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

[Sachsen]

Rules and discussion of proceedings are located here. (http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=407741) (Also go there if you are a latecomer and still want to join in.)

Draft order for the first round is as follows:
DoctorD
Haole
Norsk Troll
Iceblink
scottinkc
Karl K
sachsen
Smiley321
GringoTex
sardus_pater
Michael K.
NGV
YankHibee
Panfilo

First round: you pick in order. Drafters who don't pick within 10 hours are skipped, but can post their pick whenever they return.
Second Round: You can pick at the earlier of (a) your turn, or (b) the expiration of your own personal 24 hour clock. Everyone's first 24 hour clock begins when the final drafter of Round 1 selects (or his 10 hour clock expires, whichever comes first).
Third and Later Rounds: You can pick at the earlier of (a) your turn, or (b) the expiration of your own personal 24 hour clock, which began at the time of your previous selection.

(Thanks to Norsk Troll for the succinct explanation.)

DoctorD is on the clock starting at 0430 Greenwich Mean Time. (That's 8:30pm Pacific, 11:30pm Eastern, for you Ameri-philes) ;)
His clock expires ten hours later, after which Haole is on the clock.

[Sachsen]

By the way, a couple things I forgot to mention:

-- Please refrain from mentioning undrafted composers or works. If you must, use asterisks, for example:

"I can't BELIEVE you picked *********'s ********* number * instead of his earlier, number *! What a frickin' IDIOT!"

-- I kicked around the idea of asking everyone to post some album cover art of a recommended recording, but decided against it because invariably, the cover art lists other works on the same album, which would violate the other rule above. So just mention your recommended recording, and hold the jpgs, please.

-- Please do post a summary along with your pick, preferably one you wrote yourself (rather than copied and pasted from Wikipedia or some other such source.) I don't mean posting a philosophical or historical essay on the importance or metaphysical coolness of your work/composer, but rather your own impressions of why you like it and why you consider it important enough to include in YOUR draft.

[Iceblink]

Am I missing something, or did we stall out on the first pick of the first day of drafts?

[Haole]

'Le Sacre du Printemps' (1913), Stravinsky


I still remember the first time I heard this piece and how intense my reaction was. One of the major pieces of 20th century music. A showpiece for major orchestras, I was fortunate to hear this in Boston several times and would prop for Ozawa's interpretation any day. A thrilling piece to hear in a great hall.

Thirty-plus years later I still listen, study and wonder about it's wild rhythms, staggering orchestration and beautiful melodies. Stravinsky has held me captive for many years and 'Sacre' remains one of my all-time favorites.

[Sachsen]

'Le Sacre du Printemps' (1913), Stravinsky


I still remember the first time I heard this piece and how intense my reaction was. One of the major pieces of 20th century music. A showpiece for major orchestras, I was fortunate to hear this in Boston several times and would prop for Ozawa's interpretation any day. A thrilling piece to hear in a great hall.

Thirty-plus years later I still listen, study and wonder about it's wild rhythms, staggering orchestration and beautiful melodies. Stravinsky has held me captive for many years and 'Sacre' remains one of my all-time favorites.

Whoa - cool pick. I wasn't expecting that to go in the first round, but you can't argue with its "wow" factor or its historical importance. I bet there are a few other drafters ticked off at you now, thinking this one would be safe for awhile...

(By the way, blame it on Disney, but everytime I hear this, I think of dinosaurs.) :D

Norsk Troll is up. (And DoctorD can post his pick at any time.)

[Sachsen]

Just as a reminder, PM the next guy in line after you make your pick.

[Norsk Troll]

Am I missing something, or did we stall out on the first pick of the first day of drafts?Yeah, I think this is a first for Big Soccer Drafts - the #1 Draft Pick is left sitting while the clock expires.

Of course, it's still better than using it on Steve Shak.

[DoctorD]

Whoa guys. Usually I'm asleep after 11 pm!

My first pick is Beethoven's 7th symphony.

I've got three recordings: Ashkenazy and the Philharmonia Orchestra of London; Rattle and the Vienna Philhamonic; and somebody else on a cassette tape. Ashkenazy is superb, low cost, and highly recommended. Avoid Rattle at all costs - you'll fall asleep listening to it.

edit: oh yes - the summary. Just about the perfect symphony: compelling melodies; a variety of styles; all four movements keep your interest. Need I say more?

[Norsk Troll]

Yes, I am ticked off at Haole, as I did have that slotted in my line-up for a later round. But hey, that's the fun of the draft.

With my #1 selection (#3 overall), I'm going to select one which is not my personal #1 choice, but is something which is more likely to be taken early. I won't discuss the various pros and cons of this work in relation to the composer's other works, since I'm sure some of them are going to be taken later too, and I don't want to affect those choices (EDIT: I just see that I was nearly scooped by the returning DoctorD). But I re-listened to several of them again yesterday, to verify that I felt the same way, and I'm still of the opinion that this selection resonates most with me of all his works. Perhaps it is the use of the human voice, which will undoubtedly be a theme in my selections, as I find the human voice to be the most versatile of all instruments for varying and conveying tone, shading, and ultimately meaning. Therefore, without further ado, I give you:

Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125

by Ludwig van Beethoven

http://www.beethoven.ws/images/b1.jpg

[Sachsen]

Yes, I am ticked off at Haole, as I did have that slotted in my line-up for a later round. But hey, that's the fun of the draft.

With my #1 selection (#3 overall), I'm going to select one which is not my personal #1 choice, but is something which is more likely to be taken early. I won't discuss the various pros and cons of this work in relation to the composer's other works, since I'm sure some of them are going to be taken later too, and I don't want to affect those choices (EDIT: I just see that I was nearly scooped by the returning DoctorD). But I re-listened to several of them again yesterday, to verify that I felt the same way, and I'm still of the opinion that this selection resonates most with me of all his works. Perhaps it is the use of the human voice, which will undoubtedly be a theme in my selections, as I find the human voice to be the most versatile of all instruments for varying and conveying tone, shading, and ultimately meaning. Therefore, without further ado, I give you:

Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125

by Ludwig van Beethoven

Rock on. And a recommended recording? I have a soft spot for Bernstein in Berlin.

And I can't believe you made it through discussing the 9th without mentioning:

http://www.filmsite.org/posters/cloc4.jpg

Iceblink is up.

[Norsk Troll]

And a recommended recording?

I am partial to the Claudio Abbado recording with the Berlin Philharmoniker, from 2000 (in fact, I like his whole cycle of Beethoven with them).

[Via_Chicago]

I am partial to the Claudio Abbado recording with the Berlin Philharmoniker, from 2000 (in fact, I like his whole cycle of Beethoven with them).

Yes, it's an excellent recording, far better than that by his predecessor at the Berlin Philharmonic, Herbert von Karajan. Oh, and thanks for taking it with the third pick. To me, that's like getting Jordan with the third pick.

Edit: Or Citizen Kane for that matter. Geez, what's with the third pick?

[DoctorD]

Yes, it's an excellent recording, far better than that by his predecessor at the Berlin Philharmonic, Herbert von Karajan. Oh, and thanks for taking it with the third pick. To me, that's like getting Jordan with the third pick.

Edit: Or Citizen Kane for that matter. Geez, what's with the third pick?The problem is that Beethoven's 9th Symphony is not a team player. Beethoven's Ninth Symphony is that guy who says "There's no 'I' in team, but there is a 'me'". Norsk Troll is just assembling a Real-Madrid-esque bunch of overpaid galacticos who have no sense of team play and who will eventually prove to be less than the sum of their parts.

[Norsk Troll]

So ... you're saying that Beethoven's 7th Symphony is Richie Williams? ;)

[Norsk Troll]

'Le Sacre du Printemps' ... t's wild rhythms, staggering orchestration and beautiful melodies. Funny story, as long as we're waiting ... <coughICEBLINKcough> ...

Back in my fraternity days, there was a guy that occasionally would drop acid, and then come to my room for some reason to mellow out. So one night, tired of him as usual, I put on the second part of Le Sacre du Printemps, the Sacrifice, which starts out rather quiet and mysterious, and needless to say he really thought that it was cool. I had the volume fairly low at this point. I let him settle in for the first eight minutes or so, and just happen to be by the volume control in time to ratchet it way, way up as they reach the timpani and bass drum strikes that begin the frenetic "Glorification of the Chosen One" section. The guy nearly shit himself, which would have been unfortunate as he was laying on my bed at the time. The beat and back-beat rhythm of the drums in that pulsing section become for one moment the panting breath of a horrid monster, with the horn blasts it's braying call is it chased him, then they became his own heart beating in his hand. It went on for a while like this until I felt sorry for him and turned the volume back down. It took over an hour to bring him down, he was freaking out so bad.

I don't know if he ever dropped acid again - he probably did. But he never came to see me after doing it again.

[Sachsen]

Funny story, as long as we're waiting ... <coughICEBLINKcough> ...

Back in my fraternity days, there was a guy that occasionally would drop acid, and then come to my room for some reason to mellow out. So one night, tired of him as usual, I put on the second part of Le Sacre du Printemps, the Sacrifice, which starts out rather quiet and mysterious, and needless to say he really thought that it was cool. I had the volume fairly low at this point. I let him settle in for the first eight minutes or so, and just happen to be by the volume control in time to ratchet it way, way up as they reach the timpani and bass drum strikes that begin the frenetic "Glorification of the Chosen One" section. The guy nearly shit himself, which would have been unfortunate as he was laying on my bed at the time. The beat and back-beat rhythm of the drums in that pulsing section become for one moment the panting breath of a horrid monster, with the horn blasts it's braying call is it chased him, then they became his own heart beating in his hand. It went on for a while like this until I felt sorry for him and turned the volume back down. It took over an hour to bring him down, he was freaking out so bad.

I don't know if he ever dropped acid again - he probably did. But he never came to see me after doing it again.

You can catch it tonight on the latest episode of America's Funniest College Home Videos!

[Iceblink]

Funny story, as long as we're waiting ... <coughICEBLINKcough> ...


Hehe. I was here before.. who knew when people would start?

Anyway, I'll post in a couple minutes.

Oh my god.... this is waaaaaaaay harder than I thought it would be. I want to make all 10 of my selections now so you dirty bastards don't steal them! If I make one... someone will take another! ACK!

OK.... well... I'll hope for the best. This one was the first I thought of when the draft was started, so I'll go with it.

I dig Baroque. This series of Baroque suites is probably one of the most popular. I've always loved it. I remember, when I was younger, I actually asked a customer service rep to put me BACK on hold so I could listen to some more.

One of the cool things about it is that it is Baroque, but there's no harpsichord in it. I don't mind harpsichord, but sometimes it's a distration. This piece relies heavily on the horns... and I love it.

So my first choice, if you hadn't guessed already is................

Handel's Water Music

[Sachsen]

ROUND 1
1. DoctorD -- L.v. Beethoven Symphony No. 7
2. Haole -- I. Stravinsky Le Sacre du Printemps
3. Norsk Troll -- L.v. Beethoven Symphony No. 9
4. Iceblink -- G.F. Handel Water Music Suite
5. scottinkc --
6. Karl K --
7. sachsen --
8. Smiley321 --
9. GringoTex --
10. sardus_pater --
11. Michael K. --
12. NGV --
13. YankHibee --
14. Panfilo --

[Sachsen]

And we have our first violation of the "don't-post-jpgs-because-they-might-give-away-unpicked-works" rule -- way to go, Iceblink! ;)

I've asked bmurphyfl to delete the image.

That said, good call on the Handel - one of my earliest favorites as well, although it has since been eclipsed by a lot of other Baroque works, none of which y'all are going to pick, right?....

[Iceblink]

And we have our first violation of the "don't-post-jpgs-because-they-might-give-away-unpicked-works" rule -- way to go, Iceblink! ;)

What're you talking about? I didn't post a jpeg!


;)

Wait. You mean this one?

http://www.neptoon.com/vinylcd/images/chilliwack.jpg