An Enthusiast's Greetings (Third Take)

[Renfield]

I think I deserve some sort of universal recognition from the league of absent-minded individuals for managing to get my long introductory post eaten by the forum twice.

In any case, perhaps it's for the better: take three, short and to the point!

I am an 18 year old heterosexual human male, avid classical music collector and enthusiast for the past two years, born and currently living in Greece, but with classical music and the English language being my only two specific and definitive cultural influences. Perhaps half-seriously, I like to refer to myself as an "Anglo-Cretan" (I was born in Crete).

My other interests include, philosophy, psychology, fine art, literature, mathematics, poetry, military strategy, physics, sociology, history, role-playing and strategy games and, indeed, music other than classical. I also write, currently working on two novels; just don't ask me for a date of publication.

As alluded to above, I re-discovered classical music only two years previously, after a significant hiatus since the time I listened to my parents' Herbert von Karajan LPs as a baby. Before that point, I was mostly interested in soundtrack music - after that point, and despite my lack of tuition in formal music theory, my focus has been on listening to the music I realised I always loved, and finding out more of what it was about.

Towards that end, I have (with the help of the Gramophone Good CD Guide and an understanding family) come to amass a collection of around 750 CDs of mostly core repertoire works, which have received my attention more and more consistently during any spare time I might find from my other occupations. Ironically enough, I do not (yet) play any instrument.

Finally, if I were to briefly mention a few of my favourite composers in order of preference, I'd go for Mahler, Bruckner, Beethoven, (Johann Sebastian) Bach, Brahms, Sibelius, (Piotr Illyich) Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninov, Shostakovich, Wagner, Nielsen, Stravinksy, Haydn, Chopin, Debussy, Dvo?ák, Grieg, Mozart, Verdi, (Richard) Strauss, Schubert, Prokofiev, Schumann, Elgar and Satie.

And that concludes my introduction: currently listening to the third fourth part of Mahler's 4th Symphony [Bruno Walter; VPO, 1955, Andante], highly interested in expanding my musical horizons even further, and very pleased to meet you all!

After all, we do listen to the same music...

[Sean]

Hi there Renfield- have fun.

[Larry Rinkel]

Finally, if I were to briefly mention a few of my favourite composers in order of preference, I'd go for Mahler, Bruckner, Beethoven, (Johann Sebastian) Bach, Brahms, Sibelius, (Piotr Illyich) Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninov, Shostakovich, Wagner, Nielsen, Stravinksy, Haydn, Chopin, Debussy, Dvo?ák, Grieg, Mozart, Verdi, (Richard) Strauss, Schubert, Prokofiev, Schumann, Elgar and Satie.

Are there any other composing Tchaikovskys I haven't heard of? 

After all, we do listen to the same music...

Just wait and see . . .

[Que]

Are there any other composing Tchaikovskys I haven't heard of? 

Boris Tchaikovsky maybe?


Welcome Renfield! 

Q

[Harry]

Welcome Renfield, I hope you feel happy on the forum.
Spend part of my life in Greece, and have very strong roots in the culture and people.
Reading your favourite composers, you will not lack companions on this forum.

[bhodges]

Hi Renfield, welcome!  Some close friends (a pianist and his wife) just got back from three weeks in Crete earlier this summer - they raved on and on about it.

Lots of great composers in that list there...have you heard anything by my favorite Greek composer, Xenakis?

--Bruce

[Larry Rinkel]

Boris Tchaikovsky maybe?

Oh, yeah. Him.

[Renfield]

Thank you for the welcome, everyone.

And yes, I was alluding to Boris Tchaikovsky, whom I know by name: I haven't come across his work (yet).

As for Xenakis, I have actually heard a great deal about him by my mother, who once attended one of his lectures as a child; and I know he worked with Le Corbusier, so he probably had a thing or two to say about aesthetics. Despite all this, I have never heard his work, either... Perhaps I should keep him in mind, next time I raid *ahem* visit the record store.

[carlos]

Are there any other composing Tchaikovskys I haven't heard of? 

Just wait and see . . .

Yes,there was: BORIS TCHAIKOVSKY (1925-96). Have beautiful
piano trio, SQ No.6 and sextet por harp and winds

[Hollywood]

Greetings from Vienna Renfield. Welcome to the forum. Hopefully your 3rd introductory post won't get eaten again. Third time a charm...

[Mark G. Simon]

Better to be an Anglo-Cretan than Anglo-cretin 

Have fun here.

[Kullervo]

Hi, Renfield. Nice avatar — love those Böhler silhouettes. 

[Renfield]

Better to be an Anglo-Cretan than Anglo-cretin 

Agreed!

And thank you for your greetings, all three of you.

About the Böhler drawing, I am indeed very fond of it, as well! It took me a bit to find it in digital form after I first encountered it in some liner notes, somewhere... But it's been my "trademark" avatar since then.

In fact, I'm glad I'm not alone in liking it: a friend of mine once claimed he found it "disturbing". O_o

[DetUudslukkelige]

I am an 18 year old heterosexual human male, avid classical music collector

I think there were one or two more of those on this forum...

Hello from the Southeastern U.S.! I think, given your list of composers and interests, you can bring some interesting opinions and thoughts into the discussions here.

[Kullervo]

I think there were one or two more of those on this forum...

Hello from the Southeastern U.S.! I think, given your list of composers and interests, you can bring some interesting opinions and thoughts into the discussions here.

Where are you in the SE, Det?

[DetUudslukkelige]

Where are you in the SE, Det?

Lawrenceville, Georgia (just outside of Atlanta)

[Kullervo]

Lawrenceville, Georgia (just outside of Atlanta)

Ah, I'm originally from a small town called Dublin, it's about a half-hour south of Macon, right in the dead center of GA. Never thought I'd miss living there, but I really do.

[DetUudslukkelige]

Ah, I'm originally from a small town called Dublin, it's about a half-hour south of Macon, right in the dead center of GA. Never thought I'd miss living there, but I really do.

That's probably not too far from where we have our family reunions, then. It's a nice area. I wouldn't mind living around there.

[Kullervo]

That's probably not too far from where we have our family reunions, then. It's a nice area. I wouldn't mind living around there.

BTW you wouldn't happen to write reviews on Amazon would you?

[DetUudslukkelige]

BTW you wouldn't happen to write reviews on Amazon would you?

Not often, but I'm aware of the reviews of someone who posts as a music fan "from Lawrenceville, Georgia", if that's why you ask. I don't know who it is, though.