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RE: (western) classical music discussion
March 16, 2015 at 3:04 pm
(This post was last modified: March 16, 2015 at 3:10 pm by Alex K.)
(March 16, 2015 at 1:54 pm)Dystopia Wrote: Cool topic - I've been getting into classical music lately, I've never bothered to explore.
Beethoven's 9th symphony is obviously one of the most well know works. My mother has lots of Mozart and Beethoven compilation CD's so I have lots of music to listen to.
I'm also exploring Stravinsky and Schubert. Any recommendations are grateful 
What do you particularly like about these pieces, just so it's easier to recommend something?
(March 16, 2015 at 2:08 pm)Minimalist Wrote: I have always gotten a charge out of Praetorius and Susato and others from that early 16th century genre, though.
Nice! Sounds positively medieval compared to the stuff they did a few decades later (Schütz was born just 14 years after Praetorius)
What was it about Thuringia and Saxony in those times, that they produced so many musical geniuses? Praetorius, Schütz, JS Bach, GF Händel... The latter two only a few weeks apart even...
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.
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RE: (western) classical music discussion
March 16, 2015 at 3:33 pm
Oh gawds... I might have to contribute to this thread, but against my will. I eat, breathed, and shit classical music for about sixteen years with no break to listen to anything else. As a classical singer, I'm partial to arias and art songs of the Romantic era. Some of the pieces I performed at my senior recital:
My favorite to sing from Faure, Les Berceaux:
Schumann, Widmung:
Also added some Copeland, Twelve Poems of Emily Dickinson. I don't like the music as much as the challenge:
Also, due to my connection to Spaniards, I decided to throw in a group of Spanish folk songs re-written by de Falla:
I was also a piano minor, and I love playing Chopin nocturnes, etudes, preludes, all of it. My favorite:
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RE: (western) classical music discussion
March 16, 2015 at 3:42 pm
(This post was last modified: March 16, 2015 at 3:42 pm by JesusHChrist.)
(March 16, 2015 at 1:54 pm)Dystopia Wrote: I'm also exploring Stravinsky and Schubert. Any recommendations are grateful
If you're a rocker, (even if you aren't), Prokofiev's 2nd and the more famous 3rd piano concertos are blockbusters of virtuosity.
The cadenza in the 1st movement of the second concerto is ridiculously difficult, powerful, beautiful and very dark. Prokofiev had his romantic side. The whole piece is dark like the Russian soul. Or so they say.
The 3 Bartok piano concertos are favorites too.
I play the piano, so I gravitate to a lot of virtuoso piano music, even if it is light years above my skill level.
First time I heard the cadenza I thought there were two pianos playing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rJDmoi-x1E
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RE: (western) classical music discussion
March 16, 2015 at 3:53 pm
(This post was last modified: March 16, 2015 at 4:24 pm by Alex K.)
@rexbecca
I've got a question: the singer in the Fauré piece, her style just sounds so charmingly 1920s. Is that just the time, or is it a typically french thing. And can you explain to me what the differences are why I get this impression?
omg I have all forgotten that I actually have these de Falla pieces on CD (with el amor brujo I think) and used to love it!
My two favourite violin concertos are the Schumann and Berg ones, both bring tears to my eyes.
in particular the both tonal and serialist Berg piece, including a Bach chorale:
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.
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RE: (western) classical music discussion
March 16, 2015 at 4:22 pm
(This post was last modified: March 16, 2015 at 4:28 pm by I_am_not_mafia.)
(March 16, 2015 at 1:54 pm)Dystopia Wrote: I'm also exploring Stravinsky and Schubert. Any recommendations are grateful
Prokofiev.
Some composers like Arnold Berg have tried breaking free of classical restrictions but to some ears they just make a discordant mess. Prokofiev makes it work so that you don't even notice it. Tchaikovsky has multiple melodies working together to create a tune bigger than the sum of its parts. Prokofiev does that too but also with tone. Writers talk about Stravinsky breaking new ground in the same era as Picasso and other artists. Prokofiev took it beyond proof of concept.
I find his music always intellectually and emotionally stimulating but all the time still music.
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RE: (western) classical music discussion
March 16, 2015 at 4:24 pm
Alex K, I don't know if this helps because I'm still exploring my taste but I enjoy violin fast paced melodies with some opera singing
Skip to 21:55 - I really like that part, it's my favourite from the 9th symphony.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XeT17YeUj5k
Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you
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RE: (western) classical music discussion
March 16, 2015 at 4:31 pm
(This post was last modified: March 16, 2015 at 4:49 pm by Alex K.)
(March 16, 2015 at 4:24 pm)Dystopia Wrote: Alex K, I don't know if this helps because I'm still exploring my taste but I enjoy violin fast paced melodies with some opera singing
Skip to 21:55 - I really like that part, it's my favourite from the 9th symphony.
Ok great! So based on that piece I'll do a sample test 
How do you like these two?
the first few parts of
and all of this fun piece (starts slow and celebratory, but it picks up)
p.s. here's a less dry recording of the latter
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.
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RE: (western) classical music discussion
March 16, 2015 at 5:19 pm
Quote:What was it about Thuringia and Saxony in those times, that they produced so many musical geniuses?
One thought I'd present is the Reformation which removed the deadening hand of the church. Getting churches out of anything does much to improve them.
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RE: (western) classical music discussion
March 16, 2015 at 5:26 pm
(This post was last modified: March 16, 2015 at 5:38 pm by Alex K.)
(March 16, 2015 at 5:19 pm)Minimalist Wrote: Quote:What was it about Thuringia and Saxony in those times, that they produced so many musical geniuses?
One thought I'd present is the Reformation which removed the deadening hand of the church. Getting churches out of anything does much to improve them.
Excellent point, Min. I've heard it said before that the protestant music was an important renewing influence, but I hadn't made the connection. Even when the St. Matthews Passion which I'd mentioned above is an example.
I really like this charming Mass by G. Rossini which is only accompanied by a Piano and a harmonium. It was written for the consecration of a private chapel
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.
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RE: (western) classical music discussion
March 16, 2015 at 5:41 pm
Another factor would be the master/apprentice relationship which was common for any trade at the time. You get one good teacher in an area and he attracts students who carry on his work. Even as late as the 19th century the model still held. Beethoven was a student of Haydn's for a while.
Here's another little tidbit...a little of what passed for risque in the early 17th century, c 1610, Thomas Campion.
For those who can't follow the singer with her early 17th century English pronunciation, here is the text.
Quote:A Booke of Ayres.
VIII.
It fell on a sommers day,
While sweete Bessie sleeping laie
In her bowre, on her bed,
Light with curtaines shadowed,
Iamy came: shee him spies,
Opning halfe her heauie eyes.
Iamy stole in through the dore,
She lay slumbring as before;
Softly to her he drew neere,
She heard him, yet would not heare,
Bessie vow'd not to speake,
He resolu'd that dumpe to breake.
First a soft kisse he doth take,
She lay still, and would not wake;
Then his hands learn'd to woo,
She dreamp't not what he would doo,
But still slept, while he smild
To see loue by sleepe beguild.
Iamy then began to play,
Bessie as one buried lay,
Gladly still through this sleight
Deceiu'd in her owne deceit,
And since this traunce begoon,
She sleepes eu'rie afternoone.
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