Classical Music - It's a Knockout (Winner: William Tell Overture by Gioachino Rossini)

[Adrian44]

Mozart

Rossini

[Corki]

Time to wrap up the semi-finals to allow to us to move onto the final to determine the winner.

 

In the first semi-final, Claude Debussy's Claire de Lune won narrowly, defeating Piano Concerto #20 In D Minor (1. Allegro) by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart by 4 votes to 3.

 

And joining Claire de Lune in the Grand Final is our third seed, William Tell Overture by Gioachino Rossini, which beat Aquarium (Carnival Of The Animals) by Camille Saint-Saëns extremely easily by 7 votes to 0.

 

Time for our Grand Final and 3rd/4th Play-Off.

[Corki]

The Grand Final

 

 

 

Claire de Lune by Claude Debussy

Claire de lune is the third movement from the Suite bergamasque by Claude Debussy. It is one of his famous piano pieces. He started the suite in 1890, but didn't finish it until 1905. "Claire de lune" means "moonlight" in French, and name of the piece comes from Paul Verlaine's poem of the same name. The piece was nominated by Jeannaisais, who says that though "[she has] never played this song, I listened as my sister practiced it for performance and it is definitely one of Debussy's best pieces in my mind".

 

 

vs.

 

 

William Tell Overture by Gioachino Rossini (3)

It's the Lone Ranger! Yes, this piece of music was used for that classic. Coming from the opera William Tell, Rossini uses the whole orchestra for this wonderful piece of music. It comprises of four parts - The Prelude, The Storm, The Ranz des Vaches and the famous The Finale. Very recognisable and very enjoyable. A great start to the opera! Because of the media link limitations (weird...), I have linked the first half as the second is probably the more famous.

Link to first half

 

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

 

 

Voting ends Thursday 7th April 2011 at 11pm (BST)

[Corki]

3rd/4th Play-Off

 

 

 

Piano Concerto #20 In D Minor (1. Allegro) by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Written by Mozart in 1785, it was first performed at the Mehlgrube Casino in Vienna on February 11, 1785, with the composer as the soloist. The Allegro is the first movement of the concerto, which features 3 movements in all. It is another piece nominated by dapianoplay3r, who says "This is a great piece. I was introduced to it when I played it as part of my orchestra. I really like how it starts so quiet and foreboding. It's one of my all time favourites".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkjRz2Anz6A

 

 

vs.

 

 

Aquarium (Carnival Of The Animals) by Camille Saint-Saëns

Camille Saint-Saëns's musical suite of fourteen movements was composed in February 1886 while he was in Austria. It has many famous pieces from it, including the Aquarium. It is a rich piece of music, played mainly by the flute, with support from the strings. Throughout the piece, there is the glissando-like runs in the piano, giving the shimmering effect of water. A beautiful piece of music.

 

 

Voting ends Thursday 7th 2011 at 11pm (BST)

[Krakalakachkn]

Rossini

Mozart

[el Nynaeve]

Claire de Lune

Mozart

[Kivam]

Rossini

Mozart

 

This

[Jeannaisais]

Claire de Lune

Mozart

[Corki]

Time for my belated vote to tie this contest off!

 

So, in the Grand Final, my vote goes to Rossini's William Tell Overture.

 

And in the 3rd/4th Play-Off, my vote goes to Saint-Saëns' Aquarium.

[Corki]

So, time to announce our winner!

 

In the Grand Final, our winner was our third seed, the William Tell Overture by Gioachino Rossini, which defeated Claire de Lune by Claude Debussy by 3 votes to 2.

 

In the 3rd/4th Play-Off, it was much easier for Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Piano Concerto #20 In D Minor (1. Allegro), which won by 4 votes to 1 over Aquarium (Carnival Of The Animals) by Camille Saint-Saëns.

 

Many thanks to all who took part!

[Terez]

I was bored and did a forum search for Chopin, and found this thread. Really, people...the minute waltz?? It reminds me of what Chopin said when he learned that Clara Schumann had performed his 'black keys' etude at a concert. "How could she have chosen precisely this Etude, the least interesting for those who do not know that it is intended for the black keys, instead of something better! It would have been better to remain silent."

 

Also worth noting (if too late) is that Barber's Adagio for Strings was one of RJ's favorites. He wanted it played at his funeral, but the performance could not be arranged, so some of his family members gathered in the parking lot and blasted it from car speakers instead.