People make fun of Philip Glass (e.g. South Park) but whatever. I think this is just beautiful.
Posts Tagged ‘Neoclassical’
George Crumb – "Black Angels" (1970)
2010/10/31Part I. Departure:
Part II. Absence:
Part III. Return:
Halloween is finally here!
I am feeling very much "in the mood" given some recent nightmares I've had. (Yes I am turning 6 years old again and nightmares have returned just in time for Halloween!) I've actually been inspired to combine and write them into a short story or perhaps something longer. We will see if I can succeed in turning lemons into lemonade, or perhaps "blood into blood wine" would be a better analogy. Weird and creepy shit though, like this song…
This is possibly one of the creepiest instrumental songs I've ever heard. Oh and this is no synthesizer piece. Those are real strings. I sense disbelief! You have to see this live performance of Part I:
Happy Halloween everyone!
Song Recommendations
If you like this song, I also suggest:
I also suggest the music genre:
Click here for more info on George Crumb – "Black Angels".
The MP3 may be purchased here… George Crumb - Black Angels
Apocalyptica – "Somewhere Around Nothing" (2003)
2010/07/18
Last night my sister-in-law and I went to see Apocalyptica in Buffalo, NY at the "Town Ballroom" (a cool venue, with a tiered amphitheater like levels), and it was AWESOME! Made up of the three cellists, Eicca Toppinen, Paavo Lötjönen, and Perttu Kivilaakso, as well as drummer Mikko Sirén, all from Helsinki, Findland, I was very entertained and very impressed. Being a cellist and a drummer myself, I had a unique perspective on being able to judge their technique and skill. I bow to their abilities as musicians for they would all easily blow me away, and they are great entertainers on top of it. Their ability to make a cello sound like a guitar is unreal, and yet I have seen and heard it myself. Though they seemed to play countless songs, I was still sad that it had to come to an end. The crowd was thoroughly engaged, including some members of the audience joining in the hair swirling headbanging as the band members did. They are inspirational in their success in bridging the gap between classical and metal. I would happily see them again given the opportunity and suggest it for anyone with any interest in heavy metal or the cello, one of the best instruments in the world, of course I am heavily biased! Their new album, "7th Symphony" will be released August 24th, and I now wait with baited breath.
Although today song, "Somewhere Around Nothing", is not from the new album, it is from their album "Reflections" which included all original songs by the band, and I think the video truly shows the band and a bit of the flavor and feeling of what it was like to see them in concert. Enjoy!
Song Recommendations
If you like this song, I also suggest:
I also suggest the music genre:
Click here for more info on Apocalyptica – Reflections – "Somewhere Around Nothing".
The MP3 may be purchased here… Apocalyptica - Reflections
Ólafur Arnalds – "Ljósið" (2009)
2010/06/13
Since our car accident, I have been relieved. I feel I should be happier about it than I am though. I cannot seem to shake the melancholy thread of feeling just under the surface. Perhaps another week of passing the time will do wonders? Perhaps I should be listening to more music like Rick James' and less of this? Yet it soothes the soul, like a light rain after a long humid day.
Song Recommendations
If you like this song, I also suggest:
I also suggest the music genre:
Click here for more info on Ólafur Arnalds – Found Songs – "Ljósið".
The MP3 may be purchased here… Ólafur Arnalds - Found Songs
Paul Hindemith – "Symphonic Metamorphosis" (1943)
2010/05/26Movement 1 – Allegro:
Momement 2 – 'Turandot', Scherzo (Moderato/Lebhaft):
Momement 3 – Andantino:
Momement 4 – Marsch:
…as performed by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Rafael Kubelik Studio Recording, 1953.
I can feel it. My metamorphosis has begun. Parts of me struggle against a new way, others drive ahead into becoming the new me. A different me. A me that I think this song, also known as "Symphonic Metamorphosis of Themes by Carl Maria von Weber", is perfect for, though I have not listened to it for a long long time. In another life time I had played it as part of an orchestra, an orchestra I may try to join once again.
Hopefully my metamorphosis is not into a cockroach form of myself as in Kafka's work by a similar name. By the way, here is an interpretation of Kafka's "The Metamorphosis" all you 'speech and debaters' out there will appreciate. (Any of you non-"speechees" should think of as a type of acting without any props, scenery, microphones, with time limitations and other constraints. It is a way for geeky performers to spend all their Saturday's during high school, in lieu of practicing [insert sport name here], playing [insert video game here], or doing other nefarious teenager-like activities, like sleeping in late.)
2009 NFL Nationals Duo Interpretation 2nd Place, Greta Besser & Adam Bouchareb, Lakeville North HS, MN, USA:
Part 1:
Part 2:
Song Recommendations
If you like this song, I also suggest:
I also suggest the music genre:
Click here for more info on Paul Hindemith – "Symphonic Metamorphosis".
The MP3s of the version I have in my collection by The Philadelphia Orchestra, conducted by Wolfgang Sawallisch, may be purchased here… Paul Hindemith - Symphonic Metamorphosis
