I could not live without... CLASSICAL MUSIC

They were some of the biggest entertainers of their day. And most of the baroque and classical composers actually did compose what they were told to compose. Royals or ecclesiastical leaders would commission a specific piece, and although the composers weren't bound by imagines on a screen, they still often didn't have the freedom to compose whatever they would have liked. Bach was a great violinist, and wrote wonderfully virtuoso violin pieces - but not very many of them. I think he only composed 2-3 violin concertos in his life. I'm not sure of all the reasons for that, but he surely would have composed many more if that's what he was commissioned to do.



That's appropriately worded. Not only was Beethoven not bound by a film - he was also one of the first who did not work primarily for a royal family or the church. One of my favorite stories about him (and I hope I'm not spreading legends here) was when a king complained about something Beethoven had written and Beethoven dismissed his criticism by telling him something like, "There are many kings, but there is only one Beethoven." I don't think many composers prior to Beethoven would have spoken to a king like that.

Hahah love it. Give those kings' smug a kick in the ass

Beethoven certainly spoke the truth.
Tom

I agree

Man, I love 'Pines of Rome'. Not into much classical either but this piece is just so 'filmic' if you know what I mean.
I'm sure Robert will have to say more about this than I can.

As for a recommendation I can give: The Planets (Gustav Holst). Fantastic music. Many versions exist, there even is a John Williams conducted version.

"Scheherazade" by Rimsky-Korsakov, is the tale of the 1001 nights. It is filled with melodies, romantic times, and heroic action. You can download for free by going to http://rediscovery.us/conductors.html and finding RD 066. The conductor is Morton Gould. Rimsky-Korsakov would have been a fine writer for Hollywood. He was a master of orchestration and his book on the subject is still used in music today. Depending on how you feel about this work and what you write back will help me decide what the next one will be. I would start with one and listen several times and then make a decision. Hope this helps.
Tom

good to hear. Check out that classical piece

First of all the website is 100% legitimate. All of the recordings offered for download are in public domain so enjoy them.

Rimsky-Korsakoff's (another name spelling) 2nd Symphony 'Antar' is a fine addition to any classical collection. It is located right underneath Scheherazade. The number is RD013.

Some of his works are like soundtracks because they have a story and he envisions what is going on in his head and then writing about it. Another example is he wrote 16 operas and each one has a fine overture (no singing) for each one. Flight of the Bumble Bee came from the opera The Tale of the Tsar Sultan.
Tom

Public domain, of course. I forgot.

If you enjoy Respighi then you'll love this absolutely mind-blowing performance of the Roman Festivals

-Erik-

Dear friends,

I just noticed that you want me to give more details about the music I love the most (if I have to write this down I need several pages, but I can give you a very selected list of my favourites) : First there is "Das Wohltemperirte Clavier" from J.S. Bach : 48 preludes en 48 fugues (playing time : more than 4 hours) of immense beauty: the song-cycle "4 letzte Lieder" from Richard Strauss (what an incredible and the most deepest sensation in the 4 songs, from Spring until the announcement of the coming death of the composer); Mozart's opera "Die Zauberflöte" : a continuity of the most beautiful aria's ever written; Stravinsky "Le sacre du printemps" a milestone in modern classical music; Beethoven's 5 last string quartets where the composer announces a complete new vision on the future of his art; Mahler's "Das Lied von der Erde" a tribute to life and nature; I feel I have to stop here but there is so much left which will be for another occasion. Feel free to react and let me know your opinion. Until very soon.

Robert

Rite of Spring was certainly a lot riskier. My music history is a little rusty; I know Rhapsody in Blue is one of the first concert works to incorporate jazz, but I don't think it was the first, was it? Certainly it's pretty populist compared to Stravinsky.

As to which had more impact, well speaking in film music terms (which are really the only terms I can speak in), I certainly think action music would be nowhere without Stravinsky, and you hear his influence all over the place in both subtle and obvious ways. Hell, even last year's Mission: Impossible score had a Stravinskian passage at one point!

One of my favorite works. It'd be a dream come true for me personally if Mahler's ghost scored my death.

Hello everyone,

Many thanks for your reactions : to respond to Tom's reaction about the difference between The Rite of Spring and Rhapsody in Blue.
There is no doubt about it that The Rite of Spring had a much greater impact on the evolution of Classical music : this is a work of immense power, which brought us a completely new approach of what music should sound like : this was never heard before (cfr the scandal in Paris). I must say the more I listen to that work the more I adore it. By the way : all of Stravinsky's works is of such a high level that one would be "haunted" to buy all the recordings. The Rhapsody in Blue by Gershwin has his importance in approaching Jazz to the Classical world and it is a great work but not as great as the Stravinsky's masterpiece.
About Mahler and Richard Strauss (two of my very favourite composers) : they also brought new and touching visions of the evolution of symphonies (Mahler) and opera (R. Strauss).
In my list of yesterday I forgot to mention - above others - two other works (songcycles) that stroke me immediately deep in my heart and bones : Robert Schumann's "Dichterliebe" and Franz Schubert's "Winterreise". These are creations of beauty, hope, despair and sorrow. Try to listen to it and a new world will be opened to your senses.
Later on, more comments on other masterpieces which stole my heart and the rest of my body..
Until soon.

Robert

My thought was that this work is performed by symphony orchestras and I think it introduced people to the world of classical music something that cannot be said of The Rite of Spring. Did you know that Ferde Grofe, composer of the Grand Canyon Suite, did the arranging and orchestration.