5-10-12 - "Morning Mood (Peer Gynt)" ~ Edvard Grieg

Tonight's special: a flash mob on a train.  Copenhagen Philharmonic playing Grieg's "Morning Mood" from "Peer Gynt" (you'll recognize the tune from countless movies / cartoons / commercials).  Flash mobs are so 2011, in a way.  But still, this is a pretty good concept - bringing classical music to commuters to brighten up their morning.  Interesting note: in the original play "Peer Gynt", the scene for which this was written has something to do with fending off a swarm of apes...


Anyway, the flash mob video:

And a piano version of the music:

11-5-11 - "The 1812 Overture" ~ Tchaikovsky

"Remember, remember the Fifth of November,

The Gunpowder Treason and Plot,

I know of no reason

The Gunpowder Treason

Should ever be forgot."

It's the Fifth of November, and if you're like me, you may watch V for Vendetta tonight.  Mostly because Natalie Portman looks good even with a shaved head, but also because of Occupy Wall Street - standing up to The Man, fighting against... wait, what are we fighting against?  Hopefully something bad...


The movie is about a totalitarian government in the UK in a futuristic dystopian society, and a vigilante who fights against the evils of said government, wearing a Guy Fawkes mask symbolically in reference to Fawkes' efforts to overthrow the British government centuries ago.  There could be a lot of debate about the meaning of the film and the motives of the characters, as well as the justness of their causes.  It's interesting to note the religious side of the original Gunpowder Treason - Fawkes was part of a group of Catholics trying to overthrow a Protestant government and restore Catholicism's power backed by the British crown.  So depending on whether you consider Protestants to be tantamount to Totalitarians...


Of further interest is the use of the end of Russian composer Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture at the climax of the film.  The score has become popular in America and is often used in a patriotic sense here, and it's somewhat implicit in the movie that V is using it to stand for freedom and patriotism as well.  However, despite what most Americans likely think, the music was not composed to celebrate American victory over Britain in The War of 1812 (hmm, more irony that a British freedom fighter would use it, if that were true).  Believe it or not, there was more than one war going on in that year, and Tchaikovsky was actually telling the story of the failed attack by Napoleon's army on Moscow, and celebrating the defense of the Russian city.  Hence the elements of the French national anthem and "God Save the Tsar" within the music.


Bottom line, it's a fine piece of classical music, and the final few minutes - complete with cannon fire which is called out in the score - are spectacular.  To quote the great Calvin: "And they perform this in crowded concert halls??"

I'd love to debate the historical, political, and religious ramifications of all this information with you some time, but for now, just enjoy the music, and remember to stand for what you believe in.

And here's the last two minutes, for those of you who aren't patient enough for the whole thing:

And here's the <SPOILER ALERT> final scene from the film.

8-21-11 - "Piano Trio No. 5 in D major ("Ghost"), Op. 70 No. 1" ~ Ludwig van Beethoven

I was privileged to be invited to a house recital ("chamber music", if you will) this afternoon.  A friend of my brother's from their time at the University of Pittsburgh invited us to attend.  He is a pretty talented pianist, and was performing with a few other fine gentlemen. They began with some Prokofiev and some Brahms waltzes, but this piece by Beethoven was the focal point of the recital.  It's quite enjoyable, a trio featuring piano, cello, and violin with lively first and third movements bookending the largo second movement.  For portions, the piano lays the foundation for the cello and violin to trade soaring melodies in a friendly sparring match.  At other times, the strings cede the spotlight to the intricate fingering of the keys.  It's two parts excitement, one part gentle and elegant beauty, and I highly recommend you listen to the entire work, although it clocks around 25 minutes so you may want to just give the first movement a go for now if you're pressed for time.  If you do that, be sure to come back for the rest - it makes perfect background music for some reading or relaxation!


 Piano Trio No. 5 in D major ("Ghost"), Op. 70 No. 1

7-1-11 - "William Tell Overture" ~ Gioachino Rossini

You've heard this one, or at least parts of it.  Guaranteed.  It's the overture to a classic piece of classical music - the opera Guillaume Tell.  The third movement, "Call to the Cows", is fairly commonly used in various media outlets, so I bet you've heard it - kind of a "waking up on an early spring morning" feel, used in a Disney cartoon, and I'm pretty sure it was also used in a Bugs Bunny cartoon in that type of setting.  The fourth movement is the part you've definitely heard - it was the theme song for The Lone Ranger (Radio and TV programs), and is used in movies, TV, etc. and sampled by musicians for hip-hop tracks and whatnot.


The full 12-minute overture is good, with the slower first and third movements setting the stage for "The Storm" (second movement) and the finale (the Lone Ranger part) and their fast-paced excitement:


Here it is on Grooveshark:  "William Tell Overture"


You should also read up on the Legend of William Tell - he seems like he was a pretty cool dude, standing up against tyrannical rulers and whatnot.  Yea, he's the one who shot an apple off the head of his son with a crossbow, thanks to the tyrannical ruler's being a jerkface.  Pretty rad dude, that William Tell...

3-13-11 "Moonlight Sonata" ~ Ludwig van Beethoven

I'm giving you something different tonight - a classic piece of classical music.  Even if you're not into classical music, you've probably heard the first movement of Beethoven's "Piano Sonata No. 14 in C# Minor" in a movie or something, as the popular name "Moonlight Sonata" is frequently used as a soundtrack.  Beethoven was one of the most incredible composers mankind has ever known, not only for his actual works, but for how he continued composing after going deaf.  His life story is well worth studying.  


The Moonlight Sonata is just one of many of his works which I love, but it's the one you're getting tonight.  It was dedicated to a young student of his, the Countess Giulietta Guicciardi, with whom Beethoven was said to have been in love.  The first movement is the part you'll likely recognize, the second movement acts as a bridge, and the third movement builds on the theme and just goes nuts.  This makes for good background music whilst reading or blogging or what have you, but it's also fun to actually watch the master pianist (Wilhelm Kempff) at work, as his hands are flying across the keys, and his facial expressions are quite impressive - you can tell his soul resonates with the notes he plays, and he throws in a couple humorous looks as well.


If you don't have the time or patience for 16 minutes of brilliance, I recommend at least catching the first movement (5 1/2 minutes) and hitting the 8:05 mark for a quick taste of the third movement.  


Classical music is not "boring" or "irrelevant" or dated.  Some classical pieces convey more about the human experience than the finest wordsmiths of our time could possibly hope to express.  Give it a listen, you might enjoy it more than you expect.


"Piano Sonata No. 14 in C# Minor" (link to Google Video)