Hello from a Newbie

[aligreto]

Greetings from Ireland! I am a constant listener to classical music but I am no expert. My listening ranges from Early Music to [some] Modern. One always has something new to learn so hopefully the good folk here can help me in that regard.

[Moonfish]

Greetings from Ireland! I am a constant listener to classical music but I am no expert. My listening ranges from Early Music to [some] Modern. One always has something new to learn so hopefully the good folk here can help me in that regard.

Welcome to GMG, Aligreto!    Hope you will have lots of fun here and post your impressions and perspectives of music! Lots of great musical knowledge lives here although the temptation to keep building one's music collection is seemingly omnipresent. What are your favorite composers?

[aligreto]

Welcome to GMG, Aligreto!    Hope you will have lots of fun here and post your impressions and perspectives of music! Lots of great musical knowledge lives here although the temptation to keep building one's music collection is seemingly omnipresent. What are your favorite composers?

Thank you for the welcome Moonfish. I think that the "the temptation to keep building one's music collection" is a universal one and something that I would also suffer from. I personally do not think in terms of favourite composers but rather ones that I tend to gravitate towards from time to time. Some constants however would be Palestrina, JS Bach, Beethoven and Mahler. Interestingly I have noticed that as I grow older my listening seems to include far more chamber music that it ever did.

PS: two other important composers for me would be R Strauss and Sibelius.

[Moonfish]

Thank you for the welcome Moonfish. I think that the "the temptation to keep building one's music collection" is a universal one and something that I would also suffer from. I personally do not think in terms of favourite composers but rather ones that I tend to gravitate towards from time to time. Some constants however would be Palestrina, JS Bach, Beethoven and Mahler. Interestingly I have noticed that as I grow older my listening seems to include far more chamber music that it ever did.

PS: two other important composers for me would be R Strauss and Sibelius.

I like your use of the concept of gravity as related to your listening habits. One definitely orbits the works of composers and tend to gravitate towards them in the ebb and flow of our life experiences. Elgar, Sibelius and Strauss are my "current" planets which I move around in a complex orbit. I know that the question of "favorite" is prevalent (and a bit silly), but I think you knew what I meant.    It is interesting how we move between composers and styles over time. Chamber works have also become prominent in my own listening habits over time although I am currently more embedded in the symphonic sphere.

[Karl Henning]

Welcome!

[Bogey]

Greetings from Ireland! I am a constant listener to classical music but I am no expert. My listening ranges from Early Music to [some] Modern. One always has something new to learn so hopefully the good folk here can help me in that regard.

Hey, I've been here for many, many moons and your intro fits me perfectly.  Welcome aboard.

[Ken B]

Greetings from Ireland! I am a constant listener to classical music but I am no expert. My listening ranges from Early Music to [some] Modern. One always has something new to learn so hopefully the good folk here can help me in that regard.

Welcome. 

[Mirror Image]

Welcome aboard! Who are some of your favorite composers? Never mind, I see this question has been answered already.

[Wanderer]

Welcome!

[mc ukrneal]

Welcome and enjoy!

[Hollywood]

Greetings from Vienna, Austria. Welcome to the forum. 

[aligreto]

I like your use of the concept of gravity as related to your listening habits. One definitely orbits the works of composers and tend to gravitate towards them in the ebb and flow of our life experiences. Elgar, Sibelius and Strauss are my "current" planets which I move around in a complex orbit. I know that the question of "favorite" is prevalent (and a bit silly), but I think you knew what I meant.    It is interesting how we move between composers and styles over time. Chamber works have also become prominent in my own listening habits over time although I am currently more embedded in the symphonic sphere.

I did indeed know what you meant and I am appreciative that you did not misinterpret my response. I certainly was not trying to be awkward but was merely trying to explain the way in which music seems to move around my world; I think that you get the concept.
I would be curious to know if you have a preference for a particular conductor's interpretation of the Sibelius symphonic cycle?

[aligreto]

Welcome!

Thank you very much Karl. You will not remember me but our paths have crossed in the past. I was a big admirer of your compositions and you had the very good grace to send me a CD of some of your work.

[aligreto]

Hey, I've been here for many, many moons and your intro fits me perfectly.  Welcome aboard.

Thank you Bogey; hopefully we can share some musical thoughts in the future.

[aligreto]

Welcome.

Thank you for taking the time to welcome me.

[aligreto]

Welcome aboard! Who are some of your favorite composers? Never mind, I see this question has been answered already.

Thank you for the welcome. I suppose it is a natural first question to ask of a newbie.

[aligreto]

Welcome!

Thank you for the welcome Wanderer.

[aligreto]

Welcome and enjoy!

Thank you for the welcome and I hope that I will enjoy all that is on offer around here.

[aligreto]

Greetings from Vienna, Austria. Welcome to the forum. 

Thank you for the welcome Hollywood. My wife and I spent two wonderful holidays in lovely Austria.

[Moonfish]

I did indeed know what you meant and I am appreciative that you did not misinterpret my response. I certainly was not trying to be awkward but was merely trying to explain the way in which music seems to move around my world; I think that you get the concept.
I would be curious to know if you have a preference for a particular conductor's interpretation of the Sibelius symphonic cycle?

Of course! I think your metaphor was perfect! 
Hmm, the Sibelius question is tricky. In a similar fashion one perhaps gravitate between different renditions over time? Currently (ha ha) I am favoring Vänskä with the Lahti SO, but have always favored C Davis with the LSO (which seemingly is unpopular) as that was my "first" cycle which I played over and over. Vänskä is new for me, but I find these performances outstanding. However, the journey continues. I am hopefully hearing Segerstam's Helsinki PO performances soon as well as Ehrling with the Royal Stockholm PO. At this moment I would pick Vänskä if my house was on fire. What about you? Not an easy choice at all, is it?