You can also listen to this piece (and all my other CPOTW) on this Youtube playlist.
Wow, it has been quite a long time since my last Classical Piece of the Week, eh? Anyways, just yesterday, I got this giant and epic Shakespeare book over at the ever-so-awesome Costco. It contains all the plays and some poems and sonnets. I will not lie, I am very bad at reading anything old school, but I really do want to learn some knowledge on Shakespeare, so I will try my best to understand the words.
So in the theme of Shakespeare, this week I choose Dance of Knights from the ballet Romeo and Juliet by Sergei Prokofiev as my Classical Piece of the Week. It is an orchestral piece that really is quite something.
It is basically divided in three sections. A, B, and a return of A, though briefly modified. The A section is loud, heavy, and really, really epic. The brass and the strings just look like they are fighting for the attention, and what comes from it is some pretty intense and thought-provoking music. Honestly, it's kind of like my "jam", to put it that way. ^^
The B section is like the polar opposite. The most opposites of opposites. It features the woodwinds with a light, eerie melody, and it just sounds so medieval. Beautifully crafted, and very soft.
And then just as your eyes start to drop, the A section returns. Though not as powerful, it is still quite grand. The whole piece ends all quite abruptly with the bass and strings just hitting it.
If you would like a more detailed, descriptive of this magnificent piece, here is the always reliable link to the Wikipedia page.
Don't forget to push that play button! I swear, you will feel that level of epicness rising up in you!
Great choice! I love the difference between the three sections. At first I was a bit iffy about how the 3 parts would be distinguished, but then BAM. Noticeable difference, and may I add that it was indeed Epic?
ReplyDeleteHehe, glad you enjoyed it! And yeah, they are quite distinguishable!
DeleteThank you for stopping by my blog and commenting!
-Grace :)
You always find great music :) I have a copy of the play Romeo and Juliet and I do admit having trouble with the words also ^^"
ReplyDeleteThanks Lottie! Right now, I'm reading Hamlet. My goal is to read at least two pages every week. Doesn't seem like much, but I don't want to set a goal that I cannot reach. The words are so different! It's quite interesting, actually. When they say "nay" I cannot help but laugh, thinking that it's a horse's cry. ^^
DeleteThank you for commenting!
-Grace :)
I've been wondering the same thing! But I'm glad it's back! So I can feel enlightened. ^^
ReplyDeleteAfter listeninging comments:
OMG! When the first notes started playing I know this song! I feel smart. XD But, I love it. More than the Spirited Away one. Don't laugh, I was kinda rocking out, in the nerdiest way to this. XD Thanks for making me see classic in a different light, Grace, you never stop astounding me with your music choices!
P.S. I <3 the watermelons as your background! >____< it fits everything. Cursur, background, you should make a header looking similar to your button so it's like a whole set!
DeleteHaha! Thank you for the long and entertaining comment, Delaney! First of all, rocking out to Prokofiev music is completely understandable. Every time I heard the Dance of the Knights theme, my head starts shaking and nodding, and I start making these weird hand gestures. ^^ And thank you, I'm glad you like my music choices!
DeleteAs for the header: I'm trying to find time to fully invest myself in making a header, but right now I just can't. But who knows, maybe one day I'll be full of creativity, and then I'll just have a header after 10 minutes! And I'm kind of thinking of changing my button, the one I have just seems a little off.
Again, thank you so much for the comments, it truly does make my day!
-Grace :)