Home Community Music Blog Old MJ More...      
Beethoven's Rolling Over (#7) by Magritte [Email]
Genre: Techno

Get Flash to see this player.


Having playback trouble, try the Quicktime player:

Attribution-NoDerivs-NonCommercial

SONG STATS:
Hits: 3366
Comments: 32
Votes:
Plays: 1292
Last Played: Nov 19, 2008 - 09:45:17 PM
Downloads: 178
Fans: 9
Uploaded: Apr 24, 2005 - 08:37:03 PM
Last Updated: Oct 16, 2006 - 11:59:14 PM



Description:
A very weird transcription of the first few minutes of the Allegretto from Beethoven's Symphony #7. Purists, beware: I have taken one of the most beautiful pieces of music ever written and turned it into technotrash.

To avoid any confusion this time: BEETHOVEN WROTE THE MUSIC. However, he arranged it somewhat differently than this.

Please note the volume range on this is pretty wide so don't turn up your speakers too high at the beginning.

I still consider this a first draft so suggestions are very welcome. Many thanks to drakonis, thetiler, and other non-Jammers for their support and constructive criticism on this.

Hardware:
iMac G5, Keystation 49e

Software:
GarageBand 2, Jam Packs 1 and 4
You must be registered and logged-in to comment.

Weird is good. &mdash 04/24/05 - 08:54:25 PM
I'm not a big Bee fan but this sounded pretty good.
(I'll vote later. I hate being the first one to vote.)

[ Reply to This ]
I like it! &mdash 04/24/05 - 09:04:50 PM
And I think Ludwig would give a thumbs-up, too.

Reminds me of Wendy Carlos' "Switched-On Bach." I like
the synth sound choices.

I often show the movie "Beethoven Lives Upstairs" to my
kids at school. This music is featured at the funeral
scene.

The more I think about it -- I think I'll download this and
play it for my kids at school, with the "real" version to
compare it to, if you don't mind, Magritte.

[ Reply to This ]
I like it! &mdash 04/24/05 - 11:00:35 PM
Heh, I never imagined this piece being used as a teaching tool. Be my guest, I hope they like it! Thanks for your comments.

[ Reply to This ]
Got my vote. &mdash 04/25/05 - 12:11:49 AM
This is straight up cool. Love the techno twist and light-
hearted approach to this classic piece. Almost sounds like
it could be a soundtrack for Tales From The Crypt. Love
the production quality and performance. The mix sounds
perfect to me as well. Superb Magritte. Please keep em
coming! 4 x 9

[ Reply to This ]
Hooked on Classics &mdash 04/25/05 - 12:31:45 AM

Well, I am a purist, and....
Wait..that was over a decade ago ;)
Seriously, I really like this! Nice intro and build up as you
add layers of sound.
Well done! :)

[ Reply to This ]
A Purist? Moi? &mdash 04/25/05 - 10:16:05 AM
To repeat my caveat when you first graciously asked me to
sneak-critique this the other day... the 2nd movement of
Beethoven's 7th is one of my favorite pieces of all time,
and partly just because he shows off his compositional
prowess by proving he can make a beautiful melody by
repeating the SAME NOTE 16 TIMES! That said, I'm also a
W/W Carlos fan, and you have chosen eerily-similar
insturments... this sounds a lot like it could be off the
"Clockwork Orange" movie soundtrack (which Carlos
scored.) I notice you slowed it back down just a bit, thank
you... it was almost too frenetic even for me! I still don't
like the large empty pauses between phrases, it loses
some momentum. And the ending is good, but could use
a dash of something funny inserted between the final
chords. At first I suggested cowbells or a cat yowl... but
the more I think about it, I think having Beethovens
signature "Da da da dum" opening chords of his 5th
symphony would be funny to stick in right at the end
(between the final couple of arpeggio-chords) as a self-
referential raspberry. But all that verbiage aside, I think
this is a great and daring transcription. You did an
awesome job of playing all these parts on keyboard from
the scores, and then chose very appropriately smirky
synth sounds to accompany the technotrash thumpy beat.
I love the strong bass phased synth. Anyway, you got this
purist dragon to giggle and applaud. I know that you
didn't WRITE the music, but you did work hard at re-
arranging it. 7-8-8-8. When you aren't sick of looking at
it anymore, I look forward to your next tweaks on it.
ttfn,
Drakonis

[ Reply to This ]
love it &mdash 04/25/05 - 05:47:11 PM
Love that switch in the beginning where it get's really
emotional. This is one of the coolest classical pieces I'v
heard here. I't just full of great melody and a great
arrangement by you. Plus that great rhythm.
I am going in for another listen.
Nice going!!!

Your getting high scores from me!


[ Reply to This ]
You know..... &mdash 04/25/05 - 09:47:41 PM
Had Beethoven been alive in this day and age....I'll bet we
would have heard pieces like this from him.....um,
maybe....but I dig this track. Like synths and
percussion...way cool.....kind of evil dark yet Ludwig Von
Zipper sound.

Great ideas...thanks for stretchin us!

[ Reply to This ]
Very cool. &mdash 04/25/05 - 09:49:42 PM
Techno-Beethoven. Need to head back in time with Bill & Ted and a miracle ear so Mr. "Beeeth oven" can hear it for himself. He'd be proud indeed. I'm a Doofy%u2122.

[ Reply to This ]
Building energy! &mdash 04/26/05 - 05:02:25 AM
I'm not familiar with the Beethoven original, but I
like that you played it so well. A nice build as the
piece moves along, then an excellent ending, very
grandiose. I like it when an piece of music ends with as
much flare as the rest of the tune. Great!

[ Reply to This ]
Fantasia for the PL2 set &mdash 04/26/05 - 09:16:12 AM
Totally fun. The slow sexy feel, with a bit of a hippo
dance sense from Fantasia; wit and clubbing and respect
all rolled into one. Reminds me of those exercise tapes in
the 80s, only the pace for this one is that warm down
section when the feeling of weight returns to the limbs.
Very entertaining.

[ Reply to This ]
Fantasia for the PL2 set &mdash 04/27/05 - 02:03:04 AM
The hippo dance! I never would have made that connection. I love it. Thanks to you and everyone for your very kind comments!

[ Reply to This ]
Beet &mdash 04/26/05 - 01:56:23 PM
would like this....he might have played it faster but it's still
kool!!!!..........the layers of sound are definitely in his
spirit.....

[ Reply to This ]
I played it at school &mdash 04/27/05 - 07:19:33 PM
I played this song on the PA for the "Morning Music" at my
elementary school, and got many positive comments.

Now, for the next three days of my music rotation, I'm
playing this music for my elementary music kids (along
with the "real" version) for comparison and contrast. ALL
the kids like it! Plus I had one African-American teacher
say, "Hey, that's Beethoven with an R & B beat!" I have
told many people about you -- that you're an HI
interptreter in CA, and that you also play keyboards.
Everyone is impressed!


[ Reply to This ]
I played it at school &mdash 04/29/05 - 06:28:13 PM
Hey, my first on-air appearance! I am flattered by your use of the piece and really happy to hear the kids like it.

[ Reply to This ]
a purist is entertained... &mdash 04/27/05 - 07:22:59 PM
In complete honesty, I really didn't like the beginning. I
play a lot of classical music, and as much as I really like
techno, the expression that exists in Beethoven's music is
impossible to translate electronically. However, as you
added more sounds, I was actually enjoying it, so great
job with that. I really like the bit right before the ending.
The layers were very nice. As long as you're changing
Beethoven, you may as well change the intro so that it
grabs the listener's attention at the beginning. That's just
my suggestion.

[ Reply to This ]
a purist is entertained... &mdash 04/29/05 - 06:42:22 PM
Cool, I hooked a puristfish!



the expression that exists in Beethoven's music is
impossible to translate electronically.




Exactly why I made this after originally giving it a try with orchestral instruments. I don't know if it's impossible to translate at all but it certainly is impossible for ME. I originally had the beginning scored very similar to the original -- all instruments very low and quiet, and then drakonis suggested I open it up a bit, at which point I realized there was no more reason to hang on to the original orchestration (except for the original instruments in the first chord for nostalgia). I agree that I need to take that idea further and work on the beginning some more.



Thank you for your comment and suggestion!

[ Reply to This ]
How intriguing! &mdash 04/29/05 - 04:25:57 AM
Techno is not usually my cup of tea, have to admit. But
add the genius of Big B, and I found myself thoroughly
entertained. What a great 'hands across time' production!
You are to be applauded, Magritte!

[ Reply to This ]
Nicely Done &mdash 04/30/05 - 07:06:31 PM
Looking forward to the extended version.

[ Reply to This ]
if only ludwig had electronic bass &mdash 05/05/05 - 11:47:50 PM
really great sound, you did an excellent job with this. sounds even better 'cranked'. thumbs uuuup! DL'd

[ Reply to This ]
funky &mdash 05/20/05 - 09:46:48 AM
i'm torn on this one. the 7th is one of my favorite
beethoven symphonies... but the production quality on
this is quite good. i'd have preferred to hear a real wailing
electric guitar on lead. but what you did with it works well.
i've been toying with the idea of doing something like this
(not techno) to a theme from "To a Wild Rose," from
Woodland Sketches, by MacDowell. I'd like to hear this
flushed out a little more. I love your caveat in the
description---turning something into technotrash! i'm a
fan of technotrash! 7-8-8-8

[ Reply to This ]
funky &mdash 05/25/05 - 12:14:08 PM
Great idea on the electric guitar. That would have been a really nice addition to the last part of the piece. Too bad I neither have one or know how to play. Maybe in the next iteration I can try to fake that sound out of GB. Thanks to you and everyone for your comments!

[ Reply to This ]
Hey! I've already been here! &mdash 05/25/05 - 02:06:47 PM
And I'm already a fan of this puppy. I guess I know good music when I hear it.
BTW, I liked Cantors idea about the electric guitar. I went to download this and I think the file was corrupt. But I am at work, so perhaps it will work at home.

[ Reply to This ]
Absolutely lovely! &mdash 06/05/05 - 02:24:53 AM
This piece is absolutely lovely! Youve done it so well that I
bet Beethoven himself would have put himself fan of this
version.

[ Reply to This ]
its nice &mdash 10/13/05 - 04:39:30 PM
very smart why of recicaling the old stuff and turn it to this
good jop

[ Reply to This ]
Have you ever &mdash 11/07/05 - 08:11:03 AM
Listened to Switched on Bach. Maybe a Switched on Beethoven is in order.

Nice job
Thanks for sharing
Regards
John

[ Reply to This ]
technotrash &mdash 02/21/06 - 08:22:52 PM
too funny. great stuff--your fan, kelli

[ Reply to This ]
Beaten Hooves Would Have Liked It! &mdash 03/19/06 - 08:48:34 PM
My wife says LvB's second movement from #7 should be mandatory
listening for everyone and this opens the door for many people.

I did this piece, the first part, on a synth using the traditional
instruments. Yours is much better and a great take on a great piece.

Thanks for sharing.

[ Reply to This ]
Quite original &mdash 08/02/06 - 08:47:13 PM
Very impressive...Loving your arrangement and mixing skills. Excellent use of dynamics as well.... you have a new fan, youg Lady.

[ Reply to This ]
Energy &mdash 06/11/07 - 10:38:12 AM
Like your other classical rendition, this piece is chock-full of energy. I think Beethoven would be pleased.

[ Reply to This ]
in agreement with many others &mdash 05/04/08 - 03:47:42 AM
this is also one of my favorite movements of beethoven's symphonies.

this is just fantastic!

[ Reply to This ]
Nice! &mdash 05/17/08 - 04:55:49 PM
Lovely work here... I really like it!

Take Care
- Yeman A. Al-Rawi

[ Reply to This ]
Copyright 2008 Simig Media, Inc.