I’m into happy music, or at least oftentimes perky music, but every now and again I need to flex those gloomy muscles. So, before people associate this piece with the holocaust because of Schindler’s List, I was a fan before I even knew of that association.
Starting on a single note, the violins I melody is joined by
a cool chord movement from a minor 7th chord to the dominant 7th
chord, a really unique sound. It’s aided by the uniformity of the instruments
sound creating a chorale effect. This dynamic of melody above block chords is
held, until a countermelody starts to form, previewed first by the second
violins but fully realised by the violas. The Violins II come back with a
second countermelody occasionally to supplement the structure.
In the next section, cellos play the melody dramatically on
their A string, giving it a strained quality, a contrast to the more mellow
violins section. As it gets higher, the violas have to take over, then join
with the rest of the strings in an escalation to ear piecing highs.
Ouch! Then back into soft chords to relive the tensions with
contrabasses bringing us back to the ground. The melody is repeated in dramatic
octaves, yet nicely quiet. This is the de-escalation phase. It ends on a
dominant chord.
The piece never resolves, adding to the pain and uncertainty.
Whilst it can be slow and shrill at moments, it is a solid cornerstone of the
strings repertoire.
Final Rating: 7/10
Comparative Ranking List:
1. Dear Prudence: 10/10
2. Rachmaninov Prelude in G (Original): 9/10
3. Stranger In Moscow 9/10
4. Black Sands: 9/10
5. Jupiter (The Planets): 9/10
6. Hollywood Heart: 8/10
7. Make It Easy on Yourself 8/10
8. Another Day in America: 8/10
9. Mi Re (Give into life)
10. Don’t Let it Show 7/10
11. Adagio For Strings 7/10
11. It’s Your Move (Parkinson) 7/10
13. It’s Your Move (Vaporwave Version) 7/10
14. It’s Your Move (Ross) 7/10
15. Don’t Lead Me On 7/10
16. Rachmaninov Prelude in G (VSO): 5/10
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