November 23, 2020:
Ghost Riders in the Sky (aka Ghost Riders - die Hummel* Mashup)
This is an instrumental version of the original "Ghost Riders in the Sky," written by Stan Jones in 1948 and covered by artists including Johnny Cash, Vaughn Monroe, and many others. This version also includes melodies from "Flight of the Bumblebee" by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. The two tunes flow together very easily; even more so when you picture the Ghost Riders as cowboy bees herding red-eyed, steel-hoofed cows with flaming brands across the endless skies. The bees are wearing cowboy hats, of course.
"Flight of the Bumblebee" is an orchestral interlude written by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov for his opera "The Tale of Tsar Sultan,” composed in 1899–1900. Its composition is intended to musically evoke the seemingly chaotic and rapidly changing flying pattern of a bumblebee.
* "Die Hummel" = "The Bumblebee" in German. I was working from a German orchestral violin part when I first began this project; hence the German name carrying over. I realize this sounds a bit confusing in English. I certainly wouldn't wish any Hummeln to die!
Listen on Spotify
Adapted, arranged, and produced by John Imholz (2020)
The Musicians:
"Bonanza" guitars: John Imholz, Ivan Lesnik (Иван Лесник), Jean DuBois
Electric bass: Juan Madera
Engineering, Production: Giovanni dal Legno
Mastering: John Cuniberti