Unpopular Opinions

Started by The Six, November 11, 2011, 10:32:51 AM

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The Six

This thread is a haven where you can go against the grain without fear of persecution. Let it all out.

The Classical Era is my least favorite era. I'm generalizing, but the diatonicism is banal to me. Generally if I can hum along to a melody the first time I hear it, it's not very interesting. I like chromaticism more as part of the harmony, as opposed to simple ornamentation.  I think this era may have the biggest lack of depth as far as relevant composers go, i.e., after the greats the drop-off is pretty big.

Domenico Scarlatti is a giant of music who was ahead of his time. This probably wouldn't qualify as unpopular if his works received more attention. I've heard people say that Bach is the only Baroque composer worth noting.

Rachmaninoff's orchestral music far surpasses his piano work, including the concertos (though obviously there's overlap there). After Alkan and Liszt I don't have much use for that style of virtuoso piano music. Those symphonies, though, are exquisite.

Beethoven is long-winded. Still one of my favorites, but it's pretty tough to slog through a lot of those slow movements. I mean, we get it already. Move on. And then the repeats!

Todd

Quote from: The Six on November 11, 2011, 10:32:51 AMBeethoven is long-winded. Still one of my favorites, but it's pretty tough to slog through a lot of those slow movements. I mean, we get it already. Move on. And then the repeats!



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Cato

Quote from: The Six on November 11, 2011, 10:32:51 AM
This thread is a haven where you can go against the grain without fear of persecution. Let it all out.

The Classical Era is my least favorite era. I'm generalizing, but the diatonicism is banal to me. Generally if I can hum along to a melody the first time I hear it, it's not very interesting. I like chromaticism more as part of the harmony, as opposed to simple ornamentation.  I think this era may have the biggest lack of depth as far as relevant composers go, i.e., after the greats the drop-off is pretty big.


I must admit that my CD collection is thin on the era as well.
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71 dB

Quote from: The Six on November 11, 2011, 10:32:51 AM
The Classical Era is my least favorite era.

I don't have much against the classical era (it has it's own strengths) but German middle baroque is a sadly ignored period in music history. More attention to Kuhnau, less attention to Haydn.

Quote from: The Six on November 11, 2011, 10:32:51 AMDomenico Scarlatti is a giant of music who was ahead of his time.

Domenico's father Alessandro was a damn good composer too (600 chamber cantatas).


Quote from: The Six on November 11, 2011, 10:32:51 AMI've heard people say that Bach is the only Baroque composer worth noting.

That's because people are so damn stupid and ignorant. There are dozens of substantial (but often unknown) baroque composers. I'll mention just one: Gottfried Heinrich Stölzel (1690-1749), who's chamber cantatas I am exploring at the moment. Absolutely awesome stuff!  :o

Quote from: The Six on November 11, 2011, 10:32:51 AMRachmaninoff's orchestral music far surpasses his piano work, including the concertos (though obviously there's overlap there). After Alkan and Liszt I don't have much use for that style of virtuoso piano music. Those symphonies, though, are exquisite.

I don't find Rachmaninov's music that interesting apart from his best work: The Bells, Op. 35. His teacher, S.I. Taneyev is much more interesting composer.
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Lethevich

Chamber music is more interesting than orchestral music.
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Karl Henning

Quote from: Lethe Dmitriyevna Pettersson on November 11, 2011, 11:27:53 AM
Chamber music is more interesting than orchestral music.

I thought everybody knew that ; )
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DavidRoss

Mozart was a hack who didn't really write the music attributed to him.
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Jared

Quote from: karlhenning on November 11, 2011, 11:44:51 AM
I thought everybody knew that ; )

they are both fascinating... considerably more so than opera...  ;D

Karl Henning

I probably like Monk's Columbia albums even better than the earlier stuff.
Karl Henning, Ph.D.
Composer & Clarinetist
Boston MA
http://www.karlhenning.com/
[Matisse] was interested neither in fending off opposition,
nor in competing for the favor of wayward friends.
His only competition was with himself. — Françoise Gilot

chasmaniac

Quote from: karlhenning on November 11, 2011, 11:49:54 AM
I probably like Monk's Columbia albums even better than the earlier stuff.

Now that's an underground opinion if ever I've heard one!  :D
If I have exhausted the justifications, I have reached bedrock and my spade is turned. Then I am inclined to say: "This is simply what I do."  --Wittgenstein, PI §217

Daverz

Quote from: The Six on November 11, 2011, 10:32:51 AM
Beethoven is long-winded. Still one of my favorites, but it's pretty tough to slog through a lot of those slow movements. I mean, we get it already. Move on. And then the repeats!

The only Beethoven slow movements that I have problems with are in the Eroica and the 9th.  In particular the adagio of the 9th doesn't seem to have interesting enough themes for its length. 

Daverz

#11
Quote from: DavidRoss on November 11, 2011, 11:44:57 AM
Mozart was a hack who didn't really write the music attributed to him.

His music was really composed by Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford.

Gurn Blanston

Quote from: 71 dB on November 11, 2011, 11:25:00 AM
More attention to Kuhnau, less attention to Haydn.

Domenico's father Alessandro was a damn good composer too (600 chamber cantatas).

I don't care for Bach, Johann Sebastian. Freakin' boring. ::)  If it's Baroque it's Vivaldi or Biber. Just sayin'... :)

I don't care for Kuhnau. I'll take Haydn any day (over most anyone).

Beethoven is the 3rd best composer around, after Haydn and Mozart. How can he seem long-winded after you've listened to Bach?

There are probably only a half-dozen composers after Schubert died who are worth spending my money on. And not of lot of it.

Are those unpopular enough for you?  :D

8)
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zmic

Quote from: The Six on November 11, 2011, 10:32:51 AM
This thread is a haven where you can go against the grain without fear of persecution. Let it all out.

1. The Goldberg Variations are the only boring thing that Bach ever wrote.
2. After Beethoven, only Mahler wrote symphonies that are worth listening too.
3. Glenn Gould's recording of Mozart's piano sonatas are actually quite enjoyable.

I feel so much better now!


mszczuj

What I really hate is when musicians perform some notes identically only because they are identical.

chasmaniac

I'm inclined to lean, now and again, towards a slight tilt shadingly away from--

No, I just can't do it!  :D
If I have exhausted the justifications, I have reached bedrock and my spade is turned. Then I am inclined to say: "This is simply what I do."  --Wittgenstein, PI §217

mszczuj

Quote from: Gurnatron5500 on November 11, 2011, 12:30:29 PM
There are probably only a half-dozen composers after Schubert died who are worth spending my money on.

There are probably less than a half-dozen recordings of music composed not by Schubert which are worth spending my money on.

Not because of music quality but because of basic concepts about interpretation.

Ten thumbs

Quote from: The Six on November 11, 2011, 10:32:51 AM

The Classical Era is my least favorite era. I'm generalizing, but the diatonicism is banal to me. Generally if I can hum along to a melody the first time I hear it, it's not very interesting. I like chromaticism more as part of the harmony, as opposed to simple ornamentation.  I think this era may have the biggest lack of depth as far as relevant composers go, i.e., after the greats the drop-off is pretty big.

Domenico Scarlatti is a giant of music who was ahead of his time. This probably wouldn't qualify as unpopular if his works received more attention. I've heard people say that Bach is the only Baroque composer worth noting.


Yes, BUT, the reason D. Scarlatti was ahead of his time is that a substantial number of his output of keyboard sonatas are classical in style!
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#18
Quote from: DavidRoss on November 11, 2011, 11:44:57 AM
Mozart was a hack who didn't really write the music attributed to him.

God, don't do that, lest you might summon him who is not to be named.

Wanderer

Quote from: mszczuj on November 11, 2011, 01:17:36 PM
What I really hate is when musicians perform some notes identically only because they are identical.

Ditto.