Your Favorites Of Classical Music

[E-dogg]

What are some of your favorites? I am no expert, but I love classical music as much as any other music form. I am listening to some Bach sonatas on cello right now, and they are MY-T-FINE. I've also been liking some Mozart quintets and quartets for oboe, horn, and clarinet (Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields). Bach's Mass in B-Minor is mind-blowing and damn near supernatural in its beauty, and Chopin's noctures alter my mental state quite effectively.

[zapatoo]

Wagner - Ride of the Valkyrie (Ritt des Walkuer)
Grieg - Morning from Peer Gynt
Verdi - Prisoners' Chorus (covered as "Julianne" by Byron Lee & the Dragonaires in 1970!)
...spring to mind

...plus there are countless other pieces that I really like, but can't remember (or don't know) the title or composer...

[matt]

Mostly Baroque here at Bedward HQ....(Bach Central is its second name). Cello Suites, St Matthews Mass, etc etc with some Mozart thrown in as well. I also enjoy some of the 20th Century stuff...Bernstein, Shostakovich, Glass

[grumpy]

Think on the whole I prefer choral and religious classical than operatic arias.

But, probably if I was only allowed to take classical to my desert island, these would be the top 5:
1. Gorecki - Symphony no 3
2. R. Strauss - Four Last Songs
3. Handel - "He was despised" and "I know that my redeemer liveth" (and, therefore, I suppose, "The Messiah" as a whole but would also love companion recording of "Carnival Messiah")
4. Mozart - "Isis and Osiris" (from The Magic Flute)
5. Tomas Luis de Victoria - Misa de Requiem

[Mrs Trellis]

I'm been known to be partial to Mozart's Requiem of a Sunday morning.

I went to see this performed last year and it's certainly a stirring piece.

I also like Beethoven's Symphonies. Saw No.9 at the Proms last year and that was a great performance too

[admin]

Were there any black composers? I only listen to mostly black music.

Respect

Gordy

[rosko]

I like Tchaikovsky and the guys who made "Big" music: Bruckner, Beethoven, Brahms. A little Saint Saens and Mozart.

[kas]

There was one black composer I know of, a contemporary of Mozart, who even earned a nickname "Mozart noir, black Mozart".
His name was Joseph Boulogne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges. He was born in Guadaloupe, and he was an illicit son of a French father and a slave mother (where have I heard that one before...), and when his father realised how gifted his young Joseph was, he took him to France to study music. He was quite a famous composer and violinist in his own time, and - really! - also a fine swordsman, a hunk and a famous lover.
He was also a general, who led an army of 1000 black soldiers in the French revolution...
(This just cries to be made into a Hollywood epic!)

I've seen a French docu-drama about him that was made a few years ago, and there are a number of recordings of his music.
Nice music too, in a gracious style of Mozart etc.

[kas]

Oh yes, my favourites...
Baroque composers like Vivaldi - he's written a few (hundred) other ditties besides "Le Quattro Stagioni" - Pergolesi, Corelli etc.
And Mozart, Bach, Haendel and their contemporaries, but also newer names like Pärt, Scelsi or Rautavaara.

[E-dogg]

Kas, I exalt you for the information in reply #7. That sure sounds like one hell of a story.

Gordy, I hope you were kidding, but you could try something like Wynton Marsalis - Baroque Music for Trumpet, or Classic Wynton if it's actually an issue.

[E-dogg]

Here's something else, "Violin Concertos by Black Composers of the 18th and 19th Centuries," which is very well reviewed. www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000018ZO/qid=1142108352/sr=1-3/ref=sr_1_3/002-0568466-8961637?s=classical&v=glance&n=5174

And here is Le Mozart Noir:
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00008L3NW/qid=1142108352/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/002-0568466-8961637?s=classical&v=glance&n=5174

[kas]

Thanks, E-Dogg!

I did a bit of googling and found a whole site dedicated to black classical musicians and composers:

chevalierdesaintgeorges.homestead.com/index.html

[E-dogg]

Nice site Kas. This is something I didn't know anything about...I'm glad Gordon asked. I also found the DVD, likely the documentary you spoke of.

www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0007UQ250/qid=1142220628/sr=11-1/ref=sr_11_1/002-3478648-8604000?n=130

[kas]

Yeah, that's the one.
It was broadcast here last year. Very interesting stuff. They have the german chamber orchestra Tafelmusik play some of his compositions and explain the musical side of it.
It is the record E-Dogg gave a link to.

[ekki]

Thanks to Steve Lindley, I really enjoy the reggae version of ""Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 1" by the Neasden Connection.

[zapatoo]

I'm sure you're aware Ekki that (as far as I'm aware) it's Dandy Livingstone on keyboards on Tchaikovsky... I'm not aware of the rest of the band, but imagine it's the usual Brit session men.

Are you aware that the B side (Horse HOSS17) is quite a nice Brit instrumental too - called "Cool Shade"...

I'm not aware of any other records they (as Neasden Connection) made and think this was a one-off, failed attempt at some commercial credibility and U.K. pop chart action

I'm aware that I used the word "aware" a few times here...so I promise not to use this word again today ;D

[ekki]

Joe, I wasn't aware of any of these facts...

[nickbug]

admin said:

Were there any black composers? I only listen to mostly black music.

Respect

Gordy

That's a bit of an odd thing to say in this context Gordy. I understand you saying you mostly only listen to black music. I guess I do these days as well but with me I hear music, I like or dislike it. More often than not I have found that the music I liked best has been made by black people.
I know very little about classical music -- it has never grabbed me and I doubt it ever will. But I was surprised that something like classical music rears it's head and someone only appears to want to show an interest if any of that type of music is made by black people.

I don't think I'm explaining myself very well here so I'll try a different tack and please please I am in no way suggesting that there is any racism here but I just wondered what impression you would get of someone if they said;

"Were there any white composers? I only listen to mostly white music"

Just an observation I guess. Like I said please don't get offended but I just thought it was a point worth making.

[zapatoo]

...might have been a question based on purely curiosity, Nick.

I'd never considered whether there have been any black composers of classical music of any musical or historical merit.

I don't really know why, maybe I had always assumed that their "territories" were native African music and the Blues (both leading to the many later derivatives).

I guess that statement, while not racist, is making big generalisations...though I won't bother to think too deeply about it, I'll just try to keep an open mind...

[nickbug]

Joe

Like I said I didn't want to start off any rows. To be honest I didn't think of something as straightforward as curiosity and I expect you are right.

And now you mention it I am also quite curious so I feel a bit of a fool

I'll get my coat.

Seriously I'm off home. Back tomorrow

[zapatoo]

have agood evening, Nick

Ciao!!!