Bernstein says that Beethoven was the greatest composer

[knight66]

Oh Albinoni is Jewish?

Beethoven was Jewish?

So what if its Rubinstein who performs it.. big deall.. everyone heard of him and there is nothing new about it...

Looks like you are more interested in turning every single post of mine into a religious post , then me.

I have not seen the Albinoni post. I am referring to performers, not composers. It is no good you going all innocent, with a what me gov, no not me? YES you.

[lukeottevanger]

I don't know why after tasting 2 apples I cant make a thoughtful decision regarding which apple tastes better...

You can.

I have listened to Beethoven and Mendelssohn extensively. And I just cant find anything of Beethoven that sparks superiority On the contrary, Mendelssohn's music is of such high quality in all aspects that it made me believe that his music is superior.

Fine. Again, there is nothing wrong with this. And, in fact, I'd go so far as to say there is be nothing wrong with stating your opinion loud and clear here, as you do: I think Mendelssohn is better than Beethoven. Only then, things being as they are, and Beethoven being pretty universally acknowledged as one of the very greatest of composers, you'd better be prepared to back this up with convincing musical, analytical detail, something you've never done. And so, as you don't do this, I'm afraid you are just going to get the same sort of treatment -  I can't see how this can surprise you.

It has nothing to do with religion.

I believe you, though with difficulty. Mendelssohn seems to me just to be unlikely material for 'greatest composer' - great, yes, greatest, no. He doesn't do anything exceptional enough, new enough, different enough, profound enough [insert preferred indicator of greatness] enough to be a likely candidate. And so, given your posting history, it is hard not to conclude that his Jewish birth doesn't have something to do with your opinion. But if you say it doesn't, I'll believe you.

As I said my favorite composer was a German, Bach and a Pole, Chopin , before Mendelssohn.
I also met German listeners who consider Mendelssohn the greatest composer who ever lived.
So why should they choose a Jew instead of someone of their own?

I thought he was German  It's possible to be both German and Jewish, you know. But in any case, why should religion have anything to do with their 'choice' (if one can choose these things)

Well, I guess the many thousands or millions who consider Mendelssohn as the greatest composer ever, are just naive and ignorant?

I think you overestimate the number, because I am pretty sure that most Classical music lovers are able to distinguish between their favourite composer and the greatest composer. I'm fairly convinced that, asked who the greatest composer of all was, votes would be split above all between Mozart, Bach, Beethoven, a significant minority for Wagner, maybe the odd modernist or pre-Baroque fan who stubbornly votes for Monteverdi or Webern. If the same vote was carried out for favourite composer, the results would certainly be completely different, fragmented between hundreds of composers, because, once again, the two things - greatest and favourite - are not the same, as almost everyone else recognises.

Catch my drift?

No, I think I lost it at the end there.

[karlhenning]

And there's some drift don't bear catching, if you catch . . . if you take my meaning.

[(poco) Sforzando]

Well, I guess the many thousands or millions who consider Mendelssohn as the greatest composer ever, are just naive and ignorant?

Care to provide a directory of this group? Thousands, millions. I think rather a group of one.  

[greg]

Care to provide a directory of this group? Thousands, millions. I think rather a group of one. 

More than a million people in the world actually listen to classical music? Really?
Oh, wow! 

[karlhenning]

How much again is a brazzilian?

[Ephemerid]

And I just cant find anything of Beethoven that sparks superiority

Does it really have to come down to this?    Funny, I listen to music for its beauty, not its "superiority."

[Saul]

I have not seen the Albinoni post. I am referring to performers, not composers. It is no good you going all innocent, with a what me gov, no not me? YES you.

Grow up, Mike...

I am talking about many other things beside religion,so stop spaming this site with your constant accusations on me...

Can we talk about Beethoven and Mendelssohn without your religious hunting?

[JoshLilly]

Bernstein also thought Copland was really hot.
What?  

[greg]

How much again is a brazzilian?

It's a "Billion" in the Brazilian (ahem, Portuguese) language 

[(poco) Sforzando]

No, I think I lost it at the end there.

You're not alone . . .

True story: during my teenage years, I was packed off every summer by my parents to a summer music camp for six weeks. One summer it was decided to do a semi-staged version of Elijah, and I was chosen as the piano accompanist. I had to live with that piece for three weeks straight, day in and day out. Fortunately they cut some of it. It took me 30 years following before I could bear to listen to any of Elijah again, and frankly, I wasn't missing much . . . .  

[(poco) Sforzando]

More than a million people in the world actually listen to classical music? Really?
Oh, wow! 

Yes. The actual number is 1,209,337. It's documented somewhere.

[karlhenning]

True story: during my teenage years, I was packed off every summer by my parents to a summer music camp for six weeks. One summer it was decided to do a semi-staged version of Elijah, and I was chosen as the piano accompanist. I had to live with that piece for three weeks straight, day in and day out.

(* shudder *)

[(poco) Sforzando]

Bernstein also thought Copland was really hot.
What?  

Well, they did sleep together.

[Saul]

And there's some drift don't bear catching, if you catch . . . if you take my meaning.

This should be a line in the lord of the rings...

[(poco) Sforzando]

(* shudder *)

(* tell me about it *)

[greg]

Yes. The actual number is 1,209,337. It's documented somewhere.

Wow, cool! Maybe if I get to know 6 thousand people in my lifetime, one will listen to the same music i listen to (besides this forum, of course) 

[JoshLilly]

Well, they did sleep together.

I know, I was commenting that Bernstein's taste may not be for all.  0:)

[(poco) Sforzando]

I know, I was commenting that Bernstein's taste may not be for all.  0:)

A witty approach to the topic. Too bad it didn't occur to Saul.

[knight66]

Grow up, Mike...

I am talking about many other things beside religion,so stop spaming this site with your constant accusations on me...

Can we talk about Beethoven and Mendelssohn without your religious hunting?

This is really quite amusing stuff coming from you. I did not suggest ALL your posts are about or inspired by religion, try reading what I wrote. I am quite accustomed to your trait of trying to turn the tables on anyone who deals directly with you. People can judge for themselves who the zealot is here.

Mike