Feb. is "What the hell, I'll give it a try" month!

[North Star]

Been away for a bit and came back to find this thread. Ooh - just what I want. I've had this problem with solo piano all my life; couldn't cope with the sound of the clinking and binking at the top end and the banging and donging at the bottom. Discovering the fortepiano a few years ago was a treat - suddenly I could enjoy Mozart's piano concertos and all sorts of stuff. And then somehow, gradually, the sound of the piano became tolerable. I don't understand this, but I don't care. Suddenly I'm listening to Chopin Nocturnes, Waltzes, Preludes with pleasure for the first time in my life.

In fact I've gone Chopin mad. On a recent visit to Bath Compact Discs I emerged with armsful of Chopin and nothing else! Ladies and Gentlemen, I stand before you a Chopin convert. That which I detested, now I love. Life is the better for it.

Brilliant, Alan!
The mazurkas are some of my very favourite music.

[Mirror Image]

One day, John (MI) will be enjoying some sweet tea on his back porch, watching the sunset, when the Adagio from Mozart's Gran Partita for Winds will come on the radio, and it will bring a tear to his eye, as he whispers, "I'm sorry, Wolfie. I never should have doubted you."

There's only one problem with this, Greg, I don't listen to the radio.

[TheGSMoeller]

There's only one problem with this, Greg, I don't listen to the radio.

I figured that would be the only way Mozart would be playing near you. 

[Mirror Image]

You are so funny, John. Someday, probably sooner than later, you are going to cringe in abject embarrassment, remembering what you once thought about Beethoven 

Sarge

I do like Beethoven's chamber works, Sarge, so that's a start I suppose. Mozart's music, on the other hand, reeks of body odor and dead fish.

[Lisztianwagner]

Been away for a bit and came back to find this thread. Ooh - just what I want. I've had this problem with solo piano all my life; couldn't cope with the sound of the clinking and binking at the top end and the banging and donging at the bottom. Discovering the fortepiano a few years ago was a treat - suddenly I could enjoy Mozart's piano concertos and all sorts of stuff. And then somehow, gradually, the sound of the piano became tolerable. I don't understand this, but I don't care. Suddenly I'm listening to Chopin Nocturnes, Waltzes, Preludes with pleasure for the first time in my life.

In fact I've gone Chopin mad. On a recent visit to Bath Compact Discs I emerged with armsful of Chopin and nothing else! Ladies and Gentlemen, I stand before you a Chopin convert. That which I detested, now I love. Life is the better for it.

I'm very pleased to hear that, Alan, Chopin's music is absolutely wonderful!
Which pianists are you listening to?

[Brahmsian]

There are a lot of composers I enjoy but Mozart has never been one of them. His music I find trite, meaningless, dispassionate, and completely disengaging. I loathe this composer

John, I will not force you (of course, to relisten or revisit Mozart).  I do encourage you to revisit his music someday.  If you enjoy some of Haydn and some of Beethoven, I cannot fathom that at least a few pieces will hit home with you, regarding Mozart.

If I can only recommend one work, it is:  Great Mass in C minor, K.427.  It certainly is anything but trite, meaningless, dispassionate. 

I also recommend Symphony No. 39 or 40.

For chamber music, try the String Quintet K.515 in C major or K.516 in G minor.  Or, the String Trio in E flat, K.563  (Grumiaux Trio)

Do as you wish, John.  Just don't forever shut out the possibility of revistation of Mozart's music in the near or distant future. 

[Mirror Image]

John, I will not force you (of course, to relisten or revisit Mozart).  I do encourage you to revisit his music someday.  If you enjoy some of Haydn and some of Beethoven, I cannot fathom that at least a few pieces will hit home with you, regarding Mozart.

If I can only recommend one work, it is:  Great Mass in C minor, K.427.  It certainly is anything but trite, meaningless, dispassionate. 

I also recommend Symphony No. 39 or 40.

For chamber music, try the String Quintet K.515 in C major or K.516 in G minor.  Or, the String Trio in E flat, K.563  (Grumiaux Trio)

Do as you wish, John.  Just don't forever shut out the possibility of revistation of Mozart's music in the near or distant future. 

Don't forget disengaging. Thanks, Ray. I haven't completely shut the door on Mozart like many people here have done with my favorite composer, Delius. I guess this shows that I continue to have an open-mind while these people simply do not.

[TheGSMoeller]

Don't forget disengaging. Thanks, Ray. I haven't completely shut the door on Mozart like many people here have done with my favorite composer, Delius. I guess this shows that I continue to have an open-mind while these people simply do not.

"John said what?!" - Dimitri, searching for proof in the local newspaper of John's betrayal 

[Brahmsian]

"John said what?!" - Dimitri, searching for proof in the local newspaper of John's betrayal 

[Mirror Image]

"John said what?!" - Dimitri, searching for proof in the local newspaper of John's betrayal 

Lol...

To be fair to both of them, it's really a tie. Both of them appeal to different sides of my personality. Sorry Dmitri! I love them both equally.

[springrite]

Jumping in at the very end, I've listened to nothing but old nemeses today: Bach's WTC, Ligeti, Cage, and Schnittke.

Bach: Well-Tempered Clavier
old opinion (2010ish): boring
new opinion: mesmerizing! Had no trouble getting through Book I in one sitting, can imagine a lifetime of exploration of this music

Ligeti: Lontano
old opinion (college years): hard, ugly composer
new opinion: this is really cool

Cage: Dream (for solo piano)
old opinion: composer of joke music
new opinion: lovely piece, atmospheric sound-picture

Schnittke: Violin Sonata, arr. for violin and chamber orchestra
old opinion: composer of 100% depressing nihilist stuff
new opinion: not going to rush to hear this piece again, but it is more entertaining than I'd expect

If we were to award a medal at the end of the month, you are, currently speaking, the leading contender. (The only way you may be overtaken is if John converts to Mozart or Sarge converts to Stockhausen!)

[Karl Henning]

Been away for a bit and came back to find this thread. Ooh - just what I want. I've had this problem with solo piano all my life; couldn't cope with the sound of the clinking and binking at the top end and the banging and donging at the bottom. Discovering the fortepiano a few years ago was a treat - suddenly I could enjoy Mozart's piano concertos and all sorts of stuff. And then somehow, gradually, the sound of the piano became tolerable. I don't understand this, but I don't care. Suddenly I'm listening to Chopin Nocturnes, Waltzes, Preludes with pleasure for the first time in my life.

In fact I've gone Chopin mad. On a recent visit to Bath Compact Discs I emerged with armsful of Chopin and nothing else! Ladies and Gentlemen, I stand before you a Chopin convert. That which I detested, now I love. Life is the better for it.

I find Chopin Madness entirely understandable, dear chap!

[Brahmsian]

If we were to award a medal at the end of the month, you are, currently speaking, the leading contender. (The only way you may be overtaken is if John converts to Mozart or Sarge converts to Stockhausen!)

Or Ray converts to Vaughan Williams 'A Sea Symphony'. 

[Opus106]

You are so funny, John. Someday, probably sooner than later, you are going to cringe in abject embarrassment, remembering what you once thought about Beethoven 

Sarge

Worth quoting.

[Elgarian]

Brilliant, Alan!
The mazurkas are some of my very favourite music.

Not quite into the Mazurkas yet (except occasional examples), but it's just a matter of time. I have a lifetime of catch-up to do.

[AdamFromWashington]

Okay, I've tried, but I'm getting nowhere. Piano sonatas, concertos, symphonies: nothing by Mozart clicks for me. I think I even like him less than when I started! Is there something wrong with me? I like Bach, Beethoven, and Brahms, (and Bartok and Berg ) isn't that enough? I can't appreciate Mozart, yet. His music seems too detached, with a certain sameness to it all. When emotion is expressed it seems cloying, and anger very petty. I know this is my fault, and not the music's, but at the moment I don't see myself ever liking Mozart. I can't even listen to the "beautiful" second movement of the 21st Piano Concerto without feeling uncomfortable. Music doesn't usually make me uncomfortable! Bored, maybe, but never anything like this. Maybe this means there's hope, if the music sparks some sort of intense emotion? Still, I can't see much hope when that emotion is detest. The best I can do is kind of enjoy the Clarinet Concerto. I'll keep trying, at least until the end of February. . . even if it kills me. But you'll all feel bad if at my death bed it's discovered I was literally allergic to Mozart. 

Plus, this excerpt from a "poem" by Mozart makes me feel very uncomfortable . . . Weber is my last name!   

". . . The concerto for Paris I'll keep, tis' more fitting.
I'll scribble it there someday when I'm shitting.
Indeed I swear 'twould be far more fun
With the Webers around the world to run
Then go with those bores, you know whom I mean.
When I think of their faces, I get the spleen.
But I suppose it must be and off we shall toddle,
Though Weber's arse I prefer to Ramm's noodle.
A slice of Weber's arse is a thing . . ."

So, at least I have an "excuse" for not liking him, now. 

[Elgarian]

I'm very pleased to hear that, Alan, Chopin's music is absolutely wonderful!
Which pianists are you listening to?

I started with the Pires set of Nocturnes, and they made the breakthrough, really. Then I bought the DG Martha Argerich solo box, which has quite a bit of Chopin in it:

 

Then a few weeks later I was in Bath for a couple of days, and spent ages in Bath Compact Discs before emerging with the following:

Perez                                                                    Ashkenatzy
 

Kissin                                                                    Fliter
 

Igoshina                                                                Barenboim
 

That's a lot to absorb, and I can't honestly say that I've found any reason to prefer one pianist to another, so far. They all seem pretty marvellous, but then, coming from where I'm coming from, I'd expect not to be sensitive to the various nuances of performance - simply because I don't know the work very well.

[Elgarian]

I find Chopin Madness entirely understandable, dear chap!

Yes, but you know me well enough by now to understand any sort of madness on my part, Karl.

[Florestan]

Bach: Well-Tempered Clavier
old opinion (2010ish): boring
new opinion: mesmerizing! Had no trouble getting through Book I in one sitting, can imagine a lifetime of exploration of this music

What performance? Hearing it on harpsichord was a torture for me, but Edwin Fischer changed all that in the blink of an eye. Now it is one of my favorite keyboard music. 

[Florestan]

In fact I've gone Chopin mad. On a recent visit to Bath Compact Discs I emerged with armsful of Chopin and nothing else! Ladies and Gentlemen, I stand before you a Chopin convert. That which I detested, now I love. Life is the better for it.

Great news!