just a baritone soloist and a piano reduction... ;)

[Karl K]

And I would like to state right now that, regardless of his future picks, I WILL NOT vote for Karl K. The sole reason being his use of the word "fiddle".

Well, that's what all these top fiddle players -- excuse me, violinists -- call themselves. I know because I have a relative who plays in a top orchestra. All the time they say, "So and so is a really good fiddle player." I heard Itzhak Perlman refer to himself once as a "gimpy fiddle player."

[Panfilo]

Can we switch to 24 personal clock instead?

I knew this was going to happen. Especially on weekends when people are out and about.

How long does a draft usually last around here?

[Sachsen]

Can we switch to 24 personal clock instead?

I knew this was going to happen. Especially on weekends when people are out and about.

How long does a draft usually last around here?

Patience, my young Padawan.

The album draft went for 17 days.
The movie draft went for 20 days.
The hip-hop draft went for 19 days.

The album draft allowed 12 hours per pick, and 24 on the weekends.

We're 17.5% done. At the current pace it'll be over in about 20 days total, right on target with the other drafts. I would expect the picks to come faster during the week. This is our first weekend.

[YankHibee]

It is late and I don't want to hold things up anymore, so with my second pick I'm taking the Toreador Song from Bizet's Carmen.

[Panfilo]

I'm too busy writing a report for school. So I'll write the summary later.

My pick

"The Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 in C-sharp minor"- Franz Liszt

[Smiley321]

Well, that's what all these top fiddle players -- excuse me, violinists -- call themselves. I know because I have a relative who plays in a top orchestra. All the time they say, "So and so is a really good fiddle player." I heard Itzhak Perlman refer to himself once as a "gimpy fiddle player."

I'll second that. They use that term routinely.

[Norsk Troll]

It is late and I don't want to hold things up anymore, so with my second pick I'm taking the Toreador Song from Bizet's Carmen.Bizet's Carmen was already taken by GringoTex.

[DoctorD]

I'm ready as soon as Ghost and Sbry go.

[Sachsen]

Ghost sent me his pick by proxy. For his 2nd pick, he chooses:

Carmina Burana by Carl Orff.

YankHibee needs to repick (sorry, man, but Carmen in its entirety is off the board!)

Sbry is on the clock.

PS: All you who say you don't have enough time to type up your thoughts, may I suggest you prepare them in advance...? Hearing peoples' impressions about the works is half the fun.

[YankHibee]

Damn, for some reason I thought only Habanera was chosen. Running off to a meeting right now, skip me.

[Norsk Troll]

Click me. http://www.hortnet.co.nz/publications/hortfacts/images/hf401023.gif (http://www.brandens.net/files/Sounds/FX/Animals/CRICKET.WAV)

[scottinkc]

Click me. http://www.hortnet.co.nz/publications/hortfacts/images/hf401023.gif (http://www.brandens.net/files/Sounds/FX/Animals/CRICKET.WAV)

You picked "La Cucaracha"?



By the way, I was just kidding about the fiddle thing.

[DoctorD]

OK. I last picked Friday night.

For my third pick I select Aaron Copland Appalachian Spring, the orchestral suite arrangement.

[Haole]

Piano Concerto No.2 in C Minor, Op. 18 (1900), Rachmaninoff


A great Romantic piano piece that never fails to give me a rush of enjoyment in the hands of a great pianist and orchestra. When that great melody arrives in the third movement I am totally lost in the beauty of Rachmaninoff's music.

The Second Concerto was the beginning of Rachmaninoff's rise as a great composer after the disasterous fiasco of his First Symphony.

The 20th Century Renaissance man - extraordinary concert pianist, in-demand conductor and composer of many great pieces.

[Norsk Troll]

I'd love to go with my pick now, but didn't we skip the 16th drafter, Sbry, by jumping into this 3rd round? I believe his clock only started at 8:14 am today.

Or are people rebelling against the "pick in order" procedure in favour of the "screw the order, pick once every 24 hours" procedure?

[Sachsen]

My, we are an impatient bunch, aren't we? May I recommend this delightful book:

http://www.mcelhearn.com/images/articles/20050204161910384_1.gif

;)

Yes, Spry got skipped. I apologize for the chaos and the confusion over the rules. I blame myself for proposing to change the rules mid-game. I believe I know what Spry's 2nd round pick is going to be, and no one has picked it yet, so no harm, no foul. But let's stick to the order from now on, please.

[Norsk Troll]

While we are waiting, we can just pretend to be listening to Cage's 4′33″.

(And if I anyone feels my mention of that piece impinges on someone's potential selection, well, let me just say that anyone who would select that should be kicked out of the draft anyway!)

[Sachsen]

Copland and Rachmaninoff -- both great picks. Copland is right up there with Gershwin for the the title of Best American Composer, in my book. He has a couple of other works I might have selected before Appalachian Spring, but still a great pick. (By the way - one of my favorite renditions of the Shaker Hymn in this work is performed by Yo-Yo Ma and Alison Krauss: it's fantastic.)

Love the Rach concerto. One of the absolute best of the genre. Probably his best work overall with the possible exception of some of his solo piano pieces and his ******** ** *.

[Sachsen]

While we are waiting...

Feel free to continue commenting on others' picks as well - that's the best part of the draft, hearing peoples' thoughts, digs, and recommendations. No one's said anything about the Liszt or Carmina Burana for instance.

By the way, as soon as Spry picks I'll update the Big Board.