I've long been an ardent opponent of Holsts "Planets", as if he owns them. Or something. They'd sound much better to me if they were called Holsts "Plants." It makes much more sense. Especially when you listen to Hydrangea. Beautiful music. Much, much better than Mars, or whatever the heck it's currently called...
Better Nicknames
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!
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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I like words, so I like nicknames. Numbers quickly slip out of my head and I can't engage with them anyway. I can't claim any validity for my point of view - just an 'ordinary person' in classical music listening terms - but I like names, so there! 
I thought this was about coming up with better nicknames for TC members...
Identifying pieces by opus number only -- is a pet peeve of mine.
I suppose if we talk about musical works by opus number we will appear very snobbish to others.
I would simply add to the Schubert "Unfinished" Symphony nickname as "Unfinished, Deo Gratias!!"
They should all be known as "The theme from..."
kidding, obviously - with one exception:
I quite seriously insist that "Elvira Madigan" is somehow a perfect evocative name for that piano cncerto, not because of any memory of the movie - and few remember there was a movie anyway
kidding, obviously - with one exception:
I quite seriously insist that "Elvira Madigan" is somehow a perfect evocative name for that piano cncerto, not because of any memory of the movie - and few remember there was a movie anyway
Which would lead to a path of enormous restraint to stay within the ToS -- I mean, think about itI thought this was about coming up with better nicknames for TC members...
Yeah, if you don't know anything of the film, the historic real story, the name to us English Speakers sounds both plump, a bit mystic sexy, and 'exotic.'They should all be known as "The theme from..."
kidding, obviously - with one exception:
I quite seriously insist that "Elvira Madigan" is somehow a perfect evocative name for that piano cncerto, not because of any memory of the movie - and few remember there was a movie anyway
If you know the events in her life which have us knowing who she was? Bad Call
I particularly dislike this re: Mozart. I never have a clue if somebody mentions K222 or K477 or K606 ...Identifying pieces by opus number only -- is a pet peeve of mine.
For Mozart in particular, I find the catalogue numbers easier to remember than the identifiers for some reason.I particularly dislike this re: Mozart. I never have a clue if somebody mentions K222 or K477 or K606 ...
I can remember K503, but without that I'd be stuck saying "You know, the piano concerto in C major. No, not that one, the other one."
I would change "La Mer" to "La Lullaby".
Oh booooo .I would simply add to the Schubert "Unfinished" Symphony nickname as "Unfinished, Deo Gratias!!"
But at least you gave examples. Little actual answers have been provided in this thread thus far. Though, let us try to be positive.
Like, oh I don't know:
Dvorak's 9th Quartet: "For Brahms" - It would get more recognition with a nickname.
Bartok's Third Piano Concerto: "Remembrance"(?); "Birthday Gift"; "From America" though it does not sound anything like American
Ives' Second Quartet: "Four Men (who converse, discuss, argue, Politik, fight, shake hands, shut up, then walk up the mountain side to view the firmament"
Prokofiev's Fourth Symphony: "The Revised"; "The Reimagined"
Prokofiev's Fifth Symphony: "The War"
Certainly nothing I would use in day-to-day conversation, but thoughts. Realizing how ridiculous (and difficult) it is to name these pieces. Only because we know "Moonlight" or "Tragic" since the music's publication do those labels actually make sense.
Mozart's 21st piano concerto is known as Elvira Madigan for no other reason than that the slow movement was used in a film by that name. It occurred to me that perhaps we should rename some other classical works according to films they were used in, or films they should be used in.
E.g. Bartok's Music for strings, percussion and celesta, "The Shining."
Or Stravinsky's Rite of Spring, "Lord of the Flies."
Or Beethoven's Sonata opus 27 no. 2, "Immortal Beloved."
One could start a whole new stupid thread title thread this way. ;-)
E.g. Bartok's Music for strings, percussion and celesta, "The Shining."
Or Stravinsky's Rite of Spring, "Lord of the Flies."
Or Beethoven's Sonata opus 27 no. 2, "Immortal Beloved."
One could start a whole new stupid thread title thread this way. ;-)
^
^
I'd be slightly mortified if Saint-Saens' symphony no. 3 became known as the 'Babe' Symphony. On the other hand, if it was ever used in a porn film perhaps it could still be referred to as the 'Organ'...
^
I'd be slightly mortified if Saint-Saens' symphony no. 3 became known as the 'Babe' Symphony. On the other hand, if it was ever used in a porn film perhaps it could still be referred to as the 'Organ'...
If i was a composer I might consider giving my pieces nonsense names, or very generic human names. Like "Peter Symphony." Less dry and more memorable than say String Quartet no. 1123409218 in X-flat major but no need to give it any extra-musical meaning it doesn't have.
Hate them or like them, they have served as useful marketing tools from the time of their application.
My pet hate has always been refering to Mozart PC 21 as the "Elvira Madigan" Concerto.
My pet hate has always been refering to Mozart PC 21 as the "Elvira Madigan" Concerto.
I don't know what a better nickname would be but I would be inclined to drop the nickname "Moonlight" from Beethoven's "Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp minor "Quasi una fantasia", Op. 27, No. 2." (Wikipedia quote). Hey there it is, right in the quote. A better nickname for it: Fantasy! Or Fantasia!
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