GMG Classical Music Forum

Announcements => Introductions => Topic started by: Muse Wanderer on September 13, 2016, 04:29:02 AM

Title: Hello everyone!
Post by: Muse Wanderer on September 13, 2016, 04:29:02 AM
Hello everyone,

I would like to introduce myself to this site. I have been an avid listener of classical music these past five years and have had some activity in other forums. GMG looks like a great site to share our own experiences, learn from each other and partake in interesting conversations.

I have eclectic tastes and I'm always open to new styles of music. I have a particular affinity to dear ol' Sebastian Bach (who is GOD by the way!), Mozart, Beethoven, Sibelius, Wagner, Schubert, Debussy, Stravinsky, Bartok, Handel, Bruckner, Chopin, Prokofiev, Schoenberg, Ligeti, Gubaidulina, Messiaen, Brahms, Mahler, Schumann, Feldman, Josquin and Palestrina amongst many others.

This past year I have been delving into the Bach cantata catalogue by Suzuki.  I feel enchanted by Bach whenever he shoots a bright arrow into the deep wilderness of my soul.  His St Matthew's Passion and Mass in B minor (especially as conducted by Herreweghe) have been uplifting in so many ways. Listening to BWV 66 just yesterday made me shiver with passion and exuberance. 

So many other composers have been monumental in my journey through music.  Schubert's intricate melodies and rhythm, Mozart's heavenly perfection, Beethoven's earthly humanity,  Wagner's towering masterpieces, Bruckner's godlike structures, Sibelius' crystalline bodies, Feldman's hypnotic states, Debussy's wandering muse. I love them all!

My enthusiasm for this music we all love, is unexpectedly not shared by family and friends except for my children who cherish their time with me listening and dancing to a Mozart serenade, Beethoven's symphony or Stravinsky concerto.

All the best,

Muse Wanderer
Title: Re: Hello everyone!
Post by: bhodges on September 13, 2016, 07:09:26 AM
Hello, Muse -- a very poetic introduction! Welcome, and have a good time here.

--Bruce
Title: Re: Hello everyone!
Post by: aligreto on September 13, 2016, 08:14:25 AM
Welcome aboard  :)
Delighted to read that you recognise GOD when you hear Him  8)
Title: Re: Hello everyone!
Post by: arpeggio on September 13, 2016, 12:18:46 PM
You will be at home here.  We embrace all kinds of classical music.  I even know of an ABBA fan lurking in the shadows.
Title: Re: Hello everyone!
Post by: Muse Wanderer on September 13, 2016, 12:34:19 PM
Quote from: Brewski on September 13, 2016, 07:09:26 AM
Hello, Muse -- a very poetic introduction! Welcome, and have a good time here.

--Bruce

Thanks for the warm welcome Bruce.
Title: Re: Hello everyone!
Post by: Muse Wanderer on September 13, 2016, 12:37:55 PM
Quote from: aligreto on September 13, 2016, 08:14:25 AM
Welcome aboard  :)
Delighted to read that you recognise GOD when you hear Him  8)

Oh my.... I've found another devoted disciple of the divine and almighty Sebastian! SDG my lord! :laugh:

Title: Re: Hello everyone!
Post by: Muse Wanderer on September 13, 2016, 12:39:33 PM
Quote from: arpeggio on September 13, 2016, 12:18:46 PM
You will be at home here.  We embrace all kinds of classical music.  I even know of an ABBA fan lurking in the shadows.

Thanks arpeggio. I remember you from another site, far away from here. Sure glad to see you here!

Now, don't tell me that my mum is lurking around here too! She is a crazy ABBA fan! :)
Title: Re: Hello everyone!
Post by: North Star on September 13, 2016, 01:08:30 PM
Welcome to GMG, Muse Wanderer! That list of composers is very nice indeed - all are very dear to me too, except perhaps Gubaidulina (I like the few works I've heard, but that's a very small number).

Now, how about some Berg, Haydn, Nielsen or Ravel?  8)
Title: Re: Hello everyone!
Post by: Karl Henning on September 13, 2016, 01:13:40 PM
Quote from: arpeggio on September 13, 2016, 12:18:46 PM
You will be at home here.  We embrace all kinds of classical music.  I even know of an ABBA fan lurking in the shadows.

Thank you for the Music.
Title: Re: Hello everyone!
Post by: ritter on September 13, 2016, 01:22:11 PM
Welocome on board, Muse Wanderer! That's a nice introduction you've given us. I hope you enjoy it here...

Regards,
Title: Re: Hello everyone!
Post by: aligreto on September 13, 2016, 01:23:54 PM
Quote from: Muse Wanderer on September 13, 2016, 12:37:55 PM
I my.... I've found another devoted disciple of the divine and almighty Sebastian! SDG my lord! :laugh:

I am trying to stop myself buying my 25th Brandenburgs cycle at the moment  ::)

SDG Muse Wanderer  8)
Title: Re: Hello everyone!
Post by: North Star on September 13, 2016, 01:26:30 PM
Quote from: aligreto on September 13, 2016, 01:23:54 PM
I am trying to stop myself buying my 25th Brandenburgs cycle at the moment  ::)

SDG Muse Wanderer  8)
I know the solution - buy some Clavier-übung I (partitas), solo violin/cello, or cantata discs.  8)
Title: Re: Hello everyone!
Post by: SimonNZ on September 13, 2016, 02:58:03 PM
Welcome!
Title: Re: Hello everyone!
Post by: ComposerOfAvantGarde on September 13, 2016, 04:04:28 PM
Welcome to GMG! I hope you enjoy your time here. :)
Title: Re: Hello everyone!
Post by: GioCar on September 13, 2016, 06:35:14 PM
Hi MW my friend  :)
Great to see you here!

Welcome, and enjoy!
Title: Re: Hello everyone!
Post by: Hollywood on September 13, 2016, 08:14:10 PM
Welcome to the forum, Muse Wanderer. Greetings from Beethoven and Mozart's Vienna. Enjoy!  8)
Title: Re: Hello everyone!
Post by: knight66 on September 13, 2016, 11:20:15 PM
Welcome, that was one of the best intros we have had. I hope you enjoy your time here. Fresh blood.....that's what we crave here you know, though old blood is always very welcome.

Cheers,

Mike
Title: Re: Hello everyone!
Post by: Wanderer on September 14, 2016, 01:56:15 AM
A fellow wanderer! Excellent intro (and avatar). Welcome!
Title: Re: Hello everyone!
Post by: aligreto on September 14, 2016, 08:05:25 AM
Quote from: North Star on September 13, 2016, 01:26:30 PM
I know the solution - buy some Clavier-übung I (partitas), solo violin/cello, or cantata discs.  8)

My JS Bach CD collection on my shelves stretches out to just under three meters in length, and that does not include my vinyls  ::)
I am trying to keep both my money and more importantly my shelf space for other composers  ;D
Title: Re: Hello everyone!
Post by: knight66 on September 14, 2016, 08:19:26 AM
RIght, I know who to come to for advice....I think of Bach as the flexible spine of my collection and listening and all the other parts of the skeleton hang off it.

Mike
Title: Re: Hello everyone!
Post by: Muse Wanderer on September 14, 2016, 01:08:51 PM
Quote from: North Star on September 13, 2016, 01:08:30 PM
Welcome to GMG, Muse Wanderer! That list of composers is very nice indeed - all are very dear to me too, except perhaps Gubaidulina (I like the few works I've heard, but that's a very small number).

Now, how about some Berg, Haydn, Nielsen or Ravel?  8)

Hi Northstar. Thanks for the welcome.

As soon as I listened to Gubaidulina's Canticles of the sun and the cello preludes I was hooked from the get go.

I am still in a discovery phase with respect to the ones you listed.

Haydn - Being me, I started listening to Haydn symphonies, piano sonatas and string quartets from his first (I know, I know!).  Symphony wise I reached the 40s and will eventually find the time to listen to the rest (got a few London ones that I love btw).

Berg - I adhore his violin concerto! The ending is just so exquisite!  When I listen to that piece I need to listen to Bach's cantata Es is Genug, from which Berg took inspiration and literally transcribed it in the finale!

Ravel - love his piano concerto, but I need to listen to so much more of his works.

Nielsen - got quite a few works of him, but haven't got to listen to any of them as yet. 
Title: Re: Hello everyone!
Post by: Muse Wanderer on September 14, 2016, 01:15:53 PM
Quote from: aligreto on September 13, 2016, 01:23:54 PM
I am trying to stop myself buying my 25th Brandenburgs cycle at the moment  ::)

SDG Muse Wanderer  8)

Hi aligreto.

That's a lot of Brandenburgs!

Made me check how many I have - twenty!

Beat me to it!  ;)

Title: Re: Hello everyone!
Post by: Muse Wanderer on September 14, 2016, 01:19:06 PM
Quote from: GioCar on September 13, 2016, 06:35:14 PM
Hi MW my friend  :)
Great to see you here!

Welcome, and enjoy!

GioCar amico mio! Come stai?

Glad to see you around these parts!
Title: Re: Hello everyone!
Post by: North Star on September 14, 2016, 01:37:38 PM
Quote from: Muse Wanderer on September 14, 2016, 01:08:51 PM
Hi Northstar. Thanks for the welcome.

As soon as I listened to Gubaidulina's Canticles of the sun and the cello preludes I was hooked from the get go.
I guess I'll have to put those next on the Gubaidulina queue.

QuoteI am still in a discovery phase with respect to the ones you listed.

Haydn - Being me, I started listening to Haydn symphonies, piano sonatas and string quartets from his first (I know, I know!).  Symphony wise I reached the 40s and will eventually find the time to listen to the rest (got a few London ones that I love btw).
I'm making my way through the symphonies at the moment. I still need to get a couple of SQ opuses not recorded by the Mosaïques.. and eventually a whole lot more. There's just so much of it, and it's so good.

QuoteBerg - I adhore his violin concerto! The ending is just so exquisite!  When I listen to that piece I need to listen to Bach's cantata Es is Genug, from which Berg took inspiration and literally transcribed it in the finale!
Yes indeed, a timeless work.

QuoteRavel - love his piano concerto, but I need to listen to so much more of his works.
All the mature works are very much worth knowing. If I tried to list a few, I'd end up listing them all pretty soon. He's up there with Bach, Sibelius, Janáček and Chopin as one of my absolute favourite composers.

QuoteNielsen - got quite a few works of him, but haven't got to listen to any of them as yet.
Some places to start (or more like my favourites): Rhapsody Overture: An imaginary journey to the Faroe Islands, Helios Overture, Wind Quintet, Clarinet Concerto, Flute Concerto, Symphonies nos. 3, 4 & 5.
Title: Re: Hello everyone!
Post by: Muse Wanderer on September 14, 2016, 01:56:21 PM
Quote from: North Star on September 14, 2016, 01:37:38 PM
I guess I'll have to put those next on the Gubaidulina queue.
I'm making my way through the symphonies at the moment. I still need to get a couple of SQ opuses not recorded by the Mosaïques.. and eventually a whole lot more. There's just so much of it, and it's so good.
Yes indeed, a timeless work.
All the mature works are very much worth knowing. If I tried to list a few, I'd end up listing them all pretty soon. He's up there with Bach, Sibelius, Janáček and Chopin as one of my absolute favourite composers.
Some places to start (or more like my favourites): Rhapsody Overture: An imaginary journey to the Faroe Islands, Helios Overture, Wind Quintet, Clarinet Concerto, Flute Concerto, Symphonies nos. 3, 4 & 5.

Thanks for the recommendations. 

Haydn will need a few more years.  I can't delve too deep like I did with Beethoven few years back. At the time I listened to Beethoven almost exclusively and managed to listen to most of his main works. If I do the same with Papa Haydn I will probably get a heart attack or something!

I actually listened to Nielsen violin concerto few months ago played by Ostrakh and loved it.  He manages to make the violin sing with such smooth rendering, it is pure sweetness with a bit of grunt in it.

Title: Re: Hello everyone!
Post by: Mirror Image on September 18, 2016, 06:37:13 AM
Welcome aboard, Muse Wanderer! I hope you enjoy yourself here. Loads of friendly and knowledgeable people here.