Classical music's twentieth-century tragedy

Timesonline.co.uk ^ | April 30, 2008 | Ian Bostridge

[Spktyr]

Here are some additional tracks from various anime sources:

http://dl1.ffshrine.org/soundtracks/dl/4983/02252b/Trinity%20Blood%20Original%20Soundtrack%20Music%20File/25_-_requiem_~_inori.mp3
http://dl1.ffshrine.org/soundtracks/dl/4983/ab7eed/Trinity%20Blood%20Original%20Soundtrack%20Music%20File/24_-_tb_no.44_cain_%26_abel.mp3
http://dl1.ffshrine.org/soundtracks/dl/4983/5a0f36/Trinity%20Blood%20Original%20Soundtrack%20Music%20File/22_-_tb_no.39_betrayer.mp3
http://dl1.ffshrine.org/soundtracks/dl/4983/83cf67/Trinity%20Blood%20Original%20Soundtrack%20Music%20File/02_-_tb_no.21_kresnik.mp3
http://dl1.ffshrine.org/soundtracks/dl/3057/dd757c/Full%20Metal%20Alchemist%20Original%20Soundtrack%20I/32_brothers.mp3
http://dl1.ffshrine.org/soundtracks/dl/3057/d8ca3a/Full%20Metal%20Alchemist%20Original%20Soundtrack%20I/06_avenue.mp3
http://dl1.ffshrine.org/soundtracks/dl/3057/9bb6cf/Full%20Metal%20Alchemist%20Original%20Soundtrack%20I/30_heart_of_steel.mp3

If those don’t work, try these pages - same files:

http://gh.ffshrine.org/song/4983/3
http://gh.ffshrine.org/song/4983/19
http://gh.ffshrine.org/song/4983/25
http://gh.ffshrine.org/song/4983/11
http://gh.ffshrine.org/song/3057/26
http://gh.ffshrine.org/song/3057/9
http://gh.ffshrine.org/song/3057/15

[Spktyr]

Oh, forgot the pure instrumental version of one:

http://dl1.ffshrine.org/soundtracks/dl/3060/509c62/Full%20Metal%20Alchemist%20Original%20Soundtrack%20III/02_brothers.mp3

or:

http://gh.ffshrine.org/song/3060/16

[keepitreal]

The one problem with downloads, which I wish recording companies would work to solve is the lack of liner notes. I wish classical music downloads had an accompanying acrobat file with those wonderful liner notes of the past with translations, bios of the performers, historical and musical analysis, etc. They add so much to the recording.

[Spktyr]

Some file formats (like Apple’s AAC) have that as an available option - you can contain much of that info in the file itself.

Unfortunately, the record companies aren’t taking advantage of that capability.

[Lexinom]

Bookmark

[reg45]

I have also heard it argued that realistic art was killed off for half a century precisely because of the appreciation Hitler and Stalin had for it.

Hitler, Stalin, and Mao ZeDong as well all breathed oxygen. That did not cause the civilized world to start breathing chlorine in response.

[reg45]

Modern “music” is composed (if you can even say composed) for the guitar and the drum, instruments for which no talent is required.

[radiohead]

They add so much to the recording.

Agreed. I listen to a lot of world music and wish I had translations. Sometimes I can find them, but often not.

[reg45]

I can crack the glass windows 50 miles away!

So can a hydrogen bomb, but I wouldn't want to listen to one!

[reg45]

Did you forget Bernard Herrmann, one of the greatest composers of cinematic music. Check the link: Bernard Herrmann Society

[zeugma]

We don’t have a large collection of classical cd’s, but classical music is mr sneakers and my music of choice, along with Latin Mass music (Tallis, Palestrina, etc)

Anonymous 4?

 

[Antoninus]

He’s one of the most accessible and popular 20th century composers. Who dislikes West Side Story?

Yo, right here. /raising hand.

If Lenny Bernstein was "one of the most accessible and popular 20th century composers", I rest my case. In my opinion, he was overrated, wrote generally unmemorable music, and was promoted mainly because of who he was rather than his ability as a composer.

There's an interesting NPR interview I stumbled across the other night that claims that Copland was, after all, a big supporter of CPUSA. Not surprisingly, the young Bernstein was promoted by Copland. The interview insinuates that they were sodomizing each other as well, but I won't speak to that.

Everything I've read about Bernstein, however, indicates that he was more of a "useful idiot" than a true Communist agent.

[sneakers]

"Anonymous 4?"

I had never heard of them, though I just looked them up on the internet. My computer here at work (I'm on my lunch break) won't let me download the samples. I will definitely check it out when I get home!

Thanks,

sneakers

[zeugma]

I will definitely check it out when I get home!

You'll be glad you did. I believe it's some of the most beautiful performances I've ever heard.

"11,000 Virgins" is a great album, as is "Miracles of Santiago". Of the two, I think I enjoy the polyphony of Miracles better.

[Borges]

Well Bernstein and Copland were both gay. Bernstein left his wife for a man at one point and then came back to her. But Bernstein became famous because of his conducting in the mid 1940s before anyone knew what his politics were.

Lenny may have been the single most talented musician in American history. Apart from being a great conductor and composer of high ability he was also a virtuoso pianist and a pedagogue of genius. He was also something of a literary scholar who taught at Harvard. West Side Story is often called the great American musical. It's a shame he left Broadway writing since he could have revolutionized it.

[Spktyr]

Just to dredge up this old thread, check this Youtube video out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAjYwHJ_lEc

[SuziQ]

I hope you checked out Anonymous 4. I'm not sure they still record and tour as a group; we saw them, in concert, a couple of years ago, when they released their "American Angels" cd. It was a great compilation of early American music, including shape singing.

They are like listening to the angels. I began collecting their CDs when I found "On Yoolis Night", then I got a couple of other Christmas CDs, American Angels, and one called Voices of Light, which is a musical pieces based on the story of Joan of Arc. I also have 11,000 Virgins, and Mass for the First Milennium. Simply gorgeous.

For Christmas last year, our #2 son got me "Gloryland", another CD based on American gospel music. Just lovely!

Another group, like Anonymous 4, that I love is Sequentia. They do a lot of 'early music' as well.

[SuziQ]

Very nice. Kind of reminded me of some of the Celtic groups that are popular today, like Lunasa. Some of their music is hard driving, but some is very slow and melodic.

Some folks don't like the use of classical instruments in pop or rock music. I like it, because I've always had very eclectic musical tastes. I can find something I like in just about every musical genre, even some hip-hop, but I can't abide gangsta rap.

[Spktyr]

Now here’s the interesting part - they are performing a cover of “Snow” by the rock band The Red Hot Chili Peppers.

[zeugma]

Anonymous 4 is one of my favorite groups, which is strange if you saw some of the other stuff I have in my collection.:-)