Post by Slinger on Apr 30, 2022 23:44:53 GMT
Firstly, and most importantly, there are no audio-only links because I want to present this as an audio/visual or multimedia, piece. It's fun to listen to, but if it was meant simply for that then the musicians and singers would not have bothered dressing up. Consequently, I'm dropping a YouTube link only.
p.s.
I'm pretty sure that isn't Prince Andrew on violin.
Whitacre is probably my favourite modern choral composer, and he wrote Godzilla Eats Las Vegas! in 1996 for Tom Leslie and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Wind Symphony. At the time, he had just finished his bachelor’s degree there and was beginning my Master's study at Juilliard. His program notes, from his website, tell the whole story...
Stylistically, Godzilla Eats Las Vegas! covers an immense amount of ground, touching on many of the popular styles of the mid-20th century and quoting several famous pieces of music associated with Vegas regulars. The basic style is symphonic jazz, exemplified by a Las Vegas tourism video he saw, from 1966:
Because Godzilla is Japanese, his arrival in Las Vegas is foreshadowed by the shakuhachi, a Japanese bamboo flute:
Godzilla’s first famous victim is Frank Sinatra, who is singing one of his signature songs, “New York, New York“:
The big monster next stomps on Wayne Newton, who famously sang “Danke Schoen“:
Godzilla next goes after Liberace, who was famous for his piano virtuosity and flamboyant outfits:
Only Elvis (or, as Whitacre requests, “a fearless army of Elvises (Elvi?)”) can save the day. Whitacre creates a march from the tune of “Love Me Tender,” one of Elvis’s breakout hits. This performance, from 1970, showcases some of his great talents, but also shows us his huge popularity (particularly among women) and his iconic Vegas-era style:
We also get snippets of “Viva Las Vegas“: and “Heartbreak Hotel“:
There's also traditional tango and a little nod to Middle Eastern music.
Godzilla Eats Las Vegas! was originally commissioned by the University of Nevada Las Vegas, Thomas G. Leslie, conductor, and received its premiere on November 28th, 1996. There are several versions on YouTube but this one, is by far the best. I'd love to see him conducting it live.
Classical? Not classical? A bit classical? Don't care, it makes me smile, and that'll do for me. Now go and listen to some of Whitacre's more "normal" music, because that's great too.
There's a good article here that, as well as covering things I've laready plagiarised mentioned, has links to many of the videos that make up the piece's influences etc. including Godzilla movie clips.
CREDITS
"Godzilla Eats Las Vegas!" (Eric Whitacre & Jonathan Newman). Live by the Bel Canto Choir Vilnius, Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra (artistic director Sergei Krylov), Lithuanian Military Wind Orchestra (artistic director Egidijus Alisauskas), Giunter Percussion ensemble and pianist Arturas Anusauskas. Conducted by Eric Whitacre. "Revolution Together": Eric Whitacre & Bel Canto Choir Vilnius in Concert. December 11-12, 2016 at the Lithuanian National Philharmonics in Vilnius.
Credits: Megan Davies and Audrius Valatkevicius (Executive Producers); Jonas Juozapaitis (Video Director & Editor); Sarunas Burza (Director of Photography); Mykolas Leckas (Lightning Design). Audio recording performed by Arturas Pugaciauskas and Valdas Karpuska. Mixed & mastered at AP Sound Design and UP Records studios by Arturas Pugaciauskas with the friendly support of Kipras Masanauskas.
Artistic Director of the Bel Canto Choir Vilnius – Arturas Dambrauskas (until January 2017); Artistic Director of the Bel Canto Choir Vilnius - Dr Egidijus Kaveckas (from February 2017). For more information on the Choir, please visit its website at www.chorasbelcanto.lt
p.s.
I'm pretty sure that isn't Prince Andrew on violin.
Whitacre is probably my favourite modern choral composer, and he wrote Godzilla Eats Las Vegas! in 1996 for Tom Leslie and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Wind Symphony. At the time, he had just finished his bachelor’s degree there and was beginning my Master's study at Juilliard. His program notes, from his website, tell the whole story...
t took me seven years to get my Bachelor’s degree from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. By the time I graduated I was ready to eat Las Vegas.
Tom Leslie asked me to write another piece for the group as I was leaving, and I thought it would be a blast to do something completely ridiculous. The players are called upon to scream in terror, dress like Elvises (Elvi?), and play in about thirty different styles from mambo to cheesy lounge music. The audience follows a ‘script’ that I wrote simulating a campy, over the top Godzilla movie (is there any other kind?).
I wrote the bulk of the piece while in my first year at Juilliard, and no kidding, I used to act out the script every morning devouring animal crackers, wreaking havoc all over the breakfast table. The ‘script’ was originally twice as long and had an entire subplot devoted to a young scientist and his love interest. As I started to finish the piece, however, it didn’t seem that funny and that story (along with an extended Elvis tribute) ended up on the cutting room floor.
The idea that this piece is being played all over the world in such serious concert venues is the single funniest thing I have ever heard. It has been played on the steps of the Capitol by the United States Marine Band, by the Scottish National Wind Symphony (they play in kilts, so help me God), and I have a video of a Japanese audience visibly confused and shaken by the whole experience. Can you imagine? I’m laughing my head off even as I write this!
The performers are encouraged to go crazy: wear showgirl costumes, Elvis costumes, act out scenes on stage, use video and lighting – anything to get a laugh.
Tom Leslie asked me to write another piece for the group as I was leaving, and I thought it would be a blast to do something completely ridiculous. The players are called upon to scream in terror, dress like Elvises (Elvi?), and play in about thirty different styles from mambo to cheesy lounge music. The audience follows a ‘script’ that I wrote simulating a campy, over the top Godzilla movie (is there any other kind?).
I wrote the bulk of the piece while in my first year at Juilliard, and no kidding, I used to act out the script every morning devouring animal crackers, wreaking havoc all over the breakfast table. The ‘script’ was originally twice as long and had an entire subplot devoted to a young scientist and his love interest. As I started to finish the piece, however, it didn’t seem that funny and that story (along with an extended Elvis tribute) ended up on the cutting room floor.
The idea that this piece is being played all over the world in such serious concert venues is the single funniest thing I have ever heard. It has been played on the steps of the Capitol by the United States Marine Band, by the Scottish National Wind Symphony (they play in kilts, so help me God), and I have a video of a Japanese audience visibly confused and shaken by the whole experience. Can you imagine? I’m laughing my head off even as I write this!
The performers are encouraged to go crazy: wear showgirl costumes, Elvis costumes, act out scenes on stage, use video and lighting – anything to get a laugh.
Stylistically, Godzilla Eats Las Vegas! covers an immense amount of ground, touching on many of the popular styles of the mid-20th century and quoting several famous pieces of music associated with Vegas regulars. The basic style is symphonic jazz, exemplified by a Las Vegas tourism video he saw, from 1966:
Because Godzilla is Japanese, his arrival in Las Vegas is foreshadowed by the shakuhachi, a Japanese bamboo flute:
Godzilla’s first famous victim is Frank Sinatra, who is singing one of his signature songs, “New York, New York“:
The big monster next stomps on Wayne Newton, who famously sang “Danke Schoen“:
Godzilla next goes after Liberace, who was famous for his piano virtuosity and flamboyant outfits:
Only Elvis (or, as Whitacre requests, “a fearless army of Elvises (Elvi?)”) can save the day. Whitacre creates a march from the tune of “Love Me Tender,” one of Elvis’s breakout hits. This performance, from 1970, showcases some of his great talents, but also shows us his huge popularity (particularly among women) and his iconic Vegas-era style:
We also get snippets of “Viva Las Vegas“: and “Heartbreak Hotel“:
There's also traditional tango and a little nod to Middle Eastern music.
Godzilla Eats Las Vegas! was originally commissioned by the University of Nevada Las Vegas, Thomas G. Leslie, conductor, and received its premiere on November 28th, 1996. There are several versions on YouTube but this one, is by far the best. I'd love to see him conducting it live.
Classical? Not classical? A bit classical? Don't care, it makes me smile, and that'll do for me. Now go and listen to some of Whitacre's more "normal" music, because that's great too.
There's a good article here that, as well as covering things I've laready
Grammy Award-winning composer and conductor, Eric Whitacre, is among today’s most popular musicians.
His works are programmed worldwide and his ground-breaking Virtual Choirs have united more than 100,000 singers from more than 145 countries. A graduate of the Juilliard School of Music, Eric is currently Visiting Composer at Pembroke College, Cambridge, and recently completed his second term as Artist in Residence with the Los Angeles Master Chorale.
Here's a link to his website. ericwhitacre.com/ It's worth exploring
His works are programmed worldwide and his ground-breaking Virtual Choirs have united more than 100,000 singers from more than 145 countries. A graduate of the Juilliard School of Music, Eric is currently Visiting Composer at Pembroke College, Cambridge, and recently completed his second term as Artist in Residence with the Los Angeles Master Chorale.
Here's a link to his website. ericwhitacre.com/ It's worth exploring
CREDITS
"Godzilla Eats Las Vegas!" (Eric Whitacre & Jonathan Newman). Live by the Bel Canto Choir Vilnius, Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra (artistic director Sergei Krylov), Lithuanian Military Wind Orchestra (artistic director Egidijus Alisauskas), Giunter Percussion ensemble and pianist Arturas Anusauskas. Conducted by Eric Whitacre. "Revolution Together": Eric Whitacre & Bel Canto Choir Vilnius in Concert. December 11-12, 2016 at the Lithuanian National Philharmonics in Vilnius.
Credits: Megan Davies and Audrius Valatkevicius (Executive Producers); Jonas Juozapaitis (Video Director & Editor); Sarunas Burza (Director of Photography); Mykolas Leckas (Lightning Design). Audio recording performed by Arturas Pugaciauskas and Valdas Karpuska. Mixed & mastered at AP Sound Design and UP Records studios by Arturas Pugaciauskas with the friendly support of Kipras Masanauskas.
Artistic Director of the Bel Canto Choir Vilnius – Arturas Dambrauskas (until January 2017); Artistic Director of the Bel Canto Choir Vilnius - Dr Egidijus Kaveckas (from February 2017). For more information on the Choir, please visit its website at www.chorasbelcanto.lt
Despite those, I've also found many things to like that I'd never encounter in my normal day-to-day listening.
