MTT/SFS: Stravinsky's Rite of Spring (I)

[l3londel3arbie]

5:48 - they don't look amused...

[calebaren]

7:32 that's a lot of horns

[zgrmuffin]

Percussionist at 5:50 two hours earlier accidentally put his cymbals through the wash machine...

[zgrmuffin]

Oh my god that bassoonist... listen to his note at 1:00. It's at least a c but he makes it come out perfectly!

[LouieOmega]

That was a really cool viola

[AcousticDude17]

its so funny and interesting how in the beginning stravinsky wrote the bassoon part higher than the oboe. i wonder why?

[TheRonjoe223]

Those bassoon notes go to the very top of the instrument's range, so it makes sense that the player switched reeds to go play the lower register sections. As a bassoonist myself, I know that reed choice is half the challenge of the instrument. As for the lack of a turban on the high-reed, that's just nitpicking. I prefer the look of a reed without a turban.

[Priyankagohil]

thumbs up for bbc composing workshop!

[thebadthewolf]

matt damon at 8:00 !!! :)

[shaunthonys]

Hey, what's up Jaws!

[FAGGOTTTTTT]

to think this composition caused a riot back in Paris on opening night in 1913. Zeitgeist

[youngestofdeez]

@FAGGOTTTTTT dude you're such a fagott, but yeah. Someone should tell him to turban all of his reeds if they're doing video. It looks more professional.

[Thebestmang]

Did anyone else notice the bassoonist change reeds?

[TheHill88]

Is this one of the most well done editing/filming jobs of live classical music ever? I think so. Love how they've captured every instrument on its important parts, it makes the whole experience so much more... 3D? Not the best way to describe it, but I feel immersed in the music.

[alexandergreenb]

Good job, whoever filmed this.

[AcousticDude17]

@alexandergreenb i think it was a professional recording.

[AcousticDude17]

@alexandergreenb my name is also captain obvious

[TheLastHero114]

I'm using this video for my general music class. this is amazing.

[rondelidemagnesio]

Oh! This guy with the bass clarinet it's so damn cute :3

[TinnedPears]

Where does that bassoonist get his reeds!?

[famguy619]

@TinnedPears I think he makes his own

[evanwislon]

This makes me want to riot :3

[CatFlashBlue]

5:32 Is that Alto Flute? Did Stravinsky compose for ALTO FLUTE?

The man is a genius! The woodwind section is by far the most diverse, and Stravinsky used to many different instruments, piccolo through contrabassoon.

This is pure and wonderful cacophony! And my orchestra teacher says Stravinsky was a Romantic composer. HA!

[DiNoZsEy]

@getupmorning

Thank you very much for uploading such a piece with such a quality.

[Badideasincorporated]

Why do they all look like they're about to pass out?

[steadric]

It seems like a lot of work was put into the filming of this video, compared to many other orchestral performances I've seen. :)

[MartinoDondievelo]

@steadric that's because this was made as a dvd production, it's a documentary . very interesting to see!

[16mmDJ]

This video wants to be in HD

[timbar4]

The bassoon solo at the beginning is the best.

[Nobodyknowsme021]

Can't believe I used to not like this piece.

Now all thirty-something minutes are on my Ipod.

[FinaleGoofups]

@ 1:59 - pure genius.

[FinaleGoofups]

The death of orchestra music for anything but film scores is the death of western civilization, and probably convince me there is nothing good left in it.

[oddvidios]

5:36 the best part

[RAHHicecream]

gahh, that freaking oboe guy at 3:50 ... i have something against him

[MultiEitak]

@RAHHicecream that is a trumpet?

[RAHHicecream]

@MultiEitak lol well one second after 3:50.

[MartinoDondievelo]

@RAHHicecream that's why star wars is so much affliated with this music.. :) he looks like someone from episode IV, in the cantina :p

[muslit]

what a bore

[jAYisAbeast1]

Is there a good way to remember what this is?! Because it's on my final and I seem to never remember this one. It doesn't seem to have anything distinct to it, except for it's wide array of instruments which I guess is pretty substantial..

[NoWaiSoLame]

@jAYisAbeast1 the constent suspensful strings and sudden dramatic clashes should make it distinct from most other pieces.

[NoWaiSoLame]

constant*

[Andrixifier]

I can't help but keep expecting Sephiroth to pop on screen ^^

[Sashimiburger]

Incredible, few pieces of music can conjure such intense and vivid visual images.

[rreemmzzrruullee]

Am i the only one who thinks the bass clarinet player looks like stephen colbert?

[jpztrada]

When I grow up I want to be a symphony

[123duckyducky]

why do even professional flautists play leaned to one side with their flute pointed down? its a flute, not that heavy.

[Scorpio1186rs]

@123duckyducky You're absolutely right about it not being that heavy. I play flute and I think the reason why people at such a high level still have that slant while holding the flute is because it is rather uncomfortable to hold the flute horizontally. It just feels more natural holding the flute at a slant. :)

[Bestman1177]

Now that's HEAVY

[ltalex]

eight and a half minutes of pure anxiety. I love it.

[onionmon]

Can someone tell me what I'm suppose to be listening for? I'm having a hard time understanding.

[orangebhuddy29]

@onionmon It's supposed to fit with the choreography, which is meant to look like a prehistoric ritual dance. I recommend you watch the actual ballet to get a better understanding of the music.

[Shmaaaaa]

@orangebhuddy29 Or watch the animation in Disney's Fantasia

[orangebhuddy29]

@Shmaaaaa that too, but it has a different perspective of the music than what stravinsky originally intended

[TheBelmor]

I never get bored lisening to this masterpiece!

[Mary5r3e5r]

this is the best piece ever written, arguably

[Skutieos7]

I feel like starting a fight

[darthgrahf]

Thumbs up if you imagine flowing lava when you hear this song

[dancingzira]

The sound is so low that I can barely make out the instruments.

[ThePunkdude2501]

@dancingzira Hit the + sign on the volume.

[ellamichelle1]

This piece and performance was so fun to listen to and to watch....I could only imagine playing it.

[rowan729]

facial expressions are killing me xD

[bailey312]

bassonist is legit, but his eyeballs are just hilarious.

[orangebhuddy29]

@bailey312 hey, when you're getting paid, you can do whatever the hell you want while you're playing.

[Jordie389]

best conductor!!!!

[yankovic44]

that bassoon. gotta love the facial expressions...

[ZivaLight]

@yankovic44 BA HAHA!! They all look like they're horrified to be playing the piece - "don't you know this girl is going to DIE at the end??!!" But wow they all play brilliantly. Beautifully done.

[koglowa]

so this is sober people's music...the players scare me but their level of skill is amazing

[Toldry]

I can feel the bassoon inside my stomach

[IdioticPlatypus]

why do they all look so awkward?

[orangebhuddy29]

4:16 coolest part :)

[jill9700]

5:44



[jmkosan]

I know that violas need to be as big as the player can handle to create the best sound possible for its range, but this puts a new spin on deep sound and manageability at 3:57. What an unusual shape!

[pepekulos]

4:35 parecen querer cantar las notas los locos jaja. este tipo, stravinsky, tenia una tuerca desajustada me parece...

[RAHHicecream]

gahh, that fkn oboe guy

[MrBranchFreeman]

3:37 WAR OF THE WORLDS

[amart283]

@getupmorning Could you tell me what company recorded this concert????

[cimarosabunnies]

LOVE the facial expressions of the double reed players at the begining!! :D

[prolong4291]

It just gets the birds and the bees a-stirrin'. No wonder they rioted.

[wishful324]

4:01, who is that man and why is his viola so awesome?

[wachoseba]

@wishful324 VIOLA MUTANTE!



[sullivankandy]

@wishful324 Idk his name but he plays mostly baroque style music it was before Beethovens time like J.S Bachs time period and to get that sound you have to have instruments of that time period

[MrMss4]

@wishful324

That is a 5-string Pellegrina Viola I believe

[wishful324]

@MrMss4 ah! thank you :D very interesting stuff (after I googled it). still can't decide if it's beautiful or hideous... must say I'm dying to try it tho. cheers!

[becca1995cody]

This is currently my favourite piece of music :) saw it live last week, amazing!

[CollaborationSeries]

The Umbrella Academy.

[g3org33r3]

John Williams definitely wrote Jaws with inspiration from this.

[Alexjr1543]

Quite an amazing performance.

Anyone else recognize the conductor from the Youtube Symphony Orchestra?

[jofro1996]

I love alto flutes and whats up with english horn girls face haha

[Jshaw1ful]

The bass clarinet entry at 1:37 rattles the stage, awesome!

[shadowfairy1000]

Clarinet!!!!!

[kaleidoscopeheart91]

Alto Flute and Wagner Tubas. That's all I have to say.

[Rubiksandstuffz]

I was under the impression that the first horn is payed the most in symphonies

[DoOdLeBaKa]

GO OBOE GO~~~! <3

[ohdannyb0i]

Great conductor/orchestra aside, the director of the video is pretty awesome

[andrewbautista23]

lol isn't this the conductor who makes all sorts of crazy stories about beethoven haha.

[345bomberman]

@andrewbautista23 MTT is an amazing conductor. and his stories aren't crazy.

[345bomberman]

@andrewbautista23 MTT is an amazing conductor. and his stories aren't crazy. 

[pjnguyen90]

fantastic



[CatFlashBlue]

0:45 English horn solo. I can't stop obsessing over that little diddly part. It's so underrated what with the big bassoon solo in the beginning. I mean, I'M a bassoonist so no resentment really, but still, let's have some appreciation for the wonderful combination here. So many crazy timbres. When I noticed for the first time the piccolo part, that just was the icing on the cake. I absolutely adore this part.

[MozartGirl1756]

Can you believe that people were actually offended when this first came out???

I once went to the Oakland Ballet when they performed to the Rite of Sping.....I swear, people LEFT the theatre (granted, they were wearing nude/flesh colored unitards).

[bluexxfire]

@MozartGirl1756

Haha, that was probably their version of Lady Gaga in a meat dress.

But I'm pretty sure they left because of the music rather than the leotards. Stravinski took music beyond what people were used to and I guess it was just WAY too much for them. For example, this piece starts off with a bassoon. That in itself was preposterous.

[AshleyMarkPomeroy]

We should have a riot in the comments - boo! hiss! etc

[jill9700]

I want a Piccolo, then.

[jill9700]

what is the name of that tiny flute?

[dickieprime]

@jill9700 Piccolo 

[DoOdLeBaKa]

@jill9700 PICCOLO!! :D

[ThomasMisson1]

Nearly everybody in this video does something hilarious at some point. Love the piece to bits though

[venskus2009]

that bassoon players intonation is SPOT ON. that is absolutely incredible. just fantastic.

[cheesemonkeyms]

@venskus2009 oh my god i wish i had been able to play 10% as well as that when i played bassoon in high school

[Nachtmarchen]

@venskus2009 Yes, absolutely dreadful - if that parts sounds beautiful, unforced and in tune the performers completely miss Stravinsky's professed intention. This is a run-of-the-mill, thoroughly civilized "Rite", no match for early Bernstein or Markevitch.

[venskus2009]

@Nachtmarchen i would agree with you for most of the piece, but i tihnk the bassoon solo is a good passage to be more tame. is there any recordings on youtube of Bernstein, or Markevitch?

[AnasTangi]

@ 3:31 is the best part.

Also pause at 3:31 and look and the interesting maestro's face :)

[OfficialWillEP]

Whoa, check out the viola at 4:00 ! lol He's the hipster of the group!

[aasiempre]

John Fashanu.

[wwescsazz]

is this the original rite of spring that debuted on 29th may 1913??

[AnasTangi]

@wwescsazz 1913, are you kidding?

[wwescsazz]

@AnasTangi nope, not at all

[corejh]

@thlvr there aren't as many of them, and they usually perform solo or in a small group thus their pay is higher, even if slightly

[thlvr91]

So does anyone know why the Timpani player gets paid the most in Symphonies?

[ManIhTwoLinJay]

@thlvr91 Why?

[Mecinimi]

@thlvr91 because it's not true?

[thlvr91]

@Mecinimi Oh well, I guess my director lied to me then.

[Thebandgeekemma]

@thlvr91 My band teacher told me it's because its a tricky instrument to play, because when you hit it you almost have to pull the note out of it instead of just hitting it, hopefully that answers your question :)

[OfficialWillEP]

@thlvr91 They don't, the conductor does. ;) Really the timpani player doesn't get paid the most, if anyone gets paid more it's the concert master (principal violin), then the other principals. Obviously that means people like timpani players and tubist make more than others, because there are rarely more than one, and if there are they are hired from outside (I play second tuba frequently in orchestras.) All in all, nobody really gets paid that much unless you are playing in one of the top 10

[grayfox3478]

@OfficialWillEP Yeah also i think the top three in order of salary is conductor, concert master, then first oboe.

[venskus2009]

@thlvr91 wow really?

[asianpianoman]

@thlvr91 Listen to some Mahler and tell me the timpani doesn't make or break the entire ensemble.

[SuperiorSwagon1]

@thlvr91 cuz its boring for half the song.

[percussivesteve]

@thlvr91 because to be a professonal timpani player you not only have to be skilled in all the percussion instruments you also have to have perfect pitch

[LazyBastard69]

@percussivesteve Wrong! You have to have a absolutely flawless relative pitch.

[LidsAreSexy]

@thlvr91 Because technically, the timpanist is playing four instruments. Each timpani drum is considered it's own instrument.

[inextinguishable00]

@thlvr91 I'm not sure whether that's true, but bear in mind, that a violinist's small mistake can easily go unnoticed. That's not the case with percussion players :)

[DieKunstderLeben]

@thlvr91 The convential wisdom regarding salary seems to follow a harmonic basis: Tuba, Trombones, and Timpani all have the potential to make the most, second and third most, respectively, aside from the conductor. Many say it’s commensurate with the ability of their “ear;” that’s to say, how well they can find their place--aurally--both in the music, and in the Orchestra.

[BlueLabelWhiskey]

@thlvr91 no idea. i've always thought the concertmaster gets paid the most.....

[Doughboy123x]

@thlvr91 They do?

[86rocker]

@thlvr91 Because they often prefer the Timpanist to have perfect pitch, in order to change the drum tuning without a pitch pipe.

[swankestdraf]

@thlvr91 the concertmaster gets paid the most, then the tympanist (excluding the conductor, obvi). The tympani player has such a unique role; he's basically his own section. Tympani can be a percussion instrument but it can serve as a bass, too. Just think about it this way: if the third clarinet messes up not many people are going to notice, if the tympanist messes up, it's bad news.

[DiNoZsEy]

@swankestdraf

yea i think he made a joke about timpani player doing nothing in this piece ;)

[ReneIsSoCool101Yes]

@thlvr91 I could've sworn that it was the concert bass drum player that got paid the most...

[shibbyfoo929]

@thlvr91 Timpani players are head of the percussion section; often times they will play a larger deciding role when recruiting percussionists than the conductor since they are supposed to know how to spot skill well. Also, in general percussionists have to be spot on, and the timpani is probably the most overall used percussion instrument.

[BeatniKkers]

If you imagine the close-ups of these musicians without their instruments- they all look like raisins who speak by making facial expressions

[CharlieBladeRemus]

E-flat clarinet FTW!!!

[waters965]

trying to get a image of vision with this is so complex, i like it regardless.

[SondheimFanatic1]

I can't give a reason why...but I don't care for Michael Tilson Thomas. Something about him...

[thelaughingguitar]

It's so complicated to play this piece of music. Playing high notes on a bassoon is difficult, and everything about the piece is difficult. Still, it is quite amazing.

[ivoryoboe]

horns up!!!! bravo!!

[contramichele]

the camera is annoying...

[ballping88]

@contramichele tbh i kind of like it. It helps add to the tension of the piece and shows just how goddamn complicated it really is to play and just how much is going on.

[wispybutt]

Oh gosh the conductor's face has me mesmerized. x'D

[acesvi]

oh my god, that's gotta be fucking painful for the bassoon..... Regardless of that it's one of the greatest pieces of music ever written!

[Yojimbo711]

a great performance for a marvelous musical score.

[douglasmatley]

Still my favorite ballet, fantastic score by Igor Stravinsky. Causes a riot with me everytime I hear it. Doug Matley

[mattdd05]

I like the feeling of confusion and tension that I feel when listening to this.

[royallighting7]

I can see why this caused a riot on it's premier...

I respect someone else opinion and taste on enjoying this, but it's not my cup of tea. Maybe it'll grow on me one day...

[ArmyDadG]

@royallighting7 in time young grasshopper in time :)

[royallighting7]

@ArmyDadG you implying that my dislike for this piece is related to my age?

[ArmyDadG]

@royallighting7 No. I was implying what YOU said earlier which is it will grow on you one day. I was not taking a shot at your age... chill out.

[royallighting7]

@ArmyDadG I'm not "unchilled". I was just making sure I interpreted what you said correctly. I asked b/c I don't like jumping to conclusions about what people say.

Yea, after a few listens I mite come to enjoy it. Some of the classical sax music I play could've caused a riot too. Haha.

[colourfulwithaU]

@royallighting7

I didn't like it either upon first listen. Do you generally dislike atonal music, or is it just this piece that rubs you the wrong way?