Matt Monro Forum

Not sure if this has been the subject of a thread before but I thought we could submit our suggestions for any form of popular music derived from more "serious" classical music.

I'll start the ball rolling with:

"Till The End of Time" (song); Chopin's Polonaise Opus 53.
"All By Myself" (song); Rachmaninov's Second Piano Concerto.
"Fanfare For the Common Man" (pop instrumental by Emmerson Lake and Palmer): from Aaron Copland's work of the same name.

"Stranger in Paradise" from Borodin "Polotsvian Dance"

I'm not sure if this will count, but the music for the inspirational 'I Vow to Thee My Country' was adapted from Jupiter from his Planets Suite, by Gustav Holst.
Marian

Also adapted from Jupiter by Gustav Holst, 'World in Union' the theme song for the 1991 Rugby World cup.
Marian

The music for the Hovis advert is very popular, although not actually a song, taken from Largo, Dvorak's Symphony No 9 'From the New World.'
Marian

There are many, but these come to my mind right away:

I'm Always Chasing Rainbows based on Chopin's Fantasie Impromptu

Martha based on the aria from the opera Martha by von Flotow

Joy by Apollo 100 based on the theme from Beethoven's Ninth Symphony

Could It Be Magic based on a Chopin Prelude

and one of my top 20 songs of all time:

My Reverie (recorded with Larry Clinton Orchestra with Bea Wain on vocals) based on Debussy's Reverie

Also, I always thought that A Groovy Kind of Love and A Lovers Concerto were loosely borrowed from a movement in a Clementi Sonatina.

This is an interesting thread. Neil Sedaka made a brave
attempt to lyricise (new verb?) most of classical music's
memorable melodies. I think the consequent long player
was entitled Neil Sedaka Sings The Classics. Alas, like many
of his predecessors, Neil's lyrics inevitably failed to match
the quality of the original music. I fear that the prosaic
nature of such lyrics tends to detract from the poetry
inherent in classical music. There are a some exceptions;
Chasing Rainbows adapted from Chopin's Fantasie-Impromptu
(mentioned by Paul jh) is a notable one. Sorry to be an old
curmudgeon.
Keith

Funnily enough Keith, I was going to mention that one next---it is actually called "Classically Sedaka" and has a dvd version as well. Neil grew his hair long, especially for this venture as he thought it suited the type of music more. I am a big fan of Neil Sedaka, and I really liked his treatment of the classics--my favourites were "Turning back the hands of time" based on Puccini "Nessum Dorma" and "The keeper of my Heart" --Rachmaninov -Rhapsody and variations.

He also includes Tchaikovsky, Chopin, Beethoven, Verdi, Liszt, Debussy, Schumann.

I remember Andy Williams doing something similar,many years ago, but cannot remember the title of it--although Andy did not write the lyrics.

Hi Marian(a)
Thanks for reminding me of the tracks on Neil's CD. I have
it somewhere. I think the concept under discussion works better
in reverse, by which I mean music added to words already
written. The Irish are very good at it; many of the poet Thomas
Moore's verses have been put to music with memorable effect.
The following is a candidate for the accolade of most meaningful
expression of love ever written:

BELIEVE ME, IF ALL THOSE ENDEARING YOUNG CHARMS

Believe me if all those endearing young charms,
Which I gaze at so fondly today,
Were to change by tomorrow, and fleet in my arms,
Like fairy gifts fading away,
Thou woulds't still be adored, as this moment thou art,
Let thy loveliness fade as it will,
And around the dear ruin each wish of my heart
Would entwine itself verdantly still.

It is not while beauty and youth are thine own,
And thy cheeks unprofaned by a tear,
That the fervour and faith of a soul can be known,
To which time will make thee more dear;
No, the heart that has truly loved never forgets,
But as truly loves on to the close,
As the sunflower turns on her god, when he sets,
The same look which she turned when he rose.

THOMAS MOORE (1779-1852)

I'm sure the all-knowing L&H are familiar with the
tuneful melody associated with these timeless lines.

Keith

Indeed we are familiar with this beautiful song and lyrics Keith, with Irish Tenor John Mc Cormack's recording the first to come to mind.

We also agree with your comments, and with perhaps just One or Two exceptions, there are so many wonderful classical pieces that we would have preferred remaining in their glory and without lyrics.

Here are a Three more... Baubles, Bangles and Beads, adapted from the String Quartet in D major ...Alexander Borodin.
Question and Answer ...adapted from Petite Suite de Concert Op 77 by Samuel Coleridge Taylor.
Kiss In Your Eyes...adapted from the Une Chambre separee by Richard Heuberger.

Thanks for those titbits, Lena & Harry.
I'm sure you can quote examples of lyrical pieces
to which music was subsequently added; I seem only
to know pieces from the Irish canon, one of which
I hope to post on the Musical Memories page.
Keith

I think Pachebel's Canon in D was used for 'The Farm's' All Together Now.
I think 'All Together Now' was released in 1992, so you may not remember it.

I seem to remember a band called Sky (I think John Williams was in it) from the 70's taking a classical song and charting with their version, not stricly what Jon asked, but I'll keep thinking!

There was the most wonderful show on Classic FM yesterday, it was Simon Bates' 5pm program dealing with movie music.
Well, yesterday's show was all about Beethoven and his music used in film, heaven for 60 minutes as far as am concerned!

FULL MOON AND EMPTY ARMS
MOON LOVE
NONE BUT THE LONELY HEART(Tchaikovsky)
IF YOU ARE BUT A DREAM
THE STORY OF A STARRY NIGHT
SERENADE
DON'T YOU KNOW
TAKE MY HEART
GONE
SOFTLY MY LOVE(Chopin)
WHAT CHILD IS THIS?/THE BELLS OF CHRISTMAS(Trad)
O SOLE MIO
DANNY BOY(trad)
Soundtrack theme from film 'NOW VOYAGEUR@

Thanks for this. Mark.
Very interesting.
Music in film plays a big part in my liking of the movie:)