Identify this classical composition

June 24, 2009 7:12 PM

Can you identify this classical composition? clip.mp3
posted by yewstano to media & arts (18 comments total)

Prokofiev. Romeo and Juliet? Montagues and Capulets? I'll do some searching, but that's what I'm leaning toward on first listen.
posted by greekphilosophy at 7:42 PM on June 24

My impression is that it can't be older than 20th Century; Prokofiev might be a good bet, but so too could any other random film composers. Where did the clip come from?
posted by phenylphenol at 7:44 PM on June 24

Well, on a listen through, I can see where it immediately brought Prok's Romeo and Juliet to mind, but this isn't it.
posted by greekphilosophy at 7:58 PM on June 24

Could it be from Nursery Suite by Elgar? It sounds very Elgarish and I'm not close to my music to check.
posted by Gerard Sorme at 8:04 PM on June 24

I heard this clip under the credits of a History Channel program called Clash of the Warriors. I'd like to hear more.
posted by yewstano at 8:21 PM on June 24

I've never heard it before and haven't any idea, but my thinking is movie music.
Whether by a traditionally "classical" composer (like Prokofiev, who did do some movie scores) versus someone who really focuses more on movie scores (like Danny Elfman) I really can't say.
posted by davidnc at 8:26 PM on June 24

[few comments removed - let's assume this isn't spam and move on shall we?]
posted by jessamyn at 8:29 PM on June 24

I don't know but if you sync it at random with compositions of Bernard Hermann, it's eleventy million kinds of awesome.
posted by aquafortis at 8:33 PM on June 24 [1 favorite]

I can't speak to its accuracy, but according to this youtube video, it's Intolerance by Frederic Talgorn.

found it through the first result googling "history channel music credits"
posted by Balonious Assault at 8:36 PM on June 24

Balonious Assault, That's definitely it but what a coincidence; that would have never been discovered had it not been for that YouTube clip and it was uploaded today.
posted by Gerard Sorme at 8:44 PM on June 24

Did you record the program? Or is it available at your library or a video store? Just watch the credits to see what the music was, and who performed it.
posted by exphysicist345 at 8:46 PM on June 24

Yes, it's Intolerance, and I got the Talgorn tipoff via another route.
posted by jedicus at 8:47 PM on June 24 [1 favorite]

Apology to the OP re: not spam. Let me attempt redemption:

Found this, also suggests composer is Frederic Talgorn. Label is de Wolfe?

I searched here for Talgorn and found a bunch of music that sounds like this is the guy.

411 tracks of him! Dude needs to lay off the Ritalin.

Yup, re: Balonius, it's called Intolerance, 2 minutes 57 seconds.

It's the first track here.
posted by foooooogasm at 8:51 PM on June 24

What do you know, it's production music. I was hoping for a symphony that would take me in one of it's darker moments to this point I heard. But this is all there is - a theme in various lengths for film and television. I still like it, and this has been an enjoyable first experience with AskMeFi.
posted by yewstano at 9:26 PM on June 24

As greekmonkey noted, it really does sound like a pastiche of the louder moments of Prokofiev's ballet music Romeo and Juliet, particularly the Montagues and Capulets movement. If you like this clip and want to check out some classical music that sounds like it, check out this suite or some of Prokofiev's symphonies (my favourite is No. 5.)
posted by Johnny Assay at 5:04 AM on June 25

In the same vein as Johnny Monkey's suggestion, is the Shostakovich Waltz No. 2, Jazz Suite No. 2.
posted by greekphilosophy at 6:16 AM on June 25 [1 favorite]

"Monkey"? How did I manage to read "monkey"? Sorry 'bout that.
posted by Johnny Assay at 6:52 AM on June 25

Not much to add, but I was pretty sure that it was most likely music for TV or film. It's quite clearly influenced by Prokofiev, and to a lesser extent Shostakovich. Ignoring the harmony, what really gives away the time period and the influence is the inclusion of the piano in the orchestra (I think of this use of the piano as being quite typical of Shostakovich.) This means that (unless it's a piano concerto, obviously) it has to be twentieth century.
posted by ob at 9:52 AM on June 25