This was the first classical LP I bought at age 16. I was heavily into the Beatles, Stones etc at the time (1963) but I was blown away by how 'accessible' this symphony was. It was also what made me fall in love with the oboe.
I wonder if Dvorak was aware what he had created. To be able to write a 45 minute piece that is at the same time incredibly intricate yet easily accessable is only something real masters who were blessed with incredible inspiration managed to do. Mozart 40th Symphony and Beethoven 7th managed to do it before this and he held his own against them effortlessly.
To Raymore being greek i didnot hear any classical in 63 i goty forhts tecprd which ny the way was also yhe Beatles It was my Emglish teacher who tirmede on to threatte and music !!! Later i discovered metal and the big surprise was that i enjoyed both now at 74 i still enjoy So to all music lover HALLO and best grom Cypurs ❤️❤️❤️🇨🇾🇨🇾🇨🇾
This is a different breed of musicianship. These musicians are classically trained to be a cog in a machine. It takes an enormous amount of dedication and hours a day of practice to do this. You have to play perfectly. If just one instrument out of tune or off tempo it can disturb the entire performance. And yes, applause is held until the end.
I've always loved this piece. Years ago I drove through Yosemite in the spring with a room mate that is a professional musician. We played this at high volume. It was spectacular. On the way home I played Mahlers first symphony. It's full of lovely melodies as well.
Wonderful reaction! No clapping until the end of all movements of a piece. They've all played this piece dozens of times, and they probably only did a couple rehearsals to prepare it. This is one piece among dozens they'll play in a season. Usually there would indeed be more than a single symphony at a concert. They usually run 90 minutes or more total, so 2-3 pieces per concert. Yes, the English Horn player was circular breathing. Most movements are named for the tempo (Largo means very slow for instance). I think you'd like Beethoven 6 if you liked this. Most of the people in these audiences treat it as naptime to be honest. Super rich and have held season tickets for decades as a status symbol. And these musicians are all prodigies, and their parents have heard them play better than most adults since they were kids. I doubt many parent would consider Dvorak 9 a special enough event to travel the world to see it. But yeah, their parents are all proud, I'm sure. John Williams steals from every great composer and talks openly about it. The quiet moments of a piece are where you should actually do the least analysis/chatting. You picked up on that pretty quickly lol. Especially this piece's 2nd movement, which is one of the most important in music history. Your insights were all excellent throughout. Listen to more classical, and you really should consider re-listening to this piece, maybe with different orchestras playing. It's an expressive piece, so different conductors and orchestras will treat specific sections with different spins.
And some people think that 'classical music' is boring. Thank you so much for taking the time to present this. We must never allow this music to be ignored! My parents had an ancient copy of this. It was a collection of many (around 8?) 78rpm encased in a box. They were of the old style brittle breakable albums, before vinyl was used! Anyway, I watched the entire video, and found your commentary just the right additions. Your admiration for the dedication of these musicians is well justified. Yes, many prog musicians were influenced by these roots. I had forgotten that Keith Emerson used this theme as the intro to 'America', and it fit in perfectly Nice. Keep doing classical! Scheherazade maybe?
people who think it's boring have probably only heard piano solos from mozart and beethoven like eine kleine and fur elise, they probably think that's all it is as well. not like they are bad pieces, but there is just so much more to listen to.
Yay! A call-out! So glad you got to this symphony and enjoyed it - it's probably my favourite classical work. Very good rendition of it, too. From the "romantic" era, tail end of the 19th century, and you can hear not only hints of how classical would develop but also the influence of traditional songs. Dvorak's belief that future music would be based around spirituals before jazz, blues, and rock were invented was pretty prophetic! It was written as an homage to the US. The main theme of the second movement is very well-known and almost hints at the beginnings of jazz in places (I love the pizzicato walking bass in it!) and as you said, how classical was to influence prog, metal, and (in particular this symphony) film music. That second movement always makes me think of floating down a big river, passing by farms and then a city before getting back into the open countryside. In the first movement you asked about a bassoon - the main melody was being carried on the clarinet, but the background instrument (the red-brown one) was a bassoon. And yes horn players use their hand as a mute. Each movement is simply named for its tempo - largo is slow and stately. Scherzo (SKARE-tso) molto vivace" means fast and full of life. "Allegro con fuoco" (which started with the Jaws-like strings) means "brisk and fiery". The first movement's "Adagio allegro molto" means "slow, but becoming faster and brighter".
The names of the movements in symphonies usually refer to the tempo or overall feel, not the themes. Andante is a walking pace. Largo is slow and broad (large), scherzo is playful, Allegro con fuocco means faster, and with passion! I'm glad you listened to this with a video of the orchestra - it gives you a good idea of the magesty of 80 to 90 musicians acting as one, at the control of the maestro. And very cool how you connected the changes with prog rock!
This was so fun seeing you pick up on so many of the things that went on. When you recognized that there was a reprise of material from the first movement at the climax of the 2nd one I was looking forward to seeing if you would catch the similar moments in the following movements. Because that is what Dvorak is doing here in this Symphony in particular. He never did it before in any of his other ones but he does in this one, and in the finale he merges them all together. And when you tried to count the time in the Scherzo I couldn't help but smile. I played this symphony (Timpani) and the Scherzo is a beast. It is a simple 3/4 movement but all syncopated. The horns at that moment when you did that come in on the one. But they sound offbeat. Because the main beat of the movement is off the entire time.
Number 9, number 9, number 9, number 9, is very fine! In this love-song to America, his melodies evoke a growing, frenetic energy that was humming through this country in our youth. Good on ya for mixing in this sublime music to an already eclectic line-up. Peace & Love.
Relistening to this reaction. You did a great job, I really enjoyed this. Around time stamp 42:20 you hear three familiar notes; Three Blind Mice! Also some themes are reminders of "Swing Low Sweet Chariot".
Hi JP. DP from UK. We'll Build A New World, Our New World. Sometimes derided as being too commercial, this symphony is just packed with brilliant melodies, often taken from local Bohemian folk songs, although Dvorak wrote this symphony in the New World aka USA and may also have influenced by Native American songs The main theme in the 2nd movement is one of the best known in all of classical music. It became a song called Goin' Home, with a jazz version by Alice Coltrane (covered by Santana on their Welcome album). It was also used in a bread commercial in the UK, directed by Ridley Scott no less. I've seen the symphony played live many times, the first being by the Halle Orchestra in Manchester's Free Trade Hall. P.S. my song ref Our New World is by Dream Theater. P.P.S. That 4th movement theme is used by The Nice at the start of their version of America (from West Side Story).
I'm not sure it's more 'commercial' than some other works but more something that's commercialised by others (who see useful politics in it for example). Of course the whole push in the late 19th century was nationalism and using local folk music was part of that. That's the context that some people will rather miss here by taking a limited perspective. Dvorak like others then was interested in folk music in general.
@@joebloggs396 Thanks, Joe. You're right about the nationalism link with folk tunes, and probably my favourite Czech work is Smetana's Ma Vlast (My Country)
On that first point, I know exactly what you're saying, but what does "commercial" even mean in the context of this kind of classical music? We're talking about music that's more than 100 years old written by one of the world's great composers. If it means "popular" or "accessible" is that necessarily a bad thing? Is the opposite "pretentious"? We're not talking about a five-minute composition here. The Dvorak New World symphony is a great composition that has stood the test of time. Folks out there can deride it as commercial if they like, but to me, a substantial piece of music that was popular 100+ years ago and still widely enjoyed today is normally a sign of something good.
@@JohnWhipp I think commercial means that more albums and concert tickets are sold. With concerts, in my experience, sometimes a popular work is on the same bill as a more obscure, challenging one, usually by a living composer. I was at such a concert, and the obscure work was actually booed, before the composer stood up to take a bow. Awkward!
One of my favorites. I've listened to this so many times I can't count. For the Halloween season coming up, try Symphony Fantastique by Hector Berlioz. He's a French composer from around the same time period. It's very cinematic.
Sooo many movies from the 30s to now have borrowed from Symphony No. 9 that when I first heard this (well over a half century ago), so many parts were so familiar. This is one piece of classical music that is truly the soundtrack of my life.
NFW! We played this in band in the '60s, along with Bach and Stravinsky and Jazz with a little rock, as the teach was a jazzy hepcat. Great fun to play, even as second trumpet. I once created a vocal avant-garde piece based on the wondrous final section that mirrors Beethoven's. A good Saturday! Thanks for thinking of us! :) PS - As an American this is essential listening.
Dvorak's 8th is actually the first symphony I heard from him, by chance on a radio station. I thought it was the 9th symphony when I bought the record, but was pleased with it. I eventually found Dvorak's 8th, in all its robust glory on record. I also found a recording of the 7th symphony by Bernstein and the NY Philh. Orch., which is also really good, and reminds me of a theme in the Star Wars movie The Empire Strikes Back.
One of my favorite Keith Emerson & The Nice tracks is "America", from their final album Elegy, which uses bits from the final movement of the New World Symphony.
JP, you are a lucky: discovering such a masterpiece now, with the musical back ground you have. Great. One of the most beautiful and melodic pieces in classical music, at least for me. With Beethoven's all 9, some Grieg, Smetana, Tchaikovsky… And JP, you are right about the connection between prog and classic. As a teenager I didn't listen much to radios but liked to listen to classical, until I discovered Led Zep and Yes, and how powerful and melodic rock could also be. Well I spent the whole time with you, thank you Justin, it's another experience to listen to music with someone, even if we never met !!
When I was in junior high this was one of my first exposures to classical music as I had a semester of music appreciation in our "humanities" curriculum (wonder if they still do that). I remember being intrigued with it while several kids in the class were talking and not paying attention to it and the music teacher who took it very seriously would stop the music and yell at us. He really wanted us to "get it" and I did. I sat up front so I could more fully experience what I was being exposed to.
Dvorak came to the US and saw the grandure of the unspoiled nature and experienced the variety of the cultures that came together (including their folk tunes and spirituals) and used his chosen art for of symphonic composition to come up with this celebration of his new country.
It really doesn't get much better than this. You will find many who may dismiss this as too populist and even simplistic and didactic in it's approach - but there is a reason why this is one of the most favourite symphonies in the world - it speaks directly to the soul and creates all those feels that make us human. The opening movement full of anticipation, exploration and even a bit of fearfulness of the unknown. The 2nd movement of rest, contemplation, retrospection a feeling of longing, being far from home, wilderness and isolation. There is alternation between Bohemian (Czech) folk melodies, black slave elegies and Navaho spiritual influences at night around a camp fire . The third movement awakes with the dawn full of exuberance, playfulness and daring and pushing forward to the ultimate goal. The fourth movement is a galloping back home, full of the memories of the adventure experienced in the previous 3 movements with land in sight the ship races to port on the swell of the tide and berths back home returning you to recount your tale to much missed family and a sense of fulfilment and achievement. - well that's how I feel when l listen to this! and each of us can have our own interpretation just as valid. At some point I would urge you to listen to this again, no visuals, at night, eyes closed and let the music take you on your own spiritual journey. It will stay with you forever. Dvorak wrote many wonderfully accessible pieces and they are definitely worth exploring including many "Tone Poems" - long single movement pieces based on a theme or story. Also 2 collections of Slavonic Dances, a wonderful Cello Concerto, a grand Symphonic Variations suite and the symphony that preceded this one you just heard - the 8th. Wonderfully thematic and playful. You will love it as well.
Very astute JP, you are absolutely correct in why the clapping is delayed until the end of the piece. Having been to many classical concerts, clapping between movements disrupts the mood, pulls you out of the spell the music casts, and delays moving on to the next movement. As for the musicians, I've heard some of them quite like it, let's them know people are into it, but as a listener I really appreciate waiting until the end. So glad to see you doing more classical music, please keep it coming!
With Symphonies clapping between movements is usually verboten as the symphonies often have an organic unity as here with all the themes from the previous movements coming back in the finale.
Well done. The Largo is my favorite movement as well...the melody so sad and beautiful. Symphonies 7 & 8 are both very good too if you want more Dvorak.
Congratulations, JP. This is one of the best pieces of classical music to introduce you to the wondrous variety of hundreds of years of music that will last forever. I appreciate your range of tolerance of so many genres. Unlike so many other so-called reactors, who are extremely limited in their appreciation, you have a refreshing openness. Once you have really embraced the beauty of this symphony, the world is your oyster. You might listen to such brilliant pieces as Vivaldi's 4 Seasons, from the 17th century. Also Beethoven's 6th symphony, "pastoral" Thank you for this. Your interpretation is really very close to the intention of the composer. Well done, mate!
I remember driving cross-country about 20 years ago. I think it was in New Mexico where we witnessed a thunderstorm while listening to the opening movement of this on CD, the lightning strokes enhancing all the dramatic moments of the piece. Traditionally, audiences do not applaud between movements of classical performances. I think that is changing, at least in some locales, but withholding applause allows the conductor to begin the next movement at the most appropriate time. For example, the 3rd movement of this symphony goes directly into the 4th without pause, an effect referred to in musical scores as attacca subito.
Very nice reaction, Justin. Listening to a 50+ minutes piece of classical music is of course a big challenge. That part you thought you had heard before is the part that we call "Here comes the cavalry". Don't you think it sounds just like this? We have an even bigger challenge for you, Justin: Listen to what many people, including us, believe is the greatest composition of all time: The "St. Matthew Passion" by Johann Sebastian Bach. It is challenging not only because of its sheer length (almost 2 hours and 45 minutes; your battery will certainly not take that) but also because of the complexity of the very long melodic lines, the complexity of the polyphony and the complexity of the harmonics. But this is not just an extremely complex piece of music; the music is also incredibly moving. Here a link to a performance of this piece that we two attended; we couldn't miss a performance of this fantastic piece of music in Cologne (where we live). There are several videos of the exact same performance on TH-cam, but apparently a little bit (about 90 seconds) of the concert are missing in most of them. The camera footage of the link we are giving is missing too, but the audio is complete; the video shows scenes of what the passage is about in some Jesus movie but keeps the audio (the performance was released on a triple DVD where the audio was taken from). Here the link: th-cam.com/video/KV2w93bvGwE/w-d-xo.html We are certain you will be absolutely awed but also extremely moved by this piece of music. On a side note: As already said we attended this performance. We wore our best evening dresses for this; the dresses are tailor-made and match. They reach down to the ankles and are very narrow in that area; we can only take 6-inches steps in them (imagine Morticia Addams from the black-and-white TV-series "The Addams Family"). So we need a lot of time when walking from place A to place B when wearing these dresses.
You're quite correct, the St Matthew Passion sets standards of excellence that have not yet been equalled, let alone surpassed. All this talk about AI being a threat to humanity, just upload that and it'll do the electronic equivalent of shaking its head and slinking out of the room.
This was the piece that Decca wanted the Moody Blues to interpret, that became Days of Future Passed. Just thought you'd be interested in that snippet.
You could have heard the 4th movement - the allegro con fuoco - from various popular media. One Piece used it during the fight with crocodile. I'm sure this is an immensely satisfying piece to perform by these musicians in every seat. Even the most mundane things are so integral and challenging to perform perfectly. Lovely.
Magnifique! Bravissimo!!! Glad you caught this, it's stunning, isn't it? This proves again that you have the broadest range of any reacter. Next month: Sibelius! 3rd symphony would be my pick - if you loved this, I think Sibelius will be a hit with you. They both draw deeply on naturalistic and folk themes. Dvorak is a little earlier, and though this shines brightly, I think Sibelius has him beat on subtlety and depth. And Justin, when are you going to GO to the symphony? There's nothing like it - I look forward to your first classical concert reaction! And Orlando's got a great symphony (The Orlando Philharmonic) - I took a peek, and their lineup for 23-24 is out of the park. They're doing Pictures at an Exhibition, Rite of Spring, Brahms 3rd (which is awesome), Saint-Saëns 3rd "Organ Symphony" (an all time fav of mine, with a Sibelius violin concerto on the same bill), and Mahler's 2nd "Resurrection" symphony. If I was there I'd get season tickets! You'd be happy with any of them, and Pictures or Rite of Spring would be safe bets, because you're familiar with them, but I'd steer you towards Saint-Saëns or Brahms, they're both stellar works. And by the way, that naming convention for symphony movements refers to tempos. Largo is stately slow, while lento and grave are even slower. And up from largo is adagio, andante, moderato, allegretto, allegro, vivace, presto, and the whirlwind prestissimo. The second movement of a symphony is traditionally the slow one - and isn't this largo grand!
7:17 the guy in front is playing a clarinet, the bold guy next to him plays the bassoon. 21:16 the name of this instrument will surprise you.. it’s called an English horn (Cor Anglais)…
I'm glad you dip into classical works, many progressive bands were knowledgeable with the forms. Robert Fripp for instance was inspired by string quartets of Bela Bartok. Give one of those a try, it will blow your mind. Classical music isn't all that hard to understand, there are books and probably videos right on YT to explain the Italian terms.
By the way, "scherzo" means "joke" in German. Since Haydn, the third movement of a symphony was traditionally in "minuet and trio" form, a 3/4 time A-B-A structure in the form of a stately dance. Beethoven had no use for that, and substituted a faster 3-time movement he called a "scherzo", and that became the standard from then on. The scherzo movement of Beethoven's 9th is the 2nd movement, and it rocks completely. The 3rd movement scherzo of Dvorak's 9th has both the hyperactive Beethoven style and the stately dance in the middle. (And yes, John Williams only steals, er I mean borrows, from the best...) For the last movement, "allegro con fuoco" is Italian for "fast and furious".
loved it mate... great work from Dvorak. You explained the music well and for sure classical music is a rabbit hole however, once in, you'll discover so much and it will pay off. I'm a big Tangerine Dream fan and for sure their stuff goes on forever however, fair play for kicking up here there in the "stratosfear". Maybe Mahler's 2nd next? That's 1.25 hours but nonetheless, it's like this symphony, soul breaking and it's magnificent. Thanks brother.
This symphony was the one Decca Records asked the Moody Blues to use in the album to highlight their stereo system. The Moodies ended up using their own compositions and this became "Days of Future Passed". The rest is history. Perhaps on one of your next classical reactions you could listen to a "tone poem", a piece that tells a story. Two famous ones are "The William Tell Overture" and "The Moldau Symphony" (the latter tells the story of the Moldau River from it's birth as a bubbling spring to it's end flowing into the ocean).
This is one of my favorite classical pieces (although I don't listen to a lot of classical). As you noted, there are many parts that are quite similar to various themes in the "Star Wars" movies. You might think that this piece had some influence on John Williams. I also like your initial reaction in thinking that the audience would applaud between movements. Generally this isn't done, but apparently when this piece premiered at Carnegie Hall, "the end of every movement was met with thunderous clapping and Dvořák felt obliged to stand up and bow."
No "might" about its influence on John Williams. And Howard Shore probably had it playing on infinite repeat when writing the scores for the Lord of the Rings films.
That second movement, I see it as a hope of life. I imagine a large piece of land where new plants begin to grow, perhaps after a great devastation. Hence the name Symphony of the New World. That's what I think. Thanks for the subtitles, since I use a translator. Greetings from Guatemala City in Central America.
Simplemente impresionante, una gran pieza musical, una obra maestra. (Just stunning, a great piece of music, a masterpiece.) There is a part in the fourth movement that is very similar to the tune of the Three Stooges. Saludos desde Ciudad de Guatemala en Centro América.
oh my gosh, how many movies, series run through my head when I listen to this. And I thought he was more of a local star, but he, like one of many Czechs, conquered the world. another interesting Czech, Julius Fučík, who doesn't know his iconic banger Entry of the gladiator?
Thank you so much! I highly recommend this orchestra's channel. Great performances and conducting, but what makes or breaks any recorded symphonic music is the sound engineering, and theirs is da bomb. Dvorak's 7th and 8th symphonies are overshadowed by the 9th, but are also just lovely pieces of music. Since you've done ELP's Pictures at an Exhibition, why not make your next classical reaction this orchestra's Pictures at an Exhibition? It's Maurice Ravel's orchestration of what was originally a piano suite by Modest Mussorgsky.
Idk if it's been answered. But the reason you've heard the first part of #4 was because it was used in other things. EP 126(?) of One Piece, Luffy vs Croco is probably the most famous example. I got it from Asura's Wrath, used for Augus' boss fight. And used for a meme "The Emperor of Mankind once said...". The most famous piece and part arguably of the whole symphony.
Watershed moment for "classical" music, but for American classical music as well. If you haven't heard Howard Hanson's "Romantic" Symphony, you will certainly enjoy it. Dvorak wanted to encourage composers in the U.S. to write music that reflected their own culture. What's cool to me about the Hanson "Romantic" is that it has many echoes, especially in the slow movement, of the "New World." Hanson's symphony was one of many works that were commissioned in 1930 for the Boston Symphony. Hanson, although he was originally of Scandinavian heritage, could be considered the very kind of composer that Dvorak would have admired for following his lead.
Enjoyed that immensely. I look forward to the classical reactions about as much as the progressive rock ones. I hope there will one day be a reaction to the symphonic suite Scheherazade. A truly lush and dynamic piece. Really think you would enjoy it. Thanks for another fine video.
Fabulous Composition! Great choice. For it's time, this piece was quite bold. Average people, other than extremely rich or influential people had the chance to hear this live then. There are now many orchestras around the world who play this piece. Of course, there were no such things as recorded music. This has survived by paper and black dots made from pen and ink. The History of Music itself is as beautiful as the music Itself.
If you think about most musical composition being about melody and harmony, Dvorak was definitely a hero of melody (IMO influenced by Tchaikovsky). What's interesting is that Dvorak was one of the first major European composers who emigrated to the USA, which was the inspiration for this symphony. He ended up returning to his homeland, but he definitely made his mark on the American classical scene.
One piece of music you might want to check out for it's influence on suspenseful, or scary film score writing is Bartok's 1936 "Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta - Movement #1- Andante Tranquillo" (which means at a calm and relaxed tempo), which is around 9 min. long. Pretty ominous sounding stuff. Bartok split the strings in two, and put them on opposite sides of the orchestra, so for some movements the audience would get a natural stereo effect. If you want a much more modern orchestral piece, try Frank Zappa's "Perfect Stranger" (12:45) from the 1984 album Boulez Conducts Zappa, for a different side of Frank.
It's called the New World Symphony because Dvorak wrote it while visiting America from his Czech homeland. He went out to the Midwest, ebven to some Czech communities, collecting the local tunes, and even employing Southern Negro spirituals. The slow second movement actually had words later adapted to the tune - you can look it up on TH-cam, I believe it's called "Going Home". Even the "3 blind mice" tune is playfully employed in one of the movements. The piece was premiered in New York City by their Philharmonic orchestra in the 1890s, and to this day a commemorative bust of him - an homage to this entire episode in his life sits on a plinth in Madison Square Park. The Symphony is meant to be a sweeping tribute to this continent, and the last movement captures the heroism of exploration and adventure that tamed the wilderness of the new land with iconic opening strains (reminiscent of the sharks appearance in "Jaws"😅), and ending with an equally iconic tune played by horns, the main motif that was hinted at previously throughout the piece, but now manifested triumphantly for the finale.
I'm glad you liked this. We were hoping you would. If you would like a few more suggestions, try these. For a long symphony, try Bruckner's 9th Symphony (60 minutes). For something shorter, try Aaron Copland's "Billy the Kid Suite" (not the entire ballet) (20 mins) or Aaron Copland's "Rodeo Suite" (not the entire ballet) (also 20 mins). You will recognize parts of Rodeo.
Now, if only TH-cam cooperates and does NOT interrupt umpteen times with worthless advertisements. This symphony was written by Dvorak in 1893, two years into a three-year teaching visit in the United States. Dvorak was smitten by musical themes he heard in some original American songs and elaborated on some of them in this symphony. He was also impressed by the vastness of the country, the ruggedness, open plains, roaring rivers and other natural, actual landscapes. What may be an interesting experiment for you, JP, as you enter the realm of classical music, is to listen to a symphony and guess what instruments are playing a certain passage; not necessarily a solo, but groups of the orchestra, and learn to discern the instruments' TIMBRE, the tonal quality of the "tools"; can you tell the difference between a brass and a woodwind? a timpani and a bass drum? listen for combinations of instruments like flutes playing with clarinets? can you separate the two tones? This exercise can expand into understanding a composer's ORCHESTRATION, how s/he decides to express emotions/feelings via musical instruments tonal qualities. Yes, 2nd movement is Largo (slow), and is based to a degree on the Negro spiritual "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot." A brief musicological synopsis of the 9th: www.britannica.com/topic/New-World-Symphony . Thank you for braving the very deep waters of classical music!
Ah, the "clapping between movements" question! At the risk of sounding like an old lady, which I am, that's a product of today's short attention span way of life. I came to classical music late, having grown up in the '70s and '80s with the hand-me-down led Zeppelin / Pink Floyd/The Who, etc from older siblings. Even then, it seems to be all about the talent and excitement of individual performers. My classical experience is a higher joy that comes from seeing a group of people working together to bring the audience a transcendent experience that can be constructed by the individual based on her imagination.
You should listen to Going Home Antonin Dvorak BYU Choir The song “Goin' Home” is based on Czech composer Antonin Dvorak's Symphony no. 9-specifically the Largo movement. The song was written by William Arms Fisher, who was one of Dvorak's student's.
I recommend you give a listen to Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto #3. There are many fine performances, but you can't go wrong with Yuja Wang at the keyboard. The transition passage between the 2nd and 3rd movements gives me chills every time.
If you liked that second movement, those pauses, and breath control you might like a piece by Morten Lauridsen called "O Magnum Mysterium". I first heard it when my sons high school wind ensemble played it and though it was one of the beautiful pieces of music ever written. It's typically performed with a choir (which is another rabbit hole you can get lost in) but the Robert Reynolds arrangement for orchestra has all the elements you mentioned about the second movement. The solo trumpet in a couple of parts is "alone in the forest" haunting and the final layers of brass leave me breathless. Try this version: th-cam.com/video/m7ibzmO04Io/w-d-xo.html
That was great! I'm an infrequent Classical listener but as i watched this in the context of your channel some aspects of Classical vs everything else became more surprising in analysis. Whether you listen on your phone, on your headset, on your home stereo or even live much of what we normally listen to be it POP, Prog, rock etc. starts off through a singer's mic, through a guitar or bass amp, through the diodes and resisters and transistors of an organ -it is electronically generated, manipulated on it's journey and then spits out through speakers further altering the original sound. Can we buy a stereo with unlimited funds that can top the raw experience of attending a concert such as this in a proper Concert hall where every note goes directly from instrument to ear? In some ways it is the most primitive form of getting the sound to your ears and yet it would be the purest. Nothing is plugged in. There is no hum or hissing during the silent parts, the deep bass sounds aren't my subwoofer rumbling clumsily, or my tweeter squeaking it's best for the high notes. There is no false limit to the dynamic range, no compression to fit the sounds in the groove of the record so to speak. Yikes' I have to attend one of these concerts live!!
At some point, I think that you would enjoy reacting to a piano concerto. For the interplay between a virtuoso soloist and the orchestra. Rachmaninoff's concertos are the obvious perhaps for a start ?
I had to wait before I listened to this, as I wanted a decent Sicilian red to help me appreciate the music and the long-song Saturday videos reach me at noon. I've never heard this piece in its entirety, though I'm familiar with much of it through movies and television commercials so I was particularly interested to discover how the various themes hung together over 45 - 50 minutes. It did not disappoint me. The 2017 Andantino was pretty good as well...
Scherzo -- molto vivace: Scherzo is Italian for joke, and molto vivace means very lively. Beethoven popularized the use of a scherzo to replace the tamer, aristocratic minuet as the (usually) 3rd movement of a symphony (though Haydn was the first to have a scherzo movement in a symphony). The minuet and the scherzo are similar forms, both being in triple meter and having a contrasting middle section called the trio, but the scherzo is energetic while the minuet is a stately dance.
I've never listened to this piece, although I knew some of the themes, it was beautiful and full of dancing rhythms. Really, you should go back to the start of this Romantic movement in music, with Beethoven, perhaps the Emperor piano concerto or one of the symphonies.
No clapping until the entire piece is over. Usually the Conductor will put his baton down. Musical themes are often repeated or built upon once introduced. It creates a flow and cohesion to the music. The section that you said you recognized was introduced in the First Movement and may be based on traditional American Folk tunes.
😭😭😭Yesssss! Woo-hoo yeah!! That's all I could think to add lol. Oh wait well except to mention yeah doesn't it just kinda sound like Anerica? It seems like Dvorak's outside European impression of America is a sound we've come to associate with America. That's how feels to me. And I think for a European in the late 1800s America had this wild frontier, glorious mountains and sprawling mountain ranges feeling. The Largo movement I believe is based on a Quaker hymn. It's believable that he heard unique American styles of folk music and African American spirituals, even if hes not writing in those styles. and I forget what my brother said about him and jazz, like that he 'predicted' jazz or something (what would that even mean?) but that sounds like a story I should actually look into come to think of it. I've never exactly been a big patriot, for whatever reason, but this piece does make me feel like I do have some roots in this land, even if it was written by a Czech man, but it's still an old impression of dome Czech guy who visited my land, so I guess idk that reminds me of that. Maybe I heard a lot of this music on Bugs Bunny hahaha. You might remember some Looney Tunes if you listen to Brahms haha. If you heard that big melody on the last movement before yeah I suppose it could've been in some film you saw who knows when! Anyway woohoo yeah America!
Symphonies (as wth Sonatas) usually fall within the same basic scheme. Four movements, the first usually being fast with a slow introduction, the second being slow, the third being a Scherzo (Italian for joke) with a middle section in a different mood called a trio and a finale (again usually fast). The titles are nothing but tempo directions. Allegro = fast, Largo = very slow.etc. The joy is how various composers used this scheme and how it gradually changed. (There are also specific movement structures as well but that's too detailed for now). Next up I invite you to try Beethoven 7, the only symphony that requires a mosh pit.
Symphonic musicians don't use circular breathing. They must use incredible breath control. My HS girlfriend was in the Long Island (NY) Youth Orchestra and played the English horn solo in the Largo movement and I'll tell you that I was turning red holding MY breath during those long phrases. She did beautifully.
Incorrect. Classical musicians use circular breathing quite often The English Horn player was indeed circular breathing in the 2nd mvmt. Some (most) musicians would choose not to use circular breathing for it, though. It's a choice. This soloist used it to allow the conductor to be extra rubato with the tempo, which was a deliberate choice on both their parts. True professionals.
If you want some genuine Latin American swing you should check the "Night in The Tropics" Symphony by Louis Gottschalk. Even in the 19th century they knew how to boogie.
Quietly in my room I am directing this and the orchestra is doing fantastic. Good job everyone.
👏👏👏
This was the first classical LP I bought at age 16. I was heavily into the Beatles, Stones etc at the time (1963) but I was blown away by how 'accessible' this symphony was. It was also what made me fall in love with the oboe.
I wonder if Dvorak was aware what he had created. To be able to write a 45 minute piece that is at the same time incredibly intricate yet easily accessable is only something real masters who were blessed with incredible inspiration managed to do.
Mozart 40th Symphony and Beethoven 7th managed to do it before this and he held his own against them effortlessly.
To Raymore being greek i didnot hear any classical in 63 i goty forhts tecprd which ny the way was also yhe Beatles
It was my Emglish teacher who tirmede on to threatte and music !!!
Later i discovered metal and the big surprise was that i enjoyed both now at 74 i still enjoy
So to all music lover HALLO and best grom Cypurs ❤️❤️❤️🇨🇾🇨🇾🇨🇾
One of my favorite and one of the most accessible pieces of classical music. This should be everyone's first classical piece.
This is a different breed of musicianship. These musicians are classically trained to be a cog in a machine. It takes an enormous amount of dedication and hours a day of practice to do this. You have to play perfectly. If just one instrument out of tune or off tempo it can disturb the entire performance.
And yes, applause is held until the end.
I've really been enjoying your reactions -- thanks for breaking into the classical world! This is one of the greats.
Really appreciate that avogrid! Ty
I've always loved this piece. Years ago I drove through Yosemite in the spring with a room mate that is a professional musician. We played this at high volume. It was spectacular. On the way home I played Mahlers first symphony. It's full of lovely melodies as well.
Wonderful reaction! No clapping until the end of all movements of a piece. They've all played this piece dozens of times, and they probably only did a couple rehearsals to prepare it. This is one piece among dozens they'll play in a season. Usually there would indeed be more than a single symphony at a concert. They usually run 90 minutes or more total, so 2-3 pieces per concert. Yes, the English Horn player was circular breathing. Most movements are named for the tempo (Largo means very slow for instance). I think you'd like Beethoven 6 if you liked this.
Most of the people in these audiences treat it as naptime to be honest. Super rich and have held season tickets for decades as a status symbol. And these musicians are all prodigies, and their parents have heard them play better than most adults since they were kids. I doubt many parent would consider Dvorak 9 a special enough event to travel the world to see it. But yeah, their parents are all proud, I'm sure.
John Williams steals from every great composer and talks openly about it.
The quiet moments of a piece are where you should actually do the least analysis/chatting. You picked up on that pretty quickly lol. Especially this piece's 2nd movement, which is one of the most important in music history.
Your insights were all excellent throughout. Listen to more classical, and you really should consider re-listening to this piece, maybe with different orchestras playing. It's an expressive piece, so different conductors and orchestras will treat specific sections with different spins.
And some people think that 'classical music' is boring. Thank you so much for taking the time to present this. We must never allow this music to be ignored! My parents had an ancient copy of this. It was a collection of many (around 8?) 78rpm encased in a box. They were of the old style brittle breakable albums, before vinyl was used!
Anyway, I watched the entire video, and found your commentary just the right additions. Your admiration for the dedication of these musicians is well justified. Yes, many prog musicians were influenced by these roots. I had forgotten that Keith Emerson used this theme as the intro to 'America', and it fit in perfectly Nice. Keep doing classical! Scheherazade maybe?
people who think it's boring have probably only heard piano solos from mozart and beethoven like eine kleine and fur elise, they probably think that's all it is as well.
not like they are bad pieces, but there is just so much more to listen to.
We had this played at our wedding 5 years ago while we were signing the register. I’ve always loved it.
Yay! A call-out! So glad you got to this symphony and enjoyed it - it's probably my favourite classical work. Very good rendition of it, too. From the "romantic" era, tail end of the 19th century, and you can hear not only hints of how classical would develop but also the influence of traditional songs. Dvorak's belief that future music would be based around spirituals before jazz, blues, and rock were invented was pretty prophetic! It was written as an homage to the US. The main theme of the second movement is very well-known and almost hints at the beginnings of jazz in places (I love the pizzicato walking bass in it!) and as you said, how classical was to influence prog, metal, and (in particular this symphony) film music. That second movement always makes me think of floating down a big river, passing by farms and then a city before getting back into the open countryside. In the first movement you asked about a bassoon - the main melody was being carried on the clarinet, but the background instrument (the red-brown one) was a bassoon. And yes horn players use their hand as a mute. Each movement is simply named for its tempo - largo is slow and stately. Scherzo (SKARE-tso) molto vivace" means fast and full of life. "Allegro con fuoco" (which started with the Jaws-like strings) means "brisk and fiery". The first movement's "Adagio allegro molto" means "slow, but becoming faster and brighter".
The names of the movements in symphonies usually refer to the tempo or overall feel, not the themes. Andante is a walking pace. Largo is slow and broad (large), scherzo is playful, Allegro con fuocco means faster, and with passion!
I'm glad you listened to this with a video of the orchestra - it gives you a good idea of the magesty of 80 to 90 musicians acting as one, at the control of the maestro.
And very cool how you connected the changes with prog rock!
"Con Fuoco" literally means "with fire".
The musical themes and motifs and their treatment in the movements is phenomenal. What a magnificent work. Great orchestra. Brilliant composer.
This was so fun seeing you pick up on so many of the things that went on. When you recognized that there was a reprise of material from the first movement at the climax of the 2nd one I was looking forward to seeing if you would catch the similar moments in the following movements.
Because that is what Dvorak is doing here in this Symphony in particular. He never did it before in any of his other ones but he does in this one, and in the finale he merges them all together.
And when you tried to count the time in the Scherzo I couldn't help but smile. I played this symphony (Timpani) and the Scherzo is a beast. It is a simple 3/4 movement but all syncopated. The horns at that moment when you did that come in on the one. But they sound offbeat. Because the main beat of the movement is off the entire time.
Thanks so much for watching Quoten! Definitely hard to follow along at points, but so satisfying to listen to :D
Number 9, number 9, number 9, number 9, is very fine! In this love-song to America, his melodies evoke a growing, frenetic energy that was humming through this country in our youth. Good on ya for mixing in this sublime music to an already eclectic line-up. Peace & Love.
I discovered Frankfurt Radio Symphony YT channel during the dark, early days of the pandemic. Bravo for this and many other of their performances.
Relistening to this reaction. You did a great job, I really enjoyed this. Around time stamp 42:20 you hear three familiar notes; Three Blind Mice! Also some themes are reminders of "Swing Low Sweet Chariot".
Thank you so much Elizabeth!
The flute player has fantastic eyebrows!
The whole orchestra is very expressive. I watch them often.
I'm loving your open approach to music Justine. I think you're an expert music appreciator!
Hi JP. DP from UK. We'll Build A New World, Our New World. Sometimes derided as being too commercial, this symphony is just packed with brilliant melodies, often taken from local Bohemian folk songs, although Dvorak wrote this symphony in the New World aka USA and may also have influenced by Native American songs The main theme in the 2nd movement is one of the best known in all of classical music. It became a song called Goin' Home, with a jazz version by Alice Coltrane (covered by Santana on their Welcome album). It was also used in a bread commercial in the UK, directed by Ridley Scott no less. I've seen the symphony played live many times, the first being by the Halle Orchestra in Manchester's Free Trade Hall.
P.S. my song ref Our New World is by Dream Theater.
P.P.S. That 4th movement theme is used by The Nice at the start of their version of America (from West Side Story).
I'm not sure it's more 'commercial' than some other works but more something that's commercialised by others (who see useful politics in it for example). Of course the whole push in the late 19th century was nationalism and using local folk music was part of that. That's the context that some people will rather miss here by taking a limited perspective. Dvorak like others then was interested in folk music in general.
@@joebloggs396 Thanks, Joe. You're right about the nationalism link with folk tunes, and probably my favourite Czech work is Smetana's Ma Vlast (My Country)
On that first point, I know exactly what you're saying, but what does "commercial" even mean in the context of this kind of classical music? We're talking about music that's more than 100 years old written by one of the world's great composers. If it means "popular" or "accessible" is that necessarily a bad thing? Is the opposite "pretentious"? We're not talking about a five-minute composition here. The Dvorak New World symphony is a great composition that has stood the test of time. Folks out there can deride it as commercial if they like, but to me, a substantial piece of music that was popular 100+ years ago and still widely enjoyed today is normally a sign of something good.
@@JohnWhipp I think commercial means that more albums and concert tickets are sold. With concerts, in my experience, sometimes a popular work is on the same bill as a more obscure, challenging one, usually by a living composer. I was at such a concert, and the obscure work was actually booed, before the composer stood up to take a bow. Awkward!
One of my favorites. I've listened to this so many times I can't count. For the Halloween season coming up, try Symphony Fantastique by Hector Berlioz. He's a French composer from around the same time period. It's very cinematic.
Largo - or as us Brits of a certain age know it The theme from Ridley Scott's Hovis bread advert.
Eee by gum 🙂
Sooo many movies from the 30s to now have borrowed from Symphony No. 9 that when I first heard this (well over a half century ago), so many parts were so familiar. This is one piece of classical music that is truly the soundtrack of my life.
NFW! We played this in band in the '60s, along with Bach and Stravinsky and Jazz with a little rock, as the teach was a jazzy hepcat. Great fun to play, even as second trumpet. I once created a vocal avant-garde piece based on the wondrous final section that mirrors Beethoven's. A good Saturday! Thanks for thinking of us! :) PS - As an American this is essential listening.
The popularity of this symphony undervalues some of his others, I actually believe the 8th is his best symphony
Dvorak's 8th is actually the first symphony I heard from him, by chance on a radio station. I thought it was the 9th symphony when I bought the record, but was pleased with it. I eventually found Dvorak's 8th, in all its robust glory on record. I also found a recording of the 7th symphony by Bernstein and the NY Philh. Orch., which is also really good, and reminds me of a theme in the Star Wars movie The Empire Strikes Back.
You are not wrong. This one is so incredibly popular, and with good reason, but I think both the 7th and the 8th are even more inspired.
One of my favorite Keith Emerson & The Nice tracks is "America", from their final album Elegy, which uses bits from the final movement of the New World Symphony.
JP, you are a lucky: discovering such a masterpiece now, with the musical back ground you have. Great. One of the most beautiful and melodic pieces in classical music, at least for me. With Beethoven's all 9, some Grieg, Smetana, Tchaikovsky… And JP, you are right about the connection between prog and classic. As a teenager I didn't listen much to radios but liked to listen to classical, until I discovered Led Zep and Yes, and how powerful and melodic rock could also be. Well I spent the whole time with you, thank you Justin, it's another experience to listen to music with someone, even if we never met !!
I really appreciate those words Chris :)
When I was in junior high this was one of my first exposures to classical music as I had a semester of music appreciation in our "humanities" curriculum (wonder if they still do that). I remember being intrigued with it while several kids in the class were talking and not paying attention to it and the music teacher who took it very seriously would stop the music and yell at us. He really wanted us to "get it" and I did. I sat up front so I could more fully experience what I was being exposed to.
Dvorak came to the US and saw the grandure of the unspoiled nature and experienced the variety of the cultures that came together (including their folk tunes and spirituals) and used his chosen art for of symphonic composition to come up with this celebration of his new country.
Probably helped sell the piece there by saying that too.
It really doesn't get much better than this. You will find many who may dismiss this as too populist and even simplistic and didactic in it's approach - but there is a reason why this is one of the most favourite symphonies in the world - it speaks directly to the soul and creates all those feels that make us human.
The opening movement full of anticipation, exploration and even a bit of fearfulness of the unknown. The 2nd movement of rest, contemplation, retrospection a feeling of longing, being far from home, wilderness and isolation. There is alternation between Bohemian (Czech) folk melodies, black slave elegies and Navaho spiritual influences at night around a camp fire . The third movement awakes with the dawn full of exuberance, playfulness and daring and pushing forward to the ultimate goal. The fourth movement is a galloping back home, full of the memories of the adventure experienced in the previous 3 movements with land in sight the ship races to port on the swell of the tide and berths back home returning you to recount your tale to much missed family and a sense of fulfilment and achievement. - well that's how I feel when l listen to this! and each of us can have our own interpretation just as valid.
At some point I would urge you to listen to this again, no visuals, at night, eyes closed and let the music take you on your own spiritual journey. It will stay with you forever.
Dvorak wrote many wonderfully accessible pieces and they are definitely worth exploring including many "Tone Poems" - long single movement pieces based on a theme or story. Also 2 collections of Slavonic Dances, a wonderful Cello Concerto, a grand Symphonic Variations suite and the symphony that preceded this one you just heard - the 8th. Wonderfully thematic and playful. You will love it as well.
It's just so good. It's one of my top five favourite works of classical music.
Very astute JP, you are absolutely correct in why the clapping is delayed until the end of the piece. Having been to many classical concerts, clapping between movements disrupts the mood, pulls you out of the spell the music casts, and delays moving on to the next movement. As for the musicians, I've heard some of them quite like it, let's them know people are into it, but as a listener I really appreciate waiting until the end. So glad to see you doing more classical music, please keep it coming!
With Symphonies clapping between movements is usually verboten as the symphonies often have an organic unity as here with all the themes from the previous movements coming back in the finale.
With any multi-movement piece, not just symphonies.
Just follow the lead from the front row. They know when to clap .
Well done. The Largo is my favorite movement as well...the melody so sad and beautiful. Symphonies 7 & 8 are both very good too if you want more Dvorak.
Congratulations, JP. This is one of the best pieces of classical music to introduce you to the wondrous variety of hundreds of years of music that will last forever.
I appreciate your range of tolerance of so many genres.
Unlike so many other so-called reactors, who are extremely limited in their appreciation, you have a refreshing openness.
Once you have really embraced the beauty of this symphony, the world is your oyster.
You might listen to such brilliant pieces as Vivaldi's 4 Seasons, from the 17th century. Also Beethoven's 6th symphony, "pastoral"
Thank you for this. Your interpretation is really very close to the intention of the composer. Well done, mate!
Thank you Stu :)
WE MAKIN IT OUTTA THE OLD WORLD WITH THIS ONE 🗣🗣🗣🗣🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
I remember driving cross-country about 20 years ago. I think it was in New Mexico where we witnessed a thunderstorm while listening to the opening movement of this on CD, the lightning strokes enhancing all the dramatic moments of the piece.
Traditionally, audiences do not applaud between movements of classical performances. I think that is changing, at least in some locales, but withholding applause allows the conductor to begin the next movement at the most appropriate time. For example, the 3rd movement of this symphony goes directly into the 4th without pause, an effect referred to in musical scores as attacca subito.
Very nice reaction, Justin. Listening to a 50+ minutes piece of classical music is of course a big challenge. That part you thought you had heard before is the part that we call "Here comes the cavalry". Don't you think it sounds just like this?
We have an even bigger challenge for you, Justin: Listen to what many people, including us, believe is the greatest composition of all time: The "St. Matthew Passion" by Johann Sebastian Bach. It is challenging not only because of its sheer length (almost 2 hours and 45 minutes; your battery will certainly not take that) but also because of the complexity of the very long melodic lines, the complexity of the polyphony and the complexity of the harmonics. But this is not just an extremely complex piece of music; the music is also incredibly moving.
Here a link to a performance of this piece that we two attended; we couldn't miss a performance of this fantastic piece of music in Cologne (where we live). There are several videos of the exact same performance on TH-cam, but apparently a little bit (about 90 seconds) of the concert are missing in most of them. The camera footage of the link we are giving is missing too, but the audio is complete; the video shows scenes of what the passage is about in some Jesus movie but keeps the audio (the performance was released on a triple DVD where the audio was taken from).
Here the link: th-cam.com/video/KV2w93bvGwE/w-d-xo.html
We are certain you will be absolutely awed but also extremely moved by this piece of music.
On a side note: As already said we attended this performance. We wore our best evening dresses for this; the dresses are tailor-made and match. They reach down to the ankles and are very narrow in that area; we can only take 6-inches steps in them (imagine Morticia Addams from the black-and-white TV-series "The Addams Family"). So we need a lot of time when walking from place A to place B when wearing these dresses.
You're quite correct, the St Matthew Passion sets standards of excellence that have not yet been equalled, let alone surpassed. All this talk about AI being a threat to humanity, just upload that and it'll do the electronic equivalent of shaking its head and slinking out of the room.
The English horn solo at the start of the Largo always sounded to me like a young bird seeing a ship for the first time through the trees.
Incidentally, a piece of trivia - The theme of the second movement was used in a song called "Smoky Blues Away" by A New Generation in 1968
This was the piece that Decca wanted the Moody Blues to interpret, that became Days of Future Passed. Just thought you'd be interested in that snippet.
You could have heard the 4th movement - the allegro con fuoco - from various popular media. One Piece used it during the fight with crocodile. I'm sure this is an immensely satisfying piece to perform by these musicians in every seat. Even the most mundane things are so integral and challenging to perform perfectly. Lovely.
This guy is the GOAT of reaction videos.
Thats so nice of you to say John, thank you for the kindness 😊
@@JustJP just being honest. I am impressed by your knowledge of music. I didn’t expect you to dig into Classical Music.
Please listen to Sibelius' violin concerto. One of the most beautiful classical pieces I've heard.
Symphony 2!
yes, I heard MuseScore violin concerto is a good one too.
My long-departed father's favorite piece of music.
38:15 If you're a fan of One Piece this would be familiar with you because this is the theme that plays in Luffy's final fight against Crocodile.
I know this Symphony because of Augus' boss fight from Asura's Wrath. And then saw "The Emperor of Mankind once said..."
Magnifique! Bravissimo!!!
Glad you caught this, it's stunning, isn't it? This proves again that you have the broadest range of any reacter. Next month: Sibelius! 3rd symphony would be my pick - if you loved this, I think Sibelius will be a hit with you. They both draw deeply on naturalistic and folk themes. Dvorak is a little earlier, and though this shines brightly, I think Sibelius has him beat on subtlety and depth.
And Justin, when are you going to GO to the symphony? There's nothing like it - I look forward to your first classical concert reaction! And Orlando's got a great symphony (The Orlando Philharmonic) - I took a peek, and their lineup for 23-24 is out of the park. They're doing Pictures at an Exhibition, Rite of Spring, Brahms 3rd (which is awesome), Saint-Saëns 3rd "Organ Symphony" (an all time fav of mine, with a Sibelius violin concerto on the same bill), and Mahler's 2nd "Resurrection" symphony. If I was there I'd get season tickets! You'd be happy with any of them, and Pictures or Rite of Spring would be safe bets, because you're familiar with them, but I'd steer you towards Saint-Saëns or Brahms, they're both stellar works.
And by the way, that naming convention for symphony movements refers to tempos. Largo is stately slow, while lento and grave are even slower. And up from largo is adagio, andante, moderato, allegretto, allegro, vivace, presto, and the whirlwind prestissimo. The second movement of a symphony is traditionally the slow one - and isn't this largo grand!
7:17 the guy in front is playing a clarinet, the bold guy next to him plays the bassoon. 21:16 the name of this instrument will surprise you.. it’s called an English horn (Cor Anglais)…
And of course in 1969 Neil Armstrong took record of this beautiful symphony to the moon.
And that says something ❤
I'm glad you dip into classical works, many progressive bands were knowledgeable with the forms. Robert Fripp for instance was inspired by string quartets of Bela Bartok. Give one of those a try, it will blow your mind.
Classical music isn't all that hard to understand, there are books and probably videos right on YT to explain the Italian terms.
By the way, "scherzo" means "joke" in German. Since Haydn, the third movement of a symphony was traditionally in "minuet and trio" form, a 3/4 time A-B-A structure in the form of a stately dance. Beethoven had no use for that, and substituted a faster 3-time movement he called a "scherzo", and that became the standard from then on. The scherzo movement of Beethoven's 9th is the 2nd movement, and it rocks completely. The 3rd movement scherzo of Dvorak's 9th has both the hyperactive Beethoven style and the stately dance in the middle. (And yes, John Williams only steals, er I mean borrows, from the best...) For the last movement, "allegro con fuoco" is Italian for "fast and furious".
loved it mate... great work from Dvorak. You explained the music well and for sure classical music is a rabbit hole however, once in, you'll discover so much and it will pay off. I'm a big Tangerine Dream fan and for sure their stuff goes on forever however, fair play for kicking up here there in the "stratosfear". Maybe Mahler's 2nd next? That's 1.25 hours but nonetheless, it's like this symphony, soul breaking and it's magnificent. Thanks brother.
This symphony was the one Decca Records asked the Moody Blues to use in the album to highlight their stereo system. The
Moodies ended up using their own compositions and this became "Days of Future Passed". The rest is history.
Perhaps on one of your next classical reactions you could listen to a "tone poem", a piece that tells a story. Two famous ones are "The William Tell Overture" and "The Moldau Symphony" (the latter tells the story of the Moldau River from it's birth as a bubbling spring to it's end flowing into the ocean).
38:15 only reason i know this one piece GUM GUM STORM a beautiful peace and a beautiful scene from the anime
This is one of my favorite classical pieces (although I don't listen to a lot of classical). As you noted, there are many parts that are quite similar to various themes in the "Star Wars" movies. You might think that this piece had some influence on John Williams. I also like your initial reaction in thinking that the audience would applaud between movements. Generally this isn't done, but apparently when this piece premiered at Carnegie Hall, "the end of every movement was met with thunderous clapping and Dvořák felt obliged to stand up and bow."
No "might" about its influence on John Williams. And Howard Shore probably had it playing on infinite repeat when writing the scores for the Lord of the Rings films.
That second movement, I see it as a hope of life. I imagine a large piece of land where new plants begin to grow, perhaps after a great devastation. Hence the name Symphony of the New World. That's what I think. Thanks for the subtitles, since I use a translator. Greetings from Guatemala City in Central America.
Thank you Walter! Hope that you're having a wonderful day in GC!
@@JustJP Thanks.
Simplemente impresionante, una gran pieza musical, una obra maestra. (Just stunning, a great piece of music, a masterpiece.) There is a part in the fourth movement that is very similar to the tune of the Three Stooges. Saludos desde Ciudad de Guatemala en Centro América.
Always a good "starter" symphony for a curious neophyte, yet for regular classical listeners it always holds up after a gazillion listens!
Largo is from a hymn “Goin home”. My mother liked to sing it.
oh my gosh, how many movies, series run through my head when I listen to this. And I thought he was more of a local star, but he, like one of many Czechs, conquered the world. another interesting Czech, Julius Fučík, who doesn't know his iconic banger Entry of the gladiator?
and I almost forgot that he also conquered the moon
The moment at 33:22 i recognize from a game called "asuras wrath" when asura fought his mentor augus
Thank you so much! I highly recommend this orchestra's channel. Great performances and conducting, but what makes or breaks any recorded symphonic music is the sound engineering, and theirs is da bomb. Dvorak's 7th and 8th symphonies are overshadowed by the 9th, but are also just lovely pieces of music.
Since you've done ELP's Pictures at an Exhibition, why not make your next classical reaction this orchestra's Pictures at an Exhibition? It's Maurice Ravel's orchestration of what was originally a piano suite by Modest Mussorgsky.
Idk if it's been answered. But the reason you've heard the first part of #4 was because it was used in other things. EP 126(?) of One Piece, Luffy vs Croco is probably the most famous example. I got it from Asura's Wrath, used for Augus' boss fight. And used for a meme "The Emperor of Mankind once said...". The most famous piece and part arguably of the whole symphony.
Watershed moment for "classical" music, but for American classical music as well. If you haven't heard Howard Hanson's "Romantic" Symphony, you will certainly enjoy it. Dvorak wanted to encourage composers in the U.S. to write music that reflected their own culture. What's cool to me about the Hanson "Romantic" is that it has many echoes, especially in the slow movement, of the "New World." Hanson's symphony was one of many works that were commissioned in 1930 for the Boston Symphony. Hanson, although he was originally of Scandinavian heritage, could be considered the very kind of composer that Dvorak would have admired for following his lead.
Enjoyed that immensely. I look forward to the classical reactions about as much as the progressive rock ones. I hope there will one day be a reaction to the symphonic suite Scheherazade. A truly lush and dynamic piece. Really think you would enjoy it. Thanks for another fine video.
Fabulous Composition!
Great choice.
For it's time, this piece was quite bold.
Average people, other than extremely rich or influential people had the chance to hear this live then.
There are now many orchestras around the world who play this piece.
Of course, there were no such things as recorded music.
This has survived by paper and black dots made from pen and ink.
The History of Music itself is as beautiful as the music Itself.
If you think about most musical composition being about melody and harmony, Dvorak was definitely a hero of melody (IMO influenced by Tchaikovsky). What's interesting is that Dvorak was one of the first major European composers who emigrated to the USA, which was the inspiration for this symphony. He ended up returning to his homeland, but he definitely made his mark on the American classical scene.
Dvorak and Tchaik were born the same year. Brahms was far more influential on Dvorak, or rather, they were influential on each other.
One piece of music you might want to check out for it's influence on suspenseful, or scary film score writing is Bartok's 1936 "Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta - Movement #1- Andante Tranquillo" (which means at a calm and relaxed tempo), which is around 9 min. long. Pretty ominous sounding stuff. Bartok split the strings in two, and put them on opposite sides of the orchestra, so for some movements the audience would get a natural stereo effect. If you want a much more modern orchestral piece, try Frank Zappa's "Perfect Stranger" (12:45) from the 1984 album Boulez Conducts Zappa, for a different side of Frank.
This is an excellent introduction to symphonic music. It's so much fun. Dvorak is probably the least pretentious great composer.
The Nice: America. That's where you heard it.
Dvořák is one of my favourite composers. Also listen to "la valse" by Maurice Ravel. A great piece.
excelent orchestra!! this is btw. likely to be the most performed symphonic piece
Outside of the US there would be other contenders like Beethoven 5, Mozart 40.
yes!
It's called the New World Symphony because Dvorak wrote it while visiting America from his Czech homeland.
He went out to the Midwest, ebven to some Czech communities, collecting the local tunes, and even employing Southern Negro spirituals.
The slow second movement actually had words later adapted to the tune - you can look it up on TH-cam, I believe it's called "Going Home".
Even the "3 blind mice" tune is playfully employed in one of the movements.
The piece was premiered in New York City by their Philharmonic orchestra in the 1890s, and to this day a commemorative bust of him - an homage to this entire episode in his life sits on a plinth in Madison Square Park.
The Symphony is meant to be a sweeping tribute to this continent, and the last movement captures the heroism of exploration and adventure that tamed the wilderness of the new land with iconic opening strains (reminiscent of the sharks appearance in "Jaws"😅), and ending with an equally iconic tune played by horns, the main motif that was hinted at previously throughout the piece, but now manifested triumphantly for the finale.
Named "Goin' Home", a late friend had this played at his funeral here in the UK.
@@songsmith31a sublime.
I'm glad you liked this. We were hoping you would. If you would like a few more suggestions, try these. For a long symphony, try Bruckner's 9th Symphony (60 minutes). For something shorter, try Aaron Copland's "Billy the Kid Suite" (not the entire ballet) (20 mins) or Aaron Copland's "Rodeo Suite" (not the entire ballet) (also 20 mins). You will recognize parts of Rodeo.
Now, if only TH-cam cooperates and does NOT interrupt umpteen times with worthless advertisements. This symphony was written by Dvorak in 1893, two years into a three-year teaching visit in the United States. Dvorak was smitten by musical themes he heard in some original American songs and elaborated on some of them in this symphony. He was also impressed by the vastness of the country, the ruggedness, open plains, roaring rivers and other natural, actual landscapes. What may be an interesting experiment for you, JP, as you enter the realm of classical music, is to listen to a symphony and guess what instruments are playing a certain passage; not necessarily a solo, but groups of the orchestra, and learn to discern the instruments' TIMBRE, the tonal quality of the "tools"; can you tell the difference between a brass and a woodwind? a timpani and a bass drum? listen for combinations of instruments like flutes playing with clarinets? can you separate the two tones? This exercise can expand into understanding a composer's ORCHESTRATION, how s/he decides to express emotions/feelings via musical instruments tonal qualities. Yes, 2nd movement is Largo (slow), and is based to a degree on the Negro spiritual "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot." A brief musicological synopsis of the 9th: www.britannica.com/topic/New-World-Symphony . Thank you for braving the very deep waters of classical music!
At 7:20, that was a clarinet and a bassoon.
Ty ty David 😊
Ah, the "clapping between movements" question! At the risk of sounding like an old lady, which I am, that's a product of today's short attention span way of life. I came to classical music late, having grown up in the '70s and '80s with the hand-me-down led Zeppelin / Pink Floyd/The Who, etc from older siblings. Even then, it seems to be all about the talent and excitement of individual performers. My classical experience is a higher joy that comes from seeing a group of people working together to bring the audience a transcendent experience that can be constructed by the individual based on her imagination.
You should listen to Going Home Antonin Dvorak BYU Choir
The song “Goin' Home” is based on Czech composer Antonin Dvorak's Symphony no. 9-specifically the Largo movement. The song was written by William Arms Fisher, who was one of Dvorak's student's.
I recommend you give a listen to Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto #3. There are many fine performances, but you can't go wrong with Yuja Wang at the keyboard. The transition passage between the 2nd and 3rd movements gives me chills every time.
If you liked that second movement, those pauses, and breath control you might like a piece by Morten Lauridsen called "O Magnum Mysterium". I first heard it when my sons high school wind ensemble played it and though it was one of the beautiful pieces of music ever written. It's typically performed with a choir (which is another rabbit hole you can get lost in) but the Robert Reynolds arrangement for orchestra has all the elements you mentioned about the second movement. The solo trumpet in a couple of parts is "alone in the forest" haunting and the final layers of brass leave me breathless. Try this version: th-cam.com/video/m7ibzmO04Io/w-d-xo.html
That was great! I'm an infrequent Classical listener but as i watched this in the context of your channel some aspects of Classical vs everything else became more surprising in analysis. Whether you listen on your phone, on your headset, on your home stereo or even live much of what we normally listen to be it POP, Prog, rock etc. starts off through a singer's mic, through a guitar or bass amp, through the diodes and resisters and transistors of an organ -it is electronically generated, manipulated on it's journey and then spits out through speakers further altering the original sound. Can we buy a stereo with unlimited funds that can top the raw experience of attending a concert such as this in a proper Concert hall where every note goes directly from instrument to ear? In some ways it is the most primitive form of getting the sound to your ears and yet it would be the purest. Nothing is plugged in. There is no hum or hissing during the silent parts, the deep bass sounds aren't my subwoofer rumbling clumsily, or my tweeter squeaking it's best for the high notes. There is no false limit to the dynamic range, no compression to fit the sounds in the groove of the record so to speak. Yikes' I have to attend one of these concerts live!!
Now you can listen to Going Home by Annie Haslam 😊
At some point, I think that you would enjoy reacting to a piano concerto. For the interplay between a virtuoso soloist and the orchestra. Rachmaninoff's concertos are the obvious perhaps for a start ?
Other possibilities: Tchaikovsky's 1st, Prokofiev's 3rd, Mozart's 20th, Grieg's (only)...
Everyone raves about Beethoven's 9th (rightfully so), but this is a pretty great 9th in it's own right.
Have you thought of live streaming your classical reactions? You could get immediate feedback to your questions.
I'd love to, but copyright would shut down any livestreams unfortunately
30:52 what a banger
I had to wait before I listened to this, as I wanted a decent Sicilian red to help me appreciate the music and the long-song Saturday videos reach me at noon. I've never heard this piece in its entirety, though I'm familiar with much of it through movies and television commercials so I was particularly interested to discover how the various themes hung together over 45 - 50 minutes. It did not disappoint me. The 2017 Andantino was pretty good as well...
🍷Thanks for havin' a drink with me Richard!
Try Má Vlast/ Die Moldau by Smetana.
It’s a musical journey of the river Moldau.
brilliant
Scherzo -- molto vivace: Scherzo is Italian for joke, and molto vivace means very lively. Beethoven popularized the use of a scherzo to replace the tamer, aristocratic minuet as the (usually) 3rd movement of a symphony (though Haydn was the first to have a scherzo movement in a symphony). The minuet and the scherzo are similar forms, both being in triple meter and having a contrasting middle section called the trio, but the scherzo is energetic while the minuet is a stately dance.
I've never listened to this piece, although I knew some of the themes, it was beautiful and full of dancing rhythms. Really, you should go back to the start of this Romantic movement in music, with Beethoven, perhaps the Emperor piano concerto or one of the symphonies.
No clapping until the entire piece is over. Usually the Conductor will put his baton down. Musical themes are often repeated or built upon once introduced. It creates a flow and cohesion to the music. The section that you said you recognized was introduced in the First Movement and may be based on traditional American Folk tunes.
Awesome Justin. Try his 7th Symphony. I actually like it better. His cello concerto done by Yo Yo Ma is absolutely amazing. Keep the classical coming.
I second the Yo Yo Ma performance of the Cello Concerto.
😭😭😭Yesssss!
Woo-hoo yeah!!
That's all I could think to add lol.
Oh wait well except to mention yeah doesn't it just kinda sound like Anerica? It seems like Dvorak's outside European impression of America is a sound we've come to associate with America. That's how feels to me. And I think for a European in the late 1800s America had this wild frontier, glorious mountains and sprawling mountain ranges feeling. The Largo movement I believe is based on a Quaker hymn. It's believable that he heard unique American styles of folk music and African American spirituals, even if hes not writing in those styles. and I forget what my brother said about him and jazz, like that he 'predicted' jazz or something (what would that even mean?) but that sounds like a story I should actually look into come to think of it. I've never exactly been a big patriot, for whatever reason, but this piece does make me feel like I do have some roots in this land, even if it was written by a Czech man, but it's still an old impression of dome Czech guy who visited my land, so I guess idk that reminds me of that. Maybe I heard a lot of this music on Bugs Bunny hahaha. You might remember some Looney Tunes if you listen to Brahms haha. If you heard that big melody on the last movement before yeah I suppose it could've been in some film you saw who knows when!
Anyway woohoo yeah America!
This symphony is about América. Portrait landscapes of América and their native people.
Symphonies (as wth Sonatas) usually fall within the same basic scheme. Four movements, the first usually being fast with a slow introduction, the second being slow, the third being a Scherzo (Italian for joke) with a middle section in a different mood called a trio and a finale (again usually fast). The titles are nothing but tempo directions. Allegro = fast, Largo = very slow.etc. The joy is how various composers used this scheme and how it gradually changed. (There are also specific movement structures as well but that's too detailed for now).
Next up I invite you to try Beethoven 7, the only symphony that requires a mosh pit.
At 6:15 we see and hear Lars Rapp playing timpani
I think you are ripe for Keith Jarrett"s Koeln Concert that recently became available on TH-cam, a piano solo that I know since it came out in 1975
Symphonic musicians don't use circular breathing. They must use incredible breath control. My HS girlfriend was in the Long Island (NY) Youth Orchestra and played the English horn solo in the Largo movement and I'll tell you that I was turning red holding MY breath during those long phrases. She did beautifully.
Incorrect. Classical musicians use circular breathing quite often The English Horn player was indeed circular breathing in the 2nd mvmt. Some (most) musicians would choose not to use circular breathing for it, though. It's a choice. This soloist used it to allow the conductor to be extra rubato with the tempo, which was a deliberate choice on both their parts. True professionals.
You’re actually wrong
If you want some genuine Latin American swing you should check the "Night in The Tropics" Symphony by Louis Gottschalk. Even in the 19th century they knew how to boogie.
Usually the audience doesn't clap between movements. It's etiquette.
Makes sense now :) Ty Vanatani!