While watching the Sorcerer's Apprentice today in class Professor Manning brought up that it was from the movie Fantasia. Having grown up watching the remake, Fantasia 2000, he challenged me to "dig into" the differences there were between the two works. This link is the are the results I found regarding his question. Though they are vague explanations on how they are different, the 5 key points are interesting on seeing how they made the two works that are similar, so unique.
Also, I mentioned in class about Fantasia 2000 having dancing hippos. This is the cover for the 2 disc set containing both Fantasia and Fantasia 2000 being sold on Amazon.com. As you can clearly see the large dancing hippo in a tiny Tu-Tu, was something I will remember for the rest of my life just by the look and strangeness of it.
Here is a list of works on the soundtrack of Fantasia 2000. Not surprisingly, several of them are great examples of "Program Music":
ReplyDeleteThe segments in the order of appearance:
Symphony No. 5 in C minor-I. Allegro con brio by Ludwig van Beethoven. Abstract patterns and shapes resembling butterflies and bats explore a world of light and darkness which is ultimately conquered by light.
Pines of Rome by Ottorino Respighi. A family of humpback whales is able to fly due to a supernova. The calf is separated from his parents when he becomes trapped in an iceberg, but finds his way out with his mother's help. The final section, the Via Appia, gives the impression of the larger pod of adults in migration.
Rhapsody in Blue by George Gershwin. An episode of New York City in the 1930s in the style of Al Hirschfeld's known cartoons of the time, depicting a day in the lives of several people within the Depression-era bustling metropolis. Featured is an animated cameo appearance of Gershwin himself at the piano.
Piano Concerto No. 2 in F Major-I. Allegro by Dmitri Shostakovich. Based on The Steadfast Tin Soldier by Hans Christian Andersen, the concerto was written as a gift by Shostakovich to his musically gifted young son, and the percussive rhythms also suit a story about a soldier. In contrast to the original story, the ending is a happy one.
The Carnival of the Animals, Finale by Camille Saint-Saëns. A flock of flamingoes tries to force a slapstick member who enjoys playing with a yo-yo to engage in their "dull" routines. A question in this segment's host sequence leads into its story, "What would happen if you gave a yo-yo to a flock of flamingoes?"
The Sorcerer's Apprentice by Paul Dukas. Based on Goethe's 1797 poem Der Zauberlehrling, the segment is the only one retained from 1940's Fantasia. Mickey Mouse as the apprentice of sorcerer Yen Sid who attempts some of his master's magic tricks before knowing how to control them.
Pomp and Circumstance – Marches 1, 2, 3 and 4 by Edward Elgar. Based on the story of Noah's Ark from the Book of Genesis starring Donald Duck as first mate to Noah and Daisy Duck as Donald's assistant. Donald musters the animals to the Ark and misses, loses and reunites with Daisy in the process.
Firebird Suite – 1919 Version by Igor Stravinsky. The story of the spring sprite and her companion, the elk, who accidentally awakes the Firebird, a fiery spirit of destruction in a nearby volcano. The Firebird proceeds in destroying the forest, and seemingly the sprite. The Sprite survives, and the Elk encourages her to restore the forest to its former state.
By the way, we will be listening to Carnival of the Animals on October 4th. Even though Beethoven's 5th Symphony is technically "absolute" music, besides being one of the most recognizable works of classical music, some have implied it has a semi-autobiographical theme. Beethoven, who suffered the ironic fate of going deaf, composed this symphony in spite of this cruel fate. We will be listening to another program work by Resphighi; the Fountains of Rome, also from his "Roman Trilogy". Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue is absolute music, as it is a piano concerto with no set or implied story, it was paired with his "American in Paris" on Sunday at the Orchestra Iowa concert. American in Paris is clearly programmatic. We've already covered the Sorcerer's Apprentice. The Edward Elgar Marches from Pomp and Circumstance have such a strong connection to graduation ceremonies, they hold a strong "extra-musical affiliation". We won't be studying Stravinsky's "Firebird", but we will study his other huge ballet score, "The Rite of Spring". So many connections! Keep up the good work!
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