Classical Music

[hectorberlioz]

FIRST POST IN CM THREAD

For those of you who do not listen to this genre of music i have decided to try and give a history lesson.

Johann Sebastian Bach is basically the father of classical music. there were other guys before him, but not as important. Bach also was the father of a ton of kids, five or six whom were also composers later on. his eldest son: Johannn Christian, later tutored Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Mozart tutored Beethoven for a slight while(and Beethoven was also tutored by Antonio Salieri, the supposed rival and murderer of Mozart-but the chances of his bieng murdered by salieri are slight- Salieri also tutored Franz Schubert.
Hector Berlioz. this guy is french and was his music was persecuted in his home city of paris in his best years. he also was a part time friend/rival of Richard Wagner. however, Berlioz was an influence on the "great five" of Russia who were the fathers of music in Russia.
John Cage. this guy decided that piano music should be written through some complicated mathematical method of his. not many followed his footsteps.
Igor Stravinsky. this guy decided that all classical music should sound superflous monotonous and boring. many did follow his footsteps, thats why no modern classical music composer to date is good or famous.
i hope my history lesson has been helpful and fun. there is a ton more interesting history to give if any body wants to know.
i hope there is a lot of classical music fans out there that are willing to discuss this subject.

I wonder why I didnt like Stravinsky....wow, I was naive to the max.

[trolls' bane]

Originally Posted by hectorberlioz

FIRST POST IN CM THREAD

I wonder why I didnt like Stravinsky....wow, I was naive to the max.

Gosh, have I even heard Stavinsky? It seems I would have...Oh, wait, I heard him a few nights ago on KUSC . I think .

[hectorberlioz]

Where the heck is Chrys? He hasn't been on the Moot in quite awhile. Is there something I missed?

[trolls' bane]

I don't know! He came back a few days ago, supposedly for good, and hasn't been heard from since.

[Earniel]

This thread will be closed. The new thread can be found here.

[Elvedans]

Originally posted by Khamûl
You have very good taste, especially with the Four Seasons and the Adagio for Strings.

Why thankyou!

[azalea]

Originally posted by IronParrot
I'm very wary of using the term "classical" as it does refer to a very distinct compositional paradigm in the years from Hadyn to Beethoven.

I've been listening to a lot of Chopin lately. I was rediscovering a lot of his pieces on the piano over the summer so I thought it was worth it to stock up on some records where the professionals show me how it's supposed to be done.

So would you call it symphonic music if you were refering to it as a whole (everything of that style including those years)?

[Elvengirl]

Originally posted by Arien the Maia
I took piano lessons for 3 years and before that I took organ lessons for a few years too. I briefly tried to play the flute but to no such avail I would love though to be able to play the Viola and the Classical Guitar!!!! the viola rocks!!! does anyone knoe if it's possible to teach it to youself from out of a book?

I played violin for several years and I love classical music.
I actually do know of a book that is very simple and teaches on a very good gradient level. If you're interested, you can look at the website.
www.violinbook.com
There are books for viola and cello as well as violin.

I think it is better to have a teacher, but these books are written so that you can teach yourself, like a homeschool study. They are very good.

Hope that helps! I agree, viola is a beautiful instrument, and you should definitely take it up.

[galadriel]

Originally posted by IronParrot
I'm very wary of using the term "classical" as it does refer to a very distinct compositional paradigm in the years from Hadyn to Beethoven.

You have a point... but it's easier to use the same terminology as everyone else, even if it is imprecise. Besides, imprecision in languages is what makes them fun!

[hectorberlioz]

Of course i was aware that there was "periods" baroque, classical, romantic. "Classical" is what its been labeled, so, i'm going to continue to call it that.

[Sheeana]

I must say that I haven't really done classical to any big extent, but I guess I'm more of a mozart person than anything else (evil BF's influence there.) I also like to some extent Albinoni, Vivaldi, and Bach. But again, I've only really listened to a few scant things, so... Oh, I've also listened to a small amount of Wagner's The Ring.

Edit: Are we considering contemporary composers? If so, I'd like to add Bartok as well.

[hectorberlioz]

yeah, every classical music composer. i like bartok quite a bit.
i like your new avatar sheeana.

[katya]

I guess classical music can really have two meanings: Music from the classical period, and any sort of "serious" music whether it be baroque, romantic, or whatever. Anyway, I like Tchaikovsky a lot. And all the famous guys, you know, Beethoven, whatever. I have been playing a lot of Chopin on piano lately as well. I think it's my new favourite on piano! (Except maybe Ludolph Arens who probably not that many people have heard of...and Chopin's better anyway!) I tend, actually, to prefer a lot of Romantic music to Classical. I really like Rachmoninov! As far as contemporary goes, I like some of it, but not a lot. If I'm listening to something contemporary, it's probably pop music. (Not pop exactly, but well you know, popular music: rock, etc.) I like Bartok though! Pretty cool!

[katya]

By the way, how do you pronounce Berlioz? (I'm so clueless!)
And guess what? I'm going to go see Madam Butterfly at the opera house! (Don't ask me which one...) I love that story!

[hectorberlioz]

just like you read it. bear-lee-oz(but not like "oz" as in wizard of oz, it kinda mixes with an a.)
Glad you like rachmaninov
try Franz Liszt

[Khamûl]

Rachmaninoff was one crazy Russian. I've tried to play some of his stuff, and wow was it hard. (See Prelude Opus 3 No. 2 in C sharp minor)

In my opinion, Liszt also suffered bouts of temporary insanity when it came to writing music. If you don't believe me, go play the cadenza involving the descending major and minor thirds near the end of Libestraum. If you can, you're a better pianist (or at least you practice more ) than me.

[jellyfishannah]

i love crazy fast piano.
have you heard of a pianist named "alexander tutolov"? i met him, he sometimes visits our church.

[hectorberlioz]

you met alexander tutolov? oh my goodness! do you know how famous he is!? meeting him is like meeting chopin or liszt!
i love crazy fast piano also.

[Alqualaure]

I'm a lover of many kinds of music, but opera is my special passion... Puccini, especially, but also Verdi, Wagner, Dvorak, Mascagni, etc... I adore La Boheme, Madama Butterfly, Turandot, Aida, Rigoletto, Cavalleria rusticana, Rusalka - I could go on and on, but I'll spare you - LOL!

Any other opera lovers out there?

[hectorberlioz]

i havent listened to a lot, but what i've heard i've liked(especially puccini).