Should we hold Warner Brothers to account?
Today I was listening to the magnificent William Tell Overture by Rossini. But parts of it were inextricably linked in my mind to cartoons. From the opening bars which inevitably make me think of horses (or anything) running or being chased to the storm at sea.
This is true of many great classical pieces. Should I be happy that Warner Brothers contributed to my love of classical music or annoyed that for an entire generation of young people classical music is “ruined”?
What pieces do you remember from or associate with cartoons?
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Of course, the William Tell Overture was first borrowed by the Lone Ranger, but I get your point.
I have trouble listening to The Ride Of The Valkyries without humming “Kill the Wabbit!” or thinking of Apocalypse Now.
Sure, I like classical music in cartoons.
The first time I attended the opera, when I heard the overture I was excited because I know these songs!!
The only piece of music I have trouble dissociating from everything else is Strauss’ _ Also sprach Zarathustra_. It is a tone poem, however, and I associate it with Nietzsche rather than 2001: A Space Odyssey. So I guess Strauss could declare “mission accomplished” on that one.
Regardless, it seems to me that classical music is not ruined by associations so long as those associations enrich your experience. Familiarity breeds understanding, and understanding breeds appreciation as far as classical music is concerned. Like @jaytkay said: knowing the songs can make you excited.
So if I’m going to hold Warner Brothers accountable for anything, it will be for introducing so many young people to so much excellent music (even if it was only to avoid licensing fees).
I think it’s fun to recognize classical music out of its usual setting. It’s in cartoons, movies and advertisements. Listen to Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana. You hear it all over the place.
Possibly, but I blame another source. For a time I used to have this little tune playing in my head “during”........very distracting!
I totally blame thank WB for introducing me to opera. The Rabbit of Seville is one of my all-time favorite childhood memories and directly responsible for my buying season tickets to the opera every year.
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