what is your favourite classical music work?

[rojo]

Hej Corno,

Do you like it? The New World Symphony, I mean.

Btw, I listened to a concert the other night on tv- Gil Shaham (sp?) playing the Sibelius Violin Concerto with NY Phil. He was very, very good (I admire anyone who takes up this difficult/wonderful work), but it was not the very best rendition I have heard. Nevertheless, the exquisiteness of the music itself always comes through. I think this is a good test of whether or not a work is a truly superior one; it seems no matter who plays the work (within reason, of course- no beginners-haha), it`s still great- I still got goosebumps!

The whole work is super; as soon as I hear the opening violin line, I melt! And the 2nd mvt. is absolutely beautiful. The 3rd mvt. is technically brutal, and awesome to listen to.

Does anyone out there have an opinion on this work?

 

[Julien A. Laurent]

I am absolutely in love with the Molto Vivace movement from Beethoven's 9th symphony. It's a fugal masterpiece, and it is colored wonderfully. Otherwise I like no Beethoven whatsoever...

Die Moldau is good, I would also mention The Sorcerer's Apprentice, Mars and Jupiter from the Planets, Fanfare for the Common Man...

That's all I can think of right now,

Julien

 

[rojo]

Wow, no other Beethoven whatsoever? That`s unusual. Have you listened to many/any of his other works? Not that I`m trying to sway your opinion- he`s not even my favourite composer. At least you didn`t say his Fur Elise was your favourite (piano teacher joke- it`s the most requested piece by students, so we get kind of tired of it. Not that it`s a bad piece, but...)

It`s just that usually when one likes a piece/song by an artist/composer, one can sometimes find one or more other works by them that one likes also. Not that this is always the case.

Dukas`s Sorcerer`s Apprentice is an interesting choice. Holst`s Mars is pretty impressive, I must say. I`ve forgotten how Jupiter goes.

 

[corno]

"Jupiter, the bringer of Jollity" is more in line, with regards to form, with the "Pomp and Circumstances" marches by Elgar with it's bordering on "flamboyant"/"virtuoso" introductions and it's extremely cantabile "trio"/center parts. It's one of my favorites among the "planets".

 

[Christine Callisen]

My all-time favourite is "Rondo all Turca" by Mozart. I really think it´s a fantastic piece of music. 3 years ago I could play it myself, but unfortunetly I think my fingers need some practise to do that over again....

 

[rojo]

Hej Christine,

Yeah, I hear ya. There are some technically challenging parts in Mozart`s Rondo Alla Turca, (like the sixteenth note passages, the left hand rolled notes...) especially if you want to play it with some speed. I`ve taught the real version only once- one has to be pretty advanced to play the real one in it`s entirety- lots of people just play simpler arrangements of this work, of which there are many.

While it`s not my favourite, I do find it an excellent piece.

 

[Christine Callisen]

Well I´m glad to hear, I´m not the only one who likes it! I was playing the real one because I wanted a challenge - that was really cool to do, but ekstremly time-comsuming.

You are right - the sixteenth note passages, is also really my favourite place! It´s hard to amagine, how a person can write someting like that

 

[rojo]

Well, learning that piece is quite an accomplishment- a pat on the back goes to you!

In general, relearning something is easier than starting from scratch- maybe you could pick it back up if you like it that much. (There`s the piano teacher in me talking again!)

Trouble with fancy pieces in general is they need constant maintenance to keep them in shape. That is also time-consuming. Although if one plays it at least now and then, one doesn`t lose too much.

 

[Christine Callisen]

Thanks

I have tought of picking it up again, it´s a shame to use a lot of time to make something perfect and then just forget to practice.... But I simply haven´t got the time. And if i should start playing mozart again, then I want to make sure it´s done right!
But yes - I understand what you mean!

When you repractice a classical music work, then do you play it in small pieces or just the whole over and over again?

 

[rojo]

Well, in general, I would say one should start at the beginning and see how far one can get. If it has been a long time since the work has been played, this may take a while and be quite arduous. But once one gets going, the rest may start to come back fairly quickly. Usually this is what happens.

After that, it just needs polishing up- replaying the more difficult parts, increasing the speed and checking the dynamics etc.

Because of time limitations, one can`t hold on to every single piece one has ever learned to perfection, (well, maybe some of us can, but not me) especially the longer ones. So sometimes I`ll just retain my favourite sections of pieces. Maybe you could try that. Although, I don`t see how you could pick a favourite part of the Mozart; it`s pretty much all good!

 

[Christine Callisen]

Ha ha - you´re right! It´s hard to choice a favourite Mozart part. But now you have given me the little push to start playing Rondo Alla Turca again

Then I hope you´re right when you say that when one gets going, the rest may start to come back fairly quickly!

 

[corno]

Just a quick note for those interested in playing the "hard version" of the "Rondo Alla Turka".
It's the third and final movement of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Piano Sonata No. 11 in A major - KV 331.

More information can be found here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piano_Sonata,_K._331_(Mozart)

 

[Christine Callisen]

Thanks Corno - interessting to read some background about it!

 

[rojo]

Visiting the site Corno posted reminded me, kinda funny, the same student that I taught Rondo Alla Turca to? I had also taught him Dave Brubeck`s Blue Rondo a la Turk!

Two very different pieces!

Hey, music teachers have to find humour where we can!

 

[Christine Callisen]

Ha ha - well you only have the fun you make your self

 

[rojo]

Christine- Glad to hear it! I can`t guarantee how quickly you can get it back, especially since it has been three years since you played it. But you won`t know unless you try!

So good luck with that. If you succeed in getting some or all of it back, you could always try to maintain it by playing it every now and then. Then you won`t lose it entirely.

If you feel like it, let us know how it goes!

 

[rojo]

Hey, you made a post while I was making a follow-up post! Funny.

No matter- I reiterate my last post.

 

[Christine Callisen]

Ha ha - Funny!

Thanks for your advice, I will tell you how it goes.... I think it will be a long process, but when I´m finish I will be extremly satisfied!

 

[Grinnin]

This is really tough, there are so many. But I think I would have to say Brahms 2nd Symphony. Second would be Dvorak's 9th Symphony nad 3rd would be Rachmaninoff's 2nd Piano Concerto.

 

[KBOC]

Smetena's Moldau
Shaherezad, Capriccio Espagnol and the Russian Eastern Oveture by Rimsky-Korsikov (which always seem to come on the same LP, probably the best value in Classical Music)
John Williams' Olympic Spirit
Aaron Copeland's Fanfare for the Common Man

I think it would take me an hour to list all my favorites