And another thing...

Radiolab had a interesting take on Bolero in this recent podcast <http://wny.cc/MGTw3i>

Thank you, RP! Previous to this being played, I had a minor meltdown. This is exactly the perfect music to purge my head!
 

 nate917 wrote: 
1. Yes I do...... for some reason
2. I know how to do that dance.... for some reason
3. I think your understanding is complete....
4. White Punks on Dope would be perfect to follow this and only because Bill G could do some other worldly transition and make it work...

Good call Nate. 

I wonder if anyone remembers Torvill and Dean ice dancing to this song on their way to an Olympic gold medal. Breathtaking.

Here's some trivia about this song. First, a bolero is a dance, like a waltz or a mazurka. Lots of composers wrote boleros; this just happens to be the most famous. So if you want to sound like you know what you're talking about, you refer not just to "Bolero" but to "Ravel's Bolero."

Second, my understanding is that Ravel wrote this as a study in how to make a song build up to a climax. Each round is supposed to build on the one before. Yes, it is repetitious, but it's supposed to be. As Ravel himself said (complaining of Toscanini's treatment of it), "the Bolero should be played in one single tempo from the beginning to the end, in the plaintive and monotonous style of Spanish-Arabian melodies." Each go-round, however, something is added that makes it bigger, louder, fuller, more complex, more percussive, etc. By round 18, it's huge, loud, and bawdy, with (as someone below noted) elephantine horns blaring away.

OK, sorry to be a music nerd. Now let's play White Punks on Dope or something.

As far as classical music goes this piece is very simple. I'm sure Prokofiev would push Ravel's ass down on the playground and give him an atomic wedgie for writing it. It's still a hell of a catchy piece of music though

I discovered this piece of music entirely on my own, years after loving rock n roll. I have loved Bolero ever since. It becomes an exercise in imagination, following the music like following a parade, with the best parts still on the way, preparing your ears for the final dissonant horns at the crescendo. That coda is the elephants; ponderous, impressive, and beautiful.

A solid 3. Why? While a fine piece of music. . . is this not an 'eclectic rock radio'? You can't even air guitar to it!

teo wrote:

Emperor Joseph II: "My dear young man, don't take it too hard. Your work is ingenious. It's quality work. And there are simply too many notes, that's all. Just cut a few and it will be perfect."

Mozart: "Which few did you have in mind, Majesty?"

("Amadeus", 1984. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086879/quotes)

My father was a strange one...in my later adult years, he would mention to me that he thought this was a tremendously sexual and sensual piece, something he would love to have playing in the background while he was "getting it on". I realized that there are some secrets kids should never know about their parents.

Since then, whenever I hear this piece I always think of him. I gotta admit, this would not be the first thing (or second, or third, etc.) that I would put on to get me "into the mood" (especially with the memory of Dad...eekkk!). The thrill is gone when you feel like the act is nothing more than your citizen's duty to go out and service the whole freakin' Spanish Army.

And I agree with other commentors...it's too damn long.

Sorry. I've always found this to be a boring piece. I've had "experts" explain why it's so wonderful, but I just am not at all moved by it. I've seen it performed in concert multiple times and that didn't help either.

3.

Allegro Non Tropo

teo wrote:

yeah

will always remind me of bo derek...godspeed wrote:

Anyone who can't appreciate Ravel's Bolero is dead inside.

Thanks for playing, awesome!

What other radio station would play this two songs after Cocteau Twins. I love it.

xxxxxx

wow...make it stop.

Wow!

Like eating too much icecream.

Too long.

Is it just me, or does this recording sound noisy and distorted? I've noticed a couple of times that there seems to be a great deal of coughing, rustling and other unwanted noises during the (pianissimo) beginning. And while listening just now on my headphone system that is capable of hitting 150 dB without significant distortion, I heard what sure sounded like massive clipping at the end (fortissimo) of the piece. Could be hard-knee limiting, but it still ended up sounding fuzzy instead of punchy.

It's a great tune, but it covers a wide range of volume. That's what boleros do. Seems like there should be a better recording to be had. *hint* hint*

OK that does it, I'm going back to bed...

marzipanic wrote:

AGREE this is 11!!!!
AMAZING ,,,, IF it's 8 is for a reason!
Oscar

It's over! Hurray!!!!!

This is why we need an 11...

Just basking in it.

This song reminds me of my time spent as a Horn player, playing single notes in odd patterns, such as you find in the background here.

dat, datdatdat, datdatdatdatdatdatdatdat dat dat dat

To military sounding to me.

jlind wrote:

Yeah. For a min I thought it was "dead air" but then I thought "How could that be?"

drekar wrote:

Yes, but I mean popular in the sense of popular to the masses.

** points to listener rating **

I. love. this. piece.

You know, I don't actually like RP's various forays into classical music. The classical stuff Bill chooses is very popular stuff, and generally very overplayed - very unlike the rest of the music on RP.