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Classical Music/Just another identifying request

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Expert: - 12/2/2007


Question
This piece is briefly used in the movie "Ollie Hopnoodle's Haven of Bliss", and I believe it was used in a Duracell commercial from the late 80s starring Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.

Since I've heard it used in two instances I'm hoping it's fairly well known and that it's only a fluke that I haven't been able to find it. <fingers crossed> Anyway, I made a clip from the movie (no, it's not named in the credits) and posted it on youtube where all those classical music wizards out there can help me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bypRBOj1KuQ

Sorry about the strange noises, but it happens during a car chase of all things. Thanks in advance for your assistance, and I'll keep hoping...

Answer
beginning sounds Wagnerian
don't think it's Liszt
fairly sure it's not Berlioz or French romantic (such as Faure)
don't think it's Brahms
could be Schumann; not Schubert
not Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven, Bach, Vivaldi, etc Baroque
not French impressionistic
not Gershwin; probably not Copland
could be Sibelius

sounds more English to me than anything
could be Elgar, possibly Vaugh Williams
probably not Britten
could be Hubert Parry
sounds most like Holst to me (ie, The Planets)

best wishes!
mb

Classical Music

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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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