Hey, once again, GMG :-)
It's time for me to explore some new music and I would love to get some recommendations on a couple of fast-paced and cheerful pieces!
Anything is welcome, as well as any instrument of course.
Cheers!
Quote from: Moe on June 08, 2013, 02:19:38 AM
Hey, once again, GMG :-)
It's time for me to explore some new music and I would love to get some recommendations on a couple of fast-paced and cheerful pieces!
Anything is welcome, as well as any instrument of course.
Cheers!
Some of the dances from Dvorak's Slavinic Dances will fit the bill (I love Kubelik here, but there are other good ones too, try #1 and #8 from the first group as an example). Lots of stuff by Offenach fits that bill too. Gaite Parisienne has some sections that are fast (I like Fiedler here). Rossini overtures usually start slow, but are happy and generally end fast. You could try the Orpheus Chamber Orhcestra (but there are literally dozens of good ones). Khachaturians' Sabre Dance is well known for this too. But there are so many: Flight of the Bumblebee, part of the Polovstian Dances from Prince Igor, Russian Sailor's Dance from the Red Poppy, Screamers (a bunch of short marches conducted by Fennell), etc.
Hardly gets more cheerful than the final movement of the Prokofiev Classical Symphony.
http://www.youtube.com/v/nC0CElZVYg8
Papa Haydn practically codified fast & cheerful. Here's one of approximately 104* examples from his symphonies
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SFXEDJOMAY (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SFXEDJOMAY)
* Give or take the "Farewell" and a few others in the mid 40s
Quote from: mc ukrneal on June 08, 2013, 03:30:32 AM
Some of the dances from Dvorak's Slavinic Dances will fit the bill (I love Kubelik here, but there are other good ones too, try #1 and #8 from the first group as an example). Lots of stuff by Offenach fits that bill too. Gaite Parisienne has some sections that are fast (I like Fiedler here). Rossini overtures usually start slow, but are happy and generally end fast. You could try the Orpheus Chamber Orhcestra (but there are literally dozens of good ones). Khachaturians' Sabre Dance is well known for this too. But there are so many: Flight of the Bumblebee, part of the Polovstian Dances from Prince Igor, Russian Sailor's Dance from the Red Poppy, Screamers (a bunch of short marches conducted by Fennell), etc.
You gave me a lot to check out, thanks!
I already know a few of the Slavinic Dances from Dvorak, and they're great.
Quote from: karlhenning on June 08, 2013, 03:49:13 AM
Hardly gets more cheerful than the final movement of the Prokofiev Classical Symphony.
http://www.youtube.com/v/nC0CElZVYg8
Cheers!
I love Prokofiev and it's just in the right mood :-)
Quote from: dyn on June 08, 2013, 04:45:10 AM
Papa Haydn practically codified fast & cheerful. Here's one of approximately 104* examples from his symphonies
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SFXEDJOMAY (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SFXEDJOMAY)
* Give or take the "Farewell" and a few others in the mid 40s
And who doesn't love Haydn?
I'm already listening to a couple of his symphonies, but I have no idea which number they have, haha.
It's a used CD I got from my grandmother and she doesn't have the labels that followed anymore.
A little offbeat maybe but this is really fun:
Beach's Piano Concerto, second movement (Perpetuum mobile).
I would strongly recommend the polkas-schnell of the Strauss Family; such incredibly playful, brilliant and delightful pieces.
WEINBERGER's Polka and Fugue (might be a round dance too) from 'Schwanda' - my favourite is the Kempe/Royal Philharmonic - and the accompanying dances from "The Bartered Bride" (SMETANA) too.
The 3rd movement of the GLIÈRE 3rd Symphony ('Ilya Murometz') is a cheerful one too, and you'd enjoy 'The Red Poppy' too.
Overtures by SUPPÉ and WEBER are usually frowned upon by 'serious' concert goers as too positive and enjoyable.
Glass's Dance No.1, 1979. Blow your head off.
mc ukrneal Kubelic's Slavonics is among the most totally amazing and transcendent recordings of all time.
Quote from: listener on June 08, 2013, 02:01:13 PM
WEINBERGER's Polka and Fugue (might be a round dance too) from 'Schwanda' - my favourite is the Kempe/Royal Philharmonic - and the accompanying dances from "The Bartered Bride" (SMETANA) too.
The 3rd movement of the GLIÈRE 3rd Symphony ('Ilya Murometz') is a cheerful one too, and you'd enjoy 'The Red Poppy' too.
Overtures by SUPPÉ and WEBER are usually frowned upon by 'serious' concert goers as too positive and enjoyable.
Suppe! Of course! Outstanding recommendation!
Quote from: Sean on June 14, 2013, 12:45:16 AM
mc ukrneal Kubelic's Slavonics is among the most totally amazing and transcendent recordings of all time.
A couple others have been universally recommended here (Neumann is one of them I think, the other Harnoncourt?) that i have been considering trying. But Kubelik gets the atmosphere spot on, so I have been slow to acquire others.
(http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/3/JPG_500/MI0001/095/MI0001095665.jpg)
Yup! Dvorak's Slavonic Dances, Suppe's overtures, and Chabrier's Espana. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bo6avrl21Vw)
Fast-paces and cheerful? OK, for a start:
Orchestral: Beethoven-Symphony No. 7; Mendelssohn-"Italian" Symphony; Copland-Hoedown; Grieg-In the Hall of the Mountain King; Rossini-William Tell and The Barber of Seville Overtures; Suppe-Light Cavalry Overture; Offenbach-Can-can; Mozart-Eine Kleine Nachtmusik
Flute: Bach-Badinerie; Mercadante-Rondo Russo;
Guitar: Albeniz-Sevilla; Falla-The Miller's Dance; Sagreras-El Colibri;
Violin: Wieniawski-Scherzo-Tarantella; Brahms-Hungarian Dance No. 5; Monti-Csardas; Paganini-La Campanella and Capriccio No. 24; Vivaldi-The Four Seasons; Dinicu-Hora staccato
Piano: Tchaikovsky-PC 1; Chopin-"Revolutionary" and "Black Keys" etudes; Falla-Ritual Fire Dance; Gershwin-Rhapsody in Blue; Liszt-Hungarian Rhapsodies Nos. 2 and 15; Rachmaninoff-PC 3 and Paganini Rhapsody
Much by French composer George Bizet would fit the bill. His Symphony in C and the two L'Arlesienne Suites contain many moments of fleet cheer.
Even the overture of Carmen would qualify until it takes its ominous turn toward the end.
Quote from: Tapkaara on June 18, 2013, 02:19:23 PM
Much by French composer George Bizet would fit the bill. His Symphony in C and the two L'Arlesienne Suites contain many moments of fleet cheer.
Even the overture of Carmen would qualify until it takes its ominous turn toward the end.
That's right. The fourth movement of Bizet's symphony is a treat. He should have stayed a symphonist rather than become an opera composer, he might have made more money and lived longer.
Quote from: Tapkaara on June 18, 2013, 02:19:23 PM
Much by French composer George Bizet would fit the bill. His Symphony in C and the two L'Arlesienne Suites contain many moments of fleet cheer.
Even the overture of Carmen would qualify until it takes its ominous turn toward the end.
Add the orchestrated Jeux d'Enfants suite.
Quote from: karlhenning on June 08, 2013, 03:49:13 AM
Hardly gets more cheerful than the final movement of the Prokofiev Classical Symphony.
http://www.youtube.com/v/nC0CElZVYg8
Interesting choice of recordings, though: Maestro Giulini is not known for fast tempos, and I've heard faster recordings (including, if I recall, one by Bernstein that was nearly airborne!).
Aye, my sense is that Giulini doesn't wish speed to impede the melos. And (hard to judge from audio on a YouTube vid, of course) it sounds like something of a reverberant space. Nor does this account sound to me at all slow.
The Ančerl may be the briskest I've got, wrapping up that final movement in 3:55.
No wonder, those will do the job, Annie.
Bartok's Romanian folk dances (performed by Johanna Martzy & Jean Antonietti here):
http://www.youtube.com/v/GwKfvh7KiRU
Two piano pieces that are very fast and exhilarating to play:
Heller Prelude Op.150 No.20
Hensel Melody Op3/4 No.5
MERRY EYE BY HERBERT HOWELLS !!!!!!
From Musicweb:
By The Christian Science Monitor Special Correspondent
LONDON, England - Merry Eye, a new composition by Herbert Howells was produced at the Queens Hall Promenade Concert on September 30, the composer himself conducting. It is what may be called a big-little work, and possesses qualities which pique the listener's attention. Short as to length, delicately handled, and scored for a small orchestra, it achieves a music effect as if it were a symphonic poem. Upon the surface it appears to be light music; beneath there runs a vein of deep seriousness. The number of instruments employed looks small but it sounds wonderfully full and soft. Out of the resources of two flutes, one piccolo, two clarinets, two bassoons, three horns, percussion, piano and strings, HH has produced a score which for skill and beauty of color could hold its own beside anything by Debussy or Stravinsky.
The work itself however is English; merry, pathetic, lively or wistful in turn. Its full story is only divulged by the music, never in words, though the composer does go so far as to say in his note: "This piece has not necessarily a program; but if an idea of such be entertained, it can be supposed that the listener meets with an average-type character out of the domain of folklore - called "Merry-Eye" - who reveals more about himself and his personality than folklore itself ever tells of him or his kind. Much that he relates is true to his name and to such part of his history as is common reading - public property; much else, on the other hand, contradicts this."
As in some of Howells' other works - notably the opening movement of the Piano Quartet in A minor - the first subject is of less importance than the second. Here in "Merry-Eye" the second subject takes the form of a lovely melody treated canonically. The work was well received and is to be given again at the Queen's Hall in the near future.
by Marion M Scott
Hasn't Howells been dead some thirty year? Where'd they find a "new composition"?
Oh, and he conducted. That must be quite an old item.
indeed, an old item. But Merry eye is a real gem , whatever its age.
Votes again for Emmanuel Chabrier. Not to forget plenty of music by Poulenc and Prokofiev.
John Adams must not be forgotten!
http://www.youtube.com/v/jdz5QOaqpbk
Hindemith's Kammermusik nr. 1 is a wonderful piece full of rumbustious and optimistic drive.
Here's the finale:
http://www.youtube.com/v/KNBZbeqyCrA
Quote from: pjme on August 21, 2013, 04:01:11 AM
John Adams must not be forgotten!
Oh, I've forgotten.
That's OK. At a certain age we all suffer....
Anyway, this (nearly forgoten?) lollipop makes me smile:
Henry Litolff - it is fastpaced and good humoured.
http://www.youtube.com/v/Tzc5ti-03PI
Quote from: pjme on August 21, 2013, 05:36:08 AM
That's OK. At a certain age we all suffer....
(* chortle *)
Quote from: 0spinboson on August 14, 2013, 02:21:16 PM
Bartok's Romanian folk dances
Op.8 are definitely good fun but too loud for my wife! I confess I haven't played them for some time.
This movement from Messiaen's Turangalila Symphony is extremely cheerful:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tv67YkOWJNA (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tv67YkOWJNA)
This part of Berio's Sinfonia always makes me happy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YU-V2C4ryU (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YU-V2C4ryU)
Kabalevsky's The Comedians is a lot of fun:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGYdeXRCD1c (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGYdeXRCD1c)
And finally we have Chavez's raucous Sinfonia India:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKoq4KOHUEU (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKoq4KOHUEU)
Hope that helps. ;D
The cheerfullest of them all has to be "The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba" from Handel's Solomon:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ptVP_DEEq4
A good bit of Sibelius' Karelia Suite is lively enough. It always picks me up.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZYbTLzdLW0
But many of Angèle Arsenault's songs are lively and happy, though often with a satirical kick. I can't find all my favorites on YT, but here's a few.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPZgDtkXQVA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JIYxjVKs9U
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5Gdd9JbJXo
Oberek (http://youtu.be/zCY8ada43-4) by Grażyna Bacewicz.
A particular chacona (http://youtu.be/bkkBUaASKY4) by Juan Arañés.
Nyman's Wheelbarrow Walk (http://youtu.be/YwyhRTPxGnI) (I dislike Nyman but this is pure joy).
Part 12 (http://youtu.be/EeiomsYOPvo) of Music in Twelve Parts. The twelve-tone finale gets me every time.
How about Prokofiev's 'Classical Symphony'.
Bernstein's Candide Overture. I'm currently playing this one in orchestra and I love it!
For me Farandole from Bizet L'Arlesienne is the most mighty of the all cheerfull fast paced pieces.
Quote from: kyjo on September 21, 2013, 01:31:56 PM
Bernstein's Candide Overture. I'm currently playing this one in orchestra and I love it!
Yeah, I've played that several times. ;D How fast is your group taking it? I've never been in a group that could play it quite up to Bernstein's markings... :o
Quote from: jochanaan on September 22, 2013, 03:27:06 PM
Yeah, I've played that several times. ;D How fast is your group taking it? I've never been in a group that could play it quite up to Bernstein's markings... :o
We're taking it pretty damn fast! :D Don't know exactly how fast we're taking it, though. I actually don't think the piece benefits from an excessively swift tempo, as the more lyrical middle section sounds a bit rushed when we've been practicing it.
BTW, at rehearsal yesterday, we did an entire run-through of Khachaturian's
Gayaneh: Suite no. 3. There are some fun parts, but the cello part is terribly simple and repetitive in parts. I especially feel sorry for the poor bass players! :D
Quote from: kyjo on September 21, 2013, 01:31:56 PM
Bernstein's Candide Overture. I'm currently playing this one in orchestra and I love it!
Good fun! Another piece I "met" via band transcription.
Anything by Pettersson or Schnittke! ;)
Nielsen, Commotio for organ
La Ronde des Lutins - Antonio Bazzini
This has to be the champion in this category. :)
8)