I'm sure as most of us that grew up in the '70's my knowledge of classical music stems from watching Warner Bros. cartoons and I love this selection of music because of it. Those cartoons made me seek out music such as this and has made me appreciate the genre that much more.

What I always remember him for (new window)

I remember this piece, they played it when I went to see the ballet... you know, the bear in the little car

He was the Frank Zappa of his day.

I used to be a fan of Schickle Mix on NPR, and one of his shows was dedicated to the question "how perfect should a classical recording be?"

In examining the pros and cons, he spent some time on recordings that were so bad they should never have completed the piece, let alone released a record. One of the recordings was "Sabre Dance", in which some people play the downbeats ("oom-") and others play the upbeats ("-pa"), difficult to do at such a breakneck tempo.

In the recording he featured, the "-pas" fell terribly behind the "oom-s", resulting in a train wreck of "oom-pa oompa oopma poomp pa-oomp pa-oomp".

It was one of the funniest things I've ever heard. I was driving at the time and had to pull over, the tears were obscuring my vision so much ...

There needs to be a Saber-dancer webpage much like a Benny-Hill-ifier.

My all time favorite ballet is Spartacus. Also the source of the theme for The Onedin Line, another all time fave.

Deserves the tag just for the guy on the bones. On fire, he is.

filthy communist

SynthLord: I used to be a fan of Schickle Mix on NPR, and one of his shows was dedicated to the question "how perfect should a classical recording be?"

In examining the pros and cons, he spent some time on recordings that were so bad they should never have completed the piece, let alone released a record. One of the recordings was "Sabre Dance", in which some people play the downbeats ("oom-") and others play the upbeats ("-pa"), difficult to do at such a breakneck tempo.

In the recording he featured, the "-pas" fell terribly behind the "oom-s", resulting in a train wreck of "oom-pa oompa oopma poomp pa-oomp pa-oomp".

It was one of the funniest things I've ever heard. I was driving at the time and had to pull over, the tears were obscuring my vision so much ...

The music he writes is also pretty freakin' funny.

holiday_inn_in_cambodia: I remember this piece, they played it when I went to see the ballet... you know, the bear in the little car

I tried to see that, but I was trapped in two vending machines.

All I could think of were Looney Tunes cartoons when I heard that.

/all I know about classical music I learned from Warner Bros.

i was wondering why no one had posted the masturbating bear until i ran the two words through GIS

What a coincidence, I was just enjoying some music from Spartacus.

oldandwiser: He was the Frank Zappa of his day.

I'd probably give that title to Raymond Scott, but I can see where you're coming from.

Does anyone else feel that most mid-to-uptempo classical they hear isn't being played fast enough? I've been listening to a lot lately and I always think, "Jeez, another 10 bpm and this would be just perfect."

wow. I never heard all of that; It kicks ass.

oldandwiser heh. cool post.

SynthLord: The "-pas" fell terribly behind the "oom-s", resulting in a train wreck of "oom-pa oompa oopma poomp pa-oomp pa-oomp".

That's far and away the best written description of bad rhythm I've ever seen. I know I'm going to have to steal it at some point.

Setion: What I always remember him for (new window)

Or this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6ZBSdjzKfk

Setion: What I always remember him for (new window)

I'd like to thank you and subby for introducing me to Khachaturian. I didn't know he existed untill 20 minutes ago, and I'm absolutely in rapture to his music.