How do they pick the music for the first few rounds? Is it the rider? Are they just playing random classical music? I know the freestyle is designed to go with the music of the rider’s choice, but I know nothing about dressage, really.
Background music at the discretion of the announcers. might be light classical, smooth jazz or vocal-less pop music…
Musical Freestyle is choroegraphed and chosen according to the rider choice that best suits ther horse.
I think they did something special for the WEG. It is not a coincidence that the music matches the gaits of the horse in the ring at the time, changes appropriately, and ends pretty much with the halt.
Whoever is responsible has done a great job!
This is different from anything I ever saw b4
Since this is NOT a Freestyle, I think the riders are at the mercy of the people playing it. Makes me wonder if Robert Dover had anything to do with the selections? Spanish guitar for a Spanish horse, Irish jig for an Irish horse? And the second ride was a PERFECT match with the horses trot. Very Well done.:yes:
They’re playing an instrumental version of this song right now… Surprisingly lovely! Someone did a good job picking the music.
I know, it’s been fabulous and very well timed with gaits and countries; that’s why we were wondering if riders had picked it.
Might just be me, but during the Team test today I just found the music distracting! Sure it matched with the horses, but there is something about just listening to the footfalls and rhythm of a horse that I just love. That isn’t to say I don’t enjoy the Kur itself - but during the coverage today it bothered me.
Someone associated with the horse must have had a hand at picking it - there is just no way it was that good of a fit otherwise. Especially with the transitions!
I hope someone can dig out the story on the ‘background’ music for the dressage tests. I have mixed feelings about how it’s being used. It’s kind of cool and definitely took a LOT of work, but I wonder if it could give a pair an advantage or disadvantage, based on the music played for their test.
As a bit of music ‘geek’ - I’m just realy really curious!
Whoever picked it seems to be playing a lot of Rondo Veneziano (http://www.rondoveneziano.com/), a personal favorite of mine. I’ve always wanted to use their music for a freestyle.
I saw them playing live once, late at night in a 15th century church in Venice. They were dressed according to the time period, too. Lovely music!
[QUOTE=SBrentnall;5131755]
Whoever picked it seems to be playing a lot of Rondo Veneziano (http://www.rondoveneziano.com/), a personal favorite of mine. I’ve always wanted to use their music for a freestyle.
I saw them playing live once, late at night in a 15th century church in Venice. They were dressed according to the time period, too. Lovely music![/QUOTE]
Ooh, now I’m looking them up on Rhapsody - thanks for that intro to some new music! I agree, from what I hear so far, it sounds like they have some very possible freestyle pieces.
Am also in agreement --> whoever did the sound tech-ing did a great job. Although, like slpeders, I wonder if it has had a small effect on rides, especially when it was just a touch off the horse’s actual tempo. I know when I ride to music, I tend to “change” the trot - especially - a touch to match the tempo, and sometimes not with the best results! 
