You like the "lesser" work better than the "masterpiece"

[hornteacher]

Ever have a situation where there are two pieces by the same composer, one is an acknowledged masterpiece and the other is regarded as a "lesser" work (whatever that means) but you find that you enjoy the "lesser" work more?

For example:  I find I enjoy listening to Mendelssohn's "Reformation" Symphony much more than his "Italian" Symphony even though I acknowledge that the "Italian" is the better work.  Not sure why I like the "Reformation" so much, but I certainly listen to it more than any other Mendelssohn symphony.

Any other examples?

[Joe_Campbell]

Ever have a situation where there are two pieces by the same composer, one is an acknowledged masterpiece and the other is regarded as a "lesser" work (whatever that means) but you find that you enjoy the "lesser" work more?

For example:  I find I enjoy listening to Mendelssohn's "Reformation" Symphony much more than his "Italian" Symphony even though I acknowledge that the "Italian" is the better work.  Not sure why I like the "Reformation" so much, but I certainly listen to it more than any other Mendelssohn symphony.

Any other examples?

How come you acknowledge the latter symphony as being a "better" work when your tastes tell you otherwise? Do you mean "better" in the sense that more people tend to prefer the former?

I really enjoy Chopin's "2nd" PC, even though the first is clearly the more popular one.

[Bulldog]

I really enjoy Chopin's "2nd" PC, even though the first is clearly the more popular one.

Interesting.  I always thought they were about equal in popularity.

[Sergeant Rock]

I prefer Tannhäuser and Lohengrin to Die Meistersinger. I'm the only Wagernite I know who ranks those lesser works above the obvious masterpiece.

Sarge

[Grazioso]

I always much preferred LvB's 8th over his 9th symphony.

I prefer Tannhäuser and Lohengrin to Die Meistersinger. I'm the only Wagernite I know who ranks those lesser works above the obvious masterpiece.

Sarge

I also enjoy Tannhäuser more than Die Meistersinger.

[Sergeant Rock]

I always much preferred LvB's 8th over his 9th symphony.

I also enjoy Tannhäuser more than Die Meistersinger.

But, are you a Wagnerite? ...it's only embarrassing to admit if you're a Wagnerite. Otherwise its okay, even normal, I think, to prefer Tannhäuser 

Sarge

[Joe_Campbell]

Interesting.  I always thought they were about equal in popularity.

Really? Maybe it's the 2nd movement that I'm thinking is more famous in the 1st PC. Of course, I can't claim that, having seen the 2nd PC performed live with Evgeny Kissin, that my opinion is based solely on the music!

[Lethevich]

I'll take several of Sibelius' average quality or early works (Snöfrid, Origin of Fire, Scènes Historiques) over the first two symphonies and the VC, despite realising what a ridiculous position this is to be in.

[Diletante]

I like Tchaikovsky's 2nd Piano Concerto better than his 1st. I'm suprised that it's almost never talked about; in my opinion it's way more exciting and 'catchy' than the hugely popular one.

[DavidW]

I like Tchaikovsky's 3rd more than his 6th.

How come you acknowledge the latter symphony as being a "better" work when your tastes tell you otherwise? Do you mean "better" in the sense that more people tend to prefer the former?

I think you're overthinking it , it just is famous vs. minor work.  Like preferring Haydn's 37th symphony over the 100th symphony.   I don't btw, just providing an example.

[Superhorn]

  I  agree with Dilettante about the 2nd Tchaikovsky piano concerto. I prefer it, too.
 There's no reason why oit shouldn't be played more often. Possibly the writing for piano isn't as flashy and showily virtuosic as the first, but that's no reason to neglect it.
 I also like other Tchaikovsky works such as the four suites for orchestra(the fourth is actually an orchestration of Mozart piano pieces), the first three symphonies, the Manfred symphony , the piano trio and the somewhat Schumannesque piano sonata very much.

[Brian]

I like Tchaikovsky's 2nd Piano Concerto better than his 1st. I'm suprised that it's almost never talked about; in my opinion it's way more exciting and 'catchy' than the hugely popular one.

I agree with Diletante and Superhorn. Tchaikovsky's Second Piano Concerto is my preference. The slow movement of the Second, all by itself, surpasses the whole First Concerto in its eloquence.

I prefer Shostakovich's Second Piano Concerto to his first, and also prefer Wieniawski's Second Concerto to the famous concerti by Mendelssohn and Bruch.

Beethoven's 9th and Dvorak's 9th used to be my least favorite symphony by each composer, but that has since changed.

And my favorite Mozart symphony is currently the "Prague," but nobody ever says that that's "lesser."

[DavidW]

And my favorite Mozart symphony is currently the "Prague," but nobody ever says that that's "lesser."

Yeah that's considered one of his great ones.  But I've got one I prefer the 25th over the 39th!

[Brian]

Yeah that's considered one of his great ones.  But I've got one I prefer the 25th over the 39th!

Yeah, but the 25th was in Amadeus. 

[DavidW]

Yeah, but the 25th was in Amadeus.  

That doesn't it make a masterpiece though!

Edit: fixed

[flyingdutchman]

Dvorak tone poems over the later symphonies (except the 8th).

[springrite]

I prefer Tannhäuser and Lohengrin to Die Meistersinger. I'm the only Wagernite I know who ranks those lesser works above the obvious masterpiece.

Sarge

I prefer everyone of Wagner's operas better than Die Meistersinger, though I would not call myself a Wagnerite.


My favorite Beethoven symphony is the second.

My favorite Schumann works are the cello and piano works (Op.73, for instance).

[Grazioso]

But, are you a Wagnerite? ...it's only embarrassing to admit if you're a Wagnerite.
Sarge

You mean it's only embarrassing to admit that you are a Wagnerite 

[Dana]

My favorite Beethoven symphony is the second.

Mine is the 8th.

[Coopmv]

I prefer Tannhäuser and Lohengrin to Die Meistersinger. I'm the only Wagernite I know who ranks those lesser works above the obvious masterpiece.

Sarge

The same for me: Tannhäuser and Lohengrin rank ahead of Die Meistersinger.  The stories of Tannhäuser and Lohengrin are simply much more beautiful and touching than Die Meistersinger's.