fable's Q&A on classical music

[Moonbiter]

Originally Posted by Craig

I received some music form a friend, by Franz and Helmut Vonlitchen, Nara and Estremoz. I love them. Where can I find more.

And what does E.S Posthumus mean?

That should read Vonlichten, and if you do a Google for Helmut Vonlichten, you will get all the answers you need. Hardly classical, but they're pretty decent at gaming music and New Age'ish stuff.

[fable]

Both outside the classical parameters of this thread, Craig. Not that I have any objection to other musical genres--I've played Irish folk accordion, and reviewed jazz in the past--but As Moonbiter suggests, you can google for your answers.

[Craig]

It is? Oh, it does sound orchestral though...probably where the mix up was.

Did Camile Saint-Saens do any more music, or can you recommend anything similar?

[fable]

Originally Posted by Craig

It is? Oh, it does sound orchestral though...probably where the mix up was.

Did Camile Saint-Saens do any more music, or can you recommend anything similar?

Similar to what of Saint-Saens? He wrote and published well over a hundred works. Do you mean his Danse macabre?

[Craig]

Yeah, how'd you guess?

I really don't know much about this stuff!

[fable]

Originally Posted by Craig

Yeah, how'd you guess?

I really don't know much about this stuff!

I guessed because Danse macabre is Saint-Saens' single most popular work in modern times, probably followed by his Carnival of the Animals. As to not knowing the stuff: well, we all lack a lot of knowledge about a lot of things. The special ones are the people who know nothing about anything, and those we insist should lead us.

But if you're looking for things like Danse macabre, I think you may want to check for The Sorceror's Apprentice, by Paul Dukas. It's a relatively short tone poem, just like Danse macabre, with very catchy themes, bright orchestration and rhythms, and brilliant construction that doesn't thrust itself into your face and demand you notice it. Both of them can be visualized as a sequence of events, so the music can be followed along with ease.

Saint-Saens wrote 4 tone poems, but I don't know that you would like the others. If it's the catchiness you want, I suggest the following:

Reznicek: Donna Diana Overture
Bedrich Smetana: The Moldau
Glinka: Ruslan and Ludmilla Overture
Nielsen: Helios Overture
Bernstein: Candide Overture
Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade
Borodin: In the Steppes of Central Asia
Hornemann: Aladdin Overture
Grieg: Peer Gynt suites
Berlioz: Roman Carnival Overture

Try those, for starters. You might even find copies to listen to at a local library. Let me know what you like and don't, and I'll attempt more recommendations accordingly--or fall on my sword, if I fail.

[Craig]

Bright orchestration and rhythms, and brilliant construction that doesn't thrust itself into your face and demand you notice it.

I'd have said that Danse de la Macabre was fairly dark, and it did thrust it self in your face which made it powerful.

I'll look through your recommendations, and see what I like.

[fable]

Originally Posted by Craig

I'd have said that Danse de la Macabre was fairly dark, and it did thrust it self in your face which made it powerful.

Dark? Interesting characterization. I would have said it was grimly humorous. That was very appropriate in the early Renaissance, by the way, when you could live for 70 years, or die tomorrow, and when "small" epidemics regularly passed through portions of Europe every couple of decades. A early Renaissance folktale like that lying behind Danse macabre was a defense mechanism, as much as anything else, a way of laughing at death, by personifying it.

But if you want dark, let me know.

[Craig]

I had no idea it was grimly humorous. I don't listen to it that often, and what I most have stuck in my head is the starting part, which sounds dark to me.

And yes I would like dark, if you have any suggestions.

[fable]

Originally Posted by Craig

I had no idea it was grimly humorous. I don't listen to it that often, and what I most have stuck in my head is the starting part, which sounds dark to me.

The idea of skeletons waltzing in pairs in a graveyard? That's grimly humorous. You want dark? Try looking at newsreels of what's going on at this moment in Sudan. Rape, slaughter, the destruction of tens of thousands of lives. That's dark, that's happening every single day, and it's real.

As for classical music that's dark:

Purcell: Music for the Funeral of Queen Mary
Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 6
Faure: Pavane
Schumann: Manfred Overture
Chopin: Piano Sonatas No. 2, 3
Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 2
Shostakovich: Symphonies No. 8, 13, 14; Quartets No. 8, 11-15
Beethoven: Coriolan Overture
Mendelssohn: Hebrides Overture

Try those, for starters.

[Craig]

Ahh, now I see what you mean. Although I'd say Sudan wasn't dark, but horrible. Dark is walking haunting and creepy.

Thanks for the suggestions

[fable]

Originally Posted by Craig

Ahh, now I see what you mean. Although I'd say Sudan wasn't dark, but horrible. Dark is walking haunting and creepy.

Thanks for the suggestions

No problem. Haunting? If you can enjoy operas, you might try:

Marschner: Der Vampyr
Britten: The Turn of the Screw
Hindemith: Cardillac

These are seriously creepy works.

[Craig]

I'll try and give them a look

[Moonbiter]

I'm slightly sloshed, but I felt the need to convey this: At 23:30 tonight, Oslo, this tiny little burg of only 450 000 people, opened one of the largest opera houses and classical stages in the world. 30 years of political drivel and a stupendous amount of money burnt, and we've finally reached closure. Coolest moment? When 630 people involved in the building of the place stood on stage in their work-outfits and sang Verdi's "Slave Choir." Yes, I shed a tear. Big ole' softie that I am.