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

[DoctorD]

Sorry. I am very confused about when exactly we can pick.

[scottinkc]

So whose turn is it? I have Iceblink's pick if it is his. Norsk was yours really 4'33"?

[Norsk Troll]

Um ... NO!

We're waiting on Sbry, who has until 6:15 pm tonight. Then I'm up, since DoctorD and Haole went already. If I have to leave before my time is up, I will PM my selection to Sachsen.

[Ghost]

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

Carmina Burana by Carl Orff.



Carl Orff
http://www.keyofz.com/keyofz/langley/orff2.jpg

Orff's famous (infamous?) 1937 symphonic and choral arrangement of a series of lost medieval songs written by renegade clerics dug up in a German monastery. A primal, at times aggressive, often ethereal arrangement. I've seen it compared to a classical music version of punk rock - simple, powerful and profane. The most famous passage, O Fortuna, is just a kick-butt driving song.

Cinematically, it's used in

http://www.canmag.com/images/front/people2/conan.jpg

Conan the Barbarian and, from what I've read, Salo, the Pier Paolo Pasolini film that I cannot post a pic of without having to card myself.

[Michael K.]

The most famous passage, O Fortuna, is just a kick-butt driving song.


Speaking of "kick-butt" fused to Carmina Burana (http://www.everydayshouldbesaturday.com/?p=2557)...this could probably be classified under "abuse of music." And children.

Not new to anyone who saw it on Deadspin or other blogs last week, but still mighty funny. And frightening.

Ah, nuts. Looks like it's down.

[Haole]

Carl Orff
http://www.keyofz.com/keyofz/langley/orff2.jpg

The most famous passage, O Fortuna, is just a kick-butt driving song.


When Conan hit I suddenly heard Orff all the time. 'Carmina' was the biggest classical hit since a..., um, German hit in a trippy sci-fi flick from a chess-playing film meister in the late '60's.

Friends who didn't know PDQ from JS were now buying big booming opera pieces, looking for a 'follow-up' hit for their collections. Funny stuff.

[Ghost]

When Conan hit I suddenly heard Orff all the time. 'Carmina' was the biggest classical hit since a..., um, German hit in a trippy sci-fi flick from a chess-playing film meister in the late '60's.

Friends who didn't know PDQ from JS were now buying big booming opera pieces, looking for a 'follow-up' hit for their collections. Funny stuff.

So I take it you agree with my assessment as a "kick-butt driving song?"

[Smiley321]

So I take it you agree with my assessment as a "kick-butt driving song?"

Not quite "Hells Bells" but a fine choice in any round, as far as I'm concerned

[Haole]

So I take it you agree with my assessment as a "kick-butt driving song?"

Utterly demonic.

I wonder if a 1,000 voice chorus and 350 pc. orchestra was Orff's orginal intent?

[YankHibee]

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!)

I was thinking about that for later in the draft when I'm out of ideas--Cage has some local connections, and I'll probably still hit him up mostly for that reason.

[YankHibee]

Anyway, to make up for my pick before, I'm taking Don Giovanni, music by Mozart and libretto by Lorenzo da Ponte. I'm not even sure where to begin...simply one of the finest pieces ever.

[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

Alright the summary

I am choosing the ones that personally attracted me to classical music.

This was was the first one.

Who can forget Bugs Bunny running around while the music progresses.

Later on I accidently came across this song while flipping through the radio. I instantly recognized it and pfffffffft my love for classical music has never left me.

I'm surprised Liszt hasn't gotten any more recognition yet?

He is in fact Chopin's daddy!!!!!!!!! :D

[Sachsen]

Sbry's clock is up.

Here is Norsk Troll's 3rd round pick, via proxy:

Symphony No. 8 in E-flat major

by Gustav Mahler

I could have picked any of a handful of symphonies by this, possibly my favourite, composer. Some of the individual movements of various symphonies are utterly wonderful, but overall, it is the 8th which holds me from start to finish more than the rest. And what a finish! As Mahler himself described it, “Try to imagine the whole universe beginning to ring and resound.” It never fails to squeeze me by the ribs, until my lungs are straining near to bursting.

But it is not just the overwhelming power of the ending – it is the exquisite capture in sound of Goethe’s text – better than any of the several romantic composers that attempted it. When the tenor begins "Blicket auf", you almost involuntarily do look up! “Das Ewig-Weibliche” is no-where better set to voice. At one point, even the delicate sounds of mandolins can be heard, underscoring the ethereal nature of the piece.

If you’ve never heard it, well, you're missing out. If it’s not to your taste, then I feel sorry for you – because you are obviously numb, cold and emotionless, and quite possible you are in fact, dead.

Iceblink is up!

[Sachsen]

Big Board has been updated.

[Iceblink]

Ok... for my third pick, I choose Felix Mendelssohn's Octet!!!

He composed it very young (teens I think), but I think it's one of the best.

I've seen it a couple times, and it's always held a place in my heart.

Pretty amazing work.

[scottinkc]

For my third pick, I choose

Beethoven- Piano concerto no.5

This is known as the Emperor concerto, and I can't think of a more apt title. The first adjectives that come my mind when describing it are "noble" and "majestic". Emperor indeed.

This was one of my earliest classical listens, but I no longer have the cassette tape, and so have no idea who performed on it (it had a blue cover, if that helps). One of the copies from the library has Rudolf Firkusny, with WIlliam Steinberg and the Pittsburgh Symphony, which I enjoy very much.

[Norsk Troll]

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

http://www.comedy-zone.net/images/people/comedians/borge-victor.jpg

"My next piece will be Hungarian Rhapsody. By Fliszt.

Er... F. Liszt"

[Haole]

http://www.comedy-zone.net/images/people/comedians/borge-victor.jpg

"My next piece will be Hungarian Rhapsody. By Fliszt.

Er... F. Liszt"


"I only know two tunes. One is "Claire de lune" and the other isn't."


Damn, what a great entertainer. His timing and sophisticated schtick were something else. Greatly missed.

[Karl K]

For my third pick, I choose

Beethoven- Piano concerto no.5

This is known as the Emperor concerto, and I can't think of a more apt title. The first adjectives that come my mind when describing it are "noble" and "majestic". Emperor indeed.

This was one of my earliest classical listens, but I no longer have the cassette tape, and so have no idea who performed on it (it had a blue cover, if that helps). One of the copies from the library has Rudolf Firkusny, with WIlliam Steinberg and the Pittsburgh Symphony, which I enjoy very much.

Ach du lieber!! That was going to be my pick next! Well, I will tell why this piece has some special meaning for me in another post.

[Sachsen]

*mutters* <Come on, Karl K, pick - so I can - so I can go to bed...>
;)