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On the first day of Spring, I'm throwing a cocktail party, aptly named, 'Rite of Spring' but I'm looking for suggestions for other Spring related classical music to play as well.

The obvious ones are 'Rite of Spring', Vivaldi's Spring from the Four Seasons, and Rustle of Spring by Sinding.

Does anyone have any other suggestions?

Jonathan

Beethoven's Spring Sonata
Schumann's Spring Symphony. Britten wrote one, too.

There is a musical version of Gerald McBoing-Boing but I cannot remember who wrote it. That is the other sort of spring, though.

At a party last October (Spring downunder) I got everyone to sing Sumer is icumen in. Just the first part, which works fine on its own as a four-voice round.

For solo piano there's the Mendelssohn Spring Song, and Grieg's The Last Spring.

Best wishes,
Matthew

Good ideas. I don't care much for the Schumann (IMHO), but the Britten is wonderful. Since this topic was double posted, I'll paste here what I said in the "other" post:

Hire a soprano (preferably on the "dramatic" end) and do Rachmaninov's splendid song "Spring waters". (Op. 14 #11) Warning: the piano part takes no prisoners. Or better yet, get a copy of Earl Wild's transcription for solo piano. Warning: Mr. Wild wasn't terribly concerned with the pianistic abilities of us mortals!

Raff (of La fileuse fame) wrote a deliciously silly work for piano and orchestra called Ode to Spring. After a fair amount of cocktails, it might incite some dancing. Ultimately, Mahler's 3rd is the great Spring symphony. The last mov't may inspire more than just dancing.

There is Appalachian Spring by Copland, Kentucky Spring by Roy Harris, and Concertino de printemps by Milhaud.

Also, Springtime for Hitler.

How about Tchaikovsky, The Seasons, Opus 37a
March (The Song of the Lark)

Oops. Depending on the party, that could be a bit of a reach.

(Not advisable to take that out of context. )

One or both of Grieg's "Spring Dances" from the Lyric Pieces. Either the Op. 47, No. 6 or Op. 38 No. 5.

Edit: I just noticed there were duplicate posts on this topic and I've made responses in both. Oh well, at least I'm consistent!

Thanks everyone for the great ideas!

And I'm sorry about the duplicate post; it said there was an error and to hit reload, so I did Then it wouldn't let me delete the copy so I was stuck with both of them. Maybe an admin can merge them for me?

Jonathan

Theodor Kirchner's Spring-Greeting, Op.73 No.2 is absolutely wonderful.

You can listen to a clip of it here:


Kirchner Spring-Greeting


By the way, that Burgmueller, Volkmann, and Kirchner CD is gorgeous, as is Ruiz' playing.

I highly recommend it.

Mel

The "Spring" section of Haydn's great masterpiece, "Die Jahreszeiten" is incredibly delightful.

Mel

Siegmund's Love Song:

http://www.sheetmusicarchive.net/dlpage_new.cfm?composition_id=723

Can't merge them but I'll close the other one and direct people here.

'Lusty Month Of May' from Camelot? I know, not classical but a classic!

Liszt's transcription of Schumann's Fruehlingsnacht is pretty wonderful.

Clara Schumann's two transcriptions of it are very nice, as is Theodor Kirchner's.

These three versions are easier than Liszt's, but are highly effective and moving transcriptions of one of Schumann's most glorious songs.

And of course by "song" I mean song as in Lied, not song as in "piece".

Mel

Tchaikovsky's Lark is IMO far too sad, better choose Snowdrop (April), or White nights (May) or The Lark's song from Children's aöbum.

Selim Palmgren: May Night

Grieg: To the Spring

Theodor Lack: Le chant du ruisseau

Sibelius: The Mountain Ash, The Birch, The Aspen

P.S. I do not think Grieg's Spring Dances were devoted to the spring. Spring should be translated "leap", to avoid misunderstandings