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Classical Music/Classical Mystery Song

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Expert: - 9/28/2009


Question
QUESTION: I am looking for the name and composer of a certain classical song. First off, let me apologize that I don't have much to go with and I'm just pulling this from memory. I heard this song a long time ago, yet I can't recall where exactly or when. I do not know the composer though I have a feeling it may be Bach. I do not know the name of the piece. I do not have a clip of an actual performance of the piece, but I have a .wav file of myself playing a part on my keyboard that I can recall from memory. This song has been haunting me for so long now. It would be great if you could help, but I will understand if you can not. Thank you for your time.
-Bob

http://www.yourfilelink.com/get.php?fid=509347

ANSWER: My heart was sinking as you reeled off all the info you didn't have.....oh, dear!  This is nothing to work with!  And then I saw the link.  Ah!  There's a chance...

Since you have a good memory, it was enough for me to solve the problem for you.

It is classical, but it's Beethoven, not Bach.  It's the 2nd movement of his Symphony #7, Op. 92.  Look at his Symphony #4.  You don't hear it much, but it's marvelous.

Best wishes.
mb

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Marbeth...

THANK YOU!!!

Thank you so much!
By the gods, this song has been haunting me for so long.
Now I remember where I heard it. It was during the final scene of a foreign film my friend suggested I watch.
The main character was seated at a table, dark figures approached him, a nightmare of his had just came true. But instead of running away, he dealt with it and accepted it. This song was playing as the view changed to that of the party at the table with the sun setting behind them. It was quite moving.
Thank you again!
-Bob

Answer
I am glad I was able to help.  Perhaps the reason it was used in this fashion is bcs it has chromatic movement in the interior voices.  By which I mean:  (1) moving by half-steps, which often creates dissonances; (2) not the melody and not the lowest part; the interior voices are often "filler" used to form chords suggested by the melody and bass.
mb

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Marbeth

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I have a PhD in musicology, with expertise in medieval - Renaissance - Baroque - Classical periods, but I'll try to help you with any period.

>>*****IMPORTANT NOTE*****<<: I do not answer questions marked "private." I don't want to type the same thing to someone else later if I typed it to you already! If you mark your request "private," I will send it back to you requesting you to remove the "private" flag. Thanks for your understanding. Remember, I'm a volunteer.

My answers are not toss-offs. If I don't know the answer, I will do my best to find it.

I have many requests to identify a piece of music. If I can't identify it, I will tell you (1) what composer I think it is; (2) what composer or composers I think it is not; (3) what style period, genre, etc. I think it is or is not. And give you any other help I can to help you find the answer.

Please find a clear clip. In the interest of good computer hygiene, I will not download a clip. Nor will I go to a site where I must "register" in order to hear the clip. Please mount the clip on a public site for which you can give me a direct URL. Thanks for your understanding in this. Remember, I'm a volunteer!

Students, I do NOT do homework questions. The purpose of answering questions on assignments is not only to learn the information, but to LEARN HOW TO FIND IT. Re-read chapter. Look in the index. Look in the references given at the end of the chapter or elsewhere in the book. You also probably can find the answer using Google. Don't be lazy. I wouldn't be doing you any favors by doing your homework for you! I already know the answer. You don't. You need to find it. MORE IMPORTANTLY, you need to learn HOW to find it. That's the whole purpose of education, after all!

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