String Tease

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JPP has been spearheading the Finnish folk revival for over a decade, fusing traditional tunes and the unavoidable Finn penchant for tango to create a new and unique art form, one that has given them one of the most recognizable sounds in Scandinavia. Using bass, harmonium (pump organ), and a gang of ace fiddlers, they come to this new album full of new ideas, tight and innovative compositions, and a spirit that will refuse the listener any complacency. They roar into the opening track, "Hale Bopp," with a semiclassical verve, taking fiddler Mauno Järvelä and harmonium player Timo Alakotila's composition and making it into a stark skyscape. They play beautiful waltzes, lively polkas, and some jazzy originals, each with sparkling accuracy and cleverly arranged spirit. String Tease not only features the usual contingent of three to five fiddles, but also adds the JPP String Orchestra on a number of cuts for a rich full-chamber sound. This record also marks a departure for the band, as they collaborate with the Swedish folk-pop band Väsen on a few tracks, adding guitar, nyckelharpa, and percussion to their usual string sound in some great new tunes. This is the best record the band has made to date and a major accomplishment for the Finnish new folk scene. --Louis Gibson

Tracks:

Stuck In The Saddle Again (Light Cavalry March, Suppe)
Sing Verdi Very Loud (La donna e mobile, from Rigoletto, Verdi)
Its The Same Every Verse (In The Hall of The Mountain King, from Peer Gynt Suite, Grieg)
Musical Bs (Hungarian Dance #5, Brahms)
Dont Play That Violin (Violin Concerto #2, Paganini)
Schuberts Trout (Trout Quintet, Schubert)
Dvorak The Czechoslovak (Humoresque #7, Dvorak)
A Fan of Chopin (Prelude 7, Op. 28, Chopin)
Please Do Not Tease The Viennese (Blue Danube Waltz, Strauss)
Its Spring! (Spring, from The Four Seasons, Vivaldi)
Wow What a Wedding Cake (Wedding March, from A Midsummer Nights Dream,. Mendelssohn)
Instrumental Performances:
Light Cavalry March, Suppe
La donna e mobile, from Rigoletto, Verdi (with vocals)
In The Hall of The Mountain King, from Peer Gynt Suite, Grieg
Hungarian Dance #5, Brahms
Violin Concerto #2, Paganini
Trout Quintet, Schubert
Humoresque #7, Dvorak
Prelude 7, Op. 28, Chopin
Blue Danube Waltz, Strauss
Spring, from The Four Seasons, Vivaldi

Amazon.com

From a pure-pleasure standpoint, the first Beethoven's Wig was nothing to flip over, and the second disc in the series follows suit. However, that is not to say that this is not a valuable and possibly ingenious record. Those unfamiliar with the premise will quickly get the picture: Producer/writer/lead singer/chief clever guy Richard Perlmutter gathers a bundle of important classical works (Paganini's "Violin Concerto #2," Strauss' "Blue Danube Waltz") and makes up silly, catchy lyrics to lay over them, informing the listener about the piece or its composer. Standing out for their offbeat brilliance this time are "Dvorak the Czechoslovak" ("Humoresque #7," Dvorak) and "Wow What a Wedding Cake" (Wedding March from A Midsummer Night's Dream, Mendelssohn). Few stabs at mixing education with entertainment succeed so well. As a bonus, the second half of the CD repeats the symphonies straight up, presenting a neat opportunity to quiz kids 5-12 on what and who they've just heard. --Tammy La Gorce

Customer Reviews:

Almost as wonderful as the first.......2007-08-02

We bought Beethoven's Wig 1 and loved it. My kids (ages 5 and 9) really enjoy listening over and over. Number 2 is almost as good. All of the songs are amusing and a couple are very funny. The lyrics are clever and do help you become familiar with composers and their music. I like that the pieces are played again in the second half without the lyrics. I highly recommend it for kids who enjoy music.

Greatest baby gift ever.......2007-03-15

Both of my grandchildren (and their parents and grandparents) are hooked on this CD and all of the silliness and beauty it brings into our lives. We sing to it, dance to it, and find ourselves thinking about it at odd times. Who can't love singing Verdi VERY LOUD? I've now started giving this as a simple baby gift, especially to those with older siblings. They are already equipped with clothing and nursery gear, and Beethoven's Wig invites the whole family to gather round...even if it is just on short car rides.

Great for the whole family.......2007-01-04

My husband, 18 month old daughter and I all love this CD. It's a staple in the car. One caveat- these lyrics will get stuck in your head and I now find myself singing the "words" to these songs when I hear them in a store or commercial! I'm hoping this means my daughter will recognize these songs as she gets older.

More Great Fun.......2006-03-13

Like the first volume, this CD encourages young children to enjoy classical music. The silly lyrics sometimes impart factual information on the composer or the piece. There are 11 sing-along symphonies and then the 11 symphonies are replayed without the lyrics--total of 22 tracks. Booklet with lyrics and trivia is included. All our children (aged 2-12) enjoy this CD, as do we.

One is better but this is still awesome!! Gotta have it!.......2006-01-10

My children loved Beethovens Wig 1. I checked this one out at the library. Then, we decided we had to have this one too.
Yes, one is the best but 2 is still wonderful.
Save yourself the shipping and order both at the same time.
We all thoroughly enjoy it. My 4 yr old can name these classicals when he hears them elsewhere and he can hum these beautiful songs. Much better than kiddie rhymes and Disney jingles. Culture your children the funniest way!!

Average customer rating:

Bravo!
Altan in steroids
FANTASTIC!

String Tease
JPP
Manufacturer: Northside Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | International | Styles | Music

General | Celtic | International | Styles | Music

General | International | Indie Music | Stores | Music

Artology
Kaustinen Rhapsody
Devil's Polska: New Finnish Folk Fiddling
Virvla
History

ASIN: B00000DCW9
Release Date: 1998-10-13

Tracks:

Hale-Bopp
Koyrinkulma
Antin Mikko
Speedy Slam
Wedding Suite
Engel
Roros
McLean's Dream
Finnish Gypsies
Waltz After Jan-Olof Olsson
Wasulaisten Polonaise
Slangpolska After Byss-Calle
Lundgren
Pykala

Amazon.com

JPP has been spearheading the Finnish folk revival for over a decade, fusing traditional tunes and the unavoidable Finn penchant for tango to create a new and unique art form, one that has given them one of the most recognizable sounds in Scandinavia. Using bass, harmonium (pump organ), and a gang of ace fiddlers, they come to this new album full of new ideas, tight and innovative compositions, and a spirit that will refuse the listener any complacency. They roar into the opening track, "Hale Bopp," with a semiclassical verve, taking fiddler Mauno Järvelä and harmonium player Timo Alakotila's composition and making it into a stark skyscape. They play beautiful waltzes, lively polkas, and some jazzy originals, each with sparkling accuracy and cleverly arranged spirit. String Tease not only features the usual contingent of three to five fiddles, but also adds the JPP String Orchestra on a number of cuts for a rich full-chamber sound. This record also marks a departure for the band, as they collaborate with the Swedish folk-pop band Väsen on a few tracks, adding guitar, nyckelharpa, and percussion to their usual string sound in some great new tunes. This is the best record the band has made to date and a major accomplishment for the Finnish new folk scene. --Louis Gibson

Customer Reviews:

Bravo!.......2002-05-02

I am not sure if JPP is playing in a classical style bordering on folk ensemble or the reverse, but this is excellent music. JPP is Finnish, and their compositions merge Scandanavian, Karelia Russian and Traditional Celtic influences into a unique style all of their own. But this is no typical set of pseudo-celtic fiddle tunes. JPP makes use of the full range of string instruments available and builds complex and strong chord progressions of the kind one associates with climatic moments of classical symphony. Yet as this musical compilation rises and descends through a very dynamic range the individual pieces remain in their essence just fast-paced, folk-fiddle tunes. Amazing stuff. In my 270+ CD collection, JPP String Tease is easily in the top ten.

Altan in steroids.......2000-03-12

My experience with JPP started when I heard "McLean's Dream" over the "World Beat" channel at discjockey.com. My jaw dropped to the floor: I've heard fiddle groups, good ones, mainly from the Celtic countries, Galicia, etc., but not something like this. This is literally a "wall of fiddles" with a bit better sense of harmony and counterpoint (up to 14 fiddles whn they go onstage!). I then got the CD, and am now a fan. If you want a slightly better variety of music than the average Northern European traditional music group, listen to this. You'll be pleased. (BTW, if you want beautiful singing, you may try Clannad, Capercaille, Enya, and the rest -that you won't find here...)

FANTASTIC!.......1999-05-11

This recording is amazing... lilting tunes, tight sounds, not to be missed.

World Music: