Most difficult pieces?

[Bonehelm]

ROFL

[71 dB]

Absolute BS. You don't know what you're talking about and neither do any of us. You're just making no sense at all.

Why not explain why it is BS? Frankly I am totally tired of this "you don't know what you are talking about" crap. Music is made of notes. Group of notes create harmony vertically and melody/rhythms vertically. Please explain my why this kind of system doesn't lead into fractal/layered structures in skilled hands?

I still don't understand why so many here think they know everything and others don't know anything. Can't you people be humble? I am ready to admit I don't know much but I do know something and even well.

[jochanaan]

71 dB, you've asked some legitimate questions.  But before I attempt an answer, allow me to refer you to an earlier post of yours:

Simple structures create little more complex structures and these create more complex structures...

You can pay attention to the simple structures or the complex ones.

This is so true as to be inarguable.  But is it more true for Elgar's music, as you say, than for anybody else's?  I have never found it so; in fact, I would argue that Elgar is less layered than some others.  Rather, what interests me in Elgar's music (insofar as I am interested) is its immediate appeal and clear structure.

If you want something with many layers of complexity, try Bruckner's Fifth Symphony--or Mahler's Ninth--or Schoenberg's Variations for Orchestra.  These, among others, are deeply complex, with a lot going on that isn't apparent on a first hearing.  Much as you praise Elgar's music, I have never found it to be that complex; and your constantly playing the same theme in your posts is getting a little tiresome.  Elgar, at least, knew when to vary an enigmatic theme.

[BachQ]

Much as you praise Elgar's music, I have never found it to be that complex; and your constantly playing the same theme in your posts is getting a little tiresome.  Elgar, at least, knew when to vary an enigmatic theme.

I think 71dB is every bit as great as Elgar ........

[Haffner]

Mahler's Ninth

I recently acquired the score to this one, and I can think of few better examples of "brilliance in orchestration" than the score to this particular piece.

[Joe_Campbell]

Villa-lobos: Rudepoema

[c#minor]

ANYTHING by Carter. i am always left scratching my head

[Xenophanes]

Bartok's String Quartets are difficult for me, although I'm finally getting to appreciate them some.

Toshiro Mayuzumi's Samsara (symphonic poem), Nirvana Symphony, and Mandala Symphony. Samsara has been a favorite of mine for years, but others who have heard it don't seem to like it. I don't imagine they would like the symphonies, either.  There's always the short Essay for String Orchestra, which is a whirlwind but not spiky and clangy.

[greg]

Bartok's String Quartets are difficult for me, although I'm finally getting to appreciate them some.

Toshiro Mayuzumi's Samsara (symphonic poem), Nirvana Symphony, and Mandala Symphony. Samsara has been a favorite of mine for years, but others who have heard it don't seem to like it. I don't imagine they would like the symphonies, either.  There's always the short Essay for String Orchestra, which is a whirlwind but not spiky and clangy.

those are all, to me, at first listen, fun pieces, but they do take a while to really understand......

[Xenophanes]

those are all, to me, at first listen, fun pieces, but they do take a while to really understand......

I wish I knew what the words meant in the Nirvana Symphony.  I have two recordings of it and neither one provides texts and translations.

[Saul]

Piano

Rach 1st 2nd 3rd 4th piano concerti. and his etudes
Beethoven Sonatas.
Mendelssohn Piano works
Chopin Etudes, Ballads
Some Ravel pieces
Brahms
Liszt etudes and poems
Schumann symphonic etudes
Prokofiev piano concerto

[Symphonien]

Rach 1st 2nd 3rd 4th piano concerti

Really? The 2nd and 3rd concertos were the first pieces to have really started my interest in classical music.

Beethoven Sonatas.

All of them? Even the "Moonlight"?

Chopin Etudes

Even the famous "Revolutionary"? Everyone I know always seems to love that one right from the first time they hear it.

Liszt etudes

In my experience, most people (including me, the first time I heard it) have been instantly wowed by at least the technical difficulties in say, La Campanella.

Some very interesting choices indeed.

[rappy]

Congratulations, Saul, you did only read the headline.

[Saul]

Congratulations, Saul, you did only read the headline.

Thanks.

[Joe_Campbell]

Lol...I too made the same mistake as Saul. However, the nature of the piece of music I chose lent itself to ambiguity. I don't know if anyone would say that 'Rudepoema' is instantly accessible.

[greg]

I wish I knew what the words meant in the Nirvana Symphony.  I have two recordings of it and neither one provides texts and translations.

well, that sucks!

btw, actually the Nirvana Sym is the only one out of the listen that I HAVEN'T heared before...... so actually, i couldn't comment on that one. 

[Xenophanes]

well, that sucks!

btw, actually the Nirvana Sym is the only one out of the listen that I HAVEN'T heared before...... so actually, i couldn't comment on that one. 

LOL! Yes, it does suck.  I think I have found the works from which the texts were taken, but they are pretty long.

You're about the only person I have come across who admits to having heard some of Mayuzumi's music.

[greg]

You're about the only person I have come across who admits to having heard some of Mayuzumi's music.

the only...... really? 
That's too bad, I think he's a really fine composer- even included him on my top 50 favorites list on an old thread.
Especially inventive is his X, Y, Z for tape, one of the first Japanese pieces in the electronic music genre. More like a Pierre Schaeffer thing, actually.

[prémont]

Bach: The Art of Fugue - this is still tough sledding for me &  can only handle it in very small doses.  I adore Bach, but with this piece, I feel "contrapuntally challenged" 

I understand how you feel this. The dense counterpoint is in some way distracting. You must know this work throughout by heart, before you become receptive to its profound expression. This may take many years, but it pays very well.

Stravinsky: Petroushka - The middle sections I find hard to keep my attention on still (the outer sections are marvellous though).  The Rite of Spring, on the other hand, I find very approachable & immediate.

Funny, it´s exactly the opposite with me. I am spellbound by Petroushka all way through, but sometimes I have difficulties in concentrating upon The Rite of Spring.

[c#minor]

The Art of the Fugue has always been one of my favorites. I have never really had trouble listening through it. I am surprised how many times it has been mentioned. I guess it's just personal preferences.