Military marches are a strange breed of music. Pompous, patriotic and mostly idiotic.
Preußens Gloria is the most famous German soundtrack for war. It has been used and abused for almost anything.
I think Glen Miller did the American troops and all soldiers a great service when he played his own compositions instead of the traditional crap - while those poor souls marched to their deaths.
I think everybody know that piece - it has been used and abused on TV all the time. I love ‘Peer Gynt‘ - it’s a great story and great music.
Ed just sent me another great video link. This is pure beauty. It is always amazing to watch someone really able to play his instrument. Breathtaking!
Thanks Ed!
“Hell is in Hello”
Oh boy, I didn’t like the movie “Paint your Wagon” that much, but this song is superb.
Now I perfectly understand why people took so many drugs in the 60’s and 70’s. This would be the perfect outfit for any anti-idol-contest today.
I am not a big Jazz fan - but believe me I have tried. But somehow it just doesn’t stick to my ears. Nevertheless there are many jazz songs I really love. ‘The Girl from Ipanema‘ from 1962 is one of them. This song is for me the essence of the 60’s James Bond Jetset lifestyle.
Chopin’s Etudes were a new system of technical piano play (whatever that means - I suck at anything music). BUT … these 27 pieces of music are quite original. So here is one of them.
Frederik Chopin - Etude c-moll Op. 25 No. 12 played by Leonald Kaidja a great Estonian pianist. Please visit his website for loads of great music.
Henry Mancini is for me one of the most underappreciated composers of the last century. His themes like the ‘Pink Panther’ or songs like ‘Moon River’ are true classics. But such masters of film music are hardly remembered and honored.
So enjoy another of his classic.
More? Buy it at Amazon
Well, I am a big fan of Mozart’s “Die Zauberflöte” and I just wanted to post ONE video of the scene when Papageno finally meets his Papagena. One of the most charming and heartwarming scenes ever in Opera. But while searching one thing lead to another on YouTube.
So here I give you the good, the bad and the ugly. As anyone into classical music will tell you it’s all about performance and interpretation. And boy, some of these interpretation make you laugh with joy and some make you cry.
So if you have some time then dive into some Mozartology … all videos afther the fold …
New York, Manfred Hemm and Barbara Kilduff. One of my all time favs: old school stage design, charming singers and a lot of joy. Maybe the best performance in this set.
I am a big fan of symphonic soundtracks - they are the next best thing to classical music. The Godzilla soundtrack is pretty cool, has some great cheesy themes and moods. Just turn on that soundtrack and imagine yourself destroying Tokyo or Osaka.
Or watch this super cool old Godzilla trailer. Or watch this original Japanese Trailer for Godzilla vs Gigan. Ah, the joy of destruction!
More? Godzilla @Wikipedia or a gazillion video on YouTube
Leonard Bernstein was simply a fucking genius. I say that in that manner, because he fully indulged life and art with all naughty aspects.
Candide is actually very old material compared to his very modern ‘West Side Story’. It is based on novella by Voltaire. It first opened 1956 - and it’s 50th anniversary was celebrated by a special performance in Paris last year.
Watch the big master conduct the song "Glitter And Be Gay" himself. Or click the player below to hear the overture.
More? Buy the DVD at Amazon or read the great Guide to Candide
European classical music is great - when you ignore about a thousand years of religious singsang. Literally for centuries composers were obliged to repeat the same topics over and over again: kyrie eleison (Greek for ‘Lord have mercy’) etc.
Musical freedom and the development of more complex music came AFTER the catholic church had lost it’s stranglehold on ‘popular culture of the middle ages’. Actually the protestant revolution actually helped a lot to trigger that change.
Today when we hear real and fake Gregorian Monks chant it - it sooths our hectic souls. The new age movement has totally swallowed that old Christian groove. There are even pop versions of it - the group ‘Enigma’ has made a very healthy living from it.
But overall have you heard one Kyrie Eleison you heard them all.
More? Kyrie @ Wikipedia
I think art is important and some sacrifices have to be made to achieve great works of it. But not my balls! Castrati singers have been all the rage in 17th to 18th century Italy - and thousands were castrated to reach that special high note. Ouch!
Here is an excellent BBC article on the subject which also includes a link to a small audio file of a Castrati singing. The only recording that exists!
More? Castrati @ Wikipedia
Hardcore teutonic culture: poem by Goethe and music by Franz Schubert - sung by some dramatic wagnerian female voice. You’ll find the poem after the break.
If you actually have problems understanding the lyrics - you are not alone. German often is terrible when sung, especially in dramatic Operas when they distort every word (I am looking at you Richard Wagner!). Still a nice piece of Leitkultur.
Click the player below to start the screaming.
Female version:
Male version:
More? Wikipedia
Taken from here - where you can find some more persian record designs. I adore these bright colours and here candy like house wife styling.
I am a big Mozart fan. So sit back, click the player below and enjoy “Se vuol ballare” from “The Marriage of Figaro”. Short, charming and elevating!
Links: Wikipedia
