At first glance, the word fossil reminds us of palaeontology and prehistory. But what does that have to do with a music post - classical music post? Did I get confused and post this video in the wrong community? It’s just as weird as if I were to tell you that this composition is, in fact, is a parody. No way! What would classical music, which was generally considered serious, and in some languages is even called so, serious music instead of classical music .... what would that seriousness have to see with humour?
Well, recently I published a video where I already mentioned that there was a composer, who was considered as a serious one, and who liked to be accepted by the society in that way, who composed a suite that was kind of a parody. Carnival of the Animals. Composer, Camille Saint Saens. Do you remember it from this post ?
That composition was Swan, from the same suite, and I played with my niece. On the same day, with the same niece, we recorded some other movements too, such as this one called Fossils. This piece required a little more practice. We devoted a few weeks to practice that. Of course, we were on holiday, so we played for our own pleasure, and not as an obligation. That's why it took us so long. In the end, when we recorded it, we were happy, sincerely happy. One mutual success! Great feeling, believe me!
Let's return to the topic of this composer. Camille did not want this entire suite to be published during his life. It was written only for the friends and to be performed in a chamber ensemble, in closed circles. He forbade public performance. We cannot understand today why this ingenious, and now so well-known composition could not have come to light while he was alive. But that was his decision, maybe weird for us, even though we all have some personal weird attitudes, right?
The funny part of this movement is reflected in the use of already existing melodies, which he weaved into the new musical text. In fact, as a parody to his serious, previously written composition Danse Macabre, the main melody is actually that dance of the skeletons. Other tunes also appeared. An interesting and funny person from music history, Mozart... His melody Ah! vous dirai-je, Maman , (better known as Twinkle Twinkle Little Star) is used here too. And it is not all. The French nursery rhymes Au clair de la lune, and J'ai du bon tabac, the popular anthem Partant pour la Syrie, as well as the aria Una voce poco fa from Rossini's The Barber of Seville are heard in this piece. What fun, while we were studying, we always sang those melodies separately, and laughter was inevitable. Can you see now why the title, fossils for this composition? Fossils - old tunes, are used in a funny way to make a new one. What an idea of Camille Saint Saens!
If you have taken the time to read this text, and have already listened to this composition along the way, Fossils, I would like to thank you. But, in return, I would ask you for one favour :) . Let me know, did this composition bring a smile to your face? Did you recognize the familiar tunes? If so, the comment section of this post would be the perfect place to express the feelings that this music gave you.
P.S. If you hear some sounds at the beginning of the video that is not part of our composition, they are the sounds of a piano from the next classroom of this school, where a little girl was practising the piano.
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