Musical complexity

[Sid]

Same here, which is a major reason why I'm always impressed with Bach's AoF.

Yes, all the greats knew how to work imaginatively with themes. I am constantly amazed by their ability to do this. This is what makes listening to the same pieces time and time again really worthwhile for me. After 20 years of listening to classical, I have recently "discovered" Beethoven's quartets & it's fascinating how he came up with and developed these themes, which can go from sounding quite simple to staggeringly complex within the space of the same piece...

...Imagine, if you will, that we are sitting around a table sipping coffee and some of that stuff came out of your mouths, well, it probably wouldn't, would it?...

That's right, & that's why I tend to treat forums like this same as I'd do with "real life" conversations. You just don't go around saying what other people are saying "horse shit." That is primitive in the extreme - & I don't care what your level of IQ is or something like that - if you communicate like that, you are basically being primitive, no matter how intellectual your put-downs are.

[starrynight]

What would be some of the works that leave you impressed by the compositional craftmanship - as opposed to merely enjoying a certain memorable theme? (merely in bold to avoid discussions whether the two are mutually exclusive).

Just taking this I would say alot of what Mozart wrote, even some quite early pieces by him.  That doesn't mean that all such pieces are that complex of course.  Indeed great craftsmanship often goes with relative simplicity.  Beethoven admired Handel for this as well I think. 

[Mirror Image]

I'd forgotten the Stravinsky too! And I'm ashamed to say that I'm not familiar with Rubbra's music although, given my tastes, I should be.

Rubbra is an amazingly good composer. One of my favorites from England. You should try to acquire Richard Hickox's Rubbra symphony cycle at some point. As far as I'm concerned, this is essential listening.