Eva Luna
Well-Known Member
Its got a lot to do with the period the composer lived.
Ie Handel and Mozart - they lived at a time when musical instrument development was such that notes could not last very long, hence lots of tinkling up and down. (Plus the style of music at that time.) Its not for me. I am not a major fan of Bach for that very reason. Running up and down the damn scale. Too simple.
By the time Beethoven (classical) and Rachmaninov (romantic) came along, instruments could hold their notes for longer, musical form and development had progressed, the concept of 'tune', and the romantic era was born. There were the big operas and big solo concertos, such as Elgar's celo concerto very famously played by Jaqueline Du'Pre. Not to say Mozart didnt write big concertos, but they were simpler. I'd recommend some of this. My fav is late classical (Mozart's requiem is a fine idea) to late romantic (go right through Beethoven especially the 9th, and the piano concertos, some of the slow movemtns make you want to die they are so perfect, include Rachmaninov and not just the 2nd piano concerto, learn the operas, then the heavyweight Russians.)
I agree with the recommendation of Shostakovitch and Prokofiev - they both wrote cello concertos which are outstanding for example. Get them played by Yo Yo Ma.
I don't like the ballerina composers such as Tchaikovsky - too much shimmering violin and not enough tune.
I am not into the English composers either like Benjamin Britten, too crap. Give me the Russians any day, but they can become pompous in the closing parts of their big finales which you said you didnt want. I would also leave out Philip Glass unless you like listening to someone knock on the side of the piano.
Ie Handel and Mozart - they lived at a time when musical instrument development was such that notes could not last very long, hence lots of tinkling up and down. (Plus the style of music at that time.) Its not for me. I am not a major fan of Bach for that very reason. Running up and down the damn scale. Too simple.
By the time Beethoven (classical) and Rachmaninov (romantic) came along, instruments could hold their notes for longer, musical form and development had progressed, the concept of 'tune', and the romantic era was born. There were the big operas and big solo concertos, such as Elgar's celo concerto very famously played by Jaqueline Du'Pre. Not to say Mozart didnt write big concertos, but they were simpler. I'd recommend some of this. My fav is late classical (Mozart's requiem is a fine idea) to late romantic (go right through Beethoven especially the 9th, and the piano concertos, some of the slow movemtns make you want to die they are so perfect, include Rachmaninov and not just the 2nd piano concerto, learn the operas, then the heavyweight Russians.)
I agree with the recommendation of Shostakovitch and Prokofiev - they both wrote cello concertos which are outstanding for example. Get them played by Yo Yo Ma.
I don't like the ballerina composers such as Tchaikovsky - too much shimmering violin and not enough tune.
I am not into the English composers either like Benjamin Britten, too crap. Give me the Russians any day, but they can become pompous in the closing parts of their big finales which you said you didnt want. I would also leave out Philip Glass unless you like listening to someone knock on the side of the piano.
. Bach too mathematical.
I know that that opinion was scoffed at in the film, but actually I've always thought that, too. In that much of the arpeggio and ornamentation was just there for the sake of it. 
For example you might as well try and get me to listen to U2 as Vivaldi or Mozart. I don't care if they were geniuses* - I don't like them. If I did then I would enjoy Classic FM a lot more and wouldn't have to put up this thread 
