Death and Classical Music

[Flamingpenguin]

I can't remember exactly what brought me to remember this, but I was pondering about how much I loved that one scene from Bioshock where Sander Cohen sends his gruesome splicers at you to the tune of Tchaikovsky's 'Waltz of the Flowers' (probably my all time favorite piece of classical music).

I have no idea why the thought amazes me so. What are your thoughts? What other examples can you think of? Do you get a kick out of it? Would you like to see it more in games/movies?

 

[Anarchemitis]

The juxtaposition of violence and death into classical music I think is an interesting one because it's relativly uncommon. Arvo Part is an Estonian composer who could demonstrate pretty well: this piece he wrote [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e348n660zrA] in memorial of the famous conductor Benjamin Britten, and this I don't even know what he was going for [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHt7MJ2miLo], but it sure as hell sounds like hell.

It's certainly something I want more of because it's cool.

 

[Flamingpenguin]

Well I was talking more about grizly visuals to soothing audio, but this certainly is some interesting music. Like... I think I heard someone say there's a scene from V for Vendetta where he blows up a building to... something classical. I dunno what though. That's more what I'm going for.

 

[Blue_vision]

Ah, where he blows up the Old Bailey to the War of 1812? I do well remember both of those scenes.

I think that combining serious classical music (symphonies,) with that kind of mayhem/destruction creates an interesting and almost ironic juxtaposition. It heavily contrasts with orchestrated sountracks to these same types of scenes, which are almost always that soft, tranquil harmony as everything's going to bits. I think the only time that real symphony is really used is to either lighten up the mood (as it does in V,) or to make it morbid in it's attempted sophistication (Bioshock.)
If you're talking about those scenes in epic movies where the main character looks around as he sees all his companions dying around him as soft strings or vocals play, I'd consider that entirely different. In that case, it's a very good and very frequently used device especially in epic movies. (Just watch Avatar, Gladiator, or Saving Private Ryan.)

Just my 2 cents tho.

 

[JUMBO PALACE]

Ah, where he blows up the Old Bailey to the War of 1812? I do well remember both of those scenes.

I think that combining serious classical music (symphonies,) with that kind of mayhem/destruction creates an interesting and almost ironic juxtaposition. It heavily contrasts with orchestrated sountracks to these same types of scenes, which are almost always that soft, tranquil harmony as everything's going to bits. I think the only time it's really used is to either lighten up the mood (as it does in V,) or to make it morbid in it's attempted sophistication (Bioshock.)
Just my 2 cents tho.

Excellent scene in an excellent movie. And speaking of the juxtaposition of classical music and violence, I highly recommend A ClockWork Orange to absolutely everyone. I'm sure a lot of you have already read it or at least seen the movie.

 

[Banana Phone Man]

Elfin Lied has that piece called "Lilium". It's not classical (I don't think) but could easily be mistaken for it. It's a lovely song and really grows on you but contrast that to the death scenes while it's playing and, you get classy, psycotic action.

 

[Ossian]

1. Most of the time I think they are trying to portray something of sophistication to the killing. Making it art form and a well oiled machine.

2. Some classical music provokes a sadness too it which is fitting for the death of important characters.

My two cents.

 

[Irridium]

Ah, where he blows up the Old Bailey to the War of 1812? I do well remember both of those scenes.

I think that combining serious classical music (symphonies,) with that kind of mayhem/destruction creates an interesting and almost ironic juxtaposition. It heavily contrasts with orchestrated sountracks to these same types of scenes, which are almost always that soft, tranquil harmony as everything's going to bits. I think the only time it's really used is to either lighten up the mood (as it does in V,) or to make it morbid in it's attempted sophistication (Bioshock.)
Just my 2 cents tho.

Excellent scene in an excellent movie. And speaking of the juxtaposition of classical music and violence, I highly recommend A ClockWork Orange to absolutely everyone. I'm sure a lot of you have already read it or at least seen the movie.

Now that was a damn good book. Had to read each chapter a few times to understand half of what the characters say though. But still great.

As for the topic, Blue_vision completely took what I was going to say. Only he put more big words into it

 

[SnootyEnglishman]

I often had dreams where I'm the evil dictator torturing a traitor and having Mozart's Requiem playing.

 

[thethingthatlurks]

One example that is permanently stuck in my memory is from NGE, where the final angel (I think it was the last one anyway) attacks in the form of a human, and Beethoven's 9th symphony is playing in the background. It's always strange to see something so sophisticated portrayed in a medium so base...

 

[JUMBO PALACE]

Ah, where he blows up the Old Bailey to the War of 1812? I do well remember both of those scenes.

I think that combining serious classical music (symphonies,) with that kind of mayhem/destruction creates an interesting and almost ironic juxtaposition. It heavily contrasts with orchestrated sountracks to these same types of scenes, which are almost always that soft, tranquil harmony as everything's going to bits. I think the only time it's really used is to either lighten up the mood (as it does in V,) or to make it morbid in it's attempted sophistication (Bioshock.)
Just my 2 cents tho.

Excellent scene in an excellent movie. And speaking of the juxtaposition of classical music and violence, I highly recommend A ClockWork Orange to absolutely everyone. I'm sure a lot of you have already read it or at least seen the movie.

Now that was a damn good book. Had to read each chapter a few times to understand half of what the characters say though. But still great.

As for the topic, Blue_vision completely took what I was going to say. Only he put more big words into it

Ahh yes the NADSAT was great! I actually caught on really quick and it made the book so much more enjoyable for me. I should have "lost it" and not given it back to my teacher.

 

[Klarinette]

Oh man, what movie was it where someone got chased or brought to some forest in Russia, and someone got shot to the tune of... oh god, I forget the song, too!!! D:
Shit. If I remember, I'll come back and edit ¬_¬ Dammit!

Or the scene of Old Bailey getting blown up to the tune of 1812 Overture in V for Vendetta. Chyeah.

 

[Troublesome Lagomorph]

Well here is my example....V for Vendetta...there is no way ANYONE can cause destruction with classical music in the background...and make it so F***ING AWSOME!

This.
I found that scene to be so epic.

 

[Doctor VonSexMachine]

I'm going to link this all back to the anvils falling to classical music in Loony Toons.

 

[Flamingpenguin]

Interesting stuff.

Ah, where he blows up the Old Bailey to the War of 1812? I do well remember both of those scenes.

I think that combining serious classical music (symphonies,) with that kind of mayhem/destruction creates an interesting and almost ironic juxtaposition. It heavily contrasts with orchestrated sountracks to these same types of scenes, which are almost always that soft, tranquil harmony as everything's going to bits. I think the only time it's really used is to either lighten up the mood (as it does in V,) or to make it morbid in it's attempted sophistication (Bioshock.)
Just my 2 cents tho.

Excellent scene in an excellent movie. And speaking of the juxtaposition of classical music and violence, I highly recommend A ClockWork Orange to absolutely everyone. I'm sure a lot of you have already read it or at least seen the movie.

Ah, yes. The 1812 overture, was it? I haven't actually seen V for Vendetta, so I'll have to check it out. And A clockwork Orange was another example I was trying to remember.