short masterpieces

[Guido]

Too many to list, it would take forever to try.

Can't remember if it's been mentioned yet but for me the absolute classic set of little masterpieces has to be Beethoven's set of Bagatelles op.126 - I love these as much as the late piano sonatas!

[Homo Aestheticus]

This thread thus far has indicated the heartless, soulless, so called "intellectual people of taste and curiosity that populate this forum.

The absolute most heartfelt, beautiful, magisterial sounding short work that touches the soul and heightens emotions is the "Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis" by RVW.

You should all hang you heads in shame for leaving this out.

Yes they all should hang their heads. But remember this is a group that considers Elliott Carter the greatest of American composers... 

It is a cold heart indeed that doesn't respond to Vaughn Williams gorgeous  Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis.

My second choice of a short masterpiece would have to be Tallis' mini choral masterpiece  -  Spem in Alium.

[karlhenning]

Yes they all should hang their heads. But remember this is a group that considers Elliott Carter the greatest of American composers... 

It is a cold heart indeed that doesn't respond to Vaughn Williams gorgeous  Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis.

False dichotomy, Eric.  A lot of us like both Elliott Carter and Vaughan Williams.

And, you know, a lot of us who like Vaughan Williams, have heard a great deal of his music beyond the Tallis Fantasia.

[Ten thumbs]

Now that I have actually heard it, have it on CD and can vouch for it, Mel Bonis's Fantasy Septet Op. 72 certainly falls into this category. It is a many faceted work that reflects the composer's complex personality.

[Ugh!]

Ha, I'd forgotten the sharp tone that prevails in this forum. Enjoyable reading so far 

There are so many short Stravinsky gems that I could mention, but the ones that have inspired me most include Pribaoutki, Three Japanese Lyrics, Berceuses du Chat, as well as the somewhat longer Octet for Winds which contains the most fabulous ostinato for bassoon...

Debussy's Chansons de Bilitis should be listened to and performed more often (the one with the recitals, not the proper songs).

Also, since Mossolov has been mentioned, I hasten to add Meytuss' Dniepr Power Plant

[karlhenning]

Mozart: Adagio & Rondo for Glass Harmonica, Flute, Oboe, Viola & Cello, K.617

[pjme]

Just heard on the radio - Jean Françaix's Pianoconcertino. Light & very short ( only a little bit of frou frou...but there's definitively a wawa trumpet!) but somehow it always catches my attention.

[otterhouse]

Reynaldo Hahn, A chloris...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pJ9_DzyFJ8

Rolf

[pjme]

Ah Rolf, that is such a wonderful, wonderful song! I have a slight prference for Marie Nicole Lemieux' version - but this is good anyway.

And so I had to think of Chausson's Chanson perpétuelle - which is another gem !

Peter

[knight66]

Yes they all should hang their heads. But remember this is a group that considers Elliott Carter the greatest of American composers... 

It is a cold heart indeed that doesn't respond to Vaughn Williams gorgeous  Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis.

I am not aware of anyone on this thread saying they could not respond to the piece.

Mike

[karlhenning]

I am not aware of anyone on this thread saying they could not respond to the piece.

Mike

My heart is certainly too warm not to respond to it.

("I expect he must wear asbestos waistcoats . . . .")

[Joe_Campbell]

Messiaen's Preludes - written when he was only 20 years old, I think! They're not nearly as experimental tonally as his magnum opus, Vingt Regards, but they're extremely interesting to listen to on their own merits. I have Michel Beroff playing them, coupled with Vingt Regards, but I've just ordered Angela Hewitt playing the Preludes (along with 2 of the same composer's     
Quatre Études de rythme) as well as Steven Osborne playing the Vingt Regards (also on Hyperion)

By the way, I'd just like to say how much I enjoy the Berkshire Record Outlet! 10 CDs from Hyperion cost me just over $80! Not bad for brand new stuff!

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