Better Nicknames

7047 Views 50 Replies 26 Participants Last post by MoonlightSonata, Feb 3, 2015

Cosmos

Discussion Starter · Jan 7, 2015 (Edited)

I was just thinking about the famous works that are usually referred to by their nicknames, and about the nicknames that don't fit. The two that came to mind were Beethoven's "Moonlight" and "Tempest" sonatas, both nicknames given by publishers/biographers because of myths on what the music is "supposed to be about"

I'm not against nicknames; I think they make it easier to remember the piece, and they also can sum up the mood of the work, or what the listener should think about when listening. Yet there are pieces with nicknames, like the two mentioned, that aren't the best.

So, what are some pieces that you guys think have good nicknames? How about pieces you think have bad nicknames? And for the bad ones, what could be a better nickname? Or maybe, the piece shouldn't even have one at all!

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hpowders

· #20 · Jan 7, 2015 (Edited)

I would change the "Moonlight" Sonata to the "Somnambulant" Sonata.

I would change Schubert Symphony No. 9 ("Great") to Schubert Symphony No. 9 ("Interminable")

I would change the Mozart "Jupiter" Symphony to "Great Fugue".

In keeping with modern performance practice, I would change Beethoven's "Pastoral" Symphony to "Quick Walk in the Park".

I would change Ives "Concord" Sonata to Ives "Kaleidoscope" Sonata.

Since Haydn has musical surprises throughout his symphonies, I would simply remove the unnecessary name, "Surprise" from his Symphony No. 94.

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hpowders

· #26 · Jan 7, 2015 (Edited)

I would change "La Mer" to "La Lullaby".

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hpowders

· #27 · Jan 8, 2015 (Edited)

I would simply add to the Schubert "Unfinished" Symphony nickname as "Unfinished, Deo Gratias!!"

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hpowders

· #39 · Feb 1, 2015 (Edited)

Schubert Symphony No. 9 "OverFinished".

Beethoven "die vulgäre Fuge", opus 133.

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hpowders

· #48 · Feb 3, 2015 (Edited)

samurai said:
Hi, hpowders. I just wanted to commend you on your new avatar. I intend to see fury via Netflix Bluray very shortly.

Thanks, but I already changed it to the young Mr. Pitt in "A River Runs Through It", one of my favorite movies ever.

Hope you are doing well, samurai.

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