Just thought I'd ask... I know there's forums dedicated to that too, but sometimes it's fun to see where peoples' interests lie. Most of the listening I do is classical, and have been trying to learn Bach's 2 Part Inventions - well, the first one. I've also signed on for a subscription to the Philly Orchestra this coming season. Anyone else care to chime in?
Yes, I enjoy many composers. even if I don't really know them. I pipped my mom's CDs so I have Strauss, Tchaikovsky, Mozart, Bach and Beethoven. In truth, I don't really know classical music, I just enjoy it.
However, I'd say the most modern I appreciate is Carl Orff's "O Fortuna," which I first heard in the movie "Excalibur."
Yup piano - on a cheap old instrument that I've had since childhood. I'm assuming that when you've played Bach you're talking about the Lute Suites JP? Have you heard John Adams, Michael Nyman, John Corigliano, Jennifer Higdon or Michael Torke? Great stuff from people who are actually living...
Cynic - I find that the more I learn about the music the more it inspires me. Having the sensual and emotional response to it is one thing (the most important), I find that having an understanding of the hows and whys a piece of music sounds the way it does gives me a deeper appreciation of it. I've CD's by all the composers you mention (including Richard and Johann Strauss), and my favorites vary from day to day depending on my mood.
Ahem! YES
I have a collection that numbers in the thousands and collect some unusual stuff. For example, I have just about all of the Handel oratorios. Another unusual one is that I collect Requiems, about 30 so far.
I have pieces in my collection by all the composers mentioned thus far. I have so many favorites that it is difficult to list them. It goes without saying that I love the music of Gustav Mahler, but I have a number of favorite composers and works.
Here is just a sampling of some personal favorites:
Piano Concerto: Brahms Piano Concerto No. 1
Violin Concerto: Khatchaturian Violin Concerto
Cello Concerto: Dvorak Cello Concerto
Symphony: Mahler-No. 3, Nielsen-No.4, Walton-No. 1, Prokofiev-No.5, Bruckner-No.8, and so many more.
Opera: Richard Strauss - "Die Frau Ohne Schatten"
Like stingo, my moods change and favorites rise to the top and slip back, but there is so much to be explored. For example, I just ordered a recording of Howard Hanson's opera "Merry Mount."
__________________ In Fitness & Friendship, MAHLER
______________________________ __________________________ There is no light at the end of the tunnel. You carry the light with you.
I listen to NPR all day long, mostly because the classical music is such a nice background. It relaxes me, and I am far more productive. I'm not very knowledgable, but really enjoy it. And if I'm feeling unproductive, I listen to Colin Cowherd. He rules.
E
__________________
"It's what you've got inside that matters. The details and technological things will take you only so far. You still have to pedal the bike. Some people are always looking for the magic secret. There's no secret. Just bust your ass." -Dave Zabriskie
Mahler, any chamber music? That seems to get short shrift when classical music is discussed. I really like Hanson's music - they have the Merry Mount Suite coupled with one of his symphonies on a great Naxos CD.
emartin, have you ever sat down and listened to it, as if you were reading a book? Just curious.
Mahler, any chamber music? That seems to get short shrift when classical music is discussed. I really like Hanson's music - they have the Merry Mount Suite coupled with one of his symphonies on a great Naxos CD.
emartin, have you ever sat down and listened to it, as if you were reading a book? Just curious.
You are right. Chamber music usually gets neglected in discussions of classical music. My preference is orchestral, choral and opera, but I do have my favorites in chamber and instrumental works. The Beethoven Quartets and Sonatas are particular favorites, as are the chamber works of Brahms and Schubert.
__________________ In Fitness & Friendship, MAHLER
______________________________ __________________________ There is no light at the end of the tunnel. You carry the light with you.
I get completely swept up and possessed by music. Ever since I was a kid. My dad would put Beethoven on his "Quad" and I would sit in front of the speakers and close my eyes and picture the sound each instrument was making... Every interval, every modulation, every harmony.
I get that same possesed feeling when I play my guitar. Leigh was kind enough to load on a site a couple of clips that I emailed her. Click on them if you want to hear a sample of my playing. Not terribly complex pieces as all, but a couple of my favorite to play.
Naxos is a great record label that puts out alot of contemporary music. Lou Harrison is one of my favorite modern composers - heavily influenced by music of Bali.
Stingo, seeing as your a pianist have you heard Keith Jarrett doing Shostakovich's 24 preludes & fugues on ECM?
__________________
Working "hard," or the perception of working hard, doesn't really mean anything. Sweating, vomiting, and breathing hard could be a good workout or a tropical disease kicking in.-Dan John
Naxos is a great record label that puts out alot of contemporary music. Lou Harrison is one of my favorite modern composers - heavily influenced by music of Bali.
Stingo, seeing as your a pianist have you heard Keith Jarrett doing Shostakovich's 24 preludes & fugues on ECM?
Chris,
If you like the Balinese influence, you might also enjoy the music of Alan Hovhaness, who draws from similar "eastern" mystical influences.
__________________ In Fitness & Friendship, MAHLER
______________________________ __________________________ There is no light at the end of the tunnel. You carry the light with you.
Naxos is a great record label that puts out alot of contemporary music. Lou Harrison is one of my favorite modern composers - heavily influenced by music of Bali.
Stingo, seeing as your a pianist have you heard Keith Jarrett doing Shostakovich's 24 preludes & fugues on ECM?
Heard of him doing classical (Bach too) but haven't heard it yet - I'll look for it on rhapsody soon. Thanks for the rec.
Edited to add: rhapsody has it but it's purchase only
You are right. Chamber music usually gets neglected in discussions of classical music. My preference is orchestral, choral and opera, but I do have my favorites in chamber and instrumental works. The Beethoven Quartets and Sonatas are particular favorites, as are the chamber works of Brahms and Schubert.
Brilliant Classics has a set of "the 32" by Friedrich Gulda which is very, very good. And depending on where you get it, can be had inexpensively.
Also, if you like Beethoven's sonatas, check out this page - it features Andras Schiff givng lectures on all of the sonatas.
The quartets I've not really listened to as much as I should really... I have the Tokyo Quartet's cycle, but just haven't had time to sit down and really listen.
Mozart am Stein vis-a-vis
Andreas Staier, Christine Schornsheim
A very unique instrument - the Stein vis-a-vis was designed to be a harpsichord on one end and a fortepiano on the other (hence the vis-a-vis). It creates some VERY interesting sounds/textures, and Staier and Schornsheim really play the heck out of it. (The highlight for me is the last sonata on the CD, as well as the 6 Dances that follow it.) Exuberant, passionate, and fun - I don't think it gets much better than this. (And if it does, someone please direct me ).
Does the album Metallica did with the San Francisco Symphony count?
__________________
“Life is a headlong rush into the unknown. We can hunker down and hope nothing hits us or we can stand tall, lean into the wind and say, 'Bring it on, darlin', and don't be stingy with the jalapeños.'"
Yes, I'd say I count as a big fan of classical, especially chamber music. I'm especially interested in the wind quintet, since I'm an oboist and I've played much of the repertoire.
Bach's two-part inventions are quite sophisticated little pieces. I learned one of them (the first) some years ago and to this day I can't hear a recording of it without hearing the damned metronome in my head.
Generally I lean toward earlier music (Medieval, Renaissance especially) and post-1945. But for individual composers, Bach and Mozart are probably the favorites. And Josquin, too.. as many of you've already said, there's so much to explore!
__________________ The trick is in what one emphasizes. We either make ourselves miserable, or we make ourselves happy. The amount of work is the same. -- Carlos Castaneda
I dunno - what'd they play? Just because you have an orchestra doesn't make it "classical" (and the reverse is true too).
I was being a little facetious, playing off of Shark's post. They played only their stuff, with a symphonic arrangement accompanying them. As you well know, orchestra can be very powerful; I thought it was pretty cool and meshed with the heavy metal very well.
__________________
“Life is a headlong rush into the unknown. We can hunker down and hope nothing hits us or we can stand tall, lean into the wind and say, 'Bring it on, darlin', and don't be stingy with the jalapeños.'"
I was being a little facetious, playing off of Shark's post. They played only their stuff, with a symphonic arrangement accompanying them. As you well know, orchestra can be very powerful; I thought it was pretty cool and meshed with the heavy metal very well.
It does - I'm all for mixing and matching of music as it makes for some great juxtapositions. It's all music and all good.
It does - I'm all for mixing and matching of music as it makes for some great juxtapositions. It's all music and all good.
If you like odd juxtapositions, I have a CD of saxophonist Jan Garbarek improvising over Renaissance motets sung by the Hilliard Ensemble.
It's one of those things that is just so strange, it's hard for me to say that I like it or dislike it. I've had musician friends over and I'll say, "listen to this" without comment and just see their reaction.
Garbarek has done a few other things with Eastern music, too, but I haven't heard them.
__________________ The trick is in what one emphasizes. We either make ourselves miserable, or we make ourselves happy. The amount of work is the same. -- Carlos Castaneda
I think I heard a part of that CD on rhapsody - I'll have to see if it's still there.
Along that same line, have you heard any of Yo-Yo Ma's Silk Road series? I had the good fortune to see one iteration live at Carnegie Hall and it was amazing.
Along that same line, have you heard any of Yo-Yo Ma's Silk Road series? I had the good fortune to see one iteration live at Carnegie Hall and it was amazing.
That must have been an awesome concert!
I have the first (I think) CD in the series. Great stuff. I think they just released a new CD this week, didn't they?
I also like Yo-Yo Ma's Appalachian Journey CD. I listen to that one all the time.
__________________ The trick is in what one emphasizes. We either make ourselves miserable, or we make ourselves happy. The amount of work is the same. -- Carlos Castaneda
Any classical music fans out there?
).
Linear Mode
