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Thanks for all the positive feedback to my first vlog post. You’ll definitely be seeing more vids in the near future. Meanwhile, to answer those who’ve requested CD/mp3 recommendations: a good place to start is the complete recordings of all Bach’s solo violin sonatas and partitas. I have several different recordings made by a number of violinists, but my very favorite is Gidon Kremer’s most recent (he’s recorded them more than once.) You can sample all the tracks on Amazon here.
Kremer’s take is extremely dry/staccato, and largely influenced by a lot of the 20th century music he’s premiered like Arvo Part and Alfred Schnittke (who we’ll be looking at more closely in the coming weeks). If you prefer something more traditional, you might check out Itzhak Perlman’s fine recording here, which I also happen to love.
Now then, let’s get down to much more serious business: a discussion of some of the classical music featured in Bugs Bunny cartoons! While many of the Looney Tunes cartoons from the 30s, 40s and 50s feature parodies of the classics, two stand out in my mind as the best, largely because they are sung-through from beginning to end, just like the operas they’re sending up.
First we have Bugs Bunny in “The Rabbit of Seville.” Here, legendary director Chuck Jones is playing on Rossini’s famous opera, The Barber of Seville. The most memorable parts of the 7-minute romp through barbershop sets and backstage scenes are all set to Rossini’s overture to the opera. Let’s take a listen:
Worthy of discussion only because of its trivia value, this is one of only a very small handful of Bugs Bunny cartoons where he is briefly seen with five fingers on his hand instead of the usual cartoon-character four. Here, maybe it’s because he’s playing piano on Elmer Fudd’s baldy? (Any BB fans in the house know the other few cartoons?)
If it gets any better than that, it’s only by looking at another Chuck Jones masterpiece, one considered by many cartoon freaks like me as the ultimate Bugs Bunny episode: “What’s Opera Doc?” Let’s take a listen:
Oh, and if you want the complete skinny on all the Wagner music used in this brilliant 7-minute masterpiece, check out this site here. Someone has actually taken the time to post it scene by scene.
Comments (16)
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david;
excelent piece. it’s great to see someone giving great kudos to the brilliance of these cartoons. I, like millions of other children(oh so long ago) were first turned on to great classical and jazz music via bugs bunny and tom & jerry. (now there’s another blog subject for you)keep up the interesting (great) work!!
posted by ziggy on 10-17-2007 at 6:33 am
thanks, ziggy. i know exactly what you mean. to this day, i still associate Franz Liszt’s “Second Hungarian Rhapsody” with mice!
oh, and “i wish my brother george were here…”
posted by David on 10-17-2007 at 6:38 am
Best show ever.
A show you must see is Bugs Bunny on Broadway – listening to a live symphony orchestra while watching cartoons, best evening ever spent. I’ve seen it twice now and enjoyed every minute of it.
posted by Beth on 10-17-2007 at 6:55 am
Not entirely related, but in every movie in which there is a scene in a fancy restaurant, the background music is almost always Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto #3 (first movement).
posted by Katie B. on 10-17-2007 at 7:10 am
“Kill da Wabbit”
We were just talking about these cartoons last night ! My 11 year old son has seen them a few times, but not as often as I did as a kid.
In 30-50 years, will people be remembering Sponge Bob has fondly as we remember the Looney Tunes ?
FRED
posted by Fred on 10-17-2007 at 7:21 am
Yay! I still LOVE the BB cartoons (with the Barber of Seville being my fave). I’m glad to see someone giving these cartoons their due. It makes me sad that Looney Tunes and Tom & Jerry aren’t part of the Saturday morning cartoon line-up anymore. :-(
Oh, and just a piece of trivia that my boyfriend has pointed out several times–many of the WWII Looney Tunes cartoons are censored now.
posted by Meagan on 10-17-2007 at 7:41 am
I don’t know if you’re familiar with her, but I’ve been VERY impressed with Janine Jansen’s recordings.
posted by punkinsmom on 10-17-2007 at 9:36 am
I can go even one better! I have the Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd “What’s Opera Doc?” action figures! I found them at a discount store called Marc’s in North Ridgeville, OH. They are currently sitting at my desk at work right now.
posted by Myra on 10-17-2007 at 9:46 am
I agree with Beth. Bugs on Broadway is SO fun! I went with six people from age 6 to 55. We all thouroughly enjoyed the combination of live orchestra and Chuck Jones’ brilliance!
Oh, Gunhilda, you’re so lovely!
Yes, I know it. I can’t help it.
posted by elizabutt on 10-17-2007 at 9:57 am
Great post. First time I went to a classical performance (I was about ten, I guess my uncle thught it would be a good idea to expose me to ‘culture’), all I could think was ‘Looney Tunes.’ I’ve got a much better appreciation now. But I still love Looney Tunes.
posted by Kitty on 10-17-2007 at 9:58 am
Thank you so much! Those are my favorite all time B. Bunny episodes.
But let us not forget that other lost classic……”Oh we’re the boys of the chorus, we hope you like our show, we know you’re routin for us, but now we have to gooooooooooooo”
posted by jen on 10-17-2007 at 12:36 pm
Ah, a classic! When my orchestra played the Barber of Seville a few years ago, our conductor had us watch it for kicks. It’s about third in line from What’s Opera, Doc? and the Robin Hood one (I forget the name)
posted by heather on 10-17-2007 at 1:25 pm
There was also a BB cartoon where Bugs is playing the banjo and totally pisses off an neighbouring opera singer who is practicing another Barber of Seville number, called “La ran la le ra, la ran la la. Largo al Factotum.”
posted by basil on 10-17-2007 at 2:21 pm
My favorite is Orpheus and the Underworld. Since seeing that cartoon everytime I hear that piece I hear Elmer singing “Kill the Wabbit, Kill the Wabbit.” It’s priceless.
posted by Stephanie on 10-17-2007 at 2:55 pm
I love these!!!
It has all the old cartoons, and it’s the real stuff. It’s not remixed or anything, which is cool.
I agree with Stephanie, this stuff is priceless! :P
posted by blondy on 10-23-2007 at 7:05 pm
Cool stuff!! What about the BB toon where he as “Leopold!, Leopold!!” hilariously vexes the featured tenor (caricature of who??) including the floating-glove trick??
posted by Brandon Mason on 11-8-2007 at 8:55 am