NationStates Jolt Archive

By "Classical" I do not mean the specific sense, composers from around 1750 to 1820, but in the more general sense, whatever that is.
Actually, that's the second part of the question (the first being which composer is your favorite): what is "classical" music?

There will be a poll, eventually.

EDIT: I added a poll; please don't kill me over it. There are only ten spots, nine if you consider one of them has to be "Other." I based it on what people have said so far, my favorite, and this random list I found on the Internet. (http://digitaldreamdoor.com/pages/best-classic-comp.html). I also tried to not favor one nationality or era.

I personally love Shostakovich, but I’m no expert.

I personally love Shostakovich, but I’m no expert.

I don't think someone needs to be an expert to enjoy music, even classical. Academics would give jazz snob appeal if they could. Oh wait...:)

I enjoy Schumann, and most of the other Romantics. Oddly enough, I don't really like Romantic poetry or art, just the music.

And to answer the second part of my own question: I don't know, that's why I asked it.

Aside from my brother, I tend to particularly enjoy the German and Russian Romantics and Neo-Romantics - Mahler and Tchaikovsky in particular. (And I tend, like you, to like the music better than the poetry or art.)

By "Classical" I do not mean the specific sense, composers from around 1750 to 1820, but in the more general sense, whatever that is.
Actually, that's the second part of the question (the first being which composer is your favorite): what is "classical" music?

There will be a poll, eventually.

Actually, it's an excellent question. :) And it just so happens I have an excellent expert to call on - my little bro, the conductor, composer, and professor of music.

Thomas: And to digress for a minute . . . what can we call music that is intended for the "concert hall?" It may not be 'serious' -- or even orchestral. But it's not pop or whatever else. Maybe we can coin a new term here.

Eric McIntyre: I use a variety of terms. The one I use most commonly is "art music," but there are many who are turned off by this one. I look at this term as distinguishing it from music that has a more practical application (most notably, making money). I may also use a specific term such as chamber music, orchestral music, etc to clarify what I mean. The term "serious" seems to have been put to rest in many contexts, perhaps my favorite being in Milton Babbitt's famous "Who Cares if You Listen?" article. Art is about as hard as anything to define, but I think "art music" is a good, reliable term for the music we are discussing. Oh, and another well-loved term is "concert music." This is the term used by ASCAP to define music that falls in this category - music that is designed with a concert-going audience in mind.
http://www.scene4.com/archivesqv6/oct-2005/html/thomasoct05.html

(The rest of the interview is a good read as well.)

1.) I'm rather partial to the works of J. S. Bach (especially instrumental works), Igor Stravinsky (just about anything), Bela Bartok (especially 'early'/'dissonant' works), the 'American school' of Samuel Barber, Aaron Copland, Leonard Bernstein, etc.; and I like very much some individual works of other composers the rest of whose work I am rather apathetic towards at best, such as the Shostakovich First Cello Concerto and Nielsen Fifth Symphony. That's just off the top of my head in the last five minutes, too.

2.) 'Classical music' is anything produced by an author who identifies as a classical composer, unless otherwise labeled.

I enjoy the works of Alexander Borodin (Russian), Jean Sibelius (Finnish), Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (Russian), and Ludwig von Beethoven (German).

I don’t think someone needs to be an expert to enjoy music, even classical.
I quite agree. I was more meaning that I do not have a huge knowledge of classical music and classical composers; for all I know there may be a hundred composers I like far more than Shostakovich.

While thinking about this, though, I must mention Arvo Pärt. Spiegel im Spiegel (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtFPdBUl7XQ&feature=related) is one of my favourite pieces of music.

While thinking about this, though, I must mention Arvo Pärt. Spiegel im Spiegel (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtFPdBUl7XQ&feature=related) is one of my favourite pieces of music.

I've never heard this before now. I can see why it's your favorite; it's beautiful. There are much better ways to describe it, but I'm tired, and anyone who wants a good description can just click on the link and listen themselves.

Handel! :D

Under your definition, Beethoven, hands down.

NL: I must ask, where are you from?

Re your poll, I do rather like the music of Vaughan Williams (along with Bartok and Sibelius, one of the few Romantics I can tolerate for more than about twenty minutes), but he's rarely heard in the parts of the United States I frequent. I'm assuming he's more popular in Britain (:p) but nonetheless:

Sir Mix-a-Lot

Grieg.

Sir Mix-a-Lot

Haha!

I always thought Sir Mix-a-lot was Old School, not Classic.

:p

Haha!

I always thought Sir Mix-a-lot was Old School, not Classic.

:p

:D I was referencing that Futurma episode

While I abhor his political views, personally I enjoy the music of Richard Wagner. For some reason, the one tune that stays with me is the Tannhauser Overture.

Beethoven was my first, so I'm always a little biased towards him.

By "Classical" I do not mean the specific sense, composers from around 1750 to 1820, but in the more general sense, whatever that is.

Glad you understand the difference.

I have too many favourites, basically. As a general rule, early twentieth century instrumental, Renaissance choral, and late twentieth century choral are my favourite 'areas', but there are specific pieces outside of that which I love. Perennial favourites are Bartok, Stravinsky, Byrd and Whitacre.

Actually, that's the second part of the question (the first being which composer is your favorite): what is "classical" music?

Good question, when I'm back after my passiontide service, I'll attempt an answer.

my favorite contemporary classical composer is that ananda guy, who'se name slips my mind at the moment.

well at least he's one of them.

oh, i would also define classical as where you tell a story, in a way not dependent on sung or spoken lyrics, with melody and timbre and a sequence of multiple 'movements'. and that doesn't need to exclude the popular genre's of any era either. by that deffinician, i think some of the moody blues first seven alblums qualify. as do a lot of so called 'experimental' things. even 'musique concrete' can be effectively employed.

=^^=
.../\...

Handel

Shostakovich

There are a lot of composers I'm very fond of, but I would say that Rachmaninoff is properly my favourite.

Other: Wagner or Prokofiev. From your poll, either Vivaldi or Tchaikovsky.

While I abhor his political views, personally I enjoy the music of Richard Wagner. For some reason, the one tune that stays with me is the Tannhauser Overture.

Indeed, awesome composer even if he was a nut.

I stopped using "classical" as a term when I learned that it meant a specific era. I now use "concert music" to describe everything from symphonies to art song to chamber music and stuff for choirs, wind ensembles, and the whole range of compositions designed to be heard for their own sake in a concert hall, regardless of size.

Yes, I know that all kinds of music can be heard "in concert", but it is generally not described that way -- rock, rap, and other popular genres are now presented in "shows". Seriously, when's the last time you said "I'm going to the Rage Against the Machine concert?" It's usually a show.

So that's what helps me set Classical (capital C) into it's rightful place as a descriptor of the form-centered and pan-nationalistic music of Mozart, Haydn, and the like.

As for a favorite, that depends a lot on mood.

Lars Johan von Werle
Sven-David Sandstrom
Lloyd Pfautsch
Knut Nystedt
Edwin Fissinger
Ottorino Respighi
Henryk Gorecki
William L. Dawson
Jester Hairston
Eric Whitacre
Benjamin Britten
Ralph Vaughan-Williams
Heitor Villa-Lobos
Alberto Ginastera
Olivier Messiaen
Edward Elgar
Camille Saint-Saens
Richard Strauss
Hector Berlioz
Heinrich Schuetz
Giovanni Gabrieli

Palestrina
Monteverdi
Bach
Mozart
Beethoven
Brahms
Verdi

I love Shostakovich's 5th symphony especially played by the Russians. IMO, one of the greatest classical pieces ever written is Bartok's Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta.

Good question, when I'm back after my passiontide service, I'll attempt an answer.

Ok, some thoughts:

'Classical' is generally in a dichotomy with 'popular' (something like jazz provides a bridge between the two). One might simplify the two extremes as 'complex' and 'simple' involving multiple variables, but there are always exceptions to this, and something can sound very simple but in fact be very hierarchical and structured (i.e. Mozart). The distinction comes from the precision of notation and performance, general audience cultural groups and its use by them.

In the past 'classical' was generally the heard by the rich and privileged, this trend is not so strong any more. It was a tradition developing throughout the second millennium, generally in the charge of churches. Some might give a synonym of 'art music' but I feel this implies popular styles are somehow devoid of artistic insight, which is unfair. Popular styles may make more use of repetition of simple progressions and borrowed material, but I think the way it is put together can just as easily be described as 'art' (though I would say it seems a 'classical' composer may put more structured thought into a piece).

Perhaps the main thing for me is a sense of being able to put narrative, meaning and emotional outline into music without need for words, in a way that popular styles have never had the same effect (for me). If words are added (choral music, lieder), the effect can be amplified, though sometimes I just prefer instrumental or am willing to listen to something in a language I don't understand, with the knowledge that I will have an understanding of the text through its musical setting.

I stopped using "classical" as a term when I learned that it meant a specific era. I now use "concert music" to describe everything from symphonies to art song to chamber music and stuff for choirs, wind ensembles, and the whole range of compositions designed to be heard for their own sake in a concert hall, regardless of size.

Yes, I know that all kinds of music can be heard "in concert", but it is generally not described that way -- rock, rap, and other popular genres are now presented in "shows". Seriously, when's the last time you said "I'm going to the Rage Against the Machine concert?" It's usually a show.

So that's what helps me set Classical (capital C) into it's rightful place as a descriptor of the form-centered and pan-nationalistic music of Mozart, Haydn, and the like.

As for a favorite, that depends a lot on mood.

Lars Johan von Werle
Sven-David Sandstrom
Lloyd Pfautsch
Knut Nystedt
Edwin Fissinger
Ottorino Respighi
Henryk Gorecki
William L. Dawson
Jester Hairston
Eric Whitacre
Benjamin Britten
Ralph Vaughan-Williams
Heitor Villa-Lobos
Alberto Ginastera
Olivier Messiaen
Edward Elgar
Camille Saint-Saens
Richard Strauss
Hector Berlioz
Heinrich Schuetz
Giovanni Gabrieli

Palestrina
Monteverdi
Bach
Mozart
Beethoven
Brahms
Verdi

I always like your posts in these types of thread, every time it gives me some new names to look up and listen to, or things to think about. :)

Henryk Gorecki
I did a little bit of digging, after NL reminded me of Arvo Pärt, and came across some of Górecki’s stuff. It’s wonderful.

Opus 44 especially.

My favorites, I think, are Mendelssohn(thank you, spell checker) and Bach. My favorite pieces are "Toccata and Fugue in D minor" by Bach, "Canon" by Pachelbel, Corelli's "La Folia" and Liszt's "Hungarian Rhapsody".

I did a little bit of digging, after NL reminded me of Arvo Pärt, and came across some of Górecki’s stuff. It’s wonderful.

Opus 44 especially.

Some of it is lovely yes. Try the Totus tuus as well.

(Op. 44 is entitled 'Miserere' by the way)

Ok, some thoughts:
-snip-

Just for you, I'm emailing this exact post to my little bro and asking for his comentary. :)

<snip list>

*scribbles on sticky note and heads for the library*

Didn't even know half of those. I almost feel ashamed now. :(

For modern orchestral composers, Britten and Williams are right up there. J.S. Bach is my all time favorite. Although, I kind of envy Vivaldi -- living in girl's school can't be all bad.

NL: I must ask, where are you from?

Re your poll, I do rather like the music of Vaughan Williams (along with Bartok and Sibelius, one of the few Romantics I can tolerate for more than about twenty minutes), but he's rarely heard in the parts of the United States I frequent. I'm assuming he's more popular in Britain (:p) but nonetheless:

I live on the East Coast of the US. I hear a lot of Vaughan Williams, actually; for some reason a good deal of the music in our hymnals was composed by him. After I heard that, I started looking for other stuff he wrote, and loved it, especially Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis.

I live on the East Coast of the US. I hear a lot of Vaughan Williams, actually; for some reason a good deal of the music in our hymnals was composed by him. After I heard that, I started looking for other stuff he wrote, and loved it, especially Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis.

I particularly enjoy Vaughan Williams' Fantasia on Greensleeves.

Bach hands dwon
Beethoven
Vivaldi
Verdi
Schumann
Tchaikovsky
Shostakovitch
Vaughan Williams

Mozart is for sissies

Wagner and Stravinsky

I live on the East Coast of the US. I hear a lot of Vaughan Williams, actually; for some reason a good deal of the music in our hymnals was composed by him. After I heard that, I started looking for other stuff he wrote, and loved it, especially Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis.

I particularly enjoy Vaughan Williams' Fantasia on Greensleeves.

A link (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5y7nJL1hpUU) and a link (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlABnm6g4fI) for people who are interested (and don't know how to use YouTube :)).
NB Fantasia is long, but well worth it.

I live on the East Coast of the US. I hear a lot of Vaughan Williams, actually; for some reason a good deal of the music in our hymnals was composed by him. After I heard that, I started looking for other stuff he wrote, and loved it, especially Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis.

That does make sense; he was an organist, I believe, and spent part of his career researching English folksong including hymns, so I'm not particularly surprised by that.

I know the Fantasia only vaguely, but of the instrumental music, I especially like the third, fourth, and fifth symphonies, Job, and some of the chamber music for piano/strings (don't remember any titles atm, but I had at one point a CD somewhere about....)

Just for you, I'm emailing this exact post to my little bro and asking for his comentary. :)

Aww, that's very nice of you. I shall look forward to the reply (though I would stress my post was rather rambling over some thoughts I had at the time. I'm not sure it's possible to define 'classical').

Aww, that's very nice of you. I shall look forward to the reply (though I would stress my post was rather rambling over some thoughts I had at the time. I'm not sure it's possible to define 'classical').

:) His reply was:

A "classic" issue. Anyway, I did address this briefly in the interview I did for Scene 4 a few years back:
http://www.scene4.com/archivesqv6/oct-2005/html/thomasoct05.html

That's the interview I posted earlier above.

Of the listed composers in the poll, Shostakovich, particularly the 8th and 10th symphonies and Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk.

That said, these things are almost always partially a matter of mood, and I'm quite partial to J.S. Bach at times too.

Of composers not listed, my favourite is Sergei Taneyev; what I wouldn't do for a complete recording of his Oresteia to be released on CD. As it is, we have to make do with a nearly-complete version in a recording of the works of Sofya Preobrazhenskaya and recordings of the overture and the 'Temple of Apollo at Delphi' sequence on a variety of recordings. His chamber music and a Pletnev recording of his final cantata 'At the Reading of a Psalm' are more widely available. Given my love of both Russian music and Bach, Taneyev's perhaps a natural fit for me given his massive technical studies of counterpoint.

And while it may not always be fashionable, I'll admit a soft spot for Rachmaninov.

Otherwise, it tends to be invidual works that grab me rather than composers. For example, Janacek's Glagolithic Mass, various of Villa-Lobos' Bachianas Brasileiras, Mussorgksy's Boris Gudonov, Suk's Asrael Symphony, the Grieg Piano Concerto, some Scriabin, and Frei Manuel Cardoso's Requiem are all pieces or composers that I'm fond of depending on my mood.

I enjoy the work of a lot of composers, but Bach tops my list.
I did an exchange in Germany for university, and visited the house where he was born; and it was a highlight of my trip.

Sir William Elgar. mostly for his Engima Varriations amd Grieg (The guy who did in the halls of the mountian king)

Well, I'm listening to Symphony and Metallica right now, and I must say that it is pure genius to put together an orchestra and heavy metal. So, my hat goes off to Michael Kamen for composing this fusion of Classical and metal. So he's my favorite.

After him, I'm quite a fan of Johann Strauss, Bach and Beethoven.

Beethoven overall, although I love Bach (well, 'tis the season, and the B Minor Mass is the best argument I've heard so far for religion) and Mozart as well.

I'm listening to Gavin Bryars' "Jesus' Blood (Never Failed Me Yet)" quite a lot at the moment, and I don't normally like modern stuff. It's a wonderful and very moving piece of music, and touches the listener on so many levels.

The term "academic music" is more accurate.

It is hard to decide, I think everyone has its moments, and different messages. I went with Tchaikovsky just for variety, but the amount of works that I do include in my favourite list is ample indeed.

Well, I'm listening to Symphony and Metallica right now, and I must say that it is pure genius to put together an orchestra and heavy metal. So, my hat goes off to Michael Kamen for composing this fusion of Classical and metal. So he's my favorite.

After him, I'm quite a fan of Johann Strauss, Bach and Beethoven.
Michael Kamen... One of the few people I've ever met to whom I took an instant dislike.

I voted for Vivaldi, but I also like Beethoven, Mozart, Verdi, Pachbel and Eric Satie.

Michael Kamen... One of the few people I've ever met to whom I took an instant dislike.

Might I ask why?

Might I ask why?
I had to work with him over a few nights when he was guest conducting an orchestra I volunteer at -- I don't play, I just seat people and help out backstage -- they don't seem to need banjo players onstage.

He just had an overly arrogant attitude, even for a conductor. I'm usually friendly with everyone, but I couldn't even get a response to "Hi, how are y'all doin'?". Must be all those Hollywood credits.

I had to work with him over a few nights when he was guest conducting an orchestra I volunteer at -- I don't play, I just seat people and help out backstage -- they don't seem to need banjo players onstage.

He just had an overly arrogant attitude, even for a conductor. I'm usually friendly with everyone, but I couldn't even get a response to "Hi, how are y'all doin'?". Must be all those Hollywood credits.

Or maybe hes just a prick. Id imagine Metallica's prickdom either rubs off on you, or you need to be a prick to work with them while keeping your sanity.

Or maybe hes just a prick. Id imagine Metallica's prickdom either rubs off on you, or you need to be a prick to work with them while keeping your sanity.

Maybe that's it. I just don't get impressed with credits like DieHard and Lethal Weapon...But, if he had composed the score for "The Magnificent Seven", I'd have been impressed.

:) His reply was:


That's the interview I posted earlier above.

That was a really interesting article, thanks for that. Having a look at your brother's website at the moment and will have a listen to some pieces later :)

Maybe that's it. I just don't get impressed with credits like DieHard and Lethal Weapon...But, if he had composed the score for "The Magnificent Seven", I'd have been impressed.

His music for Band of Brothers was nice, if a blatant remixing of Mendelssohn's nocturne from A Midsummer night's dream.

Richard Wagner

Edvard Grieg

Sergei Prokofiev

Sir William Elgar. mostly for his Engima Varriations amd Grieg (The guy who did in the halls of the mountian king)

Actually, Edward Elgar wrote the Variations on an original theme for orchestra. His father was William.


My most favorite is Chopin, someone not many have commented on. As a keyboardist and instrumentalist, I tend to lean considerably to keyboard compositions. So Bach is up there as well as Liszt. However, the list of "favorites" tends to run too long.

I don't care much for atonal (Schoenberg, Webern, Messiaen -sp?-...), but I do appreciate it and the sometimes underlying intricacy. Rachmaninoff is ok, IMO. The orchestral Romantics I don't much care for.

Stravinsky! I forgot Stravinsky.

Stravinsky! I forgot Stravinsky.

Yeah, my main man. You should be scorned for forgetting him.


You did however mention Wagner. So I guess you get less scorn.

Yeah, my main man. You should be scorned for forgetting him.


You did however mention Wagner. So I guess you get less scorn.

Wagner and Stravinsky? Such an angry, angry man.

I'm kidding, I like both as well, despite Wagner's proto-Nazism. And unfortunately, I cannot listen to Rite of Spring without imaging dinosaurs.

Wagner and Stravinsky? Such an angry, angry man.

I'm kidding, I like both as well, despite Wagner's proto-Nazism. And unfortunately, I cannot listen to Rite of Spring without imaging dinosaurs.

Fantasia really has ingrained certain things on a generation, hasn't it. But I don't regret watching it countless times when I was younger at all, it was one of the major influences on getting me interesting in classical music.

Wagner is nice in moderation. I love all things Stravinskyan.

Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov here...followed by Vivaldi.

My personal rank is about
Beethoven in the first place
then the other favourites: Wagner, S'ostakovic', Rossini, Liszt, Schumann, Schubert, Mendelsohn-Bartholdy, Prokofeev, Mussorgskij, Bartok, Janacek, Debussy, Satie, Brahms, Chopin, Stravinskij, Rachmaninov, Verdi.

George Frideric Handel!

His music for Band of Brothers was nice, if a blatant remixing of Mendelssohn's nocturne from A Midsummer night's dream.
It's funny, as many times as I've seen the "Band of Brothers", I don't recall the score. In fact, that's true in most movies. The score just overwhelms you in "The Magnificent Seven", though. Then again, maybe it's all those Marlboro commercials I watched growing up.

It's funny, as many times as I've seen the "Band of Brothers", I don't recall the score. In fact, that's true in most movies. The score just overwhelms you in "The Magnificent Seven", though. Then again, maybe it's all those Marlboro commercials I watched growing up.

I suppose there are different types of soundtracks, some that are very memorable and others that are not, but both can equally suit a film/tv series. To be honest, the only part I can remember from BoB was the opening and ending music, which was basically the same each time, and considering there were 12 (?) episodes each with this theme twice framing them, it became quite memorable.

I suppose there are different types of soundtracks, some that are very memorable and others that are not, but both can equally suit a film/tv series. To be honest, the only part I can remember from BoB was the opening and ending music, which was basically the same each time, and considering there were 12 (?) episodes each with this theme twice framing them, it became quite memorable.
I don't think I ever started watching at the very beginning and I'm too impatient to wait out the credits on a TV show. Plus, the network has a way of truncating that part, too.