Haydn Op. 76 vs Beethoven Op. 18??

[ChamberNut]

Or create a poll to decide. 

The poll to end all polls. 

[Dr. Dread]

If a human has two things, it is only natural that they will be compared to each other.

[Haffner]

If a human has two things, it is only natural that they will be compared to each other.

Agreed.

Now here is wisdom, grasshoppas!

[DavidW]

If a human has two things, it is only natural that they will be compared to each other.

Like bread and soup... right that makes sense... well I'm sure it sounded good when you wrote it.

[Dr. Dread]

Like bread and soup... right that makes sense... well I'm sure it sounded good when you wrote it.

Even bread and soup.

[Bulldog]

I agree with you. This forum is obsessed with polls,  which work is better, which conductor, orchestra etc. I can't see the humour in it at all.
It's just pointless.

I don't agree.  It's just for fun and doesn't hurt.  A board such as this one can handle threads ranging from totally superficial to deep engagement.

[Dr. Dread]

And sometimes the polls are merely meant as conversation pieces which can lead to deep engagement.

[Opus106]

And sometimes the polls are merely meant as conversation pieces which can lead to deep engagement.

Or something off topic. 

[Dr. Dread]

...or...

Lighten up. It's the f**kin' internet. 

[Herman]

Polls are a bit of a drag sometimes. This one, for instance, is really silly. However maybe it will point some people to Haydn's or Beethoven's SQs, you never know.

It's really nonsense to discuss music in this horse race format all the time.|"X is the best I have ever heard." Most of us have their favorite music in multiple versions, not just because we're looking for the "best", but first and foremost (hopefully) because we're interested in experiencing different ways of performing the music.

I have found too many times that my opinion on a recording changed over time. I thought it was super and now I think there are other ones I like equally well. Or I have lost interest in the piece. Or I started to like a recording that left me cold before. I think that's healthy. Having experienced this a couple of times I've become less eager to proclaim something as the best  -  in sofar as I ever was.

Nonetheless polls can be an eyeopener to some people.

[Lethevich]

Nonetheless polls can be an eyeopener to some people.

It was for me in the case of the Beethoven sonatas/Bach WTC. I assumed Beethoven would win by a landslide, but last time I looked, they had yet to receive double the votes...

[lisa needs braces]

I remember a long while ago when General Classical Music Discussion was overrun with a hilarious fad involving absurd favorite lists...like "Your top seven string sextets" or "your top 6 clarinet sonatas."   

Anyway, I feel that Beethoven's opus 18, while excellent, is simply overshadowed by what was to come from him later. Haydn's opus 76 however is the culmination of Hadyn's creative powers. Both are wonderful sets of music but I think we might be overrating Haydn's set out of some sense of fairness (that is, in comparsion LvB's opus 18.)

[Keemun]

If you don't like polls, lists or rankings, ignore them.   If you want to see more non-poll/list/ranking threads, start your own.  But most importantly, quit whining about what a sorry state GMG has become because of polls, lists and rankings.  It's your opinion, and one that not everyone shares (obviously).  If GMG is so bad, why stay? 

As for the poll, I didn't vote because I haven't listened to either one enough to form an opinion. 

[Herman]

Anyway, I feel that Beethoven's opus 18, while excellent, is simply overshadowed by what was to come from him later. Haydn's opus 76 however is the culmination of Hadyn's creative powers. Both are wonderful sets of music but I think we might be overrating Haydn's set out of some sense of fairness (that is, in comparsion LvB's opus 18.)

No. I listen to these Haydn quartets frequently. I rarely ever listen to LvB op 18, or anything by LvB.

Not everyone thinks LvB is the ultimate composer.

[rappy]

Not everyone thinks LvB is the ultimate composer.

[Opus106]

See, polls can be eye-openers.

[Haffner]

Not everyone thinks LvB is the ultimate composer.

Especially after Wagner. Just my opinion.

[DavidW]

If you don't like polls, lists or rankings, ignore them.

I usually do actually, but there are times where I feel that something must be said, this is one of those times.

If you want to see more non-poll/list/ranking threads, start your own.

I've probably created more threads of every type from superficial ranking to serious discussion than you have.  Unless you're one of those cowards that changed their handle.  Between cmg and gmg I've been around since oh 2002 (wow has it already been that long?).  And I've created many threads in that time. 

But most importantly, quit whining about what a sorry state GMG has become because of polls, lists and rankings.  It's your opinion, and one that not everyone shares (obviously).  

"Well that's your opinion": that has to be the weakest come back ever.  It's not making a point, it's pointing out the obvious.  No kidding not everyone shares my opinion, not everyone shares yours either.  That doesn't mean that neither one of us should be allowed to speak due to a lack of 100% consensus!

If GMG is so bad, why stay?

Because I have friends on here that I enjoy pming, and also there are threads that I'm interested in and post on.  Obviously this is one of them, or else I wouldn't be posting.  I resent your flawed implication that there is no middle ground for finding fault in this forum and finding merit.  What should I have to choose between loving gmg completing without reservation, or just flat out leave? 

As for the poll, I didn't vote because I haven't listened to either one enough to form an opinion. 

Oh come now, I'm sure you've listened to several recordings of each dozens to hundreds of times just like all of us, and you have an opinion.

[DavidW]

It's really nonsense to discuss music in this horse race format all the time.|"X is the best I have ever heard." Most of us have their favorite music in multiple versions, not just because we're looking for the "best", but first and foremost (hopefully) because we're interested in experiencing different ways of performing the music.

The horse race format is becoming a serious problem.  Not only do we see polls and lists for people to just pick out one recording that is "the best", but nowadays more and more people look at Classics Today and Musicweb for numerical ratings to find the almighty 10/10 and ignore the others as if they had no merit.  People stop reading critical reviews altogether, and not just in music, but also in movies.  They go to Rotten Tomatoes, imdb or amazon and simply look at the score to tell them if it's "the best".  I can't imagine how uninteresting my music listening or my movie watching would be if I constrained myself to those with large numbers.

I like that some magazines (in every area) are starting to buck the trend by eliminating numerical scores, I'd like to see that everywhere.

[AB68]

The horse race format is becoming a serious problem.  Not only do we see polls and lists for people to just pick out one recording that is "the best", but nowadays more and more people look at Classics Today and Musicweb for numerical ratings to find the almighty 10/10 and ignore the others as if they had no merit.  People stop reading critical reviews altogether, and not just in music, but also in movies.  They go to Rotten Tomatoes, imdb or amazon and simply look at the score to tell them if it's "the best".  I can't imagine how uninteresting my music listening or my movie watching would be if I constrained myself to those with large numbers.

I like that some magazines (in every area) are starting to buck the trend by eliminating numerical scores, I'd like to see that everywhere.

Best post I have read in a long time. I agree completely.