Hello, I'm Sean from Canada!

[Secretariat]

Hello everyone! I'm so glad that I found this site! I'm just starting out as a composer in classical music but I've been creating music since around the age of 15...I'm 31 now. Anyways, I enjoy mostly all genres of music but classical is my fave! My favourite composers are Tchaikovsky and Shostakovich. I'm going to keep working hard on music composition and production so If any of you are interested to hear an idea of what I am currently working on then check out the section where new composers are or just click on this link of a youtube vid that I threw together.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjQ6z_xA-vE

sean

[North Star]

Welcome to the forum! Tchaikovsky & Shostakovich are among my favourites, too.

[Secretariat]

Thanks for the kind welcome!

sean

[kyjo]

Indeed, welcome, Sean! Tchaikovsky and Shostakovich are among my very favorite composers! Who are some of your other favorite composers?

[Secretariat]

Hey kyjo! Thanks for the warm welcome! Well as for other composers I haven't listened to much of their work that being said Mozart, Bach, Beethoven, Khachaturian, Strauss and the list goes on. I like at least some of every well known composers work, they all accomplished amazing musical feats. My 2 favourite waltzes are The second waltz by Shostakovich and The waltz from Swan Lake by Tchaikovsky, In one sense to me the second waltz is the greatest waltz that I've heard but in another sense waltz from swan lake is the greatest. When I say greatest I mean the impact that it has on me.

sean

[Mirror Image]

For those geographically-concerned GMG members, like myself, what part of Canada do you live in? By the way, I love Shostakovich. He's my numero uno. Good to have you here.

[Secretariat]

Hey Mirror Image, Thanks for the hello! I live in Mississauga, Ontario. Yeah for me Tchaikovsky is my fave but Shostakovich really surprised me, don't get me wrong I don't think Tchai was better than Shost or vice versa. It's just my taste of faves. The overture to the Limpid Stream is just wow! Once a certain level is hit each composer can "best" the other, besides that's the glory of God more for everyone and He really is the best since He is the source of all music, we are just receiving, uncovering and shaping what already is

Sean

[Mirror Image]

Hey Mirror Image, Thanks for the hello! I live in Mississauga, Ontario. Yeah for me Tchaikovsky is my fave but Shostakovich really surprised me, don't get me wrong I don't think Tchai was better than Shost or vice versa. It's just my taste of faves. The overture to the Limpid Stream is just wow! Once a certain level is hit each composer can "best" the other, besides that's the glory of God more for everyone and He really is the best since He is the source of all music, we are just receiving, uncovering and shaping what already is

Sean

I agree that it's not good to 'rank' composers and put one over the other, but I can't help but do that with Shostakovich. Not to say that I don't love a lot of other composers, but I feel sometimes that Shostakovich is writing directly to me. Take the Passacaglia from Violin Concerto No. 1 for example, this movement feels like a lament for those that are suffering and Shostakovich is just pouring his heart out into this music. What I love about his music is all the moods and gamut of emotions it can go through in a single composition. Some find Shostakovich's music dark and grey in mood, but I find it as beautiful as a morning sunrise on a beach. For me, it doesn't get much better than this composer.

[Secretariat]

I understand what you mean Deep down are favourites are kind of like us saying whose the greatest hehe. I just try not get into it on who's better either. "best" can be technically argued with mastery and such but emotion now that to me is where it counts the most and is personal. I Totally get where you are coming from.

[kyjo]

"best" can be technically argued with mastery and such but emotion now that to me is where it counts the most and is personal.

You have hit the proverbial nail on the head, my friend! If a piece of music connects with me emotionally, I don't give a damn if others think it's "great" or not.

[Secretariat]

I feel that way about the Second waltz, to me it's unmatched by any other waltz (in a sense)even though I still count Tchaikovsky's waltzes as the best too. What I mean is that from my point of view as a composer it's like the unbeatable, perfect, waltz...not too lengthly very simple but so powerful goes up to a wow level and then does it again and again then a few turns to the beginning idea just to say goodbye and then it's over. Might sound silly but I still challenge myself to "beat" it. The thing about Tchaikovsky's work is how it's exceedingly catchy it is too, which is what I really respect. An example I could make is how the waltz of the flowers is so catchy yet I don't listen to it as much, perhaps if I had heard the second waltz first maybe the impact would be greater when I heard waltz of the flowers for the first time, plus growing up hearing it in movies as a kid could be factored in as well. Even when I say that the second waltz it like the unbeatable waltz and so on that doesn't mean that I think that it's better than all the others, seems like a contradiction but rather it's all just perception...unless God says that one is better than the other. Maybe the answer is once certain levels and territories are hit and explored then there is no best, only faves in the best. 

[mc ukrneal]

Wlecome and enjoy yourself!

[Karl Henning]

Welcome, Sean!

[Lisztianwagner]

Welcome to the forum and have a nice time!
Tchaikovsky and Shostakovich are among my favourite composers too, as well as Mozart, Beethoven and Strauss; out of curiosity, which Strauss do you mean, Richard or the waltz King?

Ilaria

[Secretariat]

Thank you mc ukrneal, karlhenning and Lisztianwagner! As for which Strauss, I would say the waltz king...however there may have been some times that I may have confused the 2. Also Suppe I got into a bit. The thing is once a composer really gets my attention it's like I have to have or at least hear most of their work to move on to the next composer. I still have unopened 10pack cd's of Mozart, Bach and Beethoven from years ago and sooner or later I'll have to dig deeper there.

[Lisztianwagner]

As for which Strauss, I would say the waltz king...however there may have been some times that I may have confused the 2. Also Suppe I got into a bit. The thing is once a composer really gets my attention it's like I have to have or at least hear most of their work to move on to the next composer.

I'm glad to see someone else appreciating Johann Strauss! I absolutely love Richard Strauss too, but the waltz king is a very special composer for me since his works introduced me to classical music.

[kyjo]

I'm glad to see someone else appreciating Johann Strauss! I absolutely love Richard Strauss too, but the waltz king is a very special composer for me since his works introduced me to classical music.

I must admit to rather liking J. Strauss' music as well, as long as I don't listen to too much of it in one sitting!

[Secretariat]

I'm glad to see someone else appreciating Johann Strauss! I absolutely love Richard Strauss too, but the waltz king is a very special composer for me since his works introduced me to classical music.

My main introduction to classical music was when my mom bought a double cd of Tchaikovsky's best at a garage sale for like 50 cents, she never listened to it and one day I was like hmmm what's this...I then when for a walk with my cd player back in the early summer of 2005 and lets just say it was a really long walk, I was totally blown away...I had no idea that music could be this good. Funny thing is that those 2 cd's are the best versions that I've heard of those particular highlights of his ballets and Romeo and Juliet, those orchestras nailed it!

[Brian]

I live in Mississauga, Ontario.

I've been there! Well, sort of. Drove past on the 403 and 401 between Toronto and the botanical gardens outside Hamilton. Hamilton is such an unlikely place for such nice gardens.

Welcome to GMG!

[bhodges]

Welcome, sean, and another Tchaikovsky and Shostakovich fan here, too (among many others).

--Bruce