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The Music Room => General Classical Music Discussion => The Polling Station => Topic started by: Mirror Image on February 28, 2020, 07:49:36 AM

Title: Your ‘Top 10’ Favorite Works Of All-Time
Post by: Mirror Image on February 28, 2020, 07:49:36 AM
Apologies if this thread idea has been done before and if it has, then maybe this will be a good time to update your list. ;) Have fun!

My own list:

Debussy: Sonata for Flute, Viola and Harp
Ravel: Miroirs
Bartók: Bluebeard's Castle
Stravinsky: Apollon musagète
Fauré: Barcarolle No. 13 in C major, Op. 116 (difficult to choose really as so many of his late piano pieces are exquisite)
Enescu: Piano Quintet in A minor, Op. 29
Szymanowski: Litany to the Virgin Mary, Op. 59
Poulenc: Clarinet Sonata, FP 184
Berg: Violin Concerto, "To the memory of an angel"
Boulanger: Pie Jesu
Title: Re: Your ‘Top 10’ Favorite Works Of All-Time
Post by: Sergeant Rock on February 28, 2020, 08:40:06 AM
Fauré Pelléas et Mélisande Suite, Op. 80
Wagner Die Walküre
Nielsen Symphony No. 3 "Sinfonia Espansiva", Op. 27
Beethoven Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor, Op. 13 "Pathétique"
Satie Gnossiennes
Janáček Sinfonietta
Mahler Symphony No. 6 A minor
Mozart Piano Concerto No. 20 D minor
Fauré Pavane op. 50
Vaughan Williams Symphony No. 4
Title: Re: Your ‘Top 10’ Favorite Works Of All-Time
Post by: Karl Henning on February 28, 2020, 09:57:15 AM
Quote from: Mirror Image on February 28, 2020, 07:49:36 AM
Apologies if this thread idea has been done before and if it has, then maybe this will be a good time to update your list. ;) Have fun!

My own list:

Debussy: Sonata for Flute, Viola and Harp
Ravel: Miroirs
Bartók: Bluebeard's Castle
Stravinsky: Apollon musagète
Fauré: Barcarolle No. 13 in C major, Op. 116 (difficult to choose really as so many of his late piano pieces are exquisite)
Enescu: Piano Quintet in A minor, Op. 29
Szymanowski: Litany to the Virgin Mary, Op. 59
Poulenc: Clarinet Sonata, FP 184
Berg: Violin Concerto, "To the memory of an angel"
Boulanger: Pie Jesu

Quote from: Sergeant Rock on February 28, 2020, 08:40:06 AM
Fauré Pelléas et Mélisande Suite, Op. 80
Wagner Die Walküre
Nielsen Symphony No. 3 "Sinfonia Espansiva", Op. 27
Beethoven Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor, Op. 13 "Pathétique"
Satie Gnossiennes
Janáček Sinfonietta
Mahler Symphony No. 6 A minor
Mozart Piano Concerto No. 20 D minor
Fauré Pavane op. 50
Vaughan Williams Symphony No. 4

Cool lists, gents! Interesting Stravinsky choice, John.
Title: Re: Your ‘Top 10’ Favorite Works Of All-Time
Post by: Florestan on February 28, 2020, 10:25:50 AM
Mozart

Le nozze di Figaro
Posthorn-Serenade
Wind Serenade KV 375
Clarinet Quintet
Violin Concerto No. 4
Piano Concerto No. 20
Piano Sonata KV 284/205b
Piano Sonata KV 310
Concerto for Flute, Harp and Orchestra
Divertimento for String Trio KV 563

Tomorrow will be Schubert's turn. (or maybe another Mozart list, I haven't made up my mind yet) ;D
Title: Re: Your ‘Top 10’ Favorite Works Of All-Time
Post by: Mirror Image on February 28, 2020, 06:50:56 PM
Quote from: k a rl h e nn i ng on February 28, 2020, 09:57:15 AM
Cool lists, gents! Interesting Stravinsky choice, John.

Kudos, Karl. Yeah, this Stravinsky piece has really touched me quite deeply these past few years that I must count it amongst my favorites of his.
Title: Re: Your ‘Top 10’ Favorite Works Of All-Time
Post by: amw on February 29, 2020, 02:24:04 AM
Mozart

Piano concerto no.17 in G K.453
Piano concerto no.22 in Eb K.482
Piano concerto no.27 in Bb K.595
String quintet no.3 in C K.515
String quintet no.4 in g K.516
Rondo in a K.511
Violin sonata in e K.304
Violin sonata in G K.378
"Prague" Symphony in D K.504
Piano sonata in D K.576

As above, further lists to come! (probably, I haven't made my mind up yet either)
Title: Re: Your ‘Top 10’ Favorite Works Of All-Time
Post by: San Antone on February 29, 2020, 03:56:18 AM
No composer repeats

Durufle Requiem
Machaut Messe de Nostre Dame
Liszt Piano Sonata in B Minor
Bach Goldberg Variations
Stravinsky Symphonies for Wind Instruments
Debussy String Quartet
Brahms Clarinet Sonata in F Minor
Gershwin Porgy & Bess
Bernstein Mass
Webern Symphony, op. 21

Title: Re: Your ‘Top 10’ Favorite Works Of All-Time
Post by: Florestan on February 29, 2020, 04:40:10 AM
Quote from: Florestan on February 28, 2020, 10:25:50 AM
Tomorrow will be Schubert's turn. (or maybe another Mozart list, I haven't made up my mind yet) ;D

I've decided: Schubert it is today.

Arpeggione-Sonata
"Trout" Quintet
Violin Sonata D574
Piano Trio D898
Notturno for Piano Trio
Piano Sonata D960
Symphony No. 9
Schwanengesang
Moments musicaux
Fantasy for Piano 4 Hands D940
Title: Re: Your ‘Top 10’ Favorite Works Of All-Time
Post by: vandermolen on February 29, 2020, 12:55:26 PM
Tricky:

Vaughan Williams: Symphony No.6
Walton: Symphony No.1
Moeran: Symphony
Miaskovsky: Sympony No.6
Sibelius: Tapiola
Shostakovich: Symphony No.4
Braga Santos: Symphony No.4
Bloch: Sacred Service
Bruckner: Symphony No.9
Rosenberg: Symphony No.3
Title: Re: Your ‘Top 10’ Favorite Works Of All-Time
Post by: vandermolen on February 29, 2020, 12:56:52 PM
Quote from: San Antone on February 29, 2020, 03:56:18 AM
No composer repeats

Durufle Requiem
Machaut Messe de Nostre Dame
Liszt Piano Sonata in B Minor
Bach Goldberg Variations
Stravinsky Symphonies for Wind Instruments
Debussy String Quartet
Brahms Clarinet Sonata in F Minor
Gershwin Porgy & Bess
Bernstein Mass
Webern Symphony, op. 21
+1 for Durufle
Title: Re: Your ‘Top 10’ Favorite Works Of All-Time
Post by: Sergeant Rock on February 29, 2020, 01:25:28 PM
Quote from: Florestan on February 29, 2020, 04:40:10 AM
I've decided: Schubert it is today.

Arpeggione-Sonata
"Trout" Quintet
Violin Sonata D574
Piano Trio D898
Notturno for Piano Trio
Piano Sonata D960
Symphony No. 9
Schwanengesang
Moments musicaux
Fantasy for Piano 4 Hands D940

My Top 10 Schubert is quite similar to yours:

Piano Trio D898
Piano Sonata D960
Symphony No. 9
Moments musicaux
Fantasy for Piano 4 Hands D940
Symphony No. 5
String Quartet No. 13 A minor
String Quintet C major D.956
Winterreise
Gretchen am Spinnrade (including the Liszt version for piano solo)
Title: Re: My ‘Top 10’ Favorite Works du jour
Post by: Karl Henning on February 29, 2020, 02:26:53 PM
Stravinsky Orpheus
Prokofiev L'enfant prodique
Mozart Quintet for pf & winds
Berg Chamber Concerto for pf, vn & 13 winds
Hindemith Konzertmusik for brass & strings, Op. 50
Schoenberg Pierrot lunaire
Albeniz Iberia
Bartók Cantata profana
Schnittke Concerto for choir
Rakhmaninov Vespers
Title: Re: Your ‘Top 10’ Favorite Works Of All-Time
Post by: Symphonic Addict on February 29, 2020, 03:02:16 PM
Quote from: vandermolen on February 29, 2020, 12:55:26 PM
Tricky:

Vaughan Williams: Symphony No.6
Walton: Symphony No.1
Moeran: Symphony
Miaskovsky: Sympony No.6
Sibelius: Tapiola
Shostakovich: Symphony No.4
Braga Santos: Symphony No.4
Bloch: Sacred Service
Bruckner: Symphony No.9
Rosenberg: Symphony No.3

Mostly symphonies, interesting Jeffrey. Symphony is also my clear favorite in classical music. It's going to be hard that any other form will displace it. And yes, too tricky indeed!
Title: Re: Your ‘Top 10’ Favorite Works Of All-Time
Post by: Symphonic Addict on February 29, 2020, 03:13:41 PM
My efforts will be huge upon managing that cipher! I think I'll also go with symphonies (most of my choices). They (my choices), in their majority, contain most of the elements/emotions/moods I enjoy the best in classical music (epicness, beauty, loveliness, atmosphere, conflict, refinement, craftsmanship, draining, catharsis, quirkiness, drama, grandeur, resignation, anger, and so on) and both my heart and soul resonate with them (my selected works).

In alphabetical order:

Bantock - A Celtic Symphony
Janacek - String quartet No. 2 Intimate Letters
Langgaard - Symphony No. 6 Det Himmelrivende (Chandos CD)
Nielsen - Symphony No. 4 The Inextinguishable
Puccini - Turandot
Sibelius - Symphony No. 7
Strauss - An Alpine Symphony
Tchaikovsky - Piano trio in A minor
Tubin - Symphony No. 2 Légendaire

The least-common work (10th place) will be for Pettersson's Sonatas for two violins. It conveys evil and a frightening feeling that just fascinates me.
Title: Re: Your ‘Top 10’ Favorite Works Of All-Time
Post by: amw on February 29, 2020, 06:12:22 PM
Quote from: Sergeant Rock on February 29, 2020, 01:25:28 PM
My Top 10 Schubert is quite similar to yours:
Mine has some minor differences.

String Quintet D.956
Piano Sonata in Bb D.960
String Quartet in G D.887
Allegro "Lebensstürme" in a D.947
Introduction & Rondo brillante in b D.895
Piano Trio in Eb D.929
Notturno in Eb D.897
Die schöne Müllerin D.795
Divertimento à l'Hongroise D.818
Grand Duo D.812
Title: Re: My ‘Top 10’ Favorite Works du jour
Post by: Mirror Image on February 29, 2020, 06:48:41 PM
Quote from: k a rl h e nn i ng on February 29, 2020, 02:26:53 PM
Stravinsky Orpheus
Prokofiev L'enfant prodique
Mozart Quintet for pf & winds
Berg Chamber Concerto for pf, vn & 13 winds
Hindemith Konzertmusik for brass & strings, Op. 50
Schoenberg Pierrot lunaire
Albeniz Iberia
Bartók Cantata profana
Schnittke Concerto for choir
Rakhmaninov Vespers


Very nice list, Karl. Interesting choice with the Bartók. I do love that work a lot as well. The Stravinsky work is absolutely gorgeous.
Title: Re: Your ‘Top 10’ Favorite Works Of All-Time
Post by: Florestan on March 01, 2020, 12:04:13 AM
Quote from: Sergeant Rock on February 29, 2020, 01:25:28 PM
My Top 10 Schubert is quite similar to yours:

Piano Trio D898
Piano Sonata D960
Symphony No. 9
Moments musicaux
Fantasy for Piano 4 Hands D940
Symphony No. 5
String Quartet No. 13 A minor
String Quintet C major D.956
Winterreise
Gretchen am Spinnrade (including the Liszt version for piano solo)

Quote from: amw on February 29, 2020, 06:12:22 PM
Mine has some minor differences.

String Quintet D.956
Piano Sonata in Bb D.960
String Quartet in G D.887
Allegro "Lebensstürme" in a D.947
Introduction & Rondo brillante in b D.895
Piano Trio in Eb D.929
Notturno in Eb D.897
Die schöne Müllerin D.795
Divertimento à l'Hongroise D.818
Grand Duo D.812

Excellent choices! Actually, my list could look very different tomorrow.. It's really impossible for me to pick just 10 Schubert works,
Title: Re: Your ‘Top 10’ Favorite Works Of All-Time
Post by: vandermolen on March 01, 2020, 12:19:22 AM
Quote from: Symphonic Addict on February 29, 2020, 03:13:41 PM
My efforts will be huge upon managing that cipher! I think I'll also go with symphonies (most of my choices). They (my choices), in their majority, contain most of the elements/emotions/moods I enjoy the best in classical music (epicness, beauty, loveliness, atmosphere, conflict, refinement, craftsmanship, draining, catharsis, quirkiness, drama, grandeur, resignation, anger, and so on) and both my heart and soul resonate with them (my selected works).

In alphabetical order:

Bantock - A Celtic Symphony
Janacek - String quartet No. 2 Intimate Letters
Langgaard - Symphony No. 6 Det Himmelrivende (Chandos CD)
Nielsen - Symphony No. 4 The Inextinguishable
Puccini - Turandot
Sibelius - Symphony No. 7
Strauss - An Alpine Symphony
Tchaikovsky - Piano trio in A minor
Tubin - Symphony No. 2 Légendaire

The least-common work (10th place) will be for Pettersson's Sonatas for two violins. It conveys evil and a frightening feeling that just fascinates me.
Great choices Cesar, notwithstanding 'An Alpine Symphony' ( :o)
Bantock, Tubin and Langgaard could have been on my list too, although I'd have gone for Langgaard's 4th Symphony, although No.6 is my second favourite. Big thumbs up for Tubin's 2nd Symphony as well. Must listen to the Janacek.
Title: Re: Your ‘Top 10’ Favorite Works Of All-Time
Post by: ritter on March 01, 2020, 01:11:44 AM
Let's give this a try... :)

- Pierre Boulez: Pli selon pli
- Claude Debussy: Jeux
- Claude Debussy: Études pour piano
- Georges Enesco: Chamber Symphony ,
op. 33
- Manuel de Falla: El retablo de Maese Pedro
- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Don Giovanni
- Maurice Ravel: Le Tombeau de Couperin
(both version)
- Giuseppe Verdi: Falstaff
- Richard Wagner: Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg
- Richard Wagner: Parsifal 
Title: Re: Your ‘Top 10’ Favorite Works Of All-Time
Post by: Mirror Image on March 01, 2020, 06:35:47 AM
Quote from: ritter on March 01, 2020, 01:11:44 AM
Let's give this a try... :)

- Pierre Boulez: Pli selon pli
- Claude Debussy: Jeux
- Claude Debussy: Études pour piano
- Georges Enesco: Chamber Symphony ,
op. 33
- Manuel de Falla: El retablo de Maese Pedro
- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Don Giovanni
- Maurice Ravel: Le Tombeau de Couperin
(both version)
- Giuseppe Verdi: Falstaff
- Richard Wagner: Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg
- Richard Wagner: Parsifal 


Surprised to see this Falla work on your favorites list. I do really enjoy it as well. Also, the Debussy, Ravel, and Enescu are favorites as well. I'm beginning to really enjoy that Boulez work as well.
Title: Re: Your ‘Top 10’ Favorite Works Of All-Time
Post by: Brian on March 03, 2020, 10:04:42 AM
This is impossible!!!!!!
I'll try it.  ;D

Beethoven - Piano Sonata No. 30
Beethoven - Symphony No. 7
Chopin - Ballade No. 4
Dvořák - Symphony No. 8
Haydn - Symphony No. 92 (or 98, or 103, or...)
Janáček - Sinfonietta
Ravel - Le tombeau de Couperin (piano, not orchestra)
Roussel - Bacchus et Ariane
Schubert - Impromptus D. 935
Schubert - String Quintet D. 956

A further list of works that, when I am listening to them, I think surely must be in the top 10:

Fauré - Requiem
Sibelius - Symphony No. 5
R. Strauss - Four Last Songs
Tchaikovsky - Sleeping Beauty

Quote from: amw on February 29, 2020, 06:12:22 PM
Divertimento à l'Hongroise D.818
Super underrated but always popping into my head.

EDIT: Wow, only one Beethoven work selected before I got here.
Title: Re: Your ‘Top 10’ Favorite Works Of All-Time
Post by: amw on March 03, 2020, 03:05:39 PM
Quote from: Brian on March 03, 2020, 10:04:42 AM
EDIT: Wow, only one Beethoven work selected before I got here.

Here's 10 albeit a somewhat boring 10:

Piano Sonata No.32 in C minor op.111
Piano Sonata No.30 in E major op.109
Piano Sonata No.29 in B-flat major op.106
String Quartet No.10 in E-flat major op.74
String Quartet No.14 in C-sharp minor op.131
String Quartet No.13 in B-flat major op.130/133
Missa Solemnis op.123
Piano Trio No.6 in E-flat major op.70 no.2
Cello Sonata No.2 in G minor op.5 no.2
Piano Concerto No.3 in C minor op.37
Title: Re: Your ‘Top 10’ Favorite Works Of All-Time
Post by: some guy on March 03, 2020, 04:39:25 PM
Any list with opus 111 and 131 is NOT a boring list.
Title: Re: Your ‘Top 10’ Favorite Works Of All-Time
Post by: SimonNZ on March 03, 2020, 05:17:49 PM
Quote from: some guy on March 03, 2020, 04:39:25 PM
Any list with opus 111 and 131 is NOT a boring list.

Your list, I think, would be particularly interesting.
Title: My ‘Top 10’ Favorite Works du jour
Post by: Karl Henning on March 03, 2020, 05:38:08 PM
Feldman: Triadic Memories
Cage: Sonatas & Interludes for Prepared Piano
Weinberg: Pf Quintet
Copland: Sextet
Brahms: Chorale Preludes
Messiaen: Quatuor pour la fin du temps
JSB: Canonic Variations on Vom Himmel hoch
Haydn: Harmoniemesse
RVW Flos campi
Andriessen: Hoketus

Title: Re: My ‘Top 10’ Favorite Works du jour
Post by: Mirror Image on March 03, 2020, 05:39:36 PM
Quote from: k a rl h e nn i ng on March 03, 2020, 05:38:08 PM
Feldman: Triadic Memories
Cage: Sonatas & Interludes for Prepared Piano
Weinberg: Pf Quintet
Copland: Sextet
Brahms: Chorale Preludes
Messiaen: Quatuor pour la fin du temps
JSB: Canonic Variations on Vom Himmel hoch
Haydn: Harmoniemesse
RVW Flos campi
Andriessen: Hoketus

No Stravinsky, Schoenberg, or Shostakovich, Karl? Shocking! :o ;)
Title: Re: Your ‘Top 10’ Favorite Works Of All-Time
Post by: Karl Henning on March 03, 2020, 05:43:38 PM
Quote from: Mirror Image on March 03, 2020, 05:39:36 PM
No Stravinsky, Schoenberg, or Shostakovich, Karl? Shocking! :o ;)

It's du jour, John! 8)
Title: Re: Your ‘Top 10’ Favorite Works Of All-Time
Post by: Mirror Image on March 03, 2020, 05:45:19 PM
Quote from: k a rl h e nn i ng on March 03, 2020, 05:43:38 PM
It's du jour, John! 8)

Ah, très bien. :)
Title: Re: Your ‘Top 10’ Favorite Works Of All-Time
Post by: some guy on March 03, 2020, 08:25:00 PM
Quote from: SimonNZ on March 03, 2020, 05:17:49 PM
Your list, I think, would be particularly interesting.
:)

Well, only if I could have 100 instead of ten. And even 100 might kill me. There's just too much music. When I was ten, I might have been able to play this game. But now? Not a chance! (I want to say, "I wouldn't know where to begin," but the real problem is that I wouldn't know where to stop.)
Title: Re: Your ‘Top 10’ Favorite Works Of All-Time
Post by: Papy Oli on March 04, 2020, 12:17:45 AM
Some long established favourites of mine :

Arvo Part - Kanon Pokajanen
Beethoven - Piano Sonata No.4 Op.7
Chopin - Ballade No.1
Mahler - Symphony No.2
Bruckner - Symphony No.8
Rameau - Pièces de Clavecin (1724  - includes Le Rappel des Oiseaux)
Tallis - Salve intemerata

The new entries :

Arnold - 9th symphony (or Grand grand Festival overture or Peterloo)
Finzi - Eclogue
Any of RVW 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 8 for that last spot.


Title: Re: Your ‘Top 10’ Favorite Works Of All-Time
Post by: Biffo on March 04, 2020, 01:44:38 AM
Quote from: amw on March 03, 2020, 03:05:39 PM
Here's 10 albeit a somewhat boring 10:

Piano Sonata No.32 in C minor op.111
Piano Sonata No.30 in E major op.109
Piano Sonata No.29 in B-flat major op.106
String Quartet No.10 in E-flat major op.74
String Quartet No.14 in C-sharp minor op.131
String Quartet No.13 in B-flat major op.130/133
Missa Solemnis op.123
Piano Trio No.6 in E-flat major op.70 no.2
Cello Sonata No.2 in G minor op.5 no.2
Piano Concerto No.3 in C minor op.37

Some might consider my favourite 10 even more boring (conventional)-

Piano Sonata No.32 in C minor op.111
Piano Sonata No.29 in B-flat major op.106
String Quartet No.15 in A minor op.132
Missa Solemnis op.123
Piano Concerto No.4 in G major
Fidelio
Symphony No 3 in E flat major Eroica
Symphony No 7 in A major
Symphony No 9 in D minor
Coriolan Overture
Title: Re: Your ‘Top 10’ Favorite Works Of All-Time
Post by: San Antone on March 04, 2020, 06:13:17 AM
Quote from: some guy on March 03, 2020, 08:25:00 PM
:)

Well, only if I could have 100 instead of ten. And even 100 might kill me. There's just too much music. When I was ten, I might have been able to play this game. But now? Not a chance! (I want to say, "I wouldn't know where to begin," but the real problem is that I wouldn't know where to stop.)

I had to work to get to ten.  99% of the music I listen to is enjoyable and very important to my well-being.  But only a tiny handful of works rise above to a level that touch me so deeply that I cannot imagine living without them.

Nice list, Karl.  With the exception of Flos campi, a work I've never heard (RVW is not a composer I listen to) the rest are among some of my own favorites even if they did not make my list.

8)
Title: Re: Your ‘Top 10’ Favorite Works Of All-Time
Post by: Karl Henning on March 04, 2020, 07:10:20 AM
Quote from: San Antone on March 04, 2020, 06:13:17 AM
I had to work to get to ten.  99% of the music I listen to is enjoyable and very important to my well-being.  But only a tiny handful of works rise above to a level that touch me so deeply that I cannot imagine living without them.

Nice list, Karl.  With the exception of Flos campi, a work I've never heard (RVW is not a composer I listen to) the rest are among some of my own favorites even if they did not make my list.

8)

Cheers!
Title: Re: Your ‘Top 10’ Favorite Works Of All-Time
Post by: Total Rafa on March 04, 2020, 09:52:27 AM
Don't know about 'Top 10', 'All-Time', and the like, but here's 10.   :D

Mahler: Symphony No. 9
Beethoven: Waldstein Sonata
Brahms: Clarinet Quintet
Fauré: Requiem
Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto in E minor
Sibelius: Symphony No. 7
Bruckner: Symphony No. 8
Rachmaninov: Symphonic Dances
Tchaikovsky: Piano Trio in A Minor "In memory of a great artist"
Schubert: String Quintet