Music Set #252 - Prokofiev - Romeo & Juliet

Sergei Prokofiev
(1891 – 1953)

Romeo & Juliet
Based on Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet play, it is one of the most enduringly popular ballets. Music from the ballet was extracted by Prokofiev as three suites for orchestra and as a piano work.

Suite No.2
Mvt 1 of 7 - Montagues and Capulets / Dance of the Knights

* ballet version

* orchestra version                                                           * piano version

Music Set #251 - Prokofiev - Lt. Kijé's Wedding

Sergei Prokofiev
(1891 – 1953)

Lieutenant Kijé  

The score was composed for the 1934 Soviet film Lieutenant Kijé based on the novel of the same title.

* Mvt 3 of 5 Kijé's Wedding

Click here for a full suite.

Music Set #250 - Paganini

Niccolò Paganini  
(1782 – 1840)

"Paganini was an Italian violinist, violist, guitarist, and composer. He was one of the most celebrated violin virtuosi of his time, and left his mark as one of the pillars of modern violin techniques."
  

     
Caprice No. 24 

* Vanessa Mae (electric violin)

The last of his ‘24 Caprices’, a collection of various solo violin techniques.

Violin Concerto No. 1

* Mvt. 3 Yehudi Menuhin (violin)   

        

Moses Fantasy 
- Variations on Rossini’s “Mosè in Egitto" or "Moses in Egypt" 

* Han Na Chang (cello) 

          

             

Paganini jokes --- have fun !!

* Carnival of Venice Vadim Repin (violin) 

* a variation József Lendvay (violin) 

After Napoleon conquered Italy, he appointed his sister Elisa Baciocchi (left) to govern a place called Lucca.  She was a great fan of Paganini; every time she watched Paganini perform she got so excited that she fainted out.  

Music Set #249 - Pachelbel - Canon

Johann Pachelbel
[ˈjoːhan ˈpaxɛlbəl]  (1653 – 1706)

Canon is a polyphonic technique in which several voices play the same music, entering in sequence. 
 

In Pachelbel's Canon, there are 3 voices (violins) engaged in canon, plus an independent 4th voice, the basso continuo 
- a voicy version
 

It experienced a tremendous surge in popularity during the 1970s, probably due to a recording by Jean-François Paillard in 1970.
* Jean-François Paillard Chamber Orchestra - a popular version
* How Where When - a lovely version

Now one of the most recognized and famous baroque compositions, it has in recent years become extremely popular for use in weddings (rivalling that of Wagner's Bridal Chorus).
* 我的野蛮女友 / 엽기적인그녀 - a courageous version
* What she was doing - a digital version

Bonus:
* Patene Commercial - a touching version
* string quartet - a funny version

Music Set #248 - Orff - Carmina Burana

Carl Orff
(1895 – 1982)

Carmina Burana  
- Orff was best known for this cantata
    
The best-known movement is "O Fortuna" that opens and closes the cantata.

Short versions:
* chorus
* chorus with lyrics
* flashmob - at Western Railway Station

* ballet


A 1-hour full version:
* at Mondavi Center (UC Davis)
by the University of California Davis Symphony Orchestra et al

《布兰诗歌》Carmina Burana 

#德国布兰修道院 珍藏诗歌 

#David Bintley 编舞 

#Carl Orff 编清唱剧(cantata) 

 《布兰诗歌》内容描写命运女神和世俗的酒色财气生活；诗歌主要用拉丁文、亦有古德文和古法文。 

清唱剧：音乐和歌唱非常动听，采用了24段诗词来创作，共有25个乐章；第1和第25乐章皆为同一首曲 "O Fortuna"，这一首曲经常被电影、电视和广告片用作配乐。

Music Set #247 - Offenbach - Can Can

Jacques Offenbach
(1819 - 1880)

Orpheus in The Underworld operetta
* Korean Symphony Orchestra

Things liven up as the most famous number in this operetta, the Galop Infernal (best known as Can-can), starts (at 7:33 in this video).

Tips: can-can is pronounced [kɑ̃kɑ̃] or roughly 'gong-gong'.


Offenbach did not write it for the can-can (French for chit-chat or gossip) dance. It was adapted so, and made so popular so, at Moulin Rouge in the 1920's.

= = = = =
Bonus:
* Moulin Rouge @ Paris Can Can starts at (3:38), but the dances before it are glamorous.
* Can Can in the Moulin Rouge (1952) movie
* Can Can in the Moulin Rouge (2001) movie
* Because we can ... can-can

Music Set #246 - Offenbach - Barcarolle

Jacques Offenbach
(1819 - 1880)
   
The Tales of Hoffmann opera / Les contes d'Hoffmann
The most famous number is the "Barcarolle" in Act 3:
- Belle nuit, ô nuit d'amour (Beautiful night, oh night of love) - 
* romanticising on a gondola
* with French lyrics and English translation - to sing along
* Hong and Larmore 

Barcarolle ('boat') is a folk song sung by Venetian gondoliers. 
- Heard that the gondoliers at Macao's Venetian Hotel sing well.
- The Barcarolle has been incorporated into many films, including La Vita è Bella (Life Is Beautiful).