October 2017 - Featured Playlist: Dances With Devils

Nobody knows what happens after we die, but there sure are a lot of theories and beliefs. This question has inspired countless religions, philosophies, works of art, and classics of literature--basically everything that helps us interact and cope with the things science cannot currently explain.

The oldest and most colorful stories include some sort of eerie underworld or purgatory where everyone goes, or some place of damnation where the wicked (however that is defined) go. These stories have successfully scared many people into compliance with their cultural expectations, but they have also sparked a flame of imagination in many a composer or writer, filmmaker or Halloween decorator.

This month we take a look at some examples of how the concept of the underworld and its inhabitants have haunted composers over the last couple centuries. And may your Halloween parties be possessed by spooky songs and Dances with Devils.

To hear the playlist, access NML as usual, go to the Playlists section, and select the Playlist of the Month folder under the Themed Playlists tab. If you are on your institution's premises, you may also be able to access it if you CLICK HERE.

1. Link Wray

Fire and Brimstone
Ralph Stanley; James Shelton
Sony Classical - 886443590311

2. Anaïs Mitchell

Hadestown: Why We Build the Wall

Sung by Hades and company

Warner - 190295893484

3. Miguel Del Águila

Conga-Line in Hell

Camerata de las Americas; Duane Cochran; Joel Sachs

Sono Luminus - DOR-93230

4. Joseph Hellmesberger Jr.
Danse Diabolique
Gottingen Symphony Orchestra; Christian Simonis
Marco Polo - 8.225021

5. Sergey Prokofiev

Waltz Suite: III. Mephisto Waltz
São Paulo Symphony; Marin Alsop
Naxos - 8.573518

6. László Dubrovay

Faust, the Damned Suite No. 1: IV. Tukor pas de deux

Budapest Symphony; László Kovács

Hungaroton - HCD31831-32

7. Bohuslav Martinů

Mariken of Nimègue: The devil's dance with Mariken

Prague Symphony and Radio Choir

Supraphon - 11-1802-2

8. Rued Langgaard
Antikrist, Prologue: Morkets Kristus: Antikrist! Stig op!
Danish National Choir and Orchestra; Thomas Dausgaard
Dacapo - 6.220523-24

9. Charles-François Gounod

Faust, Act III: Vous qui faites l'endormie
Nicolai Ghiaurov; Munich Radio Orchestra; Bavarian Radio Chorus
BR-Klassik - 900304

10. Félicien David

Herculanum, Act IV, Scene 2: Allez, dans la nuit profonde, Allez!

Flemish Radio Choir; Brussels Philharmonic

Ediciones Singulares - ES1020

11. Jacques Offenbach

Orpheus in the Underworld: Overture

Slovak State Philharmonic; Alfred Walter

Naxos - 8.553627

12. Edmond Dédé
Méphisto masqué
Hot Springs Music Festival pianist
Naxos - 8.559038

13. Camille Saint-Saëns

Danse Macabre
Malmö Symphony Orchestra; Marc Soustrot
Naxos - 8.573140

14. William Hurlstone

The Magic Mirror Suite: VII. The Witch's Death-Dance

London Philharmonic; Nicolas Braithwaite

Lyrita - SRCD208

15. Franz Liszt

Totentanz

Eldar Nebolsin; Royal Liverpool Philharmonic; Vasily Petrenko

Naxos - 8.570517

16. Hector Berlioz
Symphonie fantastique: V. Songe d'une Nuite du Sabbet
London Symphony; Valery Gergiev
LSO - LSO0757

17. Antonio Bazzini

La ronde des lutins
Rachel Barton Pine
Cedille - CDR90000-041

18. Stacy Garrop

String Quartet No. 2, "Demons and Angels": III. Inner Demons

Biava Quartet

Cedille - CDR90000-100

19. Tobias PM Schnied

5 Portraits: No. 4. Demon Dancer

Esther Hoppe

NEOS - NEOS11105

20. György Ligeti
Etudes, Book 2: No. 13. L'escalier du diable
Jeremy Denk
Nonesuch - 075597962185

21. Alexina Louie

Demon Gate: II. Windspirit
Esprit Orchestra; Alex Pauk
Centrediscs - CMCCD7902

22. Payton Macdonald

Devil Dance

Marc Grauwels; Sarah Mouradoglou

Naxos - 8.572521

23. Judith Bingham

Festival of Hell: Gothick

Tom Winpenny

Naxos - 8.572687

24. Oven in the Underworld
Tansy Davies
New London Children's Choir; Alexander Wells; Ronald Corp
Naxos - 8.572113





Each month, Naxos Music Library presents a themed playlist for our subscribers to enjoy. We know that a database of over 2 million tracks can be a bit daunting, so we'd like to highlight some of the amazing music that is available to you. Let it kickstart discovery!