Remember this melody?

I mean this one... CLICK

Ballet Spartacus, music by Aram Khachaturian, presented quite frequently on ABC Classic.
What's the point of the title question?

Well, 3 years ago, me and my wife, been to performance of Spartacus in Melbourne Arts Centre. This melody came and we exchanged shocked looks - but this is Gershwin???

At home I started Google search.
Luckily at some stage I remembered the name - Stormy Weather - bingo...



So not G. Gershwin, but Harold Arlen, the rest is as I remembered.

Written in year 1933.

1933?
Aram Khachaturian was then 30 years old and started his musical career.
He composed music to  Spartacus 22 years later, in 1955.

Hmmm....
I am not interested in copyright issues, just... how come nobody noticed this similarity?
Maybe I have no sense of melody???

Dive into Google again.
It was not easy, but I found something:
"..but the celebrated Adagio of Spartacus and Phrygia—the ballet’s single “hit”—bears an uncanny similarity to Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You...".

Can't take my eyes...???   - KLIK.
Ooops, so I am rather deaf :(((

Luckily there is a reader comment under  this article:
"Not only does Aram Khachaturian’s “Adagio of Spartacus And Phrygia” has a strong resemblance to the Frankie Valli song, “Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You” in terms of certain sections of the melody and chord structure, it also is quite similar in nature (or melodically) to the song, “Stormy Weather”. So many classical themes have become the foundation for many American or modern popular songs..."

Source  HERE.

Some consolation.
What amused me immensely was the highlighted part - classical themes used by modern composers.

And vice versa, and vice versa :)

Music is stronger that time.

Arthur and George

Arthur & George by Julian Barnes
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I read at least eight J. Barnes' books and in most of them, exceptions are some short stories, I got impression, that the author is not telling the story, but testing some ideas or writing styles.
Arthur and George takes enough space (580 pages) to test/present more than one genre.
Test 1 - George - young person completely dehumanized, reduced to just one dimension.
Test 2 - mysterious letters - long, much too long, relation of absolutely nonsensical letters and some malicious actions.
Test 3 - George 1 - young person of noble background and greater than life personality. Author speeds through numerous events not giving reader a chance to be closer to this great character.
Test 4 - Law 1 - some nonsensical cruel events happen. Innocent person is charged. Detailed description of police inquiry and proceedings in the court.
This part I appreciated most.
Test 5 - George 2 - person in prime of his life put in circumstances which should not happen to real gentlemen. Very interesting yarn, but author avoids deeper engagement.
Test 6 - Law 2 - revision of test 4. Again, very interesting and engaging story. Apparently author feels comfortable in this environment.
Test 7 - George, maturity. Like George 2 - author keeps all the time a safe distance, which does not allow the reader to warm up to this exceptional person.
Summary.
I have no idea what was the purpose of writing this book. I have to admit, that at least 3 times I was close to abandoning it. I ended feeling not satisfied.
What I would like to now, is to read Arthur Conan Doyle life story. Not dry biography, just a good story.

View all my reviews