Luxor

Camille Saint-Saens, the French composer (carnival of the animals) spent a lot of time in Egypt - in the later 19th century.  His 5th piano concerto is nicknamed "The Egyptian" as it was written while he vacationed in Luxor.  The program notes for the second movement (heard below starting about minute 3) are:

II. .Andante
The Andante, traditionally the slow and expressive movement in concerto form, begins literally with a bang; the timpani punctuates an orchestral chord followed by an intensely rhythmic string part and an ascending and descending exotic run on the piano. This exciting introduction segues into the thematic exposition based on a Nubian love song that Saint-Saƫns heard boatmen sing as he sailed on the Nile in a 'dahabiah' boat. Lush and exotic, this is the primary manifestation of the Egyptian sounds of the piece and probably the source of the nickname. Toward the end of the section, the piano and orchestra produce impressionistic sounds representing frogs and the chirping of Nile crickets.

Nothing quiet in Egypt today. No crickets and the only boats on the Nile are warships rushing about.



Comments

  1. Your knowledge of classical music always impresses me hd. Great post. Great music. Well done.

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  2. Also, the Luxor is one of my favorite casinos in Vegas. Just sayn'

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