The Electro-Classic Orchestra shared the video for Beethoven Five!, their take on Walter Murphy’s 1976 classic, A Fifth Of Beethoven.
Some might think that Murphy’s A Fifth Of Beethoven epitomizes everything cheesy about the ’70s – including disco, pop covers of classical music and late-stage Moogsploitation.
The members of the Electro-Classic Orchestra only know better, though, and their version of A Fifth Of Beethoven might just make you see the disco hit in a new light:
The Electro-Classic Orchestra version has it all – ‘Moogsploitation’ style synth sounds, propulsive drums, a great arrangement, and even awesome staches.
If you like what you hear, make sure you check out their album Bach ReWired, a new collection of ‘switched on’ synth arrangements.
I always thought the track was titled “THE Fifth of Beethoven”…either way, it’s a great track. I can remember hearing it when it came out waaaay back in the 70s and it really grabbed my attention. If you like this sort of disco/rock classical, there are also other tracks like “Joy” by Apollo which is based on Bach’s ’Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring’ and a disco rock version of Mozart’s Symphony No. 40 (not sure who did that). Cheesy but great !!
What’s cheesy about it? What does that even mean?
cheesy means ‘rises the the level of disco duck’.
ugh, i hated that song.
all in all, really prefer orchestral music done by an live orchestra. everything else in restrospect comes off fairly thin and the dynamics are very poor. loudness has ruined a lot of ears over the years.
might as well put up Frankenstein, Tubular Bells, and the Monster Mash here too. they’re were all pop garbage as well.
electro-swing is pretty cool though.
I was absorbing a lot of music as a kid, especially classical, so Apollo 100’s “Joy” grabbed my ear. I could already smell the cheese, but it was still a fun effort. Its a cousin to Nick Magnus once doing a great Bach “Brandenburg” flourish while playing with Steve Hackett. Besides, you can’t dis disco when its half of the foundation for house! 😛