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The Classics 2
Classic Drama
Music full of dramatic contrasts.
Classical music often seems to tell a story.
Words are rarely used, nor are there precise images.
Rather, the music draws out the listener with cascades of flowing sounds and textures.
Emotions are evoked, rise, and disappear again. Instead of the story line we have a narrative stream of sounds,
a personal soundtrack of your own,
embedded with your own images, emotions and shadows.
Here's some pieces of dramatic music that are so colourful that they have popped up all over popular culture; in movies, on TV, in video games...
1. Strauss, R – Also sprach Zarathustra - 1. Sehr breit
One of the greatest beginnings in music to start us off! This monumental music famously captures the rise of the sun on the horizon in Kubrick's 2001. The fame of the first three minutes of music has completely eclipsed the rest of the music that follows, let alone the philosophical point of the inspiration for the music.
2. Chopin – Piano Sonata No. 2 in b-flat minor, op.35 - 3. Marche Funebre (Funeral March)
Edgar Allan Poe meets the piano. The brooding, sombre chords of the start sound like the tolling of bells at a funeral. You will immediately recognise them as the ORIGINAL death march. A poignant middle section tries to balance the gloom before the march returns to claim the day.
3. Dvořák – Symphony No. 9 in e minor, op.95, 'From the New World' - 2. Largo
This beautiful melody is Dvorak’s response to hearing Negro spirituals when he went for a visit to see his Czech cousins in the US. It is a beautiful and haunting song without words.
4. Elgar – Cello Concerto in e minor, op.85 - 1. Adagio - Moderato
Following his beloved wife's death, Elgar wrote this passionate and fiery tribute to her. This music has taken on extra significance, becoming the theme song for the fated British cellist Jacqueline du Pre, who died in 1988 from Multiple Sclerosis.
5. Grieg – Piano Concerto in a minor, op.16 - 1. Allegro molto moderato
A dramatic tympani (classical drums) roll brings in the piano in spectacular style. Famous as the start is, this music always sounds so fresh.
6. Khachaturian – Spartacus, Act III - Adagio. Spartacus and Phrigia
Beautiful stuff, but its hard to get the image of the Onedin Line's big old sailing ships out of your mind, but this music really is part of a ballet about a gladiator's doomed defiance of the Roman Army. Where's Rusty?
7. Mozart – Symphony No. 40 in g minor, K.550 - 1. Molto allegro
Not everything that Mozart wrote was as cheerful as Eine Kleine Nachtmusik. Not long before he died, Mozart penned this dark and anxious music. He mightn't have known that he was going to cark it. But all was not well...
8. Puccini – Turandot - Act III, Nessun Dorma (My lord, hear me!)
As famous an opera song as you're ever likely to hear... Thanks to Mr Pavarotti and Co, this song has become mandatory in every tenor's song list.
9. Tchaikovsky – Piano Concerto No. 1 in Bb minor, op.23 - 1. Allegro non troppo e molto maestoso
With dramatic horn calls and crashing piano chords, this classic start never fails to lift the spirits.
10. Vivaldi – Le Quattro Stagoni (The Four Seasons) - Concerto (No. 2) in G minor, op.8/2, RV315 "L'Estate" (Summer) - 3. Presto
A summer storm that rages relentlessly.
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