the bastardization of classical music

(this is a re-post from my previous blog.)

i remember back in college, my roommate john and i were watching some random america's funniest home videos show with a video compilation of little kids and adults falling on their asses. the background music used was the 1812 overture to enhance the comedic effect. we termed this the "bastardization" of classical music. i had two opposing thoughts here.

1. the music-loving side of me was agonizing over the fact that one of my favorite compositions was just used to create laughter amongst the audience instead of the normal goose-bump feelings of pride and patriotism that tchaikovsky had originally intended. this would define the term, "bastardization"; it is basically the blatant misuse of great classical music for the benefit of low class comedy.

2. the low class comedy-loving side of me was actually enjoying the fact that a composition like 1812 overture was used in such a demeaning way that i couldn't help but find it funny. it's like listening to jokes that make fun of the pope, or even racial stereotypes. it's wrong, but because it's so wrong, it becomes hilarious.

anyway, the use of 1812 overture with exploding buildings and what not is fairly common (classic examples: http://youtube.com/watch?v=qm-v8DnEg8E , or the opening scene in v for vendetta), so it has been a long time since i've been outraged over its bastardization but a lingering worry i have is that if this continues for too long, 1812 overture will be more synonymous will comically-timed exploding buildings than for the music itself. for example, various movements of the nutcracker suite (another extremely bastardized tchaikovsky piece) is already at a point where the music will bring visions of tetris pieces instead of dancing ballet performers and the sugar plum fairy. the bastardization of the russian dance movement is no joke either, as when i hear this piece the first thought that comes to my head is macaulay culkin sleeping in his bed while his family rushes to the airport and decides to leave him behind.

i just hope that the limit of bastardization has been reached and that the media will not pick a new favorite piece of music to use repeatedly for humorous situations. that being said, save the 1812 overture! no more exploding buildings!

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riley, my samoyed puppy, is arriving on jan. 2nd, 2010. this is a video of her playing with her sister. (video taken by the breeder)

christmas and new years

last year's new years resolution:

read 12 books in 12 months. i am happy to say that for the first time in my life, i may have finally kept* a resolution. explanation for the asterisk can be seen below.

1. perfume, the story of a murderer

2. cold sassy tree

3. the reader

4. the elegance of the hedgehog

5. the time traveler's wife (don't judge me, i didn't realize it was gonna be a chick novel when i started)

6. a confederacy of dunces

7. naked

8. brave new world

9. stiff, the curious lives of human cadavers

10. gourmet rhapsody

*11. the fantastic mr. fox (it was december when i finished gourmet rhapsody, and i was starting to get worried i wouldn't get to the magic #12, so i cheated with a children's book. whatever, it's still a book, so it counts.)

12. the amazing adventures of kavalier and clay (currently reading. this is quite a long book, but at least there is plenty of time to finish)

this year's resolution:

i am starting early. i want to learn 24 new songs on the guitar, which i am not quite proficient at. i can play chords, i can strum, i can pluck strings, but not much else. i decided to start this blog with one of my favorite christmas songs, greensleeves/what child is this. i've added my own arrangement, played in a different style. i'm not satisfied with it, especially because it sounds rushed and choppy, but hopefully by next year i will have improved significantly.