Richard Wagner

From Zappa Wiki Jawaka
Revision as of 23:27, 14 May 2007 by Propellerkuh (talk | contribs)
Jump to navigation Jump to search

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

Wilhelm Richard Wagner (May 22, 1813 – February 13, 1883) was a German composer, conductor, music theorist, and essayist, primarily known for his operas (or "music dramas" as he later came to call them). Unlike most other great opera composers, Wagner always wrote the scenario and libretto for his works himself.

"The PMRC wants ratings to start as of the date of their enactment. What will be the status of those recordings remaining from the Golden Era prior to censorship: Do they become collector's items or will the government order them burned in a public ceremony somewhere in Virginia?

If as they suggest, hearing a certain type of music can cause unwanted behavior, than anyone who has heard a Beatles or a Beach Boys record is in danger. Those were Charles Manson's favorite groups.

Wagner's influence on Hitler is well documented. Shouldn't the PMRC consider a big red "M" for those classical works favored by megalomaniacs? What if statistics become available showing a marked preference for Wayne Newton and Barry Manilow among convicted white-collar felons?"

Frank Zappa in Frank Zappa and the Scarlet Letter

Den Simms: OK. Here's something in a completely different direction. Quite often your music contains quotes from [Giuseppe] Verdi's "Aida", [Richard] Wagner's "Lohengrin", and [Georges] Bizet's "Carmen". Are you an opera buff?

Frank Zappa: No.
Den Simms: What about those pieces of music appeals to you? You've been playing around with them for years.
Frank Zappa: They're all good tunes.
[...]
Den Simms: OK. I'll continue here. The day after that, the solo in "Willie The Pimp" was substituted with [Wagner's] "Flight Of The Valkyrie" going into "Purple Haze".
Frank Zappa: Right, which was a real utter disaster, because it wasn't exactly the day after that.

–From They're Doing the Interview of the Century, Part 1


See Also

Further reading:
Richard Wagner