My Interest in Classical Music.
Tue, Apr 17 2012, 8:13PM
#2
RE: My Interest in Classical Music.
Raising my head above the parapit (or perhaps the trench) for a moment on the issue of uplifting music I have always found that I cannot pin down what exactly does it for me. For example, three pieces at random that I find extraordinarily uplifting is the transition with the first movement of Sibelius' fifth symphony - in fact the whole work is one that I often listen too when I feel the need to clean my 'aural palette' (I can think of no other form of explaining it) after either too much music or too much noise. That symphony, while not being my favourite, seems to recharge the batteries.
The other two instance will undoubtedly lead to some form of bemusement - the first is a passage in the Elmer Bernstein score for 'The Magnificent Seven'. There is a scene where the two main characters escort the body of an native indian to bot hill, much to the anger of the local rednecks. On their return to the stables Bernstein mixes Copland with an wonderfully plain melody that blasts out from the brass and always seems to me to express a type of human nobility that is most touching and naive. It is great in the movie but works equally well as music only.
Lastly I couldn't thinking that Bruce Springsteen's 'Born to Run' really does dust away the cobwebs - maybe not like the final dash at the end of Mahler's 5th or those amazing last notes of Dvorak's 7th, but it has its place in my heart.
Oh... now I think of more:
Don Giovanni - end of the first act, as they enter the party, a chorus sounds off stage.
Les Adieux sonata - such a wonderful arch of music.
There is also an amazing live recording of the great Sam Cooke live on stage. At the beinging he marches onto the stage and sings 'It's all right'. And it surely is...
Tue, Apr 17 2012, 9:09PM
#3
RE: My Interest in Classical Music.
Thank you whoever posted this topic. Man.. My exposure to classical music happened in different forms. My dad played trumpet at the time and I remember him playing classical pieces. My parents told me that for me to go to sleep, my parents played the Star Spangled Banner [rendition by Phil Driscol;Trumpet player]. I remember watching the original film, Fantasia and I watched that film quite a bit. I did not know what I was listening to, but I loved it so much, and that went for Sleeping Beauty because of its classical influences from the original ballet by Tchaikovsky. When I was in the 6th grade, my love for classical music developed. I played trumpet because of my dad lol. I played trumpet through middle and high school. Before my 9th grade year, I attended two performing arts camps during the summer. The second was after my 9th grade year. My exposure to classical music was about to be a solid one. I discovered a ton of pieces-without even knowing what I was listening to. Wynton Marsalis' Trumpet Concerto in E-flat Major along with the trumpet concerto by Leopold Mozart (forgot the title). Those pieces stuck with me and till this date, I love that rendition my Marsalis. Talking about pure. I loved a lot of Vivaldi for some reason. As a kid, I wanted everything classical- did not matter who wrote it. During my high school years, I discovered Vanessa-Mae. She was a defining moment of my exposure to classical music. At the time when downloading was not as regulated, I watched her Storm video and was totally sold on the violin. Bought all her cd's then worked my way to the classical violin side of things which led me to discovering Heifetz. This was 2003 time frame. We were moving to the Middle East and prior to that, I bought two of his cd's. At the time, I did not know what I was listening to. You can say I was a novice at that time-still getting my feet wet into the genre. I listened to his Chaconne in D minor and I was not really in awe and that was with all his music. It took a few times to appreciate it and that includes his rendition of the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto. Once I was older, it all made sense. I am now engufled with classical violin and classical music as a whole. If it was not for Vanessa-Mae, there is no way I would love classical music. Classical music keeps me sane.
Tue, Apr 17 2012, 9:28PM
#4
RE: My Interest in Classical Music.
For example, three pieces at random that I find extraordinarily uplifting is the transition with the first movement of Sibelius' fifth symphony - in fact the whole work is one that I often listen too when I feel the need to clean my 'aural palette' (I can think of no other form of explaining it) after either too much music or too much noise. That symphony, while not being my favourite, seems to recharge the batteries.
Nice post in total, naupilus, but this in particular caught my attention because this need to clean the palate is something I feel occasionally, but always thought it was a personal idiosyncrasy. If I find myself spending ages pondering my collection wondering what, if anything, I want to listen to, frequently I turn to the Shostakovich symphony 15. It seems to reset my world, internally and externally.
Tue, Apr 17 2012, 11:11PM
#5
RE: My Interest in Classical Music.
Well I never, we appear to be back on track and some peoples spiritual and/or uplifting music is intriguing. None less than Shostakovich's 15th, which, as everybody knows, quotes William Tell!
Which reminds me of Nielsen's extraordinary 6th symphony. Always brings both a frown of incomprehension and a smile, sometimes simultaneously.
And am I the only one who finds satisfaction in a truly great and heartfelt Requiem?
The reason I ask is that I have just finished listening to Dvorak's (Concertgebouw Live/Jansons).
Tue, Apr 17 2012, 11:58PM
#6
RE: My Interest in Classical Music.
For example, three pieces at random that I find extraordinarily uplifting is the transition with the first movement of Sibelius' fifth symphony - in fact the whole work is one that I often listen too when I feel the need to clean my 'aural palette' (I can think of no other form of explaining it) after either too much music or too much noise. That symphony, while not being my favourite, seems to recharge the batteries.
Nice post in total, naupilus, but this in particular caught my attention because this need to clean the palate is something I feel occasionally, but always thought it was a personal idiosyncrasy. If I find myself spending ages pondering my collection wondering what, if anything, I want to listen to, frequently I turn to the Shostakovich symphony 15. It seems to reset my world, internally and externally.
Shostakovich 15 - one of my personal top symphonies of the twntieth century. As Troyen says there the William Tell nod, together with Wagner and all sorts of beautiful passages.
Cleansing the palette is only one of more obsessive compulsive disorders. Another is a strange habit I have picked up of thinking as Rossini as a summer composer and Mozart for the winter. Both provided sparkling comedies but somehow I always prefer Rossini on a summer's night and Mozart when the chill sets in (specifically operas here). There is no logic to these thoughts - just oddity.
Wed, Apr 18 2012, 12:48AM
#7
RE: My Interest in Classical Music.
Interesting. I'm the reverse with Mozart. Every year from May to September I work my way through the piano concertos.
No, you're not the only requiem lover troyen. Of course the Brahms is top of the list but I listen to all of them from Victoria to Howells. The only one I don't like is Holmboe's Requiem for Nietzsche which strikes me as unbearably pretentious. And Dvorak's is one of the few I don't know.
As for the Shostakovich 15th, the questions, when it first appeared, as to what it's 'about', now seem odd. Surely it's a life-cycle work.
Wed, Apr 18 2012, 1:40AM
#8
RE: My Interest in Classical Music.
Personally, I find the Beethoven string quartets the most uplifting, in particular the ones known as the late ones.
Wed, Apr 18 2012, 3:22AM
#9
RE: My Interest in Classical Music.
I think that Franck's Symphony in D is capable of changing one's mood: uplifting indeed.
On the other hand, on rainy days stay away from the likes of Sibelius' 4th Symphony; Tchaikovsky's 6th........
Wed, Apr 18 2012, 7:59AM
#10
RE: My Interest in Classical Music.
And am I the only one who finds satisfaction in a truly great and heartfelt Requiem?
You certainly aren't!
Wed, Apr 18 2012, 10:13AM
#11
RE: My Interest in Classical Music.
The reason I asked was because I just finished listening to the Dvorak and repeated the Agnus Dei, because I can in my virtual world, and was wondering whether this would be as popular as some of the great Requiems if it was a better work.
Back to opera. Always lifts my spirits especially when the stage is littered with bloody bodies at the end!
Wed, Apr 18 2012, 10:01PM
#12
RE: My Interest in Classical Music.
Shostakovich's 15th does not only quote "William Tell"; he plays with the very popular theme of the final part of the Opera's Overture as well as with quite a few other less recognisable themes from other works from other composers like Wagner's Funeral March from "Gotterdammerung". The first and a great part of the Final movements are spiritually uplifting, but this second movement along with the very enigmatic third one are the epitome of pessimism. In particular, the sudden and relentless crescendo near the end of the second movement is a true "killer".
I prefer the First Piano Concerto (where he plays with Beethoven's Appassionata, among other things), which proves to be a great optimistic work, extremely playful, humorous and musically challenging.
Having said that, I don't mean the 15th is a less spiritual or less important work. It's a magnificent Symphony, but, like more of his greatest works (String Quartets, Violin and Viola Sonatas, Second Piano Trio, Piano Quintet, First Violin Concerto, Fifth Symphony, etc.) needs great concentration and preparation to get the optimum of their spiritual, emotional and musical features.
I belong to those few (or not) who find the utmost satisfaction in (different sorts of) Requiem. My soft spot is Faure's Requiem and the masterwork of the genre: the unsurpassed Requiem by Mozart. From 20th century, I stand in awe whenever I'm faced with Britten's War Requiem.
Parisboy, Beethoven's String Quartets (predominantly the late ones) are much more than "uplifting" music. These works, provided you are prepared to listen to them properly, provide the best and the "whole" of what can be expected from Classical Music. Likewise, Mozart's String Quintets and some more...(Bach's Preludes and Fugues, etc.).
Parla
Wed, Apr 18 2012, 11:46PM
#13
RE: My Interest in Classical Music.
Shostakovich's 15th does not only quote "William Tell"; he plays with the very popular theme of the final part of the Opera's Overture as well as with quite a few other less recognisable themes from other works from other composers like Wagner's Funeral March from "Gotterdammerung". The first and a great part of the Final movements are spiritually uplifting, but this second movement along with the very enigmatic third one are the epitome of pessimism. In particular, the sudden and relentless crescendo near the end of the second movement is a true "killer".
I prefer the First Piano Concerto (where he plays with Beethoven's Appassionata, among other things), which proves to be a great optimistic work, extremely playful, humorous and musically challenging.
Having said that, I don't mean the 15th is a less spiritual or less important work. It's a magnificent Symphony, but, like more of his greatest works (String Quartets, Violin and Viola Sonatas, Second Piano Trio, Piano Quintet, First Violin Concerto, Fifth Symphony, etc.) needs great concentration and preparation to get the optimum of their spiritual, emotional and musical features.
I belong to those few (or not) who find the utmost satisfaction in (different sorts of) Requiem. My soft spot is Faure's Requiem and the masterwork of the genre: the unsurpassed Requiem by Mozart. From 20th century, I stand in awe whenever I'm faced with Britten's War Requiem.
Parisboy, Beethoven's String Quartets (predominantly the late ones) are much more than "uplifting" music. These works, provided you are prepared to listen to them properly, provide the best and the "whole" of what can be expected from Classical Music. Likewise, Mozart's String Quintets and some more...(Bach's Preludes and Fugues, etc.).
Parla
You prefer the first piano concerto?
Says it all, really.
You will love Tahiti Trot.
Thu, Apr 19 2012, 10:48AM
#14
RE: My Interest in Classical Music.
...and the Jazz Suites Nos 1& 2 as well as some of his very "uplifting" Ballets and Film Music.
The Second Piano Concerto, written for his very young (at the time of the composition) son Maxim, is a delight, truly "uplifting" and heartfelt throughout.
Parla
Thu, Apr 19 2012, 12:32PM
#15
RE: My Interest in Classical Music.
...and the Jazz Suites Nos 1& 2 as well as some of his very "uplifting" Ballets and Film Music.
The Second Piano Concerto, written for his very young (at the time of the composition) son Maxim, is a delight, truly "uplifting" and heartfelt throughout.
Parla
What would you do without Google and wikepedia?
Spirituality in music is about it's abilty to take your mind away from where it is, and some else that is better (even if it's only for a few minutes).
Bruckner of course had a strong sense of the spiritual himself, that comes through in much of his music.
Great music is also about the musicians interacting with each other, and then with us. A lot of chamber music does this for me.
Best wishes,
P