Mussourgsky

Honor. Glory. Fantasia

You know how much I love Fantasia, right? Like, really love it? A lot? Okay, now that we’ve established a baseline, HOW COOL IS THIS?!

Yeah. That’s what I thought. Here’s more info on the video game in question, Fantasia: Music Evolved.

On a completely different and much less impressive note, I would now like to do something I haven’t done in quite some time: award a Medal of Violar. Tom Sharpe has been commenting on posts with his own puns, quips, and bad jokes, and that’s the kind of can-do spirit we here at Ain’t Baroque like to see. And we here at Ain’t Baroque consists of a girl and two cats who are also girls, so you know we’re hard to impress. Mr. Sharpe, please let me know how you would like your medal engraved, which is to say, how you’d like to be listed on the Medal of Violar page.

When the tuba is wearing a bowler hat, you know you’re in a good place

Is that a piccolo in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?

A Particularly Punny Concert Roundup

• This Baltimore Symphony Orchestra is Baroque! No, literally. They’re not inveterate pun makers, like me. As far as I’m aware. Anyway – selections from Vivaldi‘s Four Seasons, Bach, and all the Handel you can drink, including Water Music (see? Pun). July 11 at Strathmore; July 12 at the Meyerhoff. [ See it! ]
• The National Symphony Orchestra is still hanging out at Wolf Trap, offering classical and not-so-classical programs to suit your taste. For the purists, catch Orff‘s immortal Carmina Burana, plus (!!!!!) Mussourgsky‘s Pictures at an Exhibition (yay!!!!!) on July 11. Or if you’d rather, take in the scores to Zelda, Final Fantasy, and more with the latest incarnation of Video Games Live on July 12. [ See classical! ] [ See VGL! ]
• This week at Strathmore: Free summer outdoor concerts continue, plus kindie rockers Milkshake. [ See the calendar! ]

If you’d like your concert included in next week’s roundup, leave a comment or drop me a line.

The thingamabob that does the job is bibbidi bobbidi boo

All riiiiiiiiight! It’s time once again for my absolute favorite kind of post – the WALT DISNEY WORLD PHOTO RECAP!

I’m sure you recall that a mere few weeks ago I was traipsing about the most magical place on earth, being thoroughly happy to be alive. I tweeted merrily along the entire way, so you can read back through that if you like – there are some additional pictures to be had in that way. Below is the main collection, and as always, I put a distinct emphasis on music related shots, but I’ve decided to throw a fair number of just-because-I-feel-like-it pics too. Because who doesn’t want to maximize the amount of WDW in their lives? THAT’S WHAT I THOUGHT.

For example, allow me to clue you in on step one of successful Disney packing: do NOT tell your cat you’re doing it.

Okay, let’s get down to the music business. Have I mentioned me debilitating addiction to The Festival of the Lion King? It’s madness. I can’t go without it. Also a monkey acrobat rapped me on the forehead.

Speaking of musical productions, here’s the one for Finding Nemo! The puppets are incredibly well done.

There are you are, strolling through the Animal Kingdom, minding your own business, when all the sudden you walk straight into a Bollywood dance lesson.

Pianist at the Grand Floridian – very classy.

These colorfully attired individuals perform a song-and-dance routine all the way down Main Street.

I’ve mentioned this calliope from The Haunted Mansion before, but this is a MUCH better shot of it. Who here plays the squidpipes?

Percussion… strings… winds… WORDS.

Fantasmic includes clips from Mussourgsky’s Night on Bald Mountain!

A piece of historical recording equipment from the Aerosmith Rock ‘n Roller Coaster. I strongly encourage you to click on the larger image and read the label.

Why, this set from the Streets of America almost looks real!

Apropos of very little, we are princesses.

Apropos of even less, this is the most elegant and refined I will ever be. That’s it. I’m tapped out.

This Mission: Space console picture is here just so I can shout FIRE IN THE HOLE!!!!!!

Speaking of fire in the hole, I successfully finished the Princess Half Marathon! My time wasn’t that great (this was tweeted as I went), but hey, done is done! If you’re pondering your own half marathon, I cannot recommend it enough, and it was HIGHLY musical – at mile 2 we had a marching band, at mile 4 a taiko drumming group, at mile 7 an accordion ensemble of all things, and at mile 12 (this is my favorite) a gospel choir. Just to get you to the finish, you know. AWESOME.

This is the happiest girl in the world.

And this is the happiest goat.

Okay, that’s it for now!

Concert Roundup at an Exhibition

• Ooh! Ooh ooh ooh! Guess what the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra is performing this week? Why, it’s Mussourgsky‘s Pictures at an Exhibiition, of course! Then they try to ruin my beautiful “At the Great Gates of Kiev” with a Mozart piano concerto (Orion Weiss on the piano if you’re wondering) and some Hindemith (stupid Hindemith), but my man Modest is just too strong for them. January 31 & February 1 at the Meyerhoff; February 2 at Strathmore. [ See it! ]
• No National Symphony Orchestra concert this week.
• This week at Strathmore: The China National Symphony Orchestra is coming, and I have it on good authority they’ll be performing the world’s most perfect piece of music. What’s that? You’re not sure what I mean? Um, Beethoven‘s Symphony No. 7, obviously. What is wrong with you? [ See the calendar! ]

If you’d like your concert included in next week’s roundup, leave a comment or drop me a line.

Even Wagner could only take so many Wagnerians

Hi guys! Didja miss me? I had a delightful time at Universal Studios, one of the highlights being listening to Mussourgsky’s Night on Bald Mountain while riding the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit. It’s part of the seeeeecret playlist, so if you’re riding the coaster and you want to try it yourself, you’ll need to hold down the logo on the music selection screen for 5 to 10 seconds, then enter to code 904. Trust me, it works!

Since you’ve all been waiting so patiently for me, I’ve found you a very special video. Enjoy!

Whose opinion is more valued than mine?

RHETORICAL QUESTION. But as a loyal reader, you totally want to know all about my picks from the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra’s upcoming season, right? Especially since I, personally, found that you have to wade through an unexciting beginning. Don’t be put off – there’s a gold streak running all the way from January to June!

• Alexander Nevsky (January 11 – 13) – Um, full Prokofiev score live, set to the film? Yes please.
• Hairspray (January 24 – 27) GOOD MORNING BALTIMORE! A concert opera version narrated by – wait for it – none other than John Waters himself.
• Pictures at an Exhibition (January 31 – February 2) – I said PICTURES AT AN EXHIBITION. Why aren’t you buying your tickets right now?
• Mozart’s Requiem (February 28; March 2 & 3) – Everyone knows I’m not Mozart’s greatest fan, but no one can deny theRequiem.
• Mahler’s Titan (March 7 – 9) – Oh, Mahler, I love your “Titan” so. Nothing can take that away from us.
• Saint-Saen’s Thundering Organ Symphony (March 14 & 17) – A friend recently informed me that this was the theme from Babe. My understanding of pop culture is weak; my love for this piece is strong.
• Wagner: A Composer Fit for a King (April 19 & 20) – Neuschwannstein! Mad King Ludwig! Obsession! Insanity! Fun!
• Time for Three (May 2 & 4) – I saw them premiere Jennifer Higdon’s Concerto Four-Three, and it was awesome. Let’s do it again.
• Romeo and Juliet (May 23 – 25) – PROKOFIEV version. Tchaikovsky, Berlioz, I’m terribly sorry, but you’re going to have to clear out.
• West Side Story (June 13 – 16) – Um, full Bernstein score live, set to the film? Yes please.

So those are my picks. Check out the concert calendar – anything striking your fancy?

Concert Roundup: Some Will Be Pardoned and Some Punish-ed

Go forth and have more talk of these musical things.

• Oh, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. You raise me to the highest highs only to plunge me into the lowest lows. I see a concert entitled “Romeo and Juliet” and immediately I think, PROKOFIEV! SQUEE! And what do I get? Berlioz? NOT EVEN. I get TCHAIKOVSKY. I love almost all Tchaikovsky — EXCEPT HIS R&J. Ugh. What are you trying to do, kill me and then bring me back to life with Mussourgsky‘s Night on Bald Mountain, my boy Khachaturian‘s violin concerto, and no less an adrenalin shot to the heart than Stravinsky‘s Firebird Suite? It’s an emotional roller coaster, I tell you! April 13 & 15 at the Meyerhoff; April 14 at Strathmore. [ See it! ]
  Edited to add: Whoops, jumped the gun. That’s NEXT week’s concert. Unfortunately I built the theme of this post around it, so I can’t take it out. You’re just super-prepared for next week. Hush.
• The National Symphony Orchestra has no time for roller coasters. They prefer a steady, even keel with ONE composer only, thank you very much. That composer is Mendelssohn, and the piece is Elijah. April 5 – 7. [ See it! ]
• This week at Strathmore, we have Kevin Costner. No, seriously, Kevin Costner is coming! Do you have ANY IDEA how I feel about Field of Dreams?! But he’s not playing baseball; he’s singing with his band, Modern West. So there’s that, and there’s Video Games Live which I talked about on Monday (you should come and say hi and check out the costume contest and play some Guitar Hero), and a wind ensemble called Flutopia of all things. [ See the calendar! ]

The 2011 Ain’t Baroque Trick-or-Treat Soundtrack

Last year I posted a spooky playlist for your Halloween pleasure, suitable for trick-or-treating, costume parties, and general pursuits of fright. It went over pretty well, so here it is again — only BETTER, because it’s augmented with additional suggestions. Let me know if you have any to add yourself!

1. Toccata and Fugue in d minor, by J. S. Bach (natch)
2. Carnival of the Animals, VII “Aquarium,” by Camille Saint-Saens
3. Funeral March of a Marionette, by Charles Gounod
4. “The Ghost’s High Noon” from Ruddigore, by Sir Arthur Sullivan (I’m partial to the King’s Singers version)
5. The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, by Paul Dukas
6. I. “Gnomus,” from Pictures at an Exhibition, by Modest Mussourgsky
7. “Grim Grinning Ghosts” as performed by the Swingtips
8. Night on Bald Mountain, by Modest Mussourgsky (suggested by Ed Blonski)
9. Le Sacre du Printemps, by Igor Stravinsky
10. Danse Macabre, by Camille Saint-Saens
11. “March to the Scaffold” and “Witches’ Sabbath” from Symphonie Fantastique, by Hector Berlioz (suggested by Helikonios)
12. “In The Hall of the Mountain King” from Peer Gynt, by Edvard Grieg

Image from http://www.doitmyself.org/labels/pumpkin.html

Concert Roundup: The Reckoning

Hey, guess which blog has its second anniversary tomorrow? No, no, you have to guess.

While you’re thinking, here are this week’s concerts:

• The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra is trying to fake me out by titling this week’s offering “Rachmaninoff’s Third,” but I’m way too sharp for that. Rather than dismiss it at face value, I ripped off the mask and said “AHA! It’s Rimsky-Korsakov‘s Capriccio Espagnol under there!” And, admittedly, Rachmaninoff‘s third symphony. And the first Liszt piano concerto. But everyone knows I have a soft enough spot for Capriccio Espagnol to carry me through. Vasily Petrenko conducts, Barry Douglas pianates, and you can find it October 28 and 30 at the Meyerhoff, October 29 at Strathmore. See it!
• The National Symphony Orchestra counters with a different handful of the Mighty Handful and offers up Mussourgsky‘s Pictures at an Exhibition. Talk about carrying you through. If you’re not already convinced, the Exhibition is augmented with a Grieg piano concerto and a Berlioz overture. Solid. Lorin Maazel conducts, Simon Trpčeski pianates, and you can find it October 27-29 at the Kennedy Center concert hall. See it!
• Update to add: @TerpsMusic tells me that there’s a concert at The University of Maryland on October 28 featuring Jonathan Richards, winner of the 2010 UMSO Concerto Competition. He’ll play Shostakovich‘s first violin concerto; the program also includes some Tchaikovsky, Ravel, and Takemitsu. See it!