What do you hear differently, now, to when you heard it ten years ago?

[The new erato]

I'm a long time classical listener, so since 10 years ago not much have changed. But I've opened my ears - big time - to Liszt and Chopin since then. Also; I listen to more Mozart (never a big favorite).

[eyeresist]

The primary difference between then and now, in a nutshell, is GMG.  The forum sparked and fed what has turned into a life-changing interest in classical music, and prompted me to explore all sorts of things I wouldn't have otherwise.  Since then I've made some friends, read some books, checked out some lectures from the Teaching Company, and otherwise tried to get some knowledge on the subject, and pass the contagion on to my kids, but GMG was the start, for which I'm eternally grateful.

Yer doomed. Doooooooooooooooooooooooooooooomed!

Perhaps the main change over 10 years is that I now have a tolerance for vocal music (which I used to detest). The scrawny textures of chamber music are still a struggle, though.

[TheGSMoeller]

Ten years hasn't changed too much, definitely more Baroque and Early music than ever, but 20 years is huge...

then: Lots of Mahler
now: don't really care to listen to Mahler...[runs away]

[The new erato]

Ten years hasn't changed too much, definitely more Baroque and Early music than ever, but 20 years is huge...

then: Lots of Mahler
now: don't really care to listen to Mahler...[runs away]

I overdosed on romantic orchestral music during my first ten years of listening in the 70ies, and now listen only occasionally, and then primarily to late romantics like Sibelius and Nielsen, sometimes to Brahms (because his romantic symphonies are more classical in structure), occasionally to Mahler (to blow my ears clean), and if Beethoven is romantic (which he isn't really) I play the occasional Beethoven symphony.

In addtion; even though I have a pretty big HiFi rig, and a reasonably large dedicated listening room, I don't feel big orchestral works are particulary well suited for home listening. And the more I have gotten into classical music, the more I appreciate the smaller forms.

[Karl Henning]

. . . sometimes to Brahms (because his romantic symphonies are more classical in structure)

The symphonies (in particular) I continue to marvel at, as a composer;  Romantic in temperament, and yet (especially the Third & Fourth) so remarkably (for their time) economical of means.

I still have to vote for Tchaikovsky, though : )

[TheGSMoeller]

In addtion; even though I have a pretty big HiFi rig, and a reasonably large dedicated listening room, I don't feel big orchestral works are particulary well suited for home listening. And the more I have gotten into classical music, the more I appreciate the smaller forms.

Chamber music could also be added to my changes, that is a genre that has certainly made a stronger impact than when I first began into classical music. I feel there is more intimacy with smaller form genres, there's more exposure in chamber music of the composer's voice and ability, and I've come to strongly appreciate that.

I still have to vote for Tchaikovsky, though[/font] : )

I vote for Berlioz.
Wait, what are we voting for? 

[North Star]

Chamber music could also be added to my changes, that is a genre that has certainly made a stronger impact than when I first began into classical music. I feel there is more intimacy with smaller form genres, there's more exposure in chamber music of the composer's voice and ability, and I've come to strongly appreciate that.

I vote for Berlioz.
Wait, what are we voting for? 

Tchaikovsky vs. Brahms poll...
Ten years ago I listened to Deep Purple, Rainbow, and Queen, and involuntarily to classical radio. I remember recognizing Vivaldi, Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, Schubert, Schumann, Chopin, and Debussy, though.

[TheGSMoeller]

Tchaikovsky vs. Brahms poll...

I know, was being silly, but not about my vote. 

[North Star]

I know, was being silly, but not about my vote. 

Then I'll vote Chopin.

[Cato]

Chamber music could also be added to my changes, that is a genre that has certainly made a stronger impact than when I first began into classical music. I feel there is more intimacy with smaller form genres, there's more exposure in chamber music of the composer's voice and ability, and I've come to strongly appreciate that.

Yes, in earlier years very few chamber/solo works interested me.  But in recent years my ears have opened up: e.g. string quartets by Sergei Taneyev, and of course the works by Karl Henning and Luke Ottevanger and most recently Paul Nauert.

[The new erato]

Yes, in earlier years very few chamber/solo works interested me.  But in recent years my ears have opened up: e.g. string quartets by Sergei Taneyev, and of course the works by Karl Henning and Luke Ottevanger and most recently Paul Nauert.

My inetest turned very early to chamber music. Which kind of made it very easy for me to vote in the Brahms vs Tchaikovsky poll.