I knw lots of pop/rocksongs with lyrics that might be classed as ‘inspirational’ or ‘uplifting’ (even if they’re a bit tacky). Can anyone find me some examples from the classical repertoire. If not in English, I’ll need the source and an English translation. Ideally, I’d love to get some examples 2-6 lines in length.
The Ode to Joy from Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony.
Lyrics are by Frederich von Schiller. You can find them here (translater), but they have to be sung to get their full effect.
A lot of religous music has unashamedly-uplifting text. An example which isn’t specifically a religious composition is Mahler’s 8th symphony, which uses the hymn Veni Creator Spiritus for one movement. And it’s a piece which is so optimistic, so enthusiastic, that some people have great difficulty accepting it as honest (Simon Rattle was one conductor who avoided it for a very long time).
There’s “Fanfare for the Common Man” from Aaron Copland’s Symphony No. 3. It’s derived from a Quaker hymn.
“kill the wabbit!” wagner as interpeted by elmer fudd
That’s only uplifting if you’re not the wabbit (or if it’s duck season).
No it’s not - you’re thinking of the Quaker melody used in Appalachian Spring.
I’m struggling to think of any non-religious genuinely good music at all. Hmmm…
Actually it’s a *Shaker * melody but I was incorrect. I don’t know how I could’ve gotten the two mixed up.
Heh heh, one silly mistake corrected with another. :smack:
How about the Hallelujah chorus from Handel’s Messiah?
To continue the hijack, the Shaker hymn is called Simple Gifts and the best version I’ve ever heard is sung by Alison Krauss accompanied by Yo-Yo Ma on the cello. Exquisite.