My favorite composer of music from pretty much any style or period of music is Ludwig van Beethoven, born 250 years ago this week (either yesterday or today depending on source). He marks the transition from the Classical period to the Romantic, and you can see that in his music. Many of his compositions are "cultural knowledge" in Western culture, and even other cultures, popping up in soundtracks, ads, and even being adapted for other styles of music (I can think of two pop songs right off the top of my head based on the Adagio from the Pathetique piano sonata).
Anyone else fond of classical (meaning anything from the Baroque to Romantic periods, including the Classical period, and even modern orchestral and choral music if you like) music? Got a favorite composer, period, style, or whatever of classical music?
Symphonic metal, art rock, prog rock, exist in a bit of weird space where popular styles mix with classical skills and composition. I love all of them, probably for that very reason.
And, yes, I've listened to The Greatest Show on Earth. Incredible piece of music. Nightwish are really something else. I've listened to some other symphonic metal since getting into them but they seem to be the cream of the crop in that genre.
Classical music - yes, it is a great love of mine. As is music composed earlier than the eras you've specified, and later times as well.
Bach, the Goldberg Variations, especially as interpreted by Zhu Xiao-Mei. She reconciled me with the Goldbergs, after hearing Glenn Gould far to many times. I do not appreciate majority ofGould's interpretations.
The Brandenburg Concertos are magnificent, I used to listen to them with head phones before going to bed and they helped me relax and unwind. Which is sort of odd, since the Goldberg Variations were said to be composed to help the count Von Keyserling battle his insomnia. I find the Goldbergs demand my attention, not help me relax in order to sleep.
Brahms - almost anything composed by the great Brahms, but especially the chamber music. The string sextets are marvelous, as are the clarinet quintets.
Not to neglect a few others, Beethoven, Berlioz, Chopin, Debussy, Schubert, Schumann, both Robert and Clara, Satie, Stravinsky, Tchaikovsky in moderation, Haydn, Haendel, Vaughan Williams, William Walton, Benjamin Britten...
This is far from being an exhaustive list and I have neglected Mozart - there, standing on his own, as usual, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Anything baroque and classical. Best periods ever!
Trust me. I refrained.
Iconoclastically incorrigible or just a silly dumb ass...
