I know most of us here like classical music and there are some performers here. I have a question: What is the single classical composition that touches you the most deeply?
I'm not a particular sensitive person but I'll start this off by citing a a work that reduces me to a quivering blob of protoplasm. From Jules Massenet's Thaïs, the beautiful Méditation for violin.
--- CHAS
A tune that make feel well is the first movement of Fourth Symphony of Gustav Mahler.
"Fatti non foste a viver come bruti ma per seguir virtute e canoscenza"
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Nice choices.
Can I have some part-songs? As Torrents in Summer by Elgar, The Long Day Closes by Sullivan. Kind of corny, but lovely none the less.
The HARMONIEMESSE, particularly the KYRIE, which is one of the most emotional slow movements that Haydn ever wrote.
God is subtle, but He is not malicious. (Albert Einstein)
Suzume-san .. You can cite whatever you want. Songs, symphonies, concertos, bagatelles, divertimentos, sonatas, concertinas, oratorios .. whatever.
Elgar is magnificent. I can usually detect his 'signature' on works that I have never before heard.
--- CHAS
The Finale from Stravinsky's "Firebird".
So it goes.
Mozart's Piano Concerto 23 Adagio. Without a doubt.
It is soooo depressingly beautiful :D
In the Hall of the Mountain King. So scary-sounding. Makes me pee my pants.
The Ode to Joy gives me goosebumps every time.
How can something be beautiful and depressing at the same time? Are not the two things exclusive one another?
shareThat's a question to be asked in a philosophy class not on these boards ;-). I think something can be beautiful and depressing at the same time especially since everyone has a different way of looking at the same thing. I think it can't really be depressing and happy at the same time (although I'm sure there are instances of it) but think of the changing fall leaves. Beautiful in their vibrant warm colors, yet depressing due to the fact that it is the end of summer and the warm weather, and the leaves will shrivel and die soon-after.
shareOff the top of my head I have to say "Don Giovanni! a cenar teco m'invitasti" from Don Giovanni.
But on second though Ode to Joy is always very awesome. Other honorable mentions go to Non Piu Andrai, Non So Piu Cosa Non, and Gente, Gente, All' Armi, All' Armi.
I love all of Bach's Brandenberg Concertos, particularly No. 2. Of Mozart's work, I probably like the Requiem most of all.
Do I gotta kill you to prove I like you?
I don't know about touching, but for exciting, William Walton's Belshazzar's Feast. If you don't know it, get hold of it, have a listen and see if you agree with me. Sing, sing aloud, for Babylon the Great is fallen!
The 4th movement of Dvorak's Symphony #9 "from the new world", and The Pine Of The Appian Way from The Pines Of Rome by Respighi. All of Applachian Spring by Aaron Copland.
shareMy favorite lieder, or in this case songs, have to be the Last Four Songs by Richard Strauss. No other lieder can compare; however, the best lieder of the 21st century is the Neruda songs by Hunt Lieberson.
As for overall favorite composition: Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2 This is what you use to get people hooked on piano concertos.
Some other favorites:
Piano Sonatas: Beethoven-probably his last sonata (did you know he came up with jazz?) tied with Tempest
Other piano solos: Rachmaninoff (Etude Tableaux op. 39 no. 5)tied with Chopin (either a nocturne or ballade)...oh and Debussy is still a favorite
Piano Concertos: Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2 with Beethoven Piano Concerto no. 4 behind it
Cello and piano sonata: Rachmaninoff
Violin sonata: Beethoven...no particular favorites
String quartet: Beethoven. No question. Listen to the Grosse fugue
Symphony: Well here's a tough decision. I love Bruckner, Mahler, Sibelius, Beethoven, and Brahms. My absolute favorite alternates between Bruckner's 8th symphony, Beethoven's symphonies, and Sibelius's symphony no. 5
Tone Poem: Arrgh. To go with Sibelius or Richard Strauss? I'll go with Strauss' Tod und Verkarung (death and transfiguration)
Opera: Well, I'm not a big opera fan, but you can never go wrong with Mozart's the Magic Flute.
Cello concerto: Well since people usually go with Dvorak's, which you should all listen to, I'll go with Elgar's cello concerto
That's all for now.
Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former.