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The Pessimist
Prog Reviewer
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Topic: Classical Masterpieces Posted: June 22 2009 at 14:34 |
Just a small selection of classical pieces that really got me over the years, and after a long while listening to them I still find endless enjoyment in each. Arguably not the best out there, but they are the best to me. Some are quite obscure, but if you can try and listen to each one before you vote because they all really deserve some attention. For me, my vote goes to the Brahms. It's yet to be topped in my books.
And no Mozart putdowns. He was good damnit, especially the Requiem.
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"Market value is irrelevant to intrinsic value." Arnold Schoenberg
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BaldFriede
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Posted: June 22 2009 at 15:17 |
I think "Jupiter" should not be taken out of its context, which is Holst's "Planet" suite. It is like naming only one movement of a symphony. I prefer "The Rites of Spring" to "Firebird", so my vote goes to "St. Matthew's Passion". Else it would have been a draw between Bach and Stravinsky.
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BaldJean and I; I am the one in blue.
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St.Cleve Chronicle
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Posted: June 22 2009 at 15:19 |
My vote goes to Finlandia for patriotic reasons.
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Rocktopus
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Posted: June 22 2009 at 15:39 |
St. Matthew's Passion out of these. But really, over three hours of Bach up against eight minutes of Holst?
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Over land and under ashes In the sunlight, see - it flashes Find a fly and eat his eye But don't believe in me Don't believe in me Don't believe in me
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The Pessimist
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Posted: June 22 2009 at 16:22 |
I think it's still a close call. Quality over quantity, not saying Bach is bad or anything though. Quite the opposite.
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"Market value is irrelevant to intrinsic value." Arnold Schoenberg
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BaldFriede
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Posted: June 22 2009 at 16:31 |
The Pessimist wrote:
I think it's still a close call. Quality over quantity, not saying Bach is bad or anything though. Quite the opposite.
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But why did you pick out "Jupiter"? it is not a stand-alone piece.
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BaldJean and I; I am the one in blue.
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The Pessimist
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Posted: June 22 2009 at 17:29 |
BaldFriede wrote:
The Pessimist wrote:
I think it's still a close call. Quality over quantity, not saying Bach is bad or anything though. Quite the opposite.
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But why did you pick out "Jupiter"? it is not a stand-alone piece.
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Because it's my favourite from The Planets Suite. Problem at all?
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"Market value is irrelevant to intrinsic value." Arnold Schoenberg
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Ricochet
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Posted: June 22 2009 at 17:43 |
Excluding Purcell and Bach, which I've yet to hear (I know: for shame re: Matheuspassion), I think I'll go with Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet! It's a masterpiece, and it's my favourite of the listed ones. Stravinsky comes second.
Footnote: Pathetique isn't Beethoven's finest piano sonata. Fighting words: I don't like Holst.
Edited by Ricochet - June 22 2009 at 17:44
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The Pessimist
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Posted: June 22 2009 at 17:47 |
Rico, thanks for your input. As for the Beethoven and Holst comments... All down to opinion at the end of the day really. Personally I think the opening to Pathetique is the finest piece of Beethoven ever, but there you go, one man's beer is another man's piss.
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"Market value is irrelevant to intrinsic value." Arnold Schoenberg
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harmonium.ro
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Posted: June 22 2009 at 17:52 |
I also voted for Romeo and Juliet. Not only because I like it, but also because it was superbly covered (or better say, interpreted) by one of my favourite prog bands (let's see who guesses which band it is). This doesn't detract from Mozart, Bach and Beethoven being my favourite classical composers.
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Ricochet
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Posted: June 22 2009 at 18:00 |
harmonium.ro wrote:
I also voted for Romeo and Juliet. Not only because I like it, but also because it was superbly covered (or better say, interpreted) by one of my favourite prog bands (let's see who guesses which band it is). |
ELP, who else. But...3 minutes of cover compared to the 2 original hours?
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Ricochet
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Posted: June 22 2009 at 18:01 |
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Rocktopus
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Posted: June 22 2009 at 18:22 |
The Pessimist wrote:
BaldFriede wrote:
The Pessimist wrote:
I think it's still a close call. Quality over quantity, not saying Bach is bad or anything though. Quite the opposite.
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But why did you pick out "Jupiter"? it is not a stand-alone piece.
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Because it's my favourite from The Planets Suite. Problem at all?
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Its not that I'll loose sleep because of it, but its similar to ask what is your favorite between The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway and Comfortably Numb. Its obviously possible to answer (and to have both as favorites), but Jupiter is an "extract" like Erbarme Dich Mein Gott, and The Planets is the grand work, like St. Matthew's Passion.
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Over land and under ashes In the sunlight, see - it flashes Find a fly and eat his eye But don't believe in me Don't believe in me Don't believe in me
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The T
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Posted: June 22 2009 at 18:37 |
Mozart's Requiem for me, closely followed by Bach's Matthaus Passion.
I also don't agree with dividing a work and puting just one movement as its representative. Isn't that like those "Classical music highlights" cds we proggers should hate?
Now that I think of it, who are we to say enjoying just part of one work is not as legitimate as enjoying the whole piece?
Anyway, it is kind of weird to compare an 8 minute movement vs a 2hour+ monster
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harmonium.ro
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Posted: June 22 2009 at 18:46 |
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Bitterblogger
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Posted: June 22 2009 at 18:58 |
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The Pessimist
Prog Reviewer
Joined: June 13 2007
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Posted: June 22 2009 at 19:00 |
The T wrote:
Anyway, it is kind of weird to compare an 8 minute movement vs a 2hour+ monster |
It does seem kind of weird from a distance, but look at the title. I consider Jupiter to be a masterpiece on its own, but I don't consider the entirety of The Planets to be a masterpiece as it does have flaws for me. I do however consider all of Matthew's (or Matthaus) passion to be a masterpiece. I'm not exactly comparing them, just telling you the pieces of music that I consider to be masterpieces. Hope everyone understands that. By the way, good choice on Requiem. I feared it wouldn't get that many votes, which is a massive shame.
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"Market value is irrelevant to intrinsic value." Arnold Schoenberg
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Ricochet
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Posted: June 22 2009 at 19:06 |
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The Pessimist
Prog Reviewer
Joined: June 13 2007
Location: United Kingdom
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Points: 3834
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Posted: June 22 2009 at 19:48 |
The death metal band Necrophagist do a short homage to R&J at the end of their song "Only Ashes Remain", any of you metalheads on the forum that don't already know that. It's really quite good I think, although they only cover the main theme once which is a shame.
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"Market value is irrelevant to intrinsic value." Arnold Schoenberg
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meptune
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Joined: October 01 2008
Location: United States
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Points: 231
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Posted: June 24 2009 at 01:59 |
Everything you've listed is fabulous. Not necessarily my favorites by each composer, but definitely all wonderful works by brilliant composers. But you put Bach in there and that clinches it for me. I've said in other posts that my two favorite composers in the world are Bach and Zappa. Those two names will sway me in almost any poll.
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"Arf, she said"
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