I dearly love this music. When I was growing up, all through my childhood years I had my parents’ record player in my room, and from their collection there were four or five albums to which I listened often and enthusiastically. One was a Christian music called “It’s Cool in the Furnace,” another was the Kingston Trio’s “Live at the hungry i,” and I delved into Frank Sinatra’s “Nice ‘n Easy” quite a good bit. Of course, there were also all of the Psalty-the-Singing-Songbook recordings and other such notable works, but those we listened to on tape. But the record album which probably received most of my attention was Bernstein’s version of the 1812 Overture/Capriccio Italien/Marche Slave, so when I discovered it on iTunes I was a very happy man. Now to listen to it takes me back to that small bedroom and the old record player.
Not to mention the fact that Tchaikovsky makes me want to rock out–I was listening to the 1812 in the car the other day, and the movement of the music is incredible! It builds, the tidal build, before the terrific warlike clamour of finale, and I rather wanted to jump up and down (which is hard to do when you’re behind a steering wheel). How well the great classical authors of music wove strings of emotions unexpected and yet clean and clear throughout an entire piece. Romance, fury, meditation and repose–all may find their voice within the span of a few minutes’ humming and blaring…
thegreatknock 
for some reason this made me think of peter and the wolf…when we were kids my mom would take me and my sister to the academy of music in philly the first saturday of every month, and they would always do something that made classical music come alive to a 9 or 10 year old, with a full orchestra and all the works. Once a year they would do peter and the wolf, and I can still hear it all in my head, and still feel about it the way you do about the 1812, etc. except that I can still smell the academy, and feel the seats, and the awesomeness of being in a “grown-up” place when I was just a kid. I like memories like that, thanks for making me think of it. : )
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yes…that’s what its supposed to do at its best in all its fury power and beautycan’t say as I feel you on the Kingston Trio, though :0)or Psalty the Singing Songbook
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we listened to “peter and the wolf” too! in fact, i almost bought that the other day as well, then considered getting it for my nephew’s birthday–a few weeks back i started making beatbox noises with my mouth, and he grinned and was trying to imitate them. pretty good at it, actually…so i thought i’d set him on the right track with some orchestral story-telling. ah, prokofiev. there was a version narrated by captain kangaroo and one with sean connery–decisions, decisions…
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you make me smile. peter and the wolf… great memories.the kitchen guys actually turned off the metal and played the 1812 a couple of nights ago… made me happy.i think i need come sleep now… yeah.
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It’s Cool in the Furnace! We did that as a musical at my church when I was younger! Woohoo 🙂 And cheers to both 1812 and Psalty. 3 for 3.
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I cried when captain kangaroo died. seriously.
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http://www.kingstontrio.com/html/kt_news.htm
I think jon said he wanted to go too…
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There is also a version of Peter and the Wolf narrated by Dudley Moore with the London Philharmonic that is rather delicious! I have it on LP and that is one of the reasons I can not bear to part with my old stereo with a turntable. That and my “The Kingston Trio’s Greatest Hits” album! “Hang down your head Tom Dooley, hang down your head and cry”. Your singing it now, aren’t you Dave!
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