Venetian Music

Tom... was hoping for your expertise... Vivaldi is not quite the right mood...however am listening to Seven Teares and that might be perfect.
But, will listen to more if anyone else has other ideas.

You could go with any minor key piece by Vivaldi. After all, he spent most of his career in Venice. Or if you're looking for something that just sounds mournful and Renaissance, try John Dowlands "Lachrimae or Seven Teares".

Terry Kathryn , Hello !! Are you looking for something historically correct ( i.e. From the Venetian Renaissance ) ? Some obvious examples , of course , would be Vivaldi as , Tom says , or Albinoni , perhaps Gabrieli ? If adherence to historical , or national ,or ethnic issues is unimportant , I could recommend music that would certainly fit the programmatic mood you are seeking ,What do you think ? ,Steve .

Hi Steven... should I be embarassed to say I don't care about the history??? Seriously, in most cases when I am doing a show with my images it is all about the mood. Obviously the music can add to that mood or ruin it. So, I am really particular about the music and want it to reflect that mysterious, foggy, damp mood that prevailed during a good part of our trip. Thanks... will listen to all suggestions. I particularly like obscure music that is not easily recognized, however, the thought of Masquerade from Phantom did cross my mind:)

Would the Mahler Symphony from the film score of Death in Venice cast the right mood, or would it be too obvious that you borrowed the idea from the film?

Well , Don't be embarrassed , . I was both hoping and expecting that you would find the mood more important . So here goes ; Suite for The Comedians by Dimitri Kabalevsky - might be good for Carnavale , Winter from the ballet " The Seasons " by Alexander Glazounov , Albinoni , Adagio in g minor - very austere and pensive ( and Venetian as well ) . Samuel Barber , " Adagio for Strings " -also brooding and pensive . Ottorino Respighi - " The Adoration of the Magi " - 2nd movement from " Botticelli Tryptich " ( Florentine , but so what , they were pretty good too . Also in a Carnaval vein - " Les Forains " ( Carnival Performers ) by Henri Sauget - a ballet . Gabriel Faure " Dolly Suite " - orchestral version . " Adagio from Spartacus " - from the ballet by Aram Katchaturian . I could go on forever , but start with these . They are all available on YOUTUBE . Give them a listen ,of course you can freely mix and match as the mood dictates . There are plenty more where these came from and what is here is stunningly beautiful music . If you want more ideas , yell ! After a lifetime spent as a performing musician in NY I've got a lot of favorites , Steve
P.S, @ Bets Great choice - The Adagietto from the fifth symphony is perfect , the sections from the third might be a bit over the top , but it's all great anyway !

I knew I could spend days listening (I did do some research) or I could ask the experts here! Thanks. I think I have my work cut out.

Thirteen years ago, on our first night in Venice, one of the dueling orchestras in San Marco played Andrea Boccelli's "Time to Say Goodbye." I don't know if it would fit with your show, but to me, it says Venice. An instrumental version might work for the finale?

I am probably going in a totally different direction than you intended, but I love jazz, and Chris Botti has an album entitled "Italia". One song is particular is called "Venice", but there are some other great songs that evoke thoughts of Italy. I am a fan of the entire album.
Enjoy!

Sorry people, but if you are looking for Venetian music there is only one safe musical group to go to: RONDO' VENEZIANO Google it or better YouTube it. You'll love their music.

If you're just looking for something to match the desired mood ("cold and haunting") and you don't care about the extra-musical connotations, or the fact that it was written by a modern Finnish composer, perhaps try Rautavaara's "Cantus Arcticus": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auW10aD0kYo The mood really hits at about 3 minutes into the piece.

So many great ideas... and some new music I had never heard of. I am still spending time listening and trying to narrow it down. I may come back with the finalists for a vote.