# Ride of the Valkyries **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 14, 2004, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ride-of-the-valkyries/259866 "2004-08-14T20:44:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2004, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ride-of-the-valkyries/259866/41 "2004-08-16T18:30:49Z")
And of course, the song “Lovers’ Concerto” was in origin a classical piece. **Kixarvexius** called the other ‘Morning’ piece that I could not think of correctly – thanks! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![cichlidiot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f9b8f/32.png) [@cichlidiot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cichlidiot)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2004, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ride-of-the-valkyries/259866/42 "2004-08-16T21:14:29Z")
I’d always thought it was “Flight” rather than “Ride” Of The Valkyries. Did a search and had many more hits under “Ride.” Is there a reason so many people have it wrong (flight being incorrect), or is it just a common mistake like people saying “calvary” when they mean “cavalry?” ---
**Author:** ![blowero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/41988e/32.png) [@blowero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blowero)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2004, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ride-of-the-valkyries/259866/43 "2004-08-16T21:38:29Z")
> [@cichlidiot](#): > > I’d always thought it was “Flight” rather than “Ride” Of The Valkyries. Did a search and had many more hits under “Ride.” Is there a reason so many people have it wrong (flight being incorrect), or is it just a common mistake like people saying “calvary” when they mean “cavalry?” I’ve never heard it called “Flight of the Valkyries” before. Maybe some people are confused by the famous helicopter scene in _Apocalypse Now_. The stilted 9/8 rhythm actually sounds like horses galloping to me. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2004, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ride-of-the-valkyries/259866/44 "2004-08-16T22:41:29Z")
> [@Kizarvexius](#): > > The _Cancan_ from Offenbach’s _La Vie Parisienne_ is instantly recognizable to most people. While that piece is nice, the can-can that most people will recognize is actually from _Orpheus in the Underworld_. > [@](#): > > And don’t forget Lizst’s _Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2_, which figures prominently in _Who Framed Roger Rabbit?_. And it’s the piece played by piano soloist Bugs in “Rhapsody Rabbit”. ---
**Author:** ![cichlidiot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f9b8f/32.png) [@cichlidiot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cichlidiot)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2004, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ride-of-the-valkyries/259866/45 "2004-08-17T00:08:14Z")
> [@blowero](#): > > I’ve never heard it called “Flight of the Valkyries” before. Maybe some people are confused by the famous helicopter scene in _Apocalypse Now_. The stilted 9/8 rhythm actually sounds like horses galloping to me. Makes sense, since that is the scene I immediately think of when I hear that _piece_. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2004, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ride-of-the-valkyries/259866/46 "2004-08-17T01:43:30Z")
So many of you know this piece as 'Strangers in Paradise, but how many of you know it is actually the “Polyvetsian dance number 8” by Borodin? ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2004, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ride-of-the-valkyries/259866/47 "2004-08-17T01:49:06Z")
> [@blowero](#): > > I’ve never heard it called “Flight of the Valkyries” before. Maybe some people are confused by the famous helicopter scene in _Apocalypse Now_. The stilted 9/8 rhythm actually sounds like horses galloping to me. Aren’t the valkyries often depicted as riding _flying_ horses? That’s probably the reason. ---
**Author:** ![Kizarvexius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/da6949/32.png) [@Kizarvexius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kizarvexius)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2004, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ride-of-the-valkyries/259866/48 "2004-08-17T14:06:30Z")
> [@DrFidelius](#): > > So many of you know this piece as 'Strangers in Paradise, but how many of you know it is actually the “Polyvetsian dance number 8” by Borodin? Ulyetai na kryilyakh vyetra tyi vkrai rôdnoi, rôdnaya pyessnya nasha, tuda, gdye myi tyebya svôbodno pyeli, gdye byilo tak privol no nam stôboyu. 'Tis my very favorite piece of music. I’ve sung it in performance as a member of my local symphony chorus. ---
**Author:** ![Cinnamon\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@Cinnamon\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cinnamon_Girl)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2004, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ride-of-the-valkyries/259866/49 "2004-08-17T15:23:46Z")
> [@Lamia](#): > > Aren’t the valkyries often depicted as riding _flying_ horses? That’s probably the reason. The horses don’t fly. They gallop. I don’t recall if they were winged horses (I don’t believe they were). Nevertheless, the Valkyries were \*riding \* the horses. I second the idea that someone is thinking of the scene in Apocalype Now. It could also be a mix-up with Rimsky-Korsikov’s _Flight of the Bumblebee_. This very familiar piece was the theme to the radio show, The Green Hornet (?), back in the day. [There’s a website](http://www.agitators.com/movies/) that lists classical pieces used in movies that might also ring some bells for you. The site uses frames (arrrrgghhh!) so click ‘Home’ next to the alphabetical links to get to the home page if you don’t get both frames via this link. ---
**Author:** ![NE\_Texan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e99b99/32.png) [@NE\_Texan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NE_Texan)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2004, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ride-of-the-valkyries/259866/50 "2004-08-17T17:52:49Z")
> [@Sattua](#): > > Billy Joel’s song “This Night Can Last Forever” is actually a theme from Beethoven’s _Pathetique_ sonata for piano. Really? I always thought the chorus was taken from a piece by Brahms, but I’m blanking on which one now. Are you sure about the Beethoven? I did notice when I heard it that the theme was a bit of classical music I’d heard before, it’s just that I really thought Brahms. Back to the thread: Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Flight of the Bumblebee” is used a lot to show someone in a hurry, but not many recognize it by name. (I now notice that **Cinnamon Girl** mentions it in passing, but I’m not familiar with Apocalypse Now, so I can’t comment on that front.) Also “Sabre Dance” (who composed that?) ---
**Author:** ![Israfel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/87869e/32.png) [@Israfel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Israfel)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2004, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ride-of-the-valkyries/259866/51 "2004-08-17T18:04:24Z")
> [@Peter Morris](#): > > What about Beethoven’s 9th symphony? Or “Song without Words” by Mendelssohn? The Humming Chorus by Puccini? :dubious: As far as classical music is concerned, “song” is essentially a genre- so despite the solo sections in Beethoven’s 9th or the title of Mendelssohn’s piece, neither of them are songs. I know it may seem like a minor issue, but there you go. My own habit of referring to everything as “songs” was successfully beaten out of me in college. Some of my profs would take off points for calling instrumental or choral pieces “songs” - so I learned to adapt pretty quick 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Kizarvexius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/da6949/32.png) [@Kizarvexius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kizarvexius)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2004, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ride-of-the-valkyries/259866/52 "2004-08-17T19:05:26Z")
> [@NE Texan](#): > > Really? I always thought the chorus was taken from a piece by Brahms, but I’m blanking on which one now. Are you sure about the Beethoven? I did notice when I heard it that the theme was a bit of classical music I’d heard before, it’s just that I really thought Brahms. \*\*Sattua \*\* is correct. It’s from Beethoven’s _Pathetique Sonata_. I’ve got Billy Joel’s _An Innocent Man_ LP somewhere in a dusty attic, and I remember BJ giving Beethoven proper credit. > [@](#): > > Also “Sabre Dance” (who composed that?) Aram Khachaturian ---
**Author:** ![phouka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c5a1d2/32.png) [@phouka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phouka)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2004, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ride-of-the-valkyries/259866/53 "2004-08-18T02:28:53Z")
If you’ve ever watched _The Smurfs_, you would immediately recognize the music once I put on Mussorgsky’s _Pictures at an Exhibition_. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2004, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ride-of-the-valkyries/259866/54 "2004-08-18T03:45:59Z")
I’ve not seen the Smurfs, but I do know Mussorgsky. Which piece is it? I’m guessing _Promenade_ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ride-of-the-valkyries/259866.md?page=2)