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Post by Poofiemus on May 16, 2007 16:37:08 GMT -5
The one ring has EVOLVED! It is now...The one harpsichord. Speaking of older instruments, I wanted to make some classical music reccomendations. Keep in mind, I tend to prefer Russian music from the late 1800's to the early 1900's, so technically it's not classical, but I think only Pipe Organ will really care. Anyway, first I'd like to reccomend Dvorak's New World Symphony. It runs the full gammut/gammet/howevertheheckyouspellit from slow and bittersweet to faster and dramatic. Ah, I loves it. Second, Stravinsky's Rite of Spring. There's an abbreviated version of it in the first Fantasia, you know, the dinosaur segment, but if you can find the full version there's some cool little bits they cut out. It was originally a 35 minute ballet, and at the ballet's premier in Paris in 1917 there was actually a riot at the theater before it could conclude. People say rock n' roll makes people violent, but I think Rite of Spring is an excellent counter-argument, as I've never heard of a riot breaking out at a rock concert! Also, I'd like to reccomend Rachmoninov's Third Piano Concerto, also known simply as the Rach 3. I love the whole thing, but I'm particularly in love with the first movement. It's considered the most difficult piano piece ever written, and it's beautiful. According to iTunes, I've listened to the first movement 57 times, which is a lot when it's 16 minutes long. ...*goes and listens to her classical music*
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Post by Pipe Organ Wolf on May 16, 2007 16:57:33 GMT -5
Ah yes. In one of his books, Copland constantly refers to it as the "Riot of Spring." From what I've read, although sexuality is a common theme in most music, Stravinski's primalism was considered to border on the obscene. A male friend of mine used to do quite the interpretive dance to the RofS, and I suspect he's pretty close to what the original choreography was.
And the Dvorak is amazing. He's another of my faves. I'm not as schooled in Rach as I should be, especially considering I'm a pianist.
Poofie, since you seem to like the turn-of-the-century Slavs, I'd like to recommend Bedrich Smetana, especially his symphonic cycle, "Ma Vlast" (My Country). It's a musical tour through what was Czechoslovakia. Like Dvorak, it covers the full spectrum of sounds. It's amazing. "Vlatava" (The Moldau) is probably the best-known piece, and it focuses on the Moldau's winding route through the country.
I made my BF laugh so hard when he pulled up in his truck with the harpsi in the back. I jumped into the truck before he'd even parked it and wrapped my arms around it. Sounding exactly like Gollum, I screamed "MY BIRTHDAY PRESENT!" Then, it was named. ;D
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Post by Poofiemus on May 20, 2007 2:40:47 GMT -5
Yeah, there's definitely a pattern, and that's without me mentioning Mussorgsky or Prokofiev! XD They're good ones, too. And that reminds me that I still need Peter and the Wolf!
I just sampled some bits of Smetana on iTunes. For some reason, only two movements of Ma Vlast came up, and only the mellow ones. But there's a lot of movements from The Bartered Bride that I'm totally digging. I'm a weirdo who likes a little discord in her orchestral music. =P I might ask my grandfather if he has any Smetana, though, because he has a huge classical collection and that allows me to get it for free.
Also, I finally loaded Phantom of the Opera, Jesus Christ Superstar, and Wicked onto my hard drive. I should have done that months ago. XD Especially Phantom and JCS, since I love them both. I only got into Wicked recently. I still need to buy audio of Joseph and the Amazing Tehcnicolor Dreamcoat, though.
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