Putting a different spin on classical music
If you’ve taken an exercise class or two over the years, you’ve probably heard quite a variety of music while pedaling away on a stationary bike, pounding on a punching bag, or performing other sweat-inducing moves. Some people don’t much care what’s on the sound system during class; they’re just in it for fitness. Others, myself included, find it impossible to tune out music they dislike and consider spending 45-60 minutes trying to burn off last night’s pasta indulgence while listening to (in their opinion) The Worst Band Ever or My Least Favorite Genre On The Planet a form of torture. With that in mind, and at my spin instructor’s request, I recently spent a couple of hours putting together a list of classical selections that might serve well as workout music.
This is a risky undertaking – those of us who are picky about our exercise tunes also tend to be rather *ahem* vocal when a given playlist makes them grit their teeth. People who bring in spectacularly unpopular music tend to hear about it for a while. That said, my instructor is a great teacher and a cool guy, and I know how time-consuming making playlists can be. Then there’s the optimistic side of me that hopes one person – maybe even two people! – out of the sixteen or so who attend my gym’s early-morning spin classes will ask me “what was that piece with the chorus in it?” and get at least a little bit interested in classical music. I may be crazy, or at best, naive, but so be it. At any rate, here’s my list of Classics to Spin By.
Sullivan: Overture to the Mikado
Bach: Violin Concerto #2, 1st mvt.
Verdi: Requiem (Dies Irae)
Torke: Run
Bizet: Carmen (Les Voici)
Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition (Great Gates of Kiev)
Orff: Carmina Burana (O Fortuna)
Verdi: Aida (Triumphal March)
Schoenfield: Vaudeville (Prelude)
Rimsky-Korsakov: Tale of Tsar Saltan Suite (Flight of the Bumblebee)
Bach: Cantata #208 (Sheep May Safely Graze)
Offenbach: Tales of Hoffman (Barcarolle)
Vaughan Williams: Fantasia on Greensleeves
Mozart Eine Kleine Nachtmusik (1st mvt.)
Smetana: Bartered Bride (Dance of the Comedians)
JohnAdams Short Ride…
Holst: The Planets (Mars, the Bringer of War)
Wagner: Die Walkure (Ride of the Valkyries)
Schubert: Gretchen am Spinnrade (trans. Liszt)
Schubert: String Quartet #14, Death and the Maiden (last mvt.)
Paganini: Perpetual Motion
Are you tired yet? I’m unsure how many of these pieces will meet with my instructor’s approval, but if all goes well, there’s over two classes’ worth of material on this list. Watch this space for a report on my classmates’ reactions!
Oh, and here’s a picture of my personal bike. Ride on!
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