Classical Music II

[Earniel]

The old thread has reached the 1000 replies and is closed. The discussion can continue here.

The original thread starter was hectorberlioz.

[hectorberlioz]

I thank Earniel for doing this for me...if Troll's Bane or Mercutio had restarted this thread, I would've leapt at them with my Iron Jaws ...but since it was only innocent Earniel, I forgive her that she gets credit for opening this thread...


Anyways. I recently finished putting all of my non-opera music (including some opera) onto my ipod. Very, very, very hard to do. I had to manually enter all of the names for each track (can you imagine my chagrin> < when I realized that I'd started naming Chopin's Nocturnes from track 7 on?!!! ), which resulted in multiple headaches each night. This morning I woke up and had my hair not too dissimilar to Wolverine's.

On a much worse note: some friends of mine from a Berlioz message board have informed me that the EU wants to get rid of Pipe Organs! I'm not talking about a pipe, stuck in one of your organs, I'm not talking about your vocal pipes; O those glorious "organs"...I speak of these: Westminster Abbey Organ
Notre Dame , These, called the King of Instruments...the ones that have been played by Bach, Handel, Franck, Saint-saens, Bruckner, Widor, Schweitzer, Faure!!
And why? Because lead figures into the making of the pipes, and lead is poisonous. Lead IS poisonous, but there is NO case where any organ manufacturers have had lead poisoning.
What I really want to know is why they think it so important. It isnt as if organs exude leaden fumes, thus poisoning the congregants in the church (if there are any).

[trolls' bane]

Cool! Now I can be the third poster in this thread! Yay!
And to start out, I just want to complain about how kids these days (excluding me and a very very miniscule--probably "one part per million" to use scientific terms--number of others) don't know ANYTHING about classical. They think that Rhapsody in Blue was coined by an airline company, that Vivaldi's Spring (that is the most famous, right? I think one of my CDs mislabled it, so I'm confused) came from football. I don't particularly like Mozart, he is not my favorite at all, nor is Beethoven, but sure enough, the kids stereotype any classical music as "Beethoven" or "Mozart", and every now and then you run across a less ghetto one that will go so far as saying "Bach", and rarer still, they will remember one or two composers with what they think are funny names, such as Meyerbeer.

[Spock]

I love the Jupiter Symphony.

[b.banner]

i more of a Beatle fan but i love The Planets by Gustav Holst

[Gwaimir Windgem]

Imperial March anyone? John Philip Souza? Don't they qualify as classic?

[hectorberlioz]

Originally Posted by trolls' bane

Cool! Now I can be the third poster in this thread! Yay!
And to start out, I just want to complain about how kids these days (excluding me and a very very miniscule--probably "one part per million" to use scientific terms--number of others) don't know ANYTHING about classical. They think that Rhapsody in Blue was coined by an airline company, that Vivaldi's Spring (that is the most famous, right? I think one of my CDs mislabled it, so I'm confused) came from football. I don't particularly like Mozart, he is not my favorite at all, nor is Beethoven, but sure enough, the kids stereotype any classical music as "Beethoven" or "Mozart", and every now and then you run across a less ghetto one that will go so far as saying "Bach", and rarer still, they will remember one or two composers with what they think are funny names, such as Meyerbeer.

Exactly how I feel TB! *high fives*
for me its always, "oh yeah, Beethoven" or "do you play an instrument?"
Or what about those who insist that classical is merely background music?
On one aleatory occasion (I'm not 100% sure what aleatory means, but it DOES fit here), I was at Hastings. This guy my age starts looking through, and he pulls out a cheapish disc of the 3 famous Beethoven sonatas...and he says to his dad "I'm trying to find the perfect recording of the first movement of the "Moonlight" sonata".
Well, I thought I'd put his attention to Ashkenazy's recording, and I suggested it. He didn't look at me like he was weirded out, but he was kindof passive, as if trying to decide what the heck I was trying to do..."is this guy trying to tell ME what to buy?", I'm sure he thought: and his real reply showcased his thought clearly enough. "No thanks, I'm just looking".
I had to roll my eyes...though I didnt go so far as to play marbles with them, but I felt like it!!!

Originally Posted by Gwaimir Windgem

Imperial March anyone? John Philip Souza? Don't they qualify as classic?

Actually, they do. There are some snobs who consider Sousa like they do Strauss II, or Sullivan: as frivolous rubbish. But that is not the case with me, I carry respect especially for the Waltzing Strausses.

Originally Posted by Spock

I love the Jupiter Symphony.

aka, the G minor Symphony

Originally Posted by Troll's Bane

Originally Vomited by Troll's Bane
Oh! Wow! And I wasn't even being sarcastic!
EDIT: Oooo! I made the 1000th reply, 1001st post! w00t!
Beat that, hector!

[trolls' bane]

Originally Posted by hectorberlioz

Exactly how I feel TB! *high fives*
for me its always, "oh yeah, Beethoven" or "do you play an instrument?"

My answers to those (respectively) are "Actually..." (with attidude and sarcasm) and "No...I wish."

Originally Posted by Hector

Or what about those who insist that classical is merely background music?
On one aleatory occasion (I'm not 100% sure what aleatory means, but it DOES fit here), I was at Hastings. This guy my age starts looking through, and he pulls out a cheapish disc of the 3 famous Beethoven sonatas...and he says to his dad "I'm trying to find the perfect recording of the first movement of the "Moonlight" sonata".
Well, I thought I'd put his attention to Ashkenazy's recording, and I suggested it. He didn't look at me like he was weirded out, but he was kindof passive, as if trying to decide what the heck I was trying to do..."is this guy trying to tell ME what to buy?", I'm sure he thought: and his real reply showcased his thought clearly enough. "No thanks, I'm just looking".
I had to roll my eyes...though I didnt go so far as to play marbles with them, but I felt like it!!!

LOL! That rarely happens to me. I'm most likely the only one on the classica aisle, with nearly black hands because no one has ever really moved the disks (and the few who have ended up screwing up the order, so I have to keep LOOKING for everything).

Originally Posted by Windgem

Imperial March anyone? John Philip Souza? Don't they qualify as classic?

Ah, memories...

Originally Posted by trolls' bane, first post in original Classical Music thread

Does the music from the music hall in my Rogue Squadron II game count? I'm listening to that right now.
Anyway, most of my favorite classical music is famous, my favorate being Motzart 40, I think.

[Gwaimir Windgem]

Originally Posted by hectorberlioz

Exactly how I feel TB! *high fives*
Actually, they do. There are some snobs who consider Sousa like they do Strauss II, or Sullivan: as frivolous rubbish. But that is not the case with me, I carry respect especially for the Waltzing Strausses.

Well, even if you count John Philip, surely you don't count the Imperial March.

[hectorberlioz]

Originally Posted by Gwaimir Windgem

Well, even if you count John Philip, surely you don't count the Imperial March.

Well, since John Williams has written a Violin Concerto and a Cello Concerto, his film scores are definitely classical...after all, Bernard Herrmann's scores for Hitchcock's films are considered classical

It does count.



Added:
Tchaikovsky: Syms 2 & 6/Romeo&Juliet Overture/ Francesca da Rimini
Tchaikovsky: String Serenade/Suite No.4/Andante Cantabile
Gounod: Faust - Ghiarouv - Sutherland - Boynyge
Vaughn Williams: Syms 3 & 5
Bach: 6 Favorite Cantatas - Joshua Rufkin
Bach: Mass in B minor/ Mass in F
Ravel: Complete Piano Music
Ravel/Debussy: Music for Piano 2Hand and 2 Pianos


Yes, Fat Middle! I found the exact recording of the Bach Cantatas that you'd recommended. Wonderful stuff!!

[hectorberlioz]

Originally Posted by hectorberlioz

Well, since John Williams has written a Violin Concerto and a Cello Concerto, his film scores are definitely classical...after all, Bernard Herrmann's scores for Hitchcock's films are considered classical

It does count.
(btw...if it wasnt for JW, I would not have gotten interested in classical music the way I did...maybe not at all. I owe him big time, and the Star Wars scores-especially ESB-are very dear to my heart))



Added:
Tchaikovsky: Syms 2 & 6/Romeo&Juliet Overture/ Francesca da Rimini
Tchaikovsky: String Serenade/Suite No.4/Andante Cantabile
Gounod: Faust - Ghiarouv - Sutherland - Boynyge
Vaughn Williams: Syms 3 & 5
Bach: 6 Favorite Cantatas - Joshua Rufkin
Bach: Mass in B minor/ Mass in F
Ravel: Complete Piano Music
Ravel/Debussy: Music for Piano 2Hand and 2 Pianos


Yes, Fat Middle! I found the exact recording of the Bach Cantatas that you'd recommended. Wonderful stuff!!

....

[Mercutio]

Like the Vaughn Williams.

I will get to updating...my dad bought a bunch of recordings recently.

[hectorberlioz]

The Vaughn Williams was pretty good stuff. Pastoral, but not mushie.

There's a Tone Poem by Delius that I'd like everyone to check out: Eventyr. It's a great piece, and I suggest that you turn up the volume when you're about a quarter into it. There's a pleasant surprise about the piece...it'll really make you smile

Myer Fredman's recording on Naxos is one to get.

[Mercutio]

For organ right now, I am learning three French pieces (And this was not intentional)

1. "Tierce" something by Couperin (early French)
2. Movement II of an organ symphony by Widor (middle French)
3. something from the "Ascension Suite" by Messaien (late French)

[hectorberlioz]

Originally Posted by Mercutio

For organ right now, I am learning three French pieces (And this was not intentional)

1. "Tierce" something by Couperin (early French)
2. Movement II of an organ symphony by Widor (middle French)
3. something from the "Ascension Suite" by Messaien (late French)

Widor too! I'm very much looking forward to getting into his Organ Symphonies (for organ alone).
Tuornimire, a Widor student, sounds like he has something I'd like as well "L'orgue mystique". It sounds just like something I'd love.

And I found out about it in Gramaphone's Good CD and DVD for Classical Music.
I'm not too fond of "guides", but this one seemed special, so I bought it.

[trolls' bane]

Well, on top of returning home with my old copy of Leonard Bernstein's book The Joy of Music, I just spent $50 on books at the Keyboard Concepts (when I was in LA for break visiting my mom). I have a musical terms dictionary, a composer dictionary, two books on learning to read music (which, next to my lack of control over my hands and their tendency to mimic each other, is my weakest point), and a book of manuscript paper, just to use what I DO know about reading music to write it. Already copied Leonard Bernstien's "Chicken Lament."
Also, skimming through LB's book, I ran accross the chapter on Bach's music. So, I tried to look up the large compositions mentioned. Well, St. Matthews Passion, again according to Napster, does not exist. But the MAgnificat does, which is a start since I have never heard either, and that was the closest I could get. But I thought that the Magnificat was choral. My mistake...

[hectorberlioz]

Originally Posted by trolls' bane

Well, on top of returning home with my old copy of Leonard Bernstein's book The Joy of Music, I just spent $50 on books at the Keyboard Concepts (when I was in LA for break visiting my mom). I have a musical terms dictionary, a composer dictionary, two books on learning to read music (which, next to my lack of control over my hands and their tendency to mimic each other, is my weakest point), and a book of manuscript paper, just to use what I DO know about reading music to write it. Already copied Leonard Bernstien's "Chicken Lament."
Also, skimming through LB's book, I ran accross the chapter on Bach's music. So, I tried to look up the large compositions mentioned. Well, St. Matthews Passion, again according to Napster, does not exist. But the MAgnificat does, which is a start since I have never heard either, and that was the closest I could get. But I thought that the Magnificat was choral. My mistake...

It IS choral! Isnt it?...Fat Middle?
Probably Napster has an orchestral segment of it or something...

Sounds exciting TB! Manuscript paper...ah, I envy that right now. My book is all filled up (with almost nothing excellent, but there are a few inspired bits in there).
I bought (for three bucks) a book about Toscanini. It was written by Samuel (he has my name!) Chotzinoff, who knew Toscanini as good as any unrelated-to-him person could. Very nice book, simple, and funny.

[trolls' bane]

Originally Posted by hectorberlioz

It IS choral! Isnt it?...Fat Middle?
Probably Napster has an orchestral segment of it or something...

Sounds exciting TB! Manuscript paper...ah, I envy that right now. My book is all filled up (with almost nothing excellent, but there are a few inspired bits in there).
I bought (for three bucks) a book about Toscanini. It was written by Samuel (he has my name!) Chotzinoff, who knew Toscanini as good as any unrelated-to-him person could. Very nice book, simple, and funny.

Not quite. It had over two hours worth of what was perhaps a badly tuned harpsicord, or a badly tuned organ, because I couldn't tell either way. Well, that's what I think. It gave me a headache after the first thirty minutes. There's only so much of either that you can handle, especially an organ.
Well, I envy you because your book is filled up. I know how to read and write up to an eight note, but those that are connected (?), have a sideways parenthases thing, or a crescendo or decrescendo, I don't know, nor anything else for that matter, besides flat and sharp notes. And even then I have to count lines to see where I am, then get my four-octave keyboard and try and guess how whatever note I'm trying to record sounds with comparison to the previous, all of which I have already forgotten.

[hectorberlioz]

Originally Posted by trolls' bane

Not quite. It had over two hours worth of what was perhaps a badly tuned harpsicord, or a badly tuned organ, because I couldn't tell either way. Well, that's what I think. It gave me a headache after the first thirty minutes. There's only so much of either that you can handle, especially an organ.
Well, I envy you because your book is filled up. I know how to read and write up to an eight note, but those that are connected (?), have a sideways parenthases thing, or a crescendo or decrescendo, I don't know, nor anything else for that matter, besides flat and sharp notes. And even then I have to count lines to see where I am, then get my four-octave keyboard and try and guess how whatever note I'm trying to record sounds with comparison to the previous, all of which I have already forgotten.

Well, the sideways parentheses may occasionally mean that you hold down a note from one measure to another...but it really depends.

You don't like Organ!

[trolls' bane]

Originally Posted by hectorberlioz

Well, the sideways parentheses may occasionally mean that you hold down a note from one measure to another...but it really depends.

You don't like Organ!

Oh, okay, that's what I thought, sort of...

Only up to a certain point, then it gives me a headache. Since it was extremely hot (the desert is finally making up for its cold!), it didn't help very much either.