Care to play Name That Tune?

[lontano]

For all that are interested consider this (please read carefully:

If anyone is interested I'd like to play Name That Tune, using short excerpts of mp3 files of works that might introduce people to new, interesting repertoire, and a little bit of fun in the process.

Please note that I am trying to engage others to do what I have attempted to do. Try to stump each other, or anyone that want's to engage in this contemplation. I realize it may get get complicated, but all I am suggesting is that we use short sections (I'm thinking under 2 min, and not entire works, as that might bring copyright issues).

I don't want you all to start bashing words and ideas about, so let's not (initially at least) go with the most obscure clip you can imagine. Let's try to be a little diplomatic, maybe even bordering on "casually friendly" terms do something we all can enjoy.


I'm using Goldwave software to edit clips, but I'm sure there other programs available to do the same thing. Unfortunately, this is a little longer than I would probably suggest, but I believe it is under the file size limit.

My first clip was identified very quickly, and from that I now have more to discover from Dutch Composers! And so do you, if so you choose.

So here I offer another clip, from someone that I know someone here must know, and I feel needs far more representation, as a composer of many works, in many mediums.  

[thalbergmad]

Sounds like the background music to a video i saw at the Glencoe Mountain Rescue Centre.

Absolutely no idea.

Thal

[lontano]

Sounds like the background music to a video i saw at the Glencoe Mountain Rescue Centre.

Absolutely no idea.

Thal

I suppose parts of the piece would sound very nice in such a setting. Here's a hint: it is part of a much larger work that keeps a similar motif going throughout.

[retrouvailles]

That's Simeon Ten Holt's Canto Ostinato. I really don't care for that work at all. It isn't the kind of minimalism that I like, and he really isn't one of the better modern Dutch composers. Look at Hendrik and Louis Andriessen, Theo Verbey, Willem Pijper (early 20th century), Tristan Keuris, Jakob van Domselaer (gep posted some of his music, also early 20th century), and many, many more. Dutch composers have been a focal point for me lately. I am having a lot of fun exploring their music, which is rather rich and unique. There are even some good romantic Dutch composers, too, but they aren't as significant as most of the more modern ones, in my opinion.

[lontano]

That's Simeon Ten Holt's Canto Ostinato. I really don't care for that work at all. It isn't the kind of minimalism that I like, and he really isn't one of the better modern Dutch composers. Look at Hendrik and Louis Andriessen, Theo Verbey, Willem Pijper (early 20th century), Tristan Keuris, Jakob van Domselaer (gep posted some of his music, also early 20th century), and many, many more. Dutch composers have been a focal point for me lately. I am having a lot of fun exploring their music, which is rather rich and unique. There are even some good romantic Dutch composers, too, but they aren't as significant as most of the more modern ones, in my opinion.

Well, I didn't say you had to like it. But you are correct. I am a little familiar with some of the Dutch composers listed, and I'll learn through your reply.

Do you want to continue the process with a clip of your own?
This is entirely an ad hoc idea I haven't really thought through yet, but I welcome others to offer whatever they like, only if there's interest in it.

Lontano

[perfect_pitch]

OK... To me it sounded a 'bit' like the Theme from 'the Piano' except arranged for 5/8 time and put in Bb minor...

Sort of has the same harmonies in places.

[retrouvailles]

OK... To me it sounded a 'bit' like the Theme from 'the Piano' except arranged for 5/8 time and put in Bb minor...

Sort of has the same harmonies in places.

It's actually in 2/4 (10/16), and it changes occasionally to 1/4 or 3/4, not in 5/8. Better luck next time, bub.

Interestingly, this piece was written before The Piano came out, from 1976 to 1979.

[pies]

Too easy?

[pies]

This one is pretty obscure.

[pies]

One more.

[pies]

a

[retrouvailles]

Wow, you're such a *** for attention. Go get some friends or something instead of hijacking this thread and others with your nonsense. It was lontano's thread, not yours.

[pies]

  lontano suggested that a new clip be posted since his has already been identified, so I did just that.

he wants us to:

us[e] short excerpts of mp3 files of works that might introduce people to new, interesting repertoire, and a little bit of fun in the process.

and that's exactly what I'm doing here.  So... why don't you try to identify what I've posted or post your own mp3s?

[retrouvailles]

If anyone is interested I'd like to play Name That Tune, using short excerpts of mp3 files of works that might introduce people to new, interesting repertoire, and a little bit of fun in the process.

lontano didn't say that he wanted other people to post anything. He clearly said "I'd like to play", which means that he will post the samples.

Just admit that you love attention, which you do.

And who said my guess was correct?

[pies]

Do you want to continue the process with a clip of your own?
This is entirely an ad hoc idea I haven't really thought through yet, but I welcome others to offer whatever they like, only if there's interest in it.

[retrouvailles]

Oh, I'm an idiot. I didn't see his second post. I apologize. I really have no idea what's in those samples. Perhaps I'll contribute something once the answers for those come up.

[perfect_pitch]

It's actually in 2/4 (10/16), and it changes occasionally to 1/4 or 3/4, not in 5/8. Better luck next time, bub.

Don't give me that condescending crap... better luck next time??? First of all, the fact that the time signature is 10/16 is practically exactly the same as 5/8, just like anyone could mistake 2/4 for 4/8...

And considering that I've never heard the piece before and the accent 'always' falls on the 1st of every 5 beats, I don't think I deserve that patronising attitude...

[richard black]

Well, 'lalala.mp3' sounds as if it's played by Kentaro Noda but since a lot of what he plays sounds like that and I've never heard of most of the composers, I'm not even close to guessing....

[retrouvailles]

Don't give me that condescending crap... better luck next time??? First of all, the fact that the time signature is 10/16 is practically exactly the same as 5/8, just like anyone could mistake 2/4 for 4/8...

And considering that I've never heard the piece before and the accent 'always' falls on the 1st of every 5 beats, I don't think I deserve that patronising attitude...

Oh, lighten up. I'm just having a little fun with you, mainly because it's so fun to get into a stupid argument with you. Remember the whole "atonal music is wrong" argument, or the thing with the Schoenberg? That's the kind of crap I'm talking about.

[pies]

a

[richard black]

it's the candenza from a concerto from the 60s by an American composer.

Liebermann?

Hint for 2nd mp3: English composer.

Absolutely not a clue there, then.

For the 3rd: Italian.

I'm guessing Nono. But I don't actually know any of his music (I've heard some but can't say I know it in any very meaningful sense) so I can't even hazard a guess at a piece.

[retrouvailles]

Liebermann?

Haha, Liebermann wasn't even born yet in the 60s, I don't think. And his idiom is neo-romantic. The only piano concerto I can think of offhand that was written in the 60s by an American is the Carter, and I don't remember that being in there.

[richard black]

Liebermann wasn't even born yet in the 60s, I don't think

Then it probably wasn't him. I wonder who I'm confusing him with.... Actually I was confusing him twice over - partly with the other Liebermann, Rolf, who wasn't American but who was at least composing vigorously in the 1960s in a modern style. But didn't write a concerto, as far as I can discover now I've done some research.

OK, I'll get my coat....

[lontano]

Too easy?

Damn, at first I thought I had it, but as it went on it just seemed to blend in with the dozens of relatively similar sound of New Complexity. If I had to guess the composer I might say Finnissy, but I rather doubt it.

[lontano]

lontano didn't say that he wanted other people to post anything. He clearly said "I'd like to play", which means that he will post the samples.

Just admit that you love attention, which you do.

And who said my guess was correct?

It actually was my intention to ask anyone who wanted to to post clips. Maybe I didn't make myself clear. If people find it fun/interesting, do it.

L.

[Bob]

I thought it would be cool to do a thread like this.  But can you legally post a short clip from a recording?

[lontano]

Even more!  I'm bored.  This is an 18th century harpsichord piece.  <3 harpsichords

Some years ago I new a keyboard student who found an 18th century harpsichord piece that was very strange and he took some delight in performing it. It has a title something like "Le Vertigo", and I can't recall the composer (maybe began with an R). But I doubt this has anything to do with that. This is pretty straightforward virtuosic music, except for the crashing base chords (forearm clusters?) which makes the claim that it "is an 18th century" work somewhat dubious; or the performer "took liberties"...

[lontano]

I thought it would be cool to do a thread like this.  But can you legally post a short clip from a recording?

Yes, I believe you can, which was my initial point. It's not much different than a quotation. I don't know the exact law, but this my understanding. If anyone seriously questions this, speak up.

L.

[pies]

A

[perfect_pitch]

OK... For the first one, I'm guessing that it's 'Pies' trying to play one of Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsodies, except he's shot himself full of crack and speed... and he's broken several of his fingers while playing blindfolded

The second one sounds like it's his cat crawling over the keyboard since 'Pies' has collapsed from the drugs

and as for the Harpsichord one, I would probably guess a Sonata in D by Corelli or something???

[lontano]

It's an American composer, so it can't be Finnissy!  And it's not Flynn.
   No liberties taken.  It's played exactly as written; the clusters are meant to simulate the sound of cannon-fire...

I realize my error with Finnissy, so I'm just floating through the aether here, is it a work of Cage (or someone close to him)? It doesn't sound like Cage, but his Zen ideas of "performing any disciplined action" (as in 0'00"), would allow anyone to do what they want when and where ever they wanted. And the time slot is close. 

[pies]

You're all wrong 

Should I reveal what they are now?  Or does anyone have any other guesses?

[lontano]

   No liberties taken.  It's played exactly as written; the clusters are meant to simulate the sound of cannon-fire...

Might it be "Le charge", by Dandrigu???  

[lontano]

Well, no one (yet) appears to have picked up on the 2nd mystery sample I posted. But here's another. Again not terribly obscure, but not too easy.

And here's one more.

[pies]

A

[retrouvailles]

The one you just posted here is your 2nd sample.  Unless I completely missed something.  I can't ID what you've posted, but the first one sounds quite nice.

Anyway, since I doubt anyone will ID what I've posted, I'll reveal what they are:
1. Robert Erickson's Piano Concerto.  This is one of my favourite concertos.  Most of the piece is improvised.
2. Cornelius Cardew's "Material".  This is the most obscure thing I could find.  I would be really surprised if anyone actually got this one.  It's from his avant-garde period, before he turned into a big Marxist-composer.
3.  Scelsi's "Un Adieu".  Scelsi's last piano piece.
4.  Michel Corrette's "Combat Naval".

While I have heard some of that before, I would have never gotten it. There was nothing distinctive in those pieces.

[pies]

Forearm clusters in 18th century works are quite distinctive...

[lontano]

The one you just posted here is your 2nd sample.  Unless I completely missed something.  I can't ID what you've posted, but the first one sounds quite nice.

Anyway, since I doubt anyone will ID what I've posted, I'll reveal what they are:
1. Robert Erickson's Piano Concerto.  This is one of my favourite concertos.  Most of the piece is improvised.
2. Cornelius Cardew's "Material".  This is the most obscure thing I could find.  I would be really surprised if anyone actually got this one.  It's from his avant-garde period, before he turned into a big Marxist-composer.
3.  Scelsi's "Un Adieu".  Scelsi's last piano piece.
4.  Michel Corrette's "Combat Naval".

Well, these are rather obscure. Concerning my 2nd clip, look back at my initial page for this thread. I posted the 2nd one there.

As I feared we all got caught up in providing identity-proof samples, which hasn't exactly really done anyone a whole lot of good, although I will look into the things posted. The Scelsi really caught me off guard; quite beautiful.

I'll reveal my samples later today, or maybe tomorrow.

BY THE WAY: If anyone interested hasn't heard, the 2nd set of Sorabji Transcendental Studies is available @ recordsinternational.com (and possibly elsewhere for less than $22.98 (inc tax) that I paid (in the US).

Lontano

[retrouvailles]

Mystery 2 is Myaskovsky's 3rd piano sonata (Richter's recording?). Mystery three is the last movement of Shchedrin's 1st piano sonata (not sure who's recording). Mystery 4 sounds very familiar, but I can't remember what it is.

You all better watch out. My clips will be coming soon, and I will show no mercy.

[retrouvailles]

Here are my clips. These are pretty obscure, and I don't expect anyone to get them (well maybe one of them), but you are all welcome to guess, of course! This is mainly to bring exposure to these composers, all of which deserve to be better known (some of these composers are fairly known, actually, but not for their piano works). The works may be obscure, but the performers aren't, in some cases. For example, the first is performed by Emanuel Ax and the third is performed by Peter Donohoe. This should also be interesting for Thal, for three of the four are concertos (or works for piano and orchestra). Also, I went ahead and uploaded the entire file for the second one (because it was so short). Have fun!

[lontano]

Mystery 2 is Myaskovsky's 3rd piano sonata (Richter's recording?). Mystery three is the last movement of Shchedrin's 1st piano sonata (not sure who's recording). Mystery 4 sounds very familiar, but I can't remember what it is.

You all better watch out. My clips will be coming soon, and I will show no mercy.

Damn, you're good! You got #2 and #3 exactly (I don't have the performer on the Schedrin).

I'm a bit sad no one has been able to ID #4, as it comes from some works and a composer I really like. I'll give you the title, and see if you can ID the composer: "The barn owl has not flown away."

Lontano

[retrouvailles]

I'm a bit sad no one has been able to ID #4, as it comes from some works and a composer I really like. I'll give you the title, and see if you can ID the composer: "The barn owl has not flown away."

Haha, you just made it ridiculously easy, now! It's from Leoš Janáček's On an Overgrown Path, the tenth piece. I can't say I am a huge fan of his music, but I do like his Piano Sonata quite a bit.

So, any guesses toward mine?

[lontano]

Haha, you just made it ridiculously easy, now! It's from Leoš Janáček's On an Overgrown Path, the tenth piece. I can't say I am a huge fan of his music, but I do like his Piano Sonata quite a bit.

So, any guesses toward mine?

Well, I realize the piano music of a more intimate style, and the sonata is great, I wonder if you've ever heard the Glagolithic Mass? It was one of his last works (1924 I believe) and it's a powerful and really phenomenal work. And other orchestral works are pretty decent as well IMHO.

I listened carefully to all 4 works and can't place any of them. They sound interesting, but I probably share the problem with some of having way more music collected than I will ever be able to listen to, let alone become familiar with. I've been hearing and collecting classical music since I was 3 years old, and progressive/alternative rock and classical since my teens, running a music library for 16 years, and trying to keep it all in my head takes a greater mind than mine (at 60). It's fun trying, though! I'll await your announcement.

And just for fun, in honor of Tim Burton's upcoming film, here's a little ditty you may recall: 

[retrouvailles]

Well, I realize the piano music of a more intimate style, and the sonata is great, I wonder if you've ever heard the Glagolithic Mass? It was one of his last works (1924 I believe) and it's a powerful and really phenomenal work. And other orchestral works are pretty decent as well IMHO.

I listened carefully to all 4 works and can't place any of them. They sound interesting, but I probably share the problem with some of having way more music collected than I will ever be able to listen to, let alone become familiar with. I've been hearing and collecting classical music since I was 3 years old, and progressive/alternative rock and classical since my teens, running a music library for 16 years, and trying to keep it all in my head takes a greater mind than mine (at 60). It's fun trying, though! I'll await your announcement.

And just for fun, in honor of Tim Burton's upcoming film, here's a little ditty you may recall: 

Ah yes, Mystery 5 is Daniel Del Tredici's Virtuoso Alice, one of many works he has composed that are indebted to that famous story.

No I have not heard the Glagolithic Mass, but that is on my list of works to hear.

As for my 4 samples, don't feel ashamed for not knowing them, for they are quite obscure, especially the first one, which is not even a commercial recording, but rather a broadcast recording, for the work has not been recorded yet commercially. It is there mainly to bring some exposure to the work (I can upload the whole thing once I reveal it, for it is a great work, and no harm would be done in uploading a broadcast recording). The others are commercial recordings, but are still difficult.

Here are some hints: the nationalities on the works are American, Dutch, British, and Dutch, respectively. The first one is part of a work for piano and orchestra which plays a sort of hommage to the Schumann piano concerto (but this piece is much better, heh), and the work was written in 1998. This composer has almost no piano works, but his orchestral works and concertos are some of my all-time favorites. The second is the third movement of a very short piano sonata written in 1930. The third is part of the first part of work for piano and orchestra, written in 1928 (revised in 1953), which was intended to be part of a piano concerto, but was never finished by the composer. Said composer has a more famous work for piano and string orchestra. One huge hint about this work: it was recently performed at the Proms. The last work is a concerto for two pianos and orchestra by a Dutch composer, written in 1964, who was born in Java and briefly studied with the composer of the second excerpt. Hope this helps!

[lontano]

Ah yes, Mystery 5 is Daniel Del Tredici's Virtuoso Alice, one of many works he has composed that are indebted to that famous story.

No I have not heard the Glagolithic Mass, but that is on my list of works to hear.

As for my 4 samples, don't feel ashamed for not knowing them, for they are quite obscure, especially the first one, which is not even a commercial recording, but rather a broadcast recording, for the work has not been recorded yet commercially. It is there mainly to bring some exposure to the work (I can upload the whole thing once I reveal it, for it is a great work, and no harm would be done in uploading a broadcast recording). The others are commercial recordings, but are still difficult.

Here are some hints: the nationalities on the works are American, Dutch, British, and Dutch, respectively. The first one is part of a work for piano and orchestra which plays a sort of hommage to the Schumann piano concerto (but this piece is much better, heh), and the work was written in 1998. This composer has almost no piano works, but his orchestral works and concertos are some of my all-time favorites. The second is the third movement of a very short piano sonata written in 1930. The third is part of the first part of work for piano and orchestra, written in 1928 (revised in 1953), which was intended to be part of a piano concerto, but was never finished by the composer. Said composer has a more famous work for piano and string orchestra. One huge hint about this work: it was recently performed at the Proms. The last work is a concerto for two pianos and orchestra by a Dutch composer, written in 1964, who was born in Java and briefly studied with the composer of the second excerpt. Hope this helps!

I'm lost on the first three, but your hint on the forth suggests Henk Badings, of whom I had works in my college library, but not at home in retirement. You said it was a concerto for 2 pianos & orch so I'm guessing that's name of it, if it is indeed Badings.

[retrouvailles]

Correct! Sample 4 is indeed Henk Badings' Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra, from the third movement. That concerto is quite an interesting one. If you do some research on Badings, you should get the second sample with no problem, for there is a link between the two, as I mentioned.

Any guesses for the other three?

[lontano]

Correct! Sample 4 is indeed Henk Badings' Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra, from the third movement. That concerto is quite an interesting one. If you do some research on Badings, you should get the second sample with no problem, for there is a link between the two, as I mentioned.

Any guesses for the other three?

Refreshing my memory on Badings (isn't he the master of 31-tone music?) reveals only one teacher, Willem Pijper, for orchestration. It would seem one is not likely to learn 31-tone composition from someone else. So that's who I believe the 2nd work is by. Which of his several works for piano, I don't know. But it's funny that I didn't pick up on that, as just a few days ago I was researching Arthurian Legends AND "strict Calvinist" theology, and some way they intersected, with Pijper in the midst (having worked on a never-completed opera "Merlin"). It's amazing the things I learn by doing link-learning via google and wiki, and my interests are all over the place so I rarely run out of ideas to chase across the web.

But now I've discovered my own dumb mistake  that would make nearly all my mystery posts invalid: I failed to remove the MP3 ID info that retains (at least) the title of the piece, even if I had edited it, so anyone downloading my samples and playing them back on Winamp, etc can see EXACTLY what my "mysteries" are. So now I have to figure out how to strip this info from the clip before posting it. Anyone with an easy answer get's a prize!

Lontano 

[retrouvailles]

Refreshing my memory on Badings (isn't he the master of 31-tone music?) reveals only one teacher, Willem Pijper, for orchestration. It would seem one is not likely to learn 31-tone composition from someone else. So that's who I believe the 2nd work is by. Which of his several works for piano, I don't know. But it's funny that I didn't pick up on that, as just a few days ago I was researching Arthurian Legends AND "strict Calvinist" theology, and some way they intersected, with Pijper in the midst (having worked on a never-completed opera "Merlin"). It's amazing the things I learn by doing link-learning via google and wiki, and my interests are all over the place so I rarely run out of ideas to chase across the web.

But now I've discovered my own dumb mistake  that would make nearly all my mystery posts invalid: I failed to remove the MP3 ID info that retains (at least) the title of the piece, even if I had edited it, so anyone downloading my samples and playing them back on Winamp, etc can see EXACTLY what my "mysteries" are. So now I have to figure out how to strip this info from the clip before posting it. Anyone with an easy answer get's a prize!

Lontano 

Correct! The second sample is Willem Pijper's Piano Sonata, third movement.

As for the info removal, you have to do that manually. I just put a space into all of the fields. Also, I didn't cheat when I listened to your works. I really knew them, heh. I played them in pianostreet's integrated player.

I use Audacity to cut up the files. When you are extracting the file, it shows you a box where you can edit the tags and information. There, I fix the info and tags. Audacity is a bit difficult to use, though. However, it is freeware.

Should I reveal the answers to the other two? Or should I wait a little bit longer for someone else to guess?

[lontano]

I figured how to remove that ID tag info right after I posted, but I believe you didn't cheat. I'd say wait till tomorrow, and if no one else answers then reveal, and maybe we can be a little less obscure in the future. That never recorded radio performance...not that's just cruel!

[retrouvailles]

Haha, I was intentionally cruel this time around, but it was all for the purposes of exposure, not to see which ones people would get. I will be nicer in the future, though. The radio broadcast is very cruel, yes, but who knows, someone here might have heard it. It has been broadcast many times, and has even been featured at the Proms in 1999 (with Slatkin conducting, hint hint). The other one has had at least 2 recordings commercially, and I happen to have the recording of this year's performance at the Proms.