The Worst First!

[Wanderer]

Not even the Scherzo? For God's sake, Tasos, it's ASND Mendelssohn writ large! 

Emphatically not even the scherzo. I can tell that it's the galloping rhythms and rapid violin figurations that make you think of Mendelssohn, but that would be a very superficial take on similarity; and the tone, the melodies, the ethos are distinctively un-Mendelssohnian. In fact, the scherzo is based on a Danish folk ballad and the whole work was inspired by the same legends that also formed the basis of Schönberg's Gurrelieder. I seem to remember that Mendelssohn himself thought very highly of this symphony, which makes me think that it wouldn't be the case if he thought it was derivative of his own work. 😉

[Florestan]

For those who have never heard it: PDQ Bach's B5

@Florestan

Just listened to the whole thing. Brilliant! Many thanks for posting it, Jeffrey! 

The Danish conductor Heiliger Dankgesank --- LMAOL! That's the spirit!

[Karl Henning]

Just listened to the whole thing. Brilliant! Many thanks for posting it, Jeffrey! 

The Danish conductor Heiliger Dankgesank --- LMAOL! That's the spirit!

The late, great Peter Schickele was always a hoot!

[Florestan]

Emphatically not even the scherzo. I can tell that it's the galloping rhythms and rapid violin figurations that make you think of Mendelssohn, but that would be a very superficial take on similarity; and the tone, the melodies, the ethos are distinctively un-Mendelssohnian. In fact, the scherzo is based on a Danish folk ballad and the whole work was inspired by the same legends that also formed the basis of Schönberg's Gurrelieder. I seem to remember that Mendelssohn himself thought very highly of this symphony, which makes me think that it wouldn't be the case if he thought it was derivative of his own work. 😉

I shall most certainly re-listen, but I should most certainly be much flabbergasted if my impression were any different. 

[Florestan]

A Romanian exiled film director once said something to the effect that Beethoven dragged music into a quagmire out of which it has never been lifted anymore.

Sometimes I think he is absolutely right.

[Kalevala]

A Romanian exiled film director once said something to the effect that Beethoven dragged music into a quagmire out of which it has never been lifted anymore.

Sometimes I think he is absolutely right.

In what way(s)?

K

[Florestan]

In what way(s)?

K

In every conceivable ways.

[Cato]

For those who have never heard it: PDQ Bach's B5

@Florestan

Saved for later watching. I expect great fun.

Peter Schickele has always been an all-around fave!

He had a radio show later in his life, and it was guaranteed to cause a good mood!

e.g. From the Joke topic:

Peter Schickele told this on his radio show many years ago: I just about wrecked the car at the end! 

An anthropologist discovers a lost tribe: he was able to find them because he had followed the sounds of drums into an unexplored valley.

Fortunately the tribe spoke a language related to one spoken by others across the mountains, so with some difficulty he was able to communicate with the tribe.

The tribe was amazed when he appeared and began festivities to welcome him.  After meeting the chief, and noticing that the distant drums were still beating very interesting rhythms, the anthropologist asked the chief:

"Those drums which your tribe is playing somewhere: are they part of a religious ceremony?"

The chief becomes very cautious and simply says "No!"

Hours later, near nightfall, the drums are still beating, and the explorer wonders how long they will last.

Waking up in the middle of the night, he still hears the drums beating extraordinary rhythms!

In the morning, the drums are still going!

So again he wonders and asks the chief: "Can you tell me what the drumming means?"

The chief rolls his eyes, sighs, and says mysteriously: "If drums beat, Life good!"

Unsatisfied, the visitor carefully inquires among others in the tribe, but receives either a wide-eyed "No!" or a repetition of "If drums beat, Life good!"

So, the researcher spends several days with the tribe, and for 24 hours every day, the drums keep beating!

Finally, the anthropologist needs to return to his base camp, and meets with the chief to say good-bye.

In the middle of his farewell, the drums stop beating!

Immediately people start weeping, crying, running for cover, dropping to their knees and beating the ground and screaming in despair and agony!

Astonished, the anthropologist says: "CHIEF!  Please!  You must explain!  Why did the drums stop beating?  Why is everyone so panicked?"

The chief shakes his head, covers his eyes, and says:

"Time for bass solo!" 

[Iota]

A Romanian exiled film director once said something to the effect that Beethoven dragged music into a quagmire out of which it has never been lifted anymore.

Sometimes I think he is absolutely right.

I had no idea being dragged into a quagmire was so much fun! 

[DavidW]

A Romanian exiled film director once said something to the effect that Beethoven dragged music into a quagmire out of which it has never been lifted anymore.

Sometimes I think he is absolutely right.

It is a curious thing for you to say since you actively avoid the music that most departs from that post-Beethoven tradition. I don't hear much Eroica in Xenakis for example.

[Karl Henning]

When I was a teen, I was in near-total ignorance of the classical literature. I knew only "Brahms' Lullaby" and the [big tune concluding] the Academic Festival Overture until, in a church choir, I learnt "How Lovely Is Thy Dwelling Place" from the German Requiem.

Brahms: "If we cannot write with the beauty of Mozart, let us at least try to write with his purity."

[Florestan]

It is a curious thing for you to say since you actively avoid the music that most departs from that post-Beethoven tradition. I don't hear much Eroica in Xenakis for example.

Fair enough. 

[Karl Henning]

Just a note that Britten's Simple Symphony is much better than I thought I remembered it being given credit for on this thread.