This post isn’t meant to be morbid; I just want to point out how an artistic idea can grow, bloom and flourish. In chronological order:

1. Date unknown: humans or pre-humans become aware that they everyone will eventually die
2. Ancient: humans create artwork depicting death and the afterlife
3. Medieval: poetic idea of “Dance of Death” – no matter what one’s station in life is, we begin and end the same
4. 18th c.: Matthias Claudius writes the poem “Death and the Maiden”
5. 1817: Franz Schubert writes an art-song (in German, lied) using Claudius’ poem (you can hear it here)
6. 1824: Schubert writes a string quartet, whose second movement uses the same music as the art song he wrote seven years earlier

The quartet is a lengthy piece, and was written just four years before the composer died, at 32 years old. I’m not sure if he saw death dancing at his door at the time; not many of us know when, but we all know that he will.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NKEHosQf2k

7. afterthought – 1971, George Crumb‘s piece Black Angels quotes “Death and the Maiden” and freaks us all out big time.

Talk about a bold opening. Pablo de Sarasate belongs to a group of composers who wrote showcase pieces primarily to show off their instrumental skills (perhaps the most well-known of these composers is Paganini). Zigeunerweisen (“Gypsy airs”) is his most famous work, and invokes the music of the Romani people. You can hear some more Romani-styled compositions in some of my previous posts.

Q: What’s the definition of musical snobbery?
A: Hearing the “William Tell Overture” without thinking of the Lone Ranger.

This is one of those pieces that everybody just knows. You can’t avoid it – it’s in cartoons, commercials, video games. Gioachino Rossini knows how to write ’em; everything is clear and easy to follow – no tricks or games. It begins with a gentle melody that blows up about 2:45.

And go ahead … think of the Lone Ranger, and ride a pretend horse around your house, the office, or even around town. If anybody turns up their nose at you, just “neigh” at them and move on.