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Classical Music/help identify this piece?

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Expert: - 2/23/2010


Question
Recently National Geographic came out with a new ad campaign, and one song in particular has really captivated my soul! The only problem is that I can't find any information as to what it might be. My husband is also interested in learning the song to adapt it to guitar. If you could help us identify it, or which composer it might be, would be very helpful!



The song (National Geograpic ad) is on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sduYMdGv_E



Thank you for your time!

Answer
I'd guess Bach.  Look at the unaccompanied pieces for violin.  Try amazon.com and listen to the excerpts of the CDs offered.

It might also be Tartini (but not "Devil's Trill").  Might be Corelli or Locatelli, too.  Again, look for unaccompanied pieces for violin.

I'm not sure who wrote "it's not Vivaldi," but that's probably true, though that was my first thought.  Not Handel.  Or Rameau or Lully or anyone French.

It's Baroque; not later (Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven, Brahms, Dvorak, etc.).

My best guess is Baroque:  Bach or an Italian composer.

It is a gorgeous piece!!
mb

PS.  I suppose you contacted National Geographic....

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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.

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