I am a big fan of classical music. I enjoy the cohesion of instruments forming a unique melody that grows into something marvelous and powerful, courtesy of the composer(s). Do you have a favorite composer(past or contemporary)? Do you have a favorite piece or movement(overture, fanfare or concerto) from any period? How did you feel when you first listened to it? Let's talk about it.
I kind of enjoyed it when I played piano yeeeeeeaaaaars ago. The first song that really captured me was Clair de Lune, from there I immediately became an admirer of Claude Debussy. These days, I really don't vibe with classical anymore.
Having played an instrument, I can appreciate the complexities of classical music, but I'm not really a fan. It's not something I listen to for pleaure. There are a few select pieces that I like, but that's about it.
I strongly suggest you familiarize yourself with the Trans Siberian Orchestra. It's hard to explain what they are all about, but I will try. They are a huge orchestra which sounds like Beethoven on speed. They come to Miami every year just before Christmas. First part of show is a Christmas story. Second is just unbelieveable music. To add to their delight, they have a light show that blows you away. I can't say enough about them. I've gone to at least 10 shows, not just in Miami, but other places as well. If you could listen to one piece, download Saravejo Christmas Eve. Please let me know if you listen and what you think.
I have heard of the Trans Siberian Orchestra. They are very good, no doubt. I like Andre Rieu. He is a guy(if I were a professional musician), I'd be most proud to play with. He starts off and you can see his passion. Then, he passes it to the orchestra. And then the orchestra passes it back to Andre and together, they pass it to the audience. I play tenor saxophone and have tried to play classical music. There aren't enough orchestral pieces for tenor, but there are for alto. I will listen for Sarajevo Christmas Eve when the season comes around and I will let you know what I think.
Classical music is a great way to just kick back and relax and free your mind. Needless to say, I am the proud owner of every one of those Amazon 100 Most Essential collections.
Yes, he's magnificent. Also have seen Andrea Bocelli a couple of times. What an amazing voice. Looking forward to your opinion of TSO. You might want to listen before the holidays. Enjoy.
Try smooth jazz some time. It has the added benefit of putting you "in the mood", should the occasion arise.
LOVE smooth jazz. Love many different kinds of music. Just a couple of types of music I dont care for. You are right. Definite puts you in the mood.
I remember my classical music discovery of Gustav Holst. Born in London, he composed the Water Music and The Planets. He was considered a mystic, lived a like a hermit,ate mostly nuts and was asthmatic. Climbing the stair to get to rehearsal was agonizing for him. When he composed The Planets, the first piece in it was Mars; Bringer Of War. Though , he had never seen battle and had never even heard a machinegun, he put all the horrific elements found in war into this piece that was released years before WW1. When he did Jupiter; The Bringer Of Jollity, duing the slow,lyrical part with the strings, the cleaning ladies working in the concert hall listening to the piece danced. Holst married a young woman who was 10 his junior and she helped him a great deal with his appearance and himself. The first time I heard The Planets was while watching Evening At Pops with John Williams conducting the Boston Pops Orchestra. It was amazing. I remember playing Jupiter on my alto sax by ear in high school. But, it was during the winter of 1984 when I found the recording that became my lifelong favorite. It was performed by Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra under the direction of conductor Eugene Ormandy. To me, it was the best I have ever heard. I have heard other recordings by well known and well respected conductors like Leonard Bernstein, Andre Previn, and Herbert Von Karijan(or Karian). And with orchestras like The London Symphony Orchestra and the New York Philarmonic Orchestra. But, they didn't come close to Ormandy. But, as I realized later, that conductors have their own interpretation of the scores they perform and instrumentation and size of the orchestra are things to consider. If you have the chance, listen to The Planets conducted by Eugene Ormandy.
I had finally listened to the Trans-Siberian Orchestra's Sarajevo Christmas Eve and thought it was amazing. A friend of mine recently went to to see them in concert(he worked at the hotel they were staying in and they gave all the employees free tickets. That is really cool. He told me that he and his wife(also a friend of mine) were fourth row center from the stage. But, they wished they were in the nose bleed section because there were a lot of visuals onstage.
I mostly listen to Romantic composers, particularly Wagner as his music features this epic sweep that reveals so much power in its composition. There was a month long Wagner Fest in Los Angeles a few years ago that I regrettably missed. What I also find interesting are those composers who had a foothold in the classical and Romantic eras. Beethoven is the most prominent example of that, but I wonder what direction Mozart's music would've taken had he lived into the 19th century? Some favorite pieces: Mahler's Fifth Gotterdammerung Brahm's Third
I enjoy Wagner, even though he was a racist and anti-semite. He was not the most trustworthy man around. He was complicated.He even ran off and married Franz Lizst's granddaughter. Despite these issues, Wagner composed some very dynamic works. Mozart, to me, is the world's first rock star. Had he lived in the 19th century, with his bravura and unpredictability, he would probably be seen as a circus performer. Well, if he was alive then, I think he would shake things up in a big way even more so than Elvis Presley. I got into Sir Edward Elgar's Enigma Variations. A series of songs he composed about his wife, dog, and associates. Nimrod, the most beautiful of the variations, was the most prominent and is heard at the climax. My late older brother introduced me to Beethoven's violin concertos. My serious interest in classical music was started thanks to him.
I've developed a taste for it over the years. My interest in Flamingo and other Mediterranean styles turned me on to classical. Mozart and Vivaldi got me started. Since then I've taken a liking to Johann Strauss III, Emmanuel Chabrier, David Monrad Johansen, and others. This is probably my favorite peice at the moment: [YOUTUBE]tbjGkTZ1dLM[/YOUTUBE]
I enjoyed the lively brightness in the piece. It was very Spanish and it stayed on course. A very bright and happy piece. Thanks for posting.
