In one form or another — regardless of culture, nationality or creed — New Year’s celebrations have several elements in common. Among the most popular are dancing, singing, drinking, a sense of spiritual renewal and, of course, fireworks!
To celebrate such time-honored traditions, Interlude has compiled a classical Top 5 to musically explore these most fundamental human activities. You might well ask how we decided on individual selections. Truth be told, our Top 5 will always be subjective, but it is the process of coming up with the selections that holds all the fun.
Give it a try and add your favorites to our list! That said, it’s time to put 2013 behind us, and with all the optimism we can possibly muster, look forward to 2014. Just make sure you have plenty of bubbly at hand!
Shostakovich: Waltz (The Sound of Great Rivers)
Ludwig van Beethoven: “Auld Lang Syne” from 12 Scottish Songs, WoO. 156, No. 11
Johann Stauss II: Champagne Polka, Op. 211
Gustav Mahler, “Urlicht” from Symphony No. 2
George Frideric Handel: Music for the Royal Fireworks
