Sit back and smell the classics

That's right, I got some hard core classical music here. This ain't no tea party* with scones, this is a BAR ROOM BRAWL.

Not really. Still, I really like all this music and actually enjoy listening to it. Try it out! Astound your family and friends! Unless you're already an orchestra nerd, in which case, well. And I just realized that I have a lot of classical music I like, so there'll be a second installment. At some point.



Dvorak - New World Symphony, 1st Movement -- I don't know how many people will actually like this. I didn't think too much of it until we played it a lot in orchestra, and now I really like it, so. transnomad thinks it's good though! At least, he would if he could hear it.

Paganini Caprice performed by Yo-Yo Ma -- Unfortunately, I don't know which caprice this is, but oh well. Maybe there's only the one. And now, some random musical history! Some people thought Paganini was so good at playing the violin that he'd sold his soul to the devil. (He was pretty ugly, too. If I remember correctly, he had a really huge nose, and I think his fingers were shorter than usual, which was part of the reason no one thought he could play the violin so fast and well without supernatural help.)

And now you don't have to read anything more about the history of anybody, mostly because I don't really know anymore.

Handel - La Rejouissance from Royal Fireworks Music -- Played this one in orchestra too! One of my favourite songs, because we French horns actually got a pretty awesome part. (Of course, we always got better parts in orchestra than in band.) I don't actually think this version has any French horns in it, but it's okay, because coming up next, we have...

Vivaldi - French Horn Duet -- French horn duet, baby! Some people don't like the way horns sound. Matter of preference. This is one of the less rawkin' pieces, but good for pretty background music (although it's Baroque, so that means it's not all flow-y and smooth, but we're getting back into the wishy-washy realm of music history that I don't really know much about. Yo.) (...I could talk about what baroque itself means, but I learned that in Art History, so that's a whole 'nother kettle of fish.)

Mozart - Symphony No. 25 in G minor -- I'm pretty sure I played this in orchestra too. I, uh, I like minor pieces? Yeah, I can't think of anything more to say for this. I really like this one too! And I think you would! Yes, YOU!

Camille Saint-Seans - Bacchanale -- Bacchanale is from a French operetta Samson and Delilah. You may have heard of it. I think I have, but heck if I actually know anything about it. Let's pretend it's about Samson and Delilah, two young people who are madly in love. It's a tragedy, though, so something bad has to happen. Something like a runaway carriage smashing through a barn, THE BARN THE YOUNG LOVERS ARE IN, JUST ABOUT TO ENGAGE IN THEIR FIRST PASSIONATE KISS. THEN THEY DIE

Classical - 7th Symphony -- I'm ashamed to admit that I have no clue who composed this. Beethoven? Someone else? I just don't know! If anyone else out there knows, please let me know! Anyway, it's really short -- less than two and a half minutes, I kid you not. So if you're one of those uppity, impatient youth of today, THIS IS THE SONG FOR YOU

Vanessa Mae - Dance of Pales -- Vanessa Mae is awesome. She's got an electric violin, and more importantly, SPUNK. And uppity youth. This doesn't really show off her spunk, but it's still pretty awesome. Also? It is a REMIX of a song from CASTLEVANIA. The VIDEO GAME. Hoorah! (Note: I've never played Castlevania, but still. I gotta support the video game musicry.)

Vanessa Mae - Flight of the Bumblebee -- Originally by Rimsky-Korsikov. Vanessa Mae is all about the techno and furious fiddlin's here. I've heard a lot of impressive versions of this song, but I think Glen Miller's interpretation sticks in my mind the most. I did not know it was possible to play so fast on a brass instrument. Anyway! Next time, I'll have another Vanessa Mae song, the REALLY techno one, but I wanted to put up the original for comparison and I am just running out of room. So. Yeah.


This entry was brought to you by the number 5, and the word spunky. Respect the music and artists, even if they're dead. Except for Vanessa Mae, she's still alive I think. AND SHE NEEDS YOUR RESPECT


* No offense to tea drinkers. Tea parties are full of teh cool.