Classic Easter Melody

Alboin · Post by **Alboin** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 6:16 pm

Hello, I hope this isn't too random...It is general ramblings after all....

I'm looking to see if anyone here know the name of a piece of classical music I'm thinking of. I can't seem to find it myself, so here it goes.

It's a pipe organ piece that's played around Easter. (I'm not sure, however, if it has anything to do with Easter, or even if it must be played on an organ.)

It's melody is goes kind of up and down up and down, over and over. (That's really the best I can describe it with text.) I'm pretty sure it has a main body, but I it's melody is all I can remember.

Does anyone have any idea what the name of such this piece is?

Sorry if this is too weird,
Alboin

piranha · Post by **piranha** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 8:10 pm

Lyrics?

Alboin · Post by **Alboin** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 8:14 pm

piranha wrote:Lyrics?

IIRC, it's instrumental. (It's under the genre of classical music.)

iammisc · Post by **iammisc** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 9:21 pm

IS it christian or secular?

Alboin · Post by **Alboin** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 10:16 pm

iammisc wrote:IS it christian or secular?

I'm not sure. I've heard it played at my church during Easter for an introduction, so possibly.

If I had to guess, I would say it would be Christian.

Off topic: Is anyone else mesmerized by how enchanting Pachelbel's Canon is? It's just ... beyond words ...

AJ · Post by AJ » Tue Mar 04, 2008 3:54 am

Hi,

Is the piece of music you are thinking of normally played as a processional, or is it a hymn that has been adapted? One of the pieces that immediately springs to mind when you say 'goes up and down' is Schubert's Ave Maria which is often adapted for solo organ.

The other piece that I think of immediately when you describe the piece being used (as a processional?) is JS Bach's Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme (or "Sleepers Awake" as it is known).

You can probably hear samples of both these on the internet, although it may be difficult to hear the Ave Maria without lyrics.

If I'm way off, let me know.

Off topic: Is anyone else mesmerized by how enchanting Pachelbel's Canon is? It's just ... beyond words ...

[rant]IMHO, it is absolutely dire - the worst and most repetetive piece of music out there and one of the pieces that IMHO puts a huge number of people off classical music.[/rant]

Cheers,
Adam

JamesM · Post by **JamesM** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 12:09 pm

IMHO, it is absolutely dire - the worst and most repetetive piece of music out there and one of the pieces that IMHO puts a huge number of people off classical music.

I disagree. I think personally that the only people who see the crapness of Pachelbel's Canon are those who are experienced in classical music (and thus would have had to play it over and over again, because believe it or not, it is extremely popular with the non-classical loving peoples).

Take as a second example the Blue Danube Waltz by Johan Strauss (popularised as the space music in 2001: A space odyssey) - That piece is technically terrible, the modulations and section changes are dire and clunky, yet people like it.

I think people "in the know" as far as music is concerned (which I assume from your tone you are) are the worst judge as to what is entertaining to a laymen crowd.

Alboin · Post by **Alboin** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 2:37 pm

AJ wrote:Is the piece of music you are thinking of normally played as a processional, or is it a hymn that has been adapted?

Processional. (I've never heard anything like it as a hymn.)

AJ wrote:The other piece that I think of immediately when you describe the piece being used (as a processional?) is JS Bach's Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme (or "Sleepers Awake" as it is known).

Neither of those pieces are it, but that Bach piece is quite nice.

AJ wrote:If I'm way off, let me know.

The 'sound' of the Bach piece is of the same fashion. The piece I'm thinking of is quick (moderately), and has mainly high notes. (Not too many low ones.)

If you haven't noticed, when it comes to music I know nearly nothing.

[rant]IMHO, it is absolutely dire - the worst and most repetetive piece of music out there and one of the pieces that IMHO puts a huge number of people off classical music.[/rant]

Out of curiosity, what\who would you recommend to someone not too familiar with classical music?

Combuster · Post by **Combuster** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 3:10 pm

Alboin wrote:Out of curiosity, what\who would you recommend to someone not too familiar with classical music?

I'd be thinking about "A night on bald mountain" (Mussorgsky), or "Bacchanale" (Saint-Saens)

For your original question, maybe you are allowed to take a sound recorder into church. Over here they even make recordings systematically so the people who can't be present can listen to the session afterwards. It'd probably help.

Alboin · Post by **Alboin** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 4:35 pm

Okay, I tried to record me whistling it. Yeah.

Please excuse the 'windyness' to it.

It's pretty soft so you might need to turn your speakers up a tad to hear it.

Thanks...

Combuster · Post by **Combuster** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 4:50 pm

I know that one. I just can't think of the title. It has been rearranged into a popsong somewhere as well.

Well I'm off trying to locate it.

Edit: BINGO: Jesu, joy of man's desiring - The original's composed by J.S. Bach.

Alboin · Post by **Alboin** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 5:14 pm

Yeah! Thanks!

iammisc · Post by **iammisc** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 12:14 am

Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring?

That's a christmas song, not an easter song. It's in my christmas songbook.

Still a good song though.

AJ · Post by AJ » Wed Mar 05, 2008 5:58 am

Take as a second example the Blue Danube Waltz by Johan Strauss (popularised as the space music in 2001: A space odyssey) - That piece is technically terrible, the modulations and section changes are dire and clunky, yet people like it.

My opinion of most of Johann Strauss (the younger)'s music is very similar to my opinion of Pachabel's Canon. Having said that, a lot of it (including the Blue Danube), was written to be danced to rather than listened to. In that context, it's probably ok. I think some of the music by the rest of the Strauss family is much better written.

I think people "in the know" as far as music is concerned (which I assume from your tone you are) are the worst judge as to what is entertaining to a laymen crowd.

Correct. After re-reading my post, I have managed to extract myself from my own arse.

Cheers,
Adam