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RE: (western) classical music discussion
June 12, 2015 at 6:31 am
(June 9, 2015 at 5:14 pm)Pyrrho Wrote: (June 9, 2015 at 2:09 am)Alex K Wrote: ...
I know Glenn Gould has done many recordings that are considered classics, but I can't quite warm up to him yet...
I have never liked him either. I believe he is a polarizing figure in classical music. I don't like him, and never have. (There seems to me to be a coldness about him, or, in some cases, an inappropriate emotion. Of course, I cannot explain that, so anyone may feel free to ignore the comment entirely.) But many people love him. It is interesting that there are people who are worshiped by some, and hated by others. And other people are more universal in their appeal or lack of appeal.
As a graduate of a Canadian music school, I can say that even in that favorable environment, people felt the same way. Gould has some pieces which are almost universally revered. Some have argued that the Goldberg Variations, for example, simply can't be played better than he played them.
That being said, that deep intellect does sometimes interfere with the more animal instincts that people look for in the Romantics.
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RE: (western) classical music discussion
June 30, 2015 at 10:08 am
(This post was last modified: June 30, 2015 at 10:27 am by Alex K.)
Listening to the well tempered clavier Book 1 (Schiff), and am cursing Gounod's dead bones. I have to actively work to drown out that virtual singer in my head hamming "Ave Maria" during the prelude. every. time. It is particularly annoying because having Gounod's tune in your head always lets one perceive the chord progression of the prelude in a fixed originally unintended manner as it relates to the singing voice, which leaves one with an impoverished pre-interpreted perception of the piece.
The fool hath said in his heart, There is a God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.
Psalm 14, KJV revised edition
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RE: (western) classical music discussion
June 30, 2015 at 10:15 pm
(This post was last modified: June 30, 2015 at 10:17 pm by bennyboy.)
(June 30, 2015 at 10:08 am)Alex K Wrote: Listening to the well tempered clavier Book 1 (Schiff), and am cursing Gounod's dead bones. I have to actively work to drown out that virtual singer in my head hamming "Ave Maria" during the prelude. every. time. It is particularly annoying because having Gounod's tune in your head always lets one perceive the chord progression of the prelude in a fixed originally unintended manner as it relates to the singing voice, which leaves one with an impoverished pre-interpreted perception of the piece.
Just another reason to hate the French! 
Hmmm. . . maybe I can help you with that. How about I compose an alternate melody as a remedy to Gounod's? I guarantee after that, you will feel much less antipathy toward his piece.
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RE: (western) classical music discussion
June 30, 2015 at 10:20 pm
My college Music App prof came out with a little thing to remember the 4th Movement of Mozart's 40th.
"Mozart's in the closet.
Let him out. Let him out. Let him out."
It's nearly 50 years later and I still hate that fuck with a white hot passion.
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RE: (western) classical music discussion
July 1, 2015 at 3:00 am
(This post was last modified: July 1, 2015 at 3:01 am by Alex K.)
(June 30, 2015 at 10:15 pm)bennyboy Wrote: (June 30, 2015 at 10:08 am)Alex K Wrote: Listening to the well tempered clavier Book 1 (Schiff), and am cursing Gounod's dead bones. I have to actively work to drown out that virtual singer in my head hamming "Ave Maria" during the prelude. every. time. It is particularly annoying because having Gounod's tune in your head always lets one perceive the chord progression of the prelude in a fixed originally unintended manner as it relates to the singing voice, which leaves one with an impoverished pre-interpreted perception of the piece.
Just another reason to hate the French!
Hmmm. . . maybe I can help you with that. How about I compose an alternate melody as a remedy to Gounod's? I guarantee after that, you will feel much less antipathy toward his piece.
Be my guest! If you post the sheet music I'll sing it 
But I could never hate our funny neighbors. After all they gave us Charpentier, and Lully, Ravel, Fauré, Dupré, Berlioz, Baguette, Croissant, Sirop de Menthe, Bordeaux, Camembert...
They can keep Satie though.
The fool hath said in his heart, There is a God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.
Psalm 14, KJV revised edition
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RE: (western) classical music discussion
July 1, 2015 at 10:03 am
(July 1, 2015 at 3:00 am)Alex K Wrote: (June 30, 2015 at 10:15 pm)bennyboy Wrote: Just another reason to hate the French!
Hmmm. . . maybe I can help you with that. How about I compose an alternate melody as a remedy to Gounod's? I guarantee after that, you will feel much less antipathy toward his piece.
Be my guest! If you post the sheet music I'll sing it
But I could never hate our funny neighbors. After all they gave us Charpentier, and Lully, Ravel, Fauré, Dupré, Berlioz, Baguette, Croissant, Sirop de Menthe, Bordeaux, Camembert...
They can keep Satie though.
lol I'm no expert, but I'm pretty sure a couple of those aren't composers.
I like Satie. Only the French could take not taking things seriously so freaking seriously. "I'm. . . too Dada for my car. . . "
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RE: (western) classical music discussion
July 1, 2015 at 11:44 am
(July 1, 2015 at 3:00 am)Alex K Wrote: ...
But I could never hate our funny neighbors. After all they gave us Charpentier, and Lully, Ravel, Fauré, Dupré, Berlioz, Baguette, Croissant, Sirop de Menthe, Bordeaux, Camembert...
They can keep Satie though.
It is good that you have the ellipsis, or I would have to chastise you for omitting Champagne, one of the pinnacles of civilization. The French language has a beautiful sound to it, with even a French accent in English sounding great. They also introduced their evil overlords to Madame Guillotine, which is another reason to love the French.
Regarding composers, though, by far, the very best are Germanic composers, followed by Italians, then French.
"A wise man ... proportions his belief to the evidence."
— David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Section X, Part I.
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RE: (western) classical music discussion
July 1, 2015 at 1:08 pm
(This post was last modified: July 1, 2015 at 1:11 pm by Alex K.)
French people speaking English certainly sound better than vice versa 
As a fan of old music, I would rate Monteverdi and Palestrina up there with the best northern composers. German baroque would be nothing without them. Also, and this is a matter of taste, I prefer Slavic composers over French on average.
The fool hath said in his heart, There is a God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.
Psalm 14, KJV revised edition
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RE: (western) classical music discussion
July 1, 2015 at 1:39 pm
(July 1, 2015 at 1:08 pm)Alex K Wrote: French people speaking English certainly sound better than vice versa
Yes. I don't know of anyone disagreeing with that. But a French accent in English doesn't just sound better than an English accent in French; a French accent in English sounds good. Not just to me, but to everyone I have spoken with about it. In fact, it sounds so good, I almost wish I were a native French speaker, who was fluent in English, but still had a strong accent.
(July 1, 2015 at 1:08 pm)Alex K Wrote: As a fan of old music, I would rate Monteverdi and Palestrina up there with the best northern composers. German baroque would be nothing without them. Also, and this is a matter of taste, I prefer Slavic composers over French on average.
I was not interested in stating anything about what was necessary for a particular composer to compose what he or she composed. I was making a judgement about the finished product. If you think anyone is better than Johann Sebastian Bach, you are a heretic. If your preference, though, was for Mozart or Beethoven, you could be forgiven your blasphemy, as they are the other members of the holy trinity. Even dropping down from the three greatest composers, Germanic ones still are among the best ever.
(If we were talking about philosophy, then the Germanic ones suck [especially those whose names begin with the letter H, but I don't like any of them]. But with music, it is entirely different.)
"A wise man ... proportions his belief to the evidence."
— David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Section X, Part I.
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RE: (western) classical music discussion
July 1, 2015 at 2:55 pm
(This post was last modified: July 1, 2015 at 2:56 pm by Alex K.)
Ugh, German philosphy. I have an Anglosaxon heart in many respects. Nietzsche is at least entertaining, but then I'd rather call him a commentator than a formal philosopher. He is the master of the righteous rant. Sometimes you remind me of him.
And no, as you know, I don't think anyone is better than JSB
The fool hath said in his heart, There is a God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.
Psalm 14, KJV revised edition
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