Posted on 05/21/2013 11:56:02 AM PDT by Borges
Classical Ping
For trivia buffs, Wagner died in the building that now houses the Venice Casino.
Truth be told, “Entry of the Guests” from Tannhauser is about as good as it gets.
I have always liked Wagner, but then again, I am a sucker for sappy, sentimental music (according to my wife).
I’m weird.
I LIKE Wagner! LOL!
But I also like led Zeppelin, the Stones, Berlioz, Beethoven, Verdi, B.B. King, etc etc etc.
Many years ago, the Ring was broadcast on PBS for several nights running.
I watched EVERY minute of it! LOL!
“She’s his aunt!”
I high school music class, we had to do a report on a composer. This was to be an oral report in front of the class.
I told the teacher I wanted to do Wagner, thinking his name sounded alot less foreign that the other composers, and I might be able to understand him. My teacher signed me up, without even correcting me on the pronunciation.
The little jerk was going to let me get up in front of the class as pronounce his name wrong. Luckily somebody corrected me before it got to that.
Anyway, I’ll never forget Wagner.
To paraphrase a VW commercial years ago - “German composing is in the house!”
As a former horn player, Sigfried’s theme, Til euilenspiegel, Tchaikovsky 4 (the opening), and the chorus from Mahler’s 1st, and any or the Gabrielli Canzoni, are near the tippy top of the musical food chain.....for french horn!
Yeah, left some stuff out, but the initial meme is Herr Wagner...
KYPD
It has been said that Wagner would wear white gloves to conduct music written by Jewish composers, then remove them after the performance, throwing them on the stage to have them swept up later.
Your wife thinks Wagner is sappy and sentimental?
French horn? Don’t forget the Largo of Dvorak’s 9th!
Wagner’s genius has a lasting appeal: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Ll4qS4anGo
Excalibur’s symphonic ending
“I’m told that Wagner’s music is much better than it sounds” - Mark Twain
Or Mozart’s Horn Concerto.
But back to Wagner, “Siegfried’s Funeral March” is awesome. John Williams borrowed heavily from Wagner for his “Star Wars” suite.
“I love the sound of Wagner in the morning”
“Sounds like.....victory!”
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