The Spice of Life

There is a lot to life besides classical music. Even as a music nerd, I know this. There are movies, books, sports, parks, and just being around people in a million different ways. But classical music is persuasive, pervasive, and seeps its way into every other part of our lives, whether we notice it or not. The MVYSO concert on Friday is celebrating this, celebrating how classical music has become a part of every facet of our lives.There are more pieces being performed this Friday them I have room to talk about, so if you can, come and check out the concert!
As mentioned briefly in the Bugs Bunny blog, classical music is often used because it's free to use. That would explain why so many movies, commercials, and sporting events use classical music. The don't need to pay for it, and can use it without hassle. In this, I think that human greed has done us all a favor, because it has ensured that classical music is liberally sprinkled through our culture. I guess the flip-side is that the classic music that is used is often not taken as seriously BECAUSE it was used in a commercial or cartoon. But it my opinion, it's a price worth paying,  if it helps people to know great music.
I've grabbed a couple examples of music that will be performed at Friday's concert, and put them below.
Charo is a Latin singer and guitar player from the 1970's, well known for her outrageous costumes and antics. Here is Charo's take on Espana Cani, a Spanish song traditional played during bullfights, and also during baseball games. The theme to Espana Cani begins at the 1:20 mark.

Charo doesn't like Bullfights, and encourages us to dance with them instead. :)

Here is an example of the "Beef, it's what's for dinner," commercial which uses the Rodeo by Aaron Copeland, just one of many classical peices to be used in commercials.

Can you imagine a different piece of music beinging used for this commercial? Or even (shudder) a jingle?!?  

Life is better because of the additions of classical music. Commercials are more memerable, movies more dramatic, ball games more traditional, and videos funnier, all because of classical music.

So even though there is more to life than classical music, classical music also adds more to life! So shake it up, add a little classical spice, simmer, and enjoy!