Topic: Ten (or so) well-known works you don't enjoy that much

[Florestan]

So, do you like both of those works Floristan?

PD

I most certainly do.

[Mirror Image]

Of course, John!

What are the best five jovial and good-spirited works that you would recommend me?

I’m not sure about ‘recommend’ as you’ve probably heard all what I’m about to type...but five off the top of my head and in no order:

Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 3 in A minor, Op. 56, “Scottish”
Tippett: Concerto for Double String Orchestra
Martinů: Symphony No. 2, H. 295
Copland: Appalachian Spring
Ravel: Piano Concerto in G

Edit: This list aren’t works that I don’t enjoy but rather works that I think are good-spirited and joyous. I already have given my list of works that I don’t enjoy on the first page.

[k a rl h e nn i ng]

Given that John can always choose to reply to me in a PM, or not at all, or that any mod can chop off this bit of discussion at any time, I'd say you're overreacting.

Given that John can always choose to reply to me in a PM, or not at all, or that any mod can chop off this bit of discussion at any time, I'd say you're overreacting.

And besides, there are certainly worse ways to derail this thread, methinks.

"overreacting?" well there's a curious opinion

And, no, he cannot reply to you in a PM when your in box is full, can he or I?  As here for instance.

[Florestan]

he cannot reply to you in a PM when your in box is full, can he or I?  As here for instance.

Fixed and thanks.

[Florestan]

I’m not sure about ‘recommend’ as you’ve probably heard all what I’m about to type...but five off the top of my head and in no order:

Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 3 in A minor, Op. 56, “Scottish”
Tippett: Concerto for Double String Orchestra
Martinů: Symphony No. 2, H. 295
Copland: Appalachian Spring
Ravel: Piano Concerto in G

Thanks, John. Of those, I haven't heard the Tippett and Martinu works. The other ones are good choices indeed.

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[Mirror Image]

Thanks, John. Of those, I haven't heard the Tippett and Martinu works. The other ones are good choices indeed.

</end offtopic>

Oh you definitely need to hear the Tippett, Andrei. And well, the Martinů, too.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

I’m not sure about ‘recommend’ as you’ve probably heard all what I’m about to type...but five off the top of my head and in no order:

Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 3 in A minor, Op. 56, “Scottish”
Tippett: Concerto for Double String Orchestra
Martinů: Symphony No. 2, H. 295
Copland: Appalachian Spring
Ravel: Piano Concerto in G

Interesting.  As for me, I love Ravel's Piano Concerto in G (as well as the one for the left-hand)....a bit surprised that you don't like it to be honest.  And Copland's Applachian Spring, I also enjoy that work.  Will have to revisit the other ones.  What is it that you don't like about those two works in particular John?  Just curious and trying to understand what it is that you like vs. don't like. 

PD

[Mirror Image]

Interesting.  As for me, I love Ravel's Piano Concerto in G (as well as the one for the left-hand)....a bit surprised that you don't like it to be honest.  And Copland's Applachian Spring, I also enjoy that work.  Will have to revisit the other ones.  What is it that you don't like about those two works in particular John?  Just curious and trying to understand what it is that you like vs. don't like. 

PD

Ah, this is a list of works that I think express a jovial and good-spirited quality, which Andrei (Florestan) had asked me for yesterday. I LOVE all of these works. If I ever said a negative thing about Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G, you might as well throw me off a bridge, because this is one of my favorite piano concerti (and the same goes for the Piano Concerto for the left-hand).

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Ah, this is a list a works that I think express a jovial and good-spirited quality, which Andrei (Florestan) had asked me for yesterday. I LOVE all of these works. If I ever said a negative thing about Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G, you might as well throw me off a bridge, because this is one of my favorite piano concerti (and the same goes for the Piano Concerto for the left-hand).

Sorry, yes, I see it now.  I was looking and reading things in this thread as works the "you don't enjoy so much" and so had reread it as such today.     It's easier to follow when one sticks to the original thread point--for me anyway.

Best wishes,

PD

[Mirror Image]

Sorry, yes, I see it now.  I was looking and reading things in this thread as works the "you don't enjoy so much" and so had reread it as such today.     It's easier to follow when one sticks to the original thread point--for me anyway.

Best wishes,

PD

Well, there are many members here that are notorious for derailing threads (myself included). This won’t change any time soon.

[k a rl h e nn i ng]

Interesting.  As for me, I love Ravel's Piano Concerto in G (as well as the one for the left-hand)....a bit surprised that you don't like it to be honest.  And Copland's Applachian Spring, I also enjoy that work.  Will have to revisit the other ones.  What is it that you don't like about those two works in particular John?  Just curious and trying to understand what it is that you like vs. don't like. 

PD

PD, although our friend Andrei called my remark an "overreaction" you have been entirely understandably confused by the sustained thread derailment. It is not that John doesn't like those pieces ... in fact, he is recommending that Andrei give them a listen.  I wonder if Andrei wishes to withdraw the quip he glibly threw at me?  I wonder if he ever reflects that he does others the occasional disservice.

[k a rl h e nn i ng]

Well, there are many members here that are notorious for derailing threads (myself included). This won’t change any time soon.

Even though some of us overreact in pointing it out.

[Mirror Image]

Even though some of us overreact in pointing it out.

Well, I wish not to get between you and Andrei, but I’m not a fan of thread derailment, because as you and PD have rightfully pointed out will lead to some confusion along the way.

[k a rl h e nn i ng]

Well, I wish not to get between you and Andrei

You haven't, rest easy.

[Florestan]

I wonder if Andrei wishes to withdraw the quip he glibly threw at me?

He does. He overreacted. 

I wonder if he ever reflects that he does others the occasional disservice.

You'd be surprised to learn how many times he finds himself deeply regretting having posted this or that, especially when the exchange leads to conflict. Fortunately, this is not the case here (and generally he has been less guilty as of late).

[Brian]

Thanks, John. Of those, I haven't heard the Tippett and Martinu works. The other ones are good choices indeed.

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Oh, you must hear the Martinu, the final two movements are pure Czech dance party bliss.

[Daverz]

Dvorak: Wind Serenade
Prokofiev: Lieutenante Kije Suite

I can kind of understand the others, but these I don't get (especially the Dvorak) unless you were abused while playing the music as a child.

[Daverz]

Schubert's lieder... it is true that if I find a performance that I like then I love what I'm listening to!  But many performances just leave me cold.  I don't know why that is.

It's sung in some damn furrin' jibber-jabber.

I generally dislike having to listen to music with text in hand (or on the laptop).  But I feel a bit guilty if I'm listening only to "the sound it makes", as Thomas Beecham would say.

[k a rl h e nn i ng]

It's sung in some damn furrin' jibber-jabber.

I generally dislike having to listen to music with text in hand (or on the laptop).  But I feel a bit guilty if I'm listening only to "the sound it makes", as Thomas Beecham would say.

I feel ya!

[Daverz]

So time to play the game:

Beethoven: Symphony No. 9.  I do enjoy it from time to time, but most recordings lose me with an interminably dull 3rd movement, and one has to be in a particular mood to tolerate the Finale.

Emperor Concerto.  I used to love this thing.  But I enjoy the first 3 piano concerto so much more.

Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 4.  Loud and obnoxious.

I'll admit that I used to enjoy the Elgar symphonies more than I do these days. 

I'm usually careful about "husbanding" my exposure to the big warhorses, but I think I did manage to wear out the Ravel-Mussorgsky Pictures.

But not enjoy Dvorak's Symphony No. 9?  Never!  Always thrilling in the right hands (try Lenny on Sony, for example.)

I'm leaving out a lot of big, important sacred Baroque things, big Victorian choral things, and a lot of opera, just because I'm simply unwilling to put the time in, usually, and it seems unfair to blame the music.