Ideas for Virtue & Moir

[ManyCairns]

Among many great ideas of jyshin's, I really think the Nat King Cole might be great for the upcoming season. Still kind of romantic, depending on the selections, but with the jazz feel it would be a bit different. Certainly would make a great exhibition number if it for whatever reasons might not work for a competition piece.

 

[jyshin]

Among many great ideas of jyshin's, I really think the Nat King Cole might be great for the upcoming season. Still kind of romantic, depending on the selections, but with the jazz feel it would be a bit different. Certainly would make a great exhibition number if it for whatever reasons might not work for a competition piece.

I would be thrilled to watch V/M's intricate footwork to NKC's sensational yet sensual piano improvisations. I hope there are quality recordings without statics that are good enough to be used in competitions.

I personally like NKC's "Let There be Love" and his tongue-in-cheek "Straighten Up and Fly Right"
Diana Krall's version of "Let's Fall In Love(while we are young~ )" as well as her "Come Dance With Me" is cool.
"I won't Dance" sung by Jane Monheit with Michael Bublé can be a lot of fun.

By watching V/M's "Call Me Irresponsible" and "Winter Wonderland," I can tell they are ready to dazzle the audience with a jazzy number.

 

[Tinymavy15]

4> Wagner! What about the tragic love story of the dramatic "Tristan and Isolde"!!!

5> Mythical and ethereal impressionistic French music. I was inspired while listening to the "Isle of Joy" by Claude Debussy. I am not sure if this piano music by itself is enough for high profile figureskating program, however, I thought the idea behind the music was something that I wanted to share with V/M. I liked the fact that it builds up like Ravel's Bolero with an exciting ending as well.
In order to explain my ideas, let me talk a little more about the painting that might have inspired the music. "L'Isle joyuse" is known to be inspired by Antoine Watteau's "Pilgrimage to Cythera" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Antoine_Watteau_035.jpg). It is a Rococo painting about the pilgrimage of men and women, who are in love, lead by the cupids to the mythical island called Cythera. Far in the scene a boat is waiting to take them to the island that is hidden behind the foggy clouds. The music is about these men and women getting closer and closer to the unknown island of love... and may be finally getting there, I hope
For the actual music choice, I would like to suggest Debussy's Image Book 1 (Reflets Dans L'Eau, Mouvement), "Nocturnes, for female chorus & orchestra, L. 91" and "La Mer", and Maurice Ravel's "Sheherazade." Combination of such music can suit beautifully to V/M's fluidly expressive quality.

I love both of those choices, and athough I do not want to see another love story from them, I would like to see Tristan and Isolde. They look the parts.

As for debussy, I am obsessed with Impressionistic music right now. Daphnis et Chole, La Mer, Clair de la Lune, afternoon of a fawn...such beautiful pieces. I love playing them on the piano!

I like the idea of Sheherazade or Samson & Delilah for Virtue and Moir. I could also see them skating to Nina Rota's Romeo & Juliet but that is quite an overused piece of skating music.

Another one: Claire du Lune, but maybe not for a few years.

I cannot picture samson and delillah, but maybe that is just becasue it is so different from what the have done. Claire du Lune would me amazing for the olympics.

 

[kasiaavery]

I hardly think Valse Triste and Umbrellas of Cherbourg were tangos or spanish!!

I think perhaps Tinymavy15's comment meant to reference their FD's from the 2004-05 & 2005-06 seasons (Adios Nonino by Astor Piazzolla & Malaguena by Raul Di Blasio) :yes:

 

[jyshin]

What do you think of the Third movement (Andante) of Rachmaninoff's Cello Sonata?
I forgot to mention this breathtaking music that I was hoping someone would skate with a lots of emotion.

There are plenty of Cello + Piano recordings out there, and here is Yo Yo Ma with Emanuel Ax...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SppyoLiRomE

Other than Yo Yo Ma~ there are so many wonderful recordings
Misha Maisky with Martha Argerich, Alexander Ivashkin with Rustem Hayroudinoff, Lynn Harell with Vladimir Ashkenazy...


If someone needs a faster version, then Arcadi Volodos' arrangement for 'solo' piano should work beautifully. Volodos is phenomenal!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_j6VOrc38-k

Enjoy

 

[Tinymavy15]

What do you think of the Third movement (Andante) of Rachmaninoff's Cello Sonata?
I forgot to mention this breathtaking music that I was hoping someone would skate with a lots of emotion.

There are plenty of Cello + Piano recordings out there, and here is Yo Yo Ma with Emanuel Ax...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SppyoLiRomE

Other than Yo Yo Ma~ there are so many wonderful recordings
Misha Maisky with Martha Argerich, Alexander Ivashkin with Rustem Hayroudinoff, Lynn Harell with Vladimir Ashkenazy...


If someone needs a faster version, then Arcadi Volodos' arrangement for 'solo' piano should work beautifully. This Volodos is a phenomenal!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_j6VOrc38-k

Enjoy

I have the cello version... but both are beautiful. maybe a combination of both!

 

[jyshin]

Richard Wagner's "Liebestod" from Tristan und Isolde sung by Jessye Norman with H. Karajan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vpU1VminNw&feature=related
I had never seen Karajan with this much sensitivity and emotion... Look at him! You can catch all sorts of subtle nuance even in the calmness of the music.

Richard Strauss "Beim Schlafengehen" sung by Jessye Norman with Kurt Mazur
This is one of the four songs that R. Strauss wrote right before he died. It made me believe that spirit exists and gave me enormous strength when I was coping with a death in my family.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O75CnnsFonM&feature=related

 

[jyshin]

Looking for a youthful and lively music?
Check this out.

Third movement of Bruch Violin Concerto performed by Kyung Wha Chung.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OwzDLP009Y
I thought the sky was opening up when I first heard this piece in a concert.
Again, we can all learn a lot of the performers own musical connection to the music. I can't help saying that this is the clip to die for.

Best Luck!

 

[skatingfan04]

Maybee it was the fact that Mao Aasada and Tanith and Ben used this at worlds, but I've kinda fallen in love with Chopin's Fantasie Impromtu. I would love to see them try something a little more classical. Obviously they would need something else with it, since 4 minutes of Fantasie would be overkill. They probably shouldn't try this for a few years though...It'll seem like they are trying to copy Belbin and Agosto.

 

[blue dog]

I want them to try Carmen, Tosca, Swan Lake, or The Swan from Carnival of Animals. For the Olympics, I think they should use Bolero.

 

[jyshin]

Hi, skatingfan04!
I am so glad that you brought up Chopin.
After reading your post, I listened to both Mao & T/B's music from their programs, then I could understand some of the concerns that has been going around regarding their connection to the music. I realized that they both used somewhat synthesized version that was made to keep the flow going. In my opinion, both versions lost quite a bit of poetic quality called 'rubato' which is the essence of Chopin. In Chopin, losing rubato means losing connection to the music... when Chopin sounds mechanical it loses life.
To me, listening to a familiar piece of music as suppose to being able to drawn into the music are vastly different experiences. If you have a chance to listen to one good recording of the Fantasie-Impromptu, i.e. Artur Rubinstein, you will notice the difference immediately. You will also begin to question if anyone can possibly skate to such rubato-filled performance without disrupting the flow... and yes I do, too, worry about it.

Having a consistent flow while keeping the rubato is a challenge in Chopin.
I wonder if Chopin's piano concertos or chamber music (piano trio, cello sonata) would work better. In these pieces, pianists take less freedom in order to play together with other instruments which makes the pulse a lot easier to follow.

My personal choice of recording for the skaters are the two Chopin piano concertos performed by Montreal based pianist "Dang Thai Son." I know that Artur Rubinstein's tends to be the common choice in this repertoire, but Dan Thai Son seems to have the smooth flow that might better suited for figure skating... don't have to mention his breath-takingly light touches... superb musicianship!!!...
You will be pleasantly surprised.

Will Chopin work for V/M? absolutely YES.
I am comfortable saying this especially after watching their FD.
Dancing to rubato is like dancing to the little nuance of poetic recitativo...
V/M doing so well in the FD, some might have thought it was the 'love' story that they got into... I thought it was their unique musicality that led them to...

 

[jyshin]

I want them to try Carmen, Tosca, Swan Lake, or The Swan from Carnival of Animals. :

Hey, you must be feeling Tessa's presence while thinking of these music.
Why don't I go the other way with Scott by introducing Rodolfo's aria "Che Gelida Manina" from La Boheme?

Sometimes Scott shows his gratitude to Tessa by gently taking her hands over to his heart... reminds me of this aria... "What a cold hand~ little hand~ let me me warm it for you~"... Scott as Rodolfo and Tessa as Mimi... what do you think?

Here is the clip of Rodolfo by the one and only Jose Carreras!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsTO8e-e0rY

It has been a lot of fun writing on the forum for the last three days ... on the way, during and from my vacation, thank you everyone for being so kind to the nervous new comer. I shall go back to my reality and get things running now.

Ciao

jyshin

 

[BigJohn]

I'd prefere if they went away from anything soft and romantic. And I don't think any classical music would be a wise choice. I say go nuts, spectacular, in your face.

I would not mind if they went techno or dance like Justice (Phantom, Waters of Nazareth) or Daft Punk. Even go full blown disco.

Some have mentionned rock and roll... I say don't turn you back on rock. Wilco has some amazing tracks.

For something with latin beats but with an alternative twist, I would go with Stereolab. Any team that skates on Miss Modular or that last part of Excursions into 'Oh, A-Oh would have my admiration. Or something by Brazilian Girls.

Anyway, whatever they chose to do, it will be brilliant.

When is the next Grang Prix event again?

 

[npa]

When is the next Grang Prix event again?

In USA in October (but V/M will start, maybe, in Canada)

 

[blue dog]

If they really wanted to try something "new" they can explore the soundtrack of Atonement. The way the composer has worked the soundtrack and the theme would lend itself well to ice dance, especially how in one scene, he uses the typewriter (which is a recurring part of the story since it is centered around a girl who is a writer) as a way to beat out the rhythm in a waltz--nothing like their Valse Triste, but a bit more of a frantic waltz.

Check out the trailer of Atonement, which uses some of its music:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=ATtSfe_DaJU

Pan's Labyrinth is another new soundtrack that has wonderful, rhythmic music (where the rhythm is obvious) that they can definitely try.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=EqYiSlkvRuw

 

[npa]

Guys, and what you think about Die Fledermaus by Johann Strauss? Or, maybe, Selection of Operettas by E. Kalman? It could be romantic and fast, and fun. And it could be very beautifull dress for Tessa :agree:

 

[dorispulaski]

Especially the Strauss is still too much in the love's young dream mode that they have been pursuing, at least for my taste.

 

[npa]

Maybe, but it could be others part. They could combine there romantic styly with very fast and power parts

 

[jyshin]

LOVE THE BAT!:thumbsup:
Can't stop laughing when I imagine the flirtatious interaction between Tessa and Scott... Let's cut the romantic crap and go with kick-*** comedy!

Kalman is a fresh idea. bravo, npa!

 

[npa]

I read at FSU one new idea - skating to music from Dracula