There isn't much music that grates on my nerves but I'm sure everyone has a list of tunes you could go the rest of your life without ever hearing again. They are the tunes that make you turn off the Classical station and look for your Beethoven CDs.
My five are:
1) Blue Danube Waltz
2) Canon in D
3) Bolero
4) Waltz of the Flowers
5) Air on the G String
I used to be right there with you with a number of pieces that I did not care to hear again....one of which was LvB's 9th due to my overplaying it. However, of late I have found that the pieces that I thought I wanted to be "on the shelf" in a permanent fashion are beginning to creep back off my shelves (including the 9th) as they have been given the proper rest from my ears and also due to discovering new performances of these pieces that give them freshness. So all in all, there are not any recordings at this time that I would never want to hear again....just pieces that I need to rotate out of my listening, take a break from, and come back to at a later date.
Oh my! :o Five Pieces You Never Want to Hear Again, huh? ;D
Well, I thought you meant so bad you never wanted to hear them again...I have some of those!
I can't really remember what because I don't own them (haha!), but some things that come on the classical radio while driving, ick. Doesn't happen often, but sometimes, usually coming home at night, when I'd love to hear some Debussy piano...and then no, then it's avantgarde time! Oh yes, avantgarde piano banging music!
I don't really remember what pieces in particular or composers, but those would rank among works I never want to hear again. LOL Really out-there SQ, also ouch.
But as far as overplayed, can't really think of any. I really overplayed the Wagner overtures the first 5 years I was in to classical, and have been away from them for a long time, now I'm finding some new recordings and having fun with my old friends again. :)
I don't think I have any. There are pieces I don't want to hear for a long time, but I'll re-evaluate them later, when ready to come to them afresh.
Sometimes, pieces that get overplayed go off of my list for a long time, but it seems that I always come back to them, so I can't think of any that I never want to hear again. I was sick of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony for years, primarily because the first movement is overplayed, but one day I bought Gardiner's Beethoven set, and his historically informed performance breathed new life into this piece, and I am no longer sick of it.
Some that I am currently sick of hearing are Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture and Nutcracker, Mozart's Eine kleine Nachtmusik, and J. Strauss II's Blue Danube. (I couldn't think of a fifth piece for this list, but there probably is one.) These are all good pieces of music, but they are way too popular. Maybe in a few years, I will no longer be so sick of them, but in the meantime I will listen instead to the parodies of these pieces by P.D.Q. Bach and Spike Jones. P.D.Q. Bach's 1712 Overture is hilarious, and many years ago Spike Jones did a great job of butchering some pieces from Nutcracker.
Heather
I'd go with Pachelbel's Canon, the Matthews Pluto and just about anything by Dittersdorf.
Pachelbel Canon's only crime is it deserved popularity. The work is genius.
Dvorak, Symphony No. 9 'From the New World'
Glass, Violin Concerto
Elgar, Starlight Express
Bach, Air on a G String
Pachelbel, Canon in D
Quote from: Steve on May 06, 2007, 11:00:32 AM
Dvorak, Symphony No. 9 'From the New World'
Wow, I could hear that one every day, in spite of how overplayed it is.
Quote from: helios on May 06, 2007, 10:55:50 AM
Pachelbel Canon's only crime is it deserved popularity. The work is genius.
I don't dispute its quality. I've just heard it too often.
Quote from: hornteacher on May 06, 2007, 11:11:37 AM
Wow, I could hear that one every day, in spite of how overplayed it is.
Well, I knew my selections wouldn't be without their devotees. :)
1. Beethoven's 5th symphony
2. Dvorak's 9th symphony
3. Tchaikovsky first piano concerto
4. Tchaikovsky violin concerto
5. 3 b's violin concerto, Brahms, Beethoven, Bruch
1. Hans Peter Kyburz: Noësis
2. Any
3. Bad
3. Recording or
4. Performance of
5. Anything
Yes, agreed, the topic seems to mean 5 pieces that are bad, laughingly bad, like Ed Wood movies:
Hollywood Suite
Niagara Falls Suite
Mississippi Suite
Hudson River Suite
Death Valley Suite
by Ferde Grofe. :o
Quote from: Cato on May 06, 2007, 05:40:35 PM
Yes, agreed, the topic seems to mean 5 pieces that are bad, laughingly bad, like Ed Wood movies:
Hollywood Suite
Niagara Falls Suite
Mississippi Suite
Hudson River Suite
Death Valley Suite
by Ferde Grofe. :o
blue danube is "laughingly bad"?
Quote from: MahlerTitan on May 06, 2007, 05:54:19 PM
blue danube is "laughingly bad"?
It is if you're a horn player:
rest - bop - bop
rest - bop - bop
rest - bop - bop
rest - bop - bop
rest - bop - bop
rest - bop - bop
rest - bop - bop
rest - bop - bop
and the grand finale:
rest - bop - bop - BOP!
Quote from: hornteacher on May 06, 2007, 06:13:18 PM
It is if you're a horn player:
rest - bop - bop
rest - bop - bop
rest - bop - bop
rest - bop - bop
rest - bop - bop
rest - bop - bop
rest - bop - bop
rest - bop - bop
and the grand finale:
rest - bop - bop - BOP!
well, so? Bass players don't do much in most classical music anyways, what if they don't like what they do? the music is still good.
Beethoven: Fur Elise (should be locked in a safe and buried at the bottom of the ocean for a hundred years, so people can rediscover how wonderful it is)
Aside from that, not much...
Steve: odd that you mention Glass's Violin Concerto, it's one of very few works of his that I do like. Though the third movement is a bit of a letdown...
Quote from: MahlerTitan on May 06, 2007, 05:54:19 PM
blue danube is "laughingly bad"?
No, I never said that! :o
I was agreeing that the topic should be restricted to works that are ipso facto "laughingly bad" and not things that one has simply gotten tired of.
BUSSOTTI: Rara Requiem
STOCKHAUSEN: Stimmung
BERLIOZ: Te Deum
BONTEMPO: Te Deum
LISZT: Orage (piano)
Quote from: MahlerTitan on May 06, 2007, 06:47:37 PM
well, so? Bass players don't do much in most classical music anyways, what if they don't like what they do? the music is still good.
Very true. I'm just relaying my experiences as a performer in a tongue-in-cheek manner.
I really wouldn't know. Don't I want to hear Dvorak's New World again? Or Pachelbel's Canon? Or Ravel's Bolero? I only listen to them (maybe) once a year, and when listening I consider them as marvellous again. No problem.
I'd like to mention though that Bach never wrote a so-called 'Air on the G string'. It was an arrangment by violinist August Wilhelmj (1845-1908), who changed this beautiful movement into a popular 'sultry tune' (as the Dutch musicologist C. Höweler (somehow) called it).
Is there any Purcell left in Stokovski's Dido's Lament?
Or any Albinoni in Giazotto's Adagio in G minor?
Don't get me wrong: I like to listen to both the Stokovski and the Giazotto, let's say: once in every two years. ;D
No, really, I don't know any piece I never want to hear again, except maybe for anything sung by Mariah Carey.
John Adams - Nixon in China
Philip Glass - Einstein on the Beach
Anything by Erik Satie
Luigi Nono - Fragmente-Stille
Alvin Lucier - "I am sitting in a room"
Quote from: edward on May 06, 2007, 07:13:53 AM
I don't think I have any. There are pieces I don't want to hear for a long time, but I'll re-evaluate them later, when ready to come to them afresh.
Ditto.
Charles Ives: A Universe Symphony
If you have not heard it consider yourself lucky.
Quote from: PerfectWagnerite on June 13, 2007, 02:00:57 PM
Charles Ives: A Universe Symphony
If you have not heard it consider yourself lucky.
I was curious about this, but not too curious. Do you normally dislike Ives?
Quote from: Kullervo on June 13, 2007, 02:03:40 PM
I was curious about this, but not too curious. Do you normally dislike Ives?
I actually like Ives very much. Somehow this work really turn me off. The entire first movement (about 30 minutes long) repeats a same pattern on the percussion. Yeah there are a few variations thrown in but it is extremely tedious. The rest of the work is no better. You know, the usually screeching strings playing meaningless notes in the upper register. The booklet gives a lengthy talk about the construction of the work which looks really interesting on paper but as far as sound goes is nauseating.
Also I never want to hear anything by Bright Sheng again. How he manages to get the attention he gets boggles the mind. The guy has no talent whatsoever.
Quote from: PerfectWagnerite on June 13, 2007, 02:00:57 PM
Charles Ives: A Universe Symphony
If you have not heard it consider yourself lucky.
I've been told by Ivesians that this work is 90% Larry Austin and 10% Charles Ives. I'd agree with the 'avoid' on it, though I might bring it out again some day...haven't for about five years though. ;)
That sabre dance thingy. I don't know where I heard it or how or when, but it was BAD.
Quote from: Bonehelm on June 13, 2007, 07:38:25 PM
That sabre dance thingy. I don't know where I heard it or how or when, but it was BAD.
That's from Gayaneh by Aram Khatchaturian.
Quote from: Kullervo on June 13, 2007, 01:33:24 PM
Alvin Lucier - "I am sitting in a room"
I've heard that this is an amazing piece. What is it that you dislike about it?
Quote from: Don Giovanni on June 14, 2007, 11:43:52 AM
I've heard that this is an amazing piece. What is it that you dislike about it?
It's basically just an experiment with sound recording technology, not far from what I did with my handheld tape recorder when I was 12. There's nothing endearing or artful about it, and it definitely doesn't warrant more than one listen (actually, you don't even have to listen to the whole piece to "get" it). Additionally, his stutter makes it even more unlistenable than it is to begin with.
Only Bach's Air on a G String for me.
If I never hear the Firebird again I won't mind.
Quote from: Bonehelm on June 13, 2007, 07:38:25 PM
That sabre dance thingy. I don't know where I heard it or how or when, but it was BAD.
I'd rather hear the Sabre Dance every day than here the Firebird again...not because the Firebird is bad but because if Stravinsky is played on the radio or programmed in the concert hall, 9 out of 10 times it's that damned Firebird. Enough already. At least the Sabre Dance is short.
Sarge
Quote from: MahlerTitan on May 06, 2007, 11:46:29 AM
1. Beethoven's 5th symphony
2. Dvorak's 9th symphony
3. Tchaikovsky first piano concerto
4. Tchaikovsky violin concerto
5. 3 b's violin concerto, Brahms, Beethoven, Bruch
So young, and already so jaded... ;D
Sarge
Quote from: Cato on May 06, 2007, 05:40:35 PM
Yes, agreed, the topic seems to mean 5 pieces that are bad, laughingly bad, like Ed Wood movies:
Hollywood Suite
Niagara Falls Suite
Mississippi Suite
Hudson River Suite
Death Valley Suite
by Ferde Grofe. :o
Who said (besides YOU) that they are laughingly bad?
Arthur Fiedler didn't think so.
Leonard Bernstein didn't think so.
Andre Kostelantz didn't think so.
George Gershwin didn't think so.
Felix Slatkin didn't think so
Leopold Stokowski didn't think so.
Eugene Ormandy didn't think so.
But YOU think so.
Hmm, let me see now. Whom shall I believe?
I do not listen to the radio enough or watch that much TV, so I have not yet experienced burn-out on any particular piece of music. The most played pieces of music on my iPod currently are Es sang vor langen Jahren, Che gelida manina, Non piu andrai, Der Hölle Rache and the Adagio to Bruckner's 8th (I blame Giulini for that ;)) and I am nowhere near tired of hearing them. :D
any pop or p/w music that takes itself too seriously.
classical...i don't have a problem, but i do take breaks from certain selections.
dj
Quote from: Kullervo on June 13, 2007, 01:33:24 PM
Alvin Lucier - "I am sitting in a room"
YES! Me too. It is overly long (40 minutes or more), and it is not really interesting at all to listen to. His voice very slowly changes into a droning mass of sound as it is played back over itself or something like that. I don't much like his pieces based on brainwaves either. But then his CD "Still Lives" is great!
Steve Reich:
Four Organs. A little salt-shaker-like sound accompanied by looooong and identical held organ chords. Repeated ad nauseum for 20 minutes.
John Cage:
Fontana Mix. 13 minutes or so of random radio noises at random times (random as in: the radios are randomly tuned, it is literally random). Hideous!
Eric Whitacre:
Godzilla Eats Las Vegas! Exclamation mark is part of the title... this is supposed to be 'fun' but I can't stand it.
Jani Christou:
Epicycle I, described as a "Happening for a modifiable vocal and instrumental ensemble, actors, tapes, visual projections and free participation of the public." The recording I have of it sounds like simply 45 minutes of a recording device left in a room where somewhere in the distance someone is playing some jazz, people are talking, other noise... a terrible "concept piece".
Quote from: Xantus' Murrelet on June 15, 2007, 04:54:06 AM
YES! Me too. It is overly long (40 minutes or more), and it is not really interesting at all to listen to. His voice very slowly changes into a droning mass of sound as it is played back over itself or something like that. I don't much like his pieces based on brainwaves either. But then his CD "Still Lives" is great!
Steve Reich: Four Organs. A little salt-shaker-like sound accompanied by looooong and identical held organ chords. Repeated ad nauseum for 20 minutes.
John Cage: Fontana Mix. 13 minutes or so of random radio noises at random times (random as in: the radios are randomly tuned, it is literally random). Hideous!
Eric Whitacre: Godzilla Eats Las Vegas! Exclamation mark is part of the title... this is supposed to be 'fun' but I can't stand it.
Jani Christou: Epicycle I, described as a "Happening for a modifiable vocal and instrumental ensemble, actors, tapes, visual projections and free participation of the public." The recording I have of it sounds like simply 45 minutes of a recording device left in a room where somewhere in the distance someone is playing some jazz, people are talking, other noise... a terrible "concept piece".
Haha, great choices, Chris. The Whitacre piece you mentioned reminded me of another awful "exclamation point" piece... Tristian Murail's
Vampyr!. Ten minutes of a guitar going "WEEEEEEOOOOOWOOOOO BOW CHICKA BOWBOW MEEEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRR".
I have to add the Theme from Titanic and that Celine Dion song. I spent an hour in a coffee shop yesterday where it was on a loop. I complained and they put on a really lackluster Vivaldi 4 seasons -- I could live without that as well.
Quote from: Xantus' Murrelet on June 15, 2007, 04:54:06 AM
Steve Reich: Four Organs. A little salt-shaker-like sound accompanied by looooong and identical held organ chords. Repeated ad nauseum for 20 minutes.
I don't like that hideously pedantic excercise either and find it hard to believe it came from the same composer as the octet and music for large ensemble.
Quote from: Bunny on June 15, 2007, 06:27:11 AM
I have to add the Theme from Titanic and that Celine Dion song. I spent an hour in a coffee shop yesterday where it was on a loop. I complained and they put on a really lackluster Vivaldi 4 seasons -- I could live without that as well.
You can complain about the music being played in a coffee shop now? Wow.. :o
Quote from: Bunny on June 15, 2007, 06:27:11 AM
I have to add the Theme from Titanic and that Celine Dion song. I spent an hour in a coffee shop yesterday where it was on a loop. I complained and they put on a really lackluster Vivaldi 4 seasons -- I could live without that as well.
Thank goodness I don't drink coffee!
Quote from: Kullervo on June 15, 2007, 05:24:26 AM
Haha, great choices, Chris. The Whitacre piece you mentioned reminded me of another awful "exclamation point" piece... Tristian Murail's Vampyr!. Ten minutes of a guitar going "WEEEEEEOOOOOWOOOOO BOW CHICKA BOWBOW MEEEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRR".
;D
The Avanti! Chamber Orchestra should release a CD "Avanti! CO Plays Exclamation Mark Music!".
Quote from: Lethe on June 15, 2007, 08:54:59 AM
I don't like that hideously pedantic excercise either and find it hard to believe it came from the same composer as the octet and music for large ensemble.
Agreed, I guess it was a 'lapse in judgement' or something, since Reich at his best can be incredible (like in the pieces you named, plus New York Counterpoint and a ton of others).
Quote from: Xantus' Murrelet on June 16, 2007, 06:19:27 AM
The Avanti! Chamber Orchestra should release a CD "Avanti! CO Plays Exclamation Mark Music!".
With the Premiere Recording of Esa-Pekka Salonen's piece, "OMG!" for solo tuning fork and orchestra.
Quote from: hornteacher on June 15, 2007, 05:33:23 PM
Thank goodness I don't drink coffee!
I was having fruit salad and cottage cheese; nothing to do with coffee. More like a "hamburger, hamburger, cheeseburger..." type of place.
Quote from: Bonehelm on June 15, 2007, 05:17:32 PM
You can complain about the music being played in a coffee shop now? Wow.. :o
Yes, when you hear the same thing over and over and over and over and over. After about 40 minutes I couldn't think straight. One song? I'm surprised everyone else wasn't complaining.
Quote from: Bunny on June 16, 2007, 07:18:52 AM
Yes, when you hear the same thing over and over and over and over and over. After about 40 minutes I couldn't think straight. One song? I'm surprised everyone else wasn't complaining.
I'm surprised that you didn't leave when it started the second time. Did you just not notice?
QuoteEric Whitacre: Godzilla Eats Las Vegas! Exclamation mark is part of the title... this is supposed to be 'fun' but I can't stand it.
Oh amen. I saw this live (our 2nd band did it in college) and it is just the cheesiest thing ever. Thank god I didn't have to play it!
QuoteThe Avanti! Chamber Orchestra should release a CD "Avanti! CO Plays Exclamation Mark Music!".
QuoteWith the Premiere Recording of Esa-Pekka Salonen's piece, "OMG!" for solo tuning fork and orchestra.
ROFL! Back in the day, he and his compatriots Saariaho and Lindberg had an ! group of their own called Torvaat Auki! (Ears Open), which uh, played some "ear-opening music"....often to two landladies and their dogs as audience...
I can handle Floof, his "dodecaphonic rap" for histrionic soprano and 5 players, and generally adore his composing, but there is this one piece, a really early one, that is a no go for me.
Baalal, 1982: for electroacoustic tape - It's Berio, but well, not. 23 min. of people talking and yelling in Italian, I think played backwards at times, random woodwinds, microtonal chant, opera singing, harpsichord banging, street sounds, a mock sportscast, people burping, spitting and blowing raspberries, with a few minutes of decent music sandwiched in.
Quote from: Bunny on June 16, 2007, 07:16:51 AM
I was having fruit salad and cottage cheese; nothing to do with coffee. More like a "hamburger, hamburger, cheeseburger..." type of place.
Really? And they're playing Vivaldi? Down here those places only play Garth Brooks and Dixie Chicks. ::)
Quote from: val on May 07, 2007, 12:40:30 AM
STOCKHAUSEN: Stimmung
;D yeah, that one definetely
any Beethoven symphony, Wagner opera, any cheesy American nationalist junk by Gottschalk or Copland, hard to narrow it down to 5
Quote from: greg on June 16, 2007, 08:52:51 AM
;D yeah, that one definetely
any Beethoven symphony, Wagner opera, any cheesy American nationalist junk by Gottschalk or Copland, hard to narrow it down to 5
You are asking for it, buster!
Quote from: greg on June 16, 2007, 08:52:51 AM
any Beethoven symphony, Wagner opera, any cheesy American nationalist junk by Gottschalk or Copland, hard to narrow it down to 5
Them's fighten' words, Tex. ;)
Quote from: hornteacher on June 16, 2007, 02:14:42 PM
Them's fighten' words, Tex. ;)
Ha! Put your dukes up and let's have a round or 17. 8)
not that i'm saying it'll last 17 rounds......
Quote from: greg on June 16, 2007, 02:30:45 PM
not that i'm saying it'll last 17 rounds......
A round of what? That's the question. ;D
Pachelbel's Canon
Pachelbel's Canon
Pachelbel's Canon
Pachelbel's Canon
Bolero - This pains me as I really like most everything else Ravel.
My apologies to Pachelbel fans. ;)
What's wrong with 1812 overture?
Quote from: Bonehelm on June 18, 2007, 08:50:56 PM
What's wrong with 1812 overture?
There's nothing intrinsically wrong with any of the pieces I just listed, I just think they're overplayed and overexposed, and I'd be fine if I didn't hear anything about them for a long time (especially Le Sacre, can't people just shut up about it?).
Quote from: greg on June 16, 2007, 08:52:51 AM
;D yeah, that one definetely
any Beethoven symphony, Wagner opera, any cheesy American nationalist junk by Gottschalk or Copland, hard to narrow it down to 5
Kullervo and Hornteacher,
I have this one covered.....sending my best man in the field to deal with it.
(http://www.radioblogger.com/images/barney.JPG)
Quote from: Greta on June 16, 2007, 08:11:55 AM
Baalal, 1982: for electroacoustic tape - It's Berio, but well, not. 23 min. of people talking and yelling in Italian, I think played backwards at times, random woodwinds, microtonal chant, opera singing, harpsichord banging, street sounds, a mock sportscast, people burping, spitting and blowing raspberries, with a few minutes of decent music sandwiched in.
That sounds like something I might actually enjoy... ;)
In any case I wasn't aware of this piece so I will have to look for it.
Quote from: Bogey on June 19, 2007, 04:40:15 AM
Kullervo and Hornteacher,
I have this one covered.....sending my best man in the field to deal with it.
(http://www.radioblogger.com/images/barney.JPG)
We're gonna
nip it in the bud, Andy!
I'd like to append another piece to my list:
La Monte Young - "566 to Henry Flynt" (1961)
(Described as: "response to Henry Flynt’s Concerto for Kitchen Sink and Monkey Orchestra, 2 January 1961")
In no order (except for the # 1 ;D)
1) Bolero
2) Cuban Overture
3) Grand Canyon Suite
4) Rodeo
5) Wellington's Victory
Quote from: Perfect FIFTH on June 18, 2007, 08:50:56 PM
What's wrong with 1812 overture?
It's nearly two centuries out of date.
Quote from: Sforzando on March 27, 2008, 10:14:43 AM
It's nearly two centuries out of date.
temporal point of origin is a disqualifier?
dj
most rap
country narrations
gospel narrations
mid-late 20th century jazz that relies too much on scale patterns
vocalists with absurd vibrato
dj
Songs from Liquid Days by Philip Glass. Or almost anything by Philip Glass from Satyagraha on... There's only so much you can do with arpeggios, you know? ::)
I could live without hearing Grofe's Grand Canyon Suite again...
As far as music I absolutely DETEST:
Anything by Celine Dion or Bette Midler (I could go on and on on THAT list)
But the worst of all is Whitney Houston's cover of "I Will Always Love You." Hearing that song makes me want to do something violent. Absolutely excruciating.
My mother and sister played "You Light Up My Life" by Debbie Boone so much that now if I hear it I will immediately kill anyone nearby.
Quote from: sarabande on March 27, 2008, 11:42:32 AM
As far as music I absolutely DETEST:
Anything by Celine Dion or Bette Midler (I could go on and on on THAT list)
I absolutely
HATE Bette Midler .........
Oh, and let's not forget Michael Bolton or Kenny G. RETCH!!!
(I think Michael Bolton did an "opera" CD once ::) )
But the worst, most despicable, vile and disgusting thing is once hearing Kenny G OVERDUB (!!!! ) his aimless noodling over Louis Armstrong's "What A Wonderful World." I heard that in a resteraunt once, thinking it was the original song, of course, thinking, "Oh, that's cool" and then hearing his wretched unimaginative playing on top-- I thought I was overhearing music from a different station or something-- and when it dawned on me, OH THE HORROR!!!! :o >:( >:( >:( >:(
That man is evil, I tell you!
I've said it before, but I'll say it again: Kenny G's ability to do circular breathing merely means that he both sucks and blows at the same time.
Quote from: edward on March 27, 2008, 01:20:20 PM
I've said it before, but I'll say it again: Kenny G's ability to do circular breathing merely means that he both sucks and blows at the same time.
LOL
Bolero....... i refuse to ever play that again and wonder why in the world this is considered good. BBBOOORRRIIINNNGGG
Tchaikovsky- the nutcracker
Anything Broadway......... seriously i hate Broadway..... with a passion
Quote from: david johnson on March 27, 2008, 11:33:44 AM
most rap
country narrations
gospel narrations
mid-late 20th century jazz that relies too much on scale patterns
vocalists with absurd vibrato
dj
:)
Quote from: Dm on March 27, 2008, 12:08:38 PM
I absolutely HATE Bette Midler .........
Have you seen her do stand up? She is a funny lady, not much of a singer perhaps, but one funny lady.
1) Pav
2) ane
3) by
4) Fau
5) re
That about covers it. Now off to find some ear bleach to get that insipid little melody out of my head.
All Country and Western music
Matthews "Pluto"
Walton's "Facade" (I point out that Walton's First Symphony is one of my all time favourites)
R Straus "Ein Heldenleben" (sorry to Strauss fans)
All Gilbert and Sullivan
Utterly pointless citing non classical pieces – my list would overload the GMG server many times over! (Unless I'm mistaken, the OP probably intended this to be a classical only thread?)
The same could be said for the vast majority of 20thC composers and I've tried to omit modern stuff but the Ravel is such a hackneyed and irksome piece that I had to put it at its rightful place at no.1. There are many composers whose entire output I will never want to listen to – Britten's for example.
So, my classical equivalents to "Smoke on the Water" – the few pieces from within my own favourite time period that make me want to sharpen the axe!
Ravel – Bolero Seems to be on a lot of lists – I wonder how much T & D have to answer for in that regard?
Paganini - Caprice no. 24
Mozart - Serenade No. 13 "Eine Kleine Nachtmusik"
Bizet - Carmen – "that " melody
Tchaikovsky – 1812 – if I hear those bloody canons one more time......
Within my comfort zone (1650 – 1920) there are very few pieces that I loathe to any great extent and it was rather challenging to compile a list of five.
1. Vivaldi's The Four Seasons
2. The Four Seasons, Vivaldi
3. Antonio Vivaldi, The Four Seasons
4. Vivaldi, Antonio: The Four Seasons
5. Vivaldi - The Four Seasons
6. Vivaldi's The Four Seasons
7. Vivaldi - Four Seasons
Quote from: Chaszz on March 30, 2008, 05:30:49 PM
1. Vivaldi's The Four Seasons
2. The Four Seasons, Vivaldi
3. Antonio Vivaldi, The Four Seasons
4. Vivaldi, Antonio: The Four Seasons
5. Vivaldi - The Four Seasons
6. Vivaldi's The Four Seasons
7. Vivaldi - Four Seasons
It's safe to assume, then, that you never want to hear the first 4 concerti of Vivaldi's Opus 8 ("Il cimento dell'armonia e dell'inventione") again? ;D
Quote from: vandermolen on March 30, 2008, 01:51:59 AM
Strauss "Ein Heldenleben" (sorry to Strauss fans)
*Ahem. License and registration please. $:)
Quote from: mahlertitan on May 06, 2007, 11:46:29 AM
1. Beethoven's 5th symphony
2. Dvorak's 9th symphony
3. Tchaikovsky first piano concerto
4. Tchaikovsky violin concerto
5. 3 b's violin concerto, Brahms, Beethoven, Bruch
This is a good list. I don't want to hear any of these again, either. I don't know if any of these is
top five, but today, I have no desire to hear any of these.
My classical dislikes comprise the things that fail to reach me rather than the things I absolutely hate (I absolutely hate rap and what is currently [mis]named R&B; I don't hate
anything classical that way). Since we're talking things that don't pierce the music/brain layer, I don't know the exact names of most of the things I don't like.
My list of five has to include most symphonic music by Brahms, Mendelssohn, and others whose names now slip my mind. N.B.: I've tried it all at least a dozen times in the last 21 years; it's not a matter of not getting it. I just don't like it, and that's okay. Brahms' chamber music is a whole 'nother matter, BTW: I love it.
Wagner's entire oeuvre, or just the RING CYCLE if you're being picky, picky, picky.
Most opera, in fact, fails to entertain me. I can't think of anything that's not by Wagner that I truly detest, though. I wanted to like TOSCA and MANON LESCAULT more than I do. I
really wanted to like TOSCA. But I'd sit through TOSCA ten times rather than listen to Wagner. Or rap. Or Rhythm and BooHoos (talk about dying sopranos). TOSCA doesn't go on this list, really. Instead, it's on my list of disappointments.
I guess this is more than five if you count each RING opera separately. I went and looked on my bookshelves, but there's nothing there I never want to hear again. I tend to edit things out I don't like, so this makes sense if you are me (yes, I know it should be "if you are I," but that just sounds awful--stupid, yet prissy).
Good enough?
The only piece I'm really sick of is Für Elise. Hearing those first notes makes me cringe! AAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!
Quote from: tanuki on March 31, 2009, 09:47:54 AM
The only piece I'm really sick of is Für Elise. Hearing those first notes makes me cringe! AAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!
:D I am the same with Für Alina - damn you cynical TV soundtrack people!
Quote from: Great Gable on March 30, 2008, 10:26:44 AM
Tchaikovsky – 1812 – if I hear those bloody canons one more time......
Wasn't aware there was a canon in that? Overall, Tchaikovsky seemed to be more comfortable with cannons than with counterpoint.
1. classical music
2. romantic music
3. most of the 1920s
4. any tape, concrete, etc...
5. minimalism
6. polemic(sic?) music (music for the "workers", etc...)
7. "requiems for man", "requiems for the world" ,"brotherhood of man" syms.
I find that I have to keep REMINDING myself why I dislike certain pieces. Every 2 years or so I will go to the library and get "those" cds agains. I must have a blissfully short memory!
With regard to Beethoven's 5th, which I have seen mentioned several times in thie thread, only the first movement has been beaten into th ground due to its popularity. The following three movements are as fresh as any piece of classical music. I don't see how you can throw out the whole symphony because of one part. Of course if you're going to listen to any part of this symphony, its important to hear the first again just for proper context.
Quote from: Frumaster on April 01, 2009, 12:27:37 PM
With regard to Beethoven's 5th, which I have seen mentioned several times in thie thread, only the first movement has been beaten into th ground due to its popularity. The following three movements are as fresh as any piece of classical music. I don't see how you can throw out the whole symphony because of one part. Of course if you're going to listen to any part of this symphony, its important to hear the first again just for proper context.
Excellent point. Personally for me, I think the other movements are more appealing than the famous 1st movement, but that is likely due to overhearing that movement.
Quote from: snyprrr on April 01, 2009, 11:30:24 AM
3. most of the 1920s
Why is that? That could be my favorite period in music.
Quote from: snyprrr on April 01, 2009, 11:30:24 AM
1. classical music
2. romantic music
3. most of the 1920s
4. any tape, concrete, etc...
5. minimalism
6. polemic(sic?) music (music for the "workers", etc...)
7. "requiems for man", "requiems for the world" ,"brotherhood of man" syms.
I find that I have to keep REMINDING myself why I dislike certain pieces. Every 2 years or so I will go to the library and get "those" cds agains. I must have a blissfully short memory!
You know that's nearly everything?.......
Quote from: Bahamut on April 01, 2009, 01:28:15 PM
You know that's nearly everything?.......
I was wondering who would say it first.
An interesting exercise might be to take one of those "war-horse" pieces cited here and count how many times we've actually heard it in concert.
I bet some really interesting low numbers would pop up. Like only once before having heard LvB 5 in concert... or never Vivaldi's Four Seaons... only once the Brandenburg Concertos. And, unless you live in Cologne, only twice "Ein Heldenleben". {Those are not exactly my numbers, but they could be or might have been, a few years back. I'm still surprised going to some concerts moaning "AGAIN" when in fact I've only heard a piece a few times before, live.}
Is that the curse of recorded music? ???
My piece, though, is Brian Ferneyhough's
Shadowtime (http://ionarts.blogspot.com/2005/07/more-shadow-than-light-ionarts-on.html).
Wow. Ghastly, pompous, ugly, pretentious, and ultimately meaningless drivel.
(Ok... tell me how you really feel. ;D )
I am so happy someone else didn't care for Shadowtime. As a sometime admirer of Ferneyhough (and a huge admirer of many of the performers, like Nic Hodges and those fab Stuttgart vocalists) I really wanted to like this, but found it absolutely impenetrable, not to mention about as dramatically inert as one could imagine. Musically, much to enjoy, but not as "opera" (nor would I even bill it as such).
Some of my "never again" pieces:
Bach: "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" (except when appearing in the entire cantata)
Rhys Chatham: Two Gongs (the loudest piece I've ever heard, and not uninteresting, but no, not again)
Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker (bits and pieces, OK, but not the whole ballet please)
Wagner: Die Meistersinger (and especially that annoying Act II >:D)
Dvořák: Symphony No. 9 (weird, since I love the composer, but somehow this symphony drives me nuts)
--Bruce
Quote from: bhodges on April 01, 2009, 02:19:38 PM
Rhys Chatham: Two Gongs (the loudest piece I've ever heard, and not uninteresting, but no, not again)
I don't see how Chatham is considered classical anyway. It just sounds like Sonic Youth, but not as interesting.
Quote from: bhodges on April 01, 2009, 02:19:38 PM
Dvořák: Symphony No. 9 (weird, since I love the composer, but somehow this symphony drives me nuts)
GASP! :o
Medical help is on the way.......
My Choices for what I never want to hear again:
Vivaldi : The Four Seasons.
Vivaldi : The Four Seasons
Vivaldi: The Four Seasons.
Vivaldi: The Four Seasons.
Vivaldi: The Four Seasons.
;D ::) ::) :P
Oops ! Somebody beat me in saying the Four Seasons !
:-[ :-[ :-[ :-[
Quote from: Corey on April 01, 2009, 02:24:49 PM
I don't see how Chatham is considered classical anyway. It just sounds like Sonic Youth, but not as interesting.
Point!
Quote from: hornteacher on April 01, 2009, 04:11:29 PM
GASP! :o
Medical help is on the way.......
;D Sorry, I know...no reflection on Dvořák or that particular piece. I'm just weary of it. I much prefer symphonies 6, 7 and 8.
Have to agree with the Vivaldi
Four Seasons, too, especially since there is so much other work by the composer available that you never hear (those bassoon concertos, for example).
--Bruce
Quote from: bhodges on April 02, 2009, 08:56:32 AM
...Have to agree with the Vivaldi Four Seasons, too, especially since there is so much other work by the composer available that you never hear (those bassoon concertos, for example).
--Bruce
Yes, let's be careful not to throw out Vivaldi completely, just because one piece is overplayed in jewelry store commercials. I'd offer the concertos for cello, bassoon, flute, even the recorder concertos are quite charming. Some late string concertos have recently been unearthed and recorded by Guiliano Carmignola & Andrea Marcon, and are quite rewarding (personally I prefer many of them to La Stravaganza and the other early ones you commonly hear). And then the choral works, like the magnificent Gloria....
[getting off his Vivaldi soapbox]
Quote from: bhodges on April 02, 2009, 08:56:32 AM(those bassoon concertos, for example).
--Bruce
...those bassoon concertos are divine. 0:)
Quote from: jwinter on April 02, 2009, 11:49:02 AM
Yes, let's be careful not to throw out Vivaldi completely, just because one piece is overplayed in jewelry store commercials.
;D
Quote from: Brian on April 02, 2009, 12:03:54 PM
...those bassoon concertos are divine. 0:)
Are you guys familiar with this recording, by Klaus Thunemann and I Musici? It was one of the first CD's I ever bought.
--Bruce
I'm always amazed at how eager people are to talk and think about what they don't want. Seems much more pleasing to think and talk about what one does want, hein?
But, "Oh, well."
Here's an anecdote as antidote to the dismissive remark about Lucier's "I am sitting in a room." When my youngest son was nineteen, I bought that CD to replace my old scratchy LP. I had it in the player in the car one day when my son took the car into LA. He came back, eyes huge, to report that he couldn't take that piece off--he probably played it four times that trip. A couple of days later, he had a new report. He'd mentioned this piece, and his extreme enjoyment of it, to his music teacher, who said simply "Oh, yeah, that was the defining piece for an entire generation of listeners."
I also highly recommend Robert Ashley's In Sara, Mencken, Christ and Beethoven There were Men and Women. (Oh, "recommend." That is soooo off topic. Sorry!!)
Otherwise, there are two versions of Ives Universe Symphony, one done by Larry Austin that's mostly of Prelude #1, one by Johnny Reinhard. Austin's is only about thirty-seven minutes. Reinhard's is a realization of the entire mss. and clocks in at around sixty-five minutes.
Quote from: some guy on April 02, 2009, 04:16:48 PM
Here's an anecdote as antidote to the dismissive remark about Lucier's "I am sitting in a room." When my youngest son was nineteen, I bought that CD to replace my old scratchy LP. I had it in the player in the car one day when my son took the car into LA. He came back, eyes huge, to report that he couldn't take that piece off--he probably played it four times that trip. A couple of days later, he had a new report. He'd mentioned this piece, and his extreme enjoyment of it, to his music teacher, who said simply "Oh, yeah, that was the defining piece for an entire generation of listeners."
I remain unconvinced, but then my tastes are fairly conventional compared to yours (and your son's, apparently). :)
1920s:
makes me think of airplane props and air raid sirens.
but, of course, some of my favs are from the 20s: late Janacek, Bartok, etc... I was thinking of certain other Americans in Paris! Copland Piano Cto, and all that sissy "bad boy" stuff...eck!
and NO...that ISN't almost everything. I forgot to add classical country/rap!!! There...that's IT!! ;D
I didn't even mention Florence Foster Jenkins!!!
I can more or less agree with most of the pieces mentioned in this thead since most of them are works I have not listened to for a long time for the same reason. However, seeing those titles here makes me want to revisit many of them. First of all, I have not heard them for a long time. Maybe that tired feeling has gone. Secondly, since returning to China 7 years ago, where commercials, shopping malls and elevators do not have these works constantly playing, instead you get Richard Clayderman, etc., I almost wish that Four Seasons and Romanza from Eine Kleine Nachtmusik can be heard at those places instead!
Quote from: hornteacher on May 06, 2007, 06:48:27 AM
There isn't much music that grates on my nerves but I'm sure everyone has a list of tunes you could go the rest of your life without ever hearing again. They are the tunes that make you turn off the Classical station and look for your Beethoven CDs.
Coming in late on this thread, completely ignorant of the six pages of preceding posts. ;)
No particular order:
-Britten's War Requiem
-Stravinsky's Rite of Spring
-Helfman's Di Naye Hagode
-Penderecki's Threnody for the Victims of Hiroshima
-Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf
I could go on, but if you'll excuse me I have a desk to hide under whilst the fans of the noted pieces above try to do off with my head! ;D
The only piece I do not want to "hear" again is 4´33.
And of course pieces sung by Maria Carey.
how about 4'33" sung by Maria Carey?
Quote from: premont on April 04, 2009, 07:53:49 AM
The only piece I do not want to "hear" again is 4´33.
Its on iTunes now. I kid you not. First movement is free, other movements are $0.99
Quote from: hornteacher on April 04, 2009, 08:19:55 PM
Its on iTunes now. I kid you not. First movement is free, other movements are $0.99
Okay, that's hilarious. Who would download that??? I can perform the whole thing myself anytime I want! ;D
Quote from: Sorin Eushayson on April 04, 2009, 09:03:12 PM
Okay, that's hilarious. Who would download that??? I can perform the whole thing myself anytime I want! ;D
Yeah, but would we want to look at a cover with you on it when we could look at Mariah (rhymes with Pariah BTW) Carey? ;D
Quote from: PerfectWagnerite on June 13, 2007, 02:09:20 PMAlso I never want to hear anything by Bright Sheng again. How he manages to get the attention he gets boggles the mind. The guy has no talent whatsoever.
Yet he continues to get commissions from major symphony orchestras and his works are still being performed worldwide? This is no small feat for somebody who in your estimation "has no talent."
Quote from: Mirror Image on April 03, 2011, 10:09:07 PM
Yet he continues to get commissions from major symphony orchestras and his works are still being performed worldwide? This is no small feat for somebody who in your estimation "has no talent."
'tis true, of course, that the best indicator for talent is popularity.
the question: "talent for what?" might be allowed. john rutter and eric whitacre are also getting work, don't they? john tesh and zamfir are also always busy...
Quote from: Greg on April 04, 2009, 07:27:49 PM
how about 4'33" sung by Maria Carey?
Actually, 4'33" might be the best use for both, the piece
and Mariah Carey.
Quote from: jlaurson on April 03, 2011, 10:44:14 PM
Actually, 4'33" might be the best use for both, the piece and Mariah Carey.
I'm definitely for more of her:
(http://bittenandbound.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/mariah-carey.jpg)
Quote from: jlaurson on April 03, 2011, 10:42:55 PM
'tis true, of course, that the best indicator for talent is popularity.
the question: "talent for what?" might be allowed. john rutter and eric whitacre are also getting work, don't they? john tesh and zamfir are also always busy...
I think anybody with a level head knows that I'm talking about composers who have real talent and not ones like Rutter or Whitacre whom probably couldn't compose a decent piece for string orchestra to save their lives. I'm talking about a Chinese-American composer who ISN'T Tai Dun. This in itself is impressive. :)
Handel's Messiah! yuk, i'm not particularly fond of choral music anyway, but this just drones on and on.
The aria Una Voce Poco Fa from Rossini's Barber of Seville, just when you think it's finishing, it starts up all over again, i think Rossini should have stuck to Overtures, which are absolutely fantastic.
I don't like syrupy religious choral works, so Stainer's Crucifixion should be banned.
Heidenroslein by Schubert, it's his worst song, it really grates on my brain, makes Ave Maria sound like a masterpiece.
Gorecki's Symphony 3, why was that ever so popular?, especially when there's so much better music you can spend your money on.
There was a time when I might have named pieces for this thread's purposes. But I've found that most pieces which at some or other I felt I never wanted to hear ever again, if I just listen to other things, over time I can quite equably listen to almost anything again.
I've probably already posted this, but here are some of mine. I don't want to say 'never again', but if I die before hearing these pieces again, I will not be in the least disappointed:
Handel's Messiah
Holst - The Mystic Trumpeter
Vaughan Williams - A Sea Symphony
Stravinsky - Abraham & Isaac
Copland - Song about ducks going "quack quack" and cats going "meow meow"
Beethoven - Wellington's Victory
*Carter - String Quartets
*I put an asterix here, as I do believe I need to give them another try, or another five tries, as they are highly esteemed, and must be a reason for that.
Ferde Grofe':
Grand Canyon Suite (1931)
Hudson River Suite (1955)
Yellowstone Suite (1960)
San Francisco Suite (1960)
Niagara Falls Suite (1960–61)
World's Fair Suite (1964)
Hawaiian Suite (1965)
Years ago, apparently because their brains had been turned into eggplants by Alien Invaders, or their families were being held hostage in a dark, musty basement with well-oiled chainsaws, the managers at the local classical station saw fit to broadcast a Ferde Grofe' concert throughout the day.
I have heard that something called the Kentucky Derby Suite exists, along with others.
Why??? ;D
God put them there to test your faith :)
Quote from: Lethe Dmitriyevich Shostakovich on April 04, 2011, 07:15:41 AM
God put them there to test your faith :)
0:) Yea, verily, yea have I entered the Valley of the
Death Valley Suite, and have survived to tell thee! 8)
Five pieces I never want to hear again? Oh boy....
1. Copland: El Salon Mexico - I f****** hate this piece. One of the worst emulations of Latin American music I've ever heard.
2. Adams: El Nino - Awful oratorio. Absolutely pointless. The orchestral writing was also subpar for Adams whom I generally enjoy
3. Milhaud: Le boeuf sur le toit - Do I really need to say anything? Terrible composition.
4. Ravel: Bolero - Boring, go nowhere, directionless....need I say more?
5. Anything by Philip Glass
Quote from: Mirror Image on April 04, 2011, 08:50:20 AM
4. Ravel: Bolero - Boring, go nowhere, directionless....need I say more?
Ravel would have agreed, conincidentally. He was baffled as to its popularity.
I have to say, though, while there are many pieces I would like to avoid on a given day, I've been surprised more often than not by interesting interpretations that made something previously hideous at least listenable. E.g. I find the Pachelbel Canon execrable. But then I heard Il Giardino Armonico's rendition and all was forgiven.
Quote from: MishaK on April 04, 2011, 09:15:10 AM
Ravel would have agreed, conincidentally. He was baffled as to its popularity.
The Bolero is a great piece to hear live, if it is done well.
There is something about John Phillips Souza that makes my flesh crawl-- not sure if he'd be considered classical. Other than the "Monty Python" march, there isn't anything of his I'd need to hear again.
I went from loathing Bolero to liking it again. First, I had invested some time into getting an appreciate for Indian classical music. Then I read Ravel's comments on it about how it was a purely an exercise in orchestration and was completely empty of music, and he thought the only person in the audience who understood him was the woman who screamed that the composer must be insane. With that approach, I enjoy it much more when I run across is.
There are a couple movements of the Grand Canyon Suite I don't mind, but the third movement makes my ears bleed.
Although, I may be exagerrating. In order to survive in public places and the company of other people, I've needed to turn off the hypercritical switch, and some times just "hear" music rather than listen to it.
Now-- if you get to the world of literature-- there are many things I KNOW I won't read again. And, although I like a lot of Samuel Beckett, I will never finish his famous trilogy of novels-- at least for a long time. I had the realization halfway throught the second novel that I would have to kill myself when I finished the last one-- and I put them back on the shelf.
I try to hear Boléro live about once a year--most recently last fall, with Gustavo Dudamel and the Vienna Philharmonic, who gave a fantastic performance. It's a great example of minimalism, and (perhaps paradoxically) a great example of Ravel's gift for orchestration.
--Bruce
Quote from: Brewski on April 04, 2011, 10:54:16 AM
I try to hear Boléro live about once a year--most recently last fall, with Gustavo Dudamel and the Vienna Philharmonic, who gave a fantastic performance. It's a great example of minimalism, and (perhaps paradoxically) a great example of Ravel's gift for orchestration.
I don't disagree and I like it too. But Ravel was said to have been surprised by its popularity as he regarded it as a mere orchestration exercise.
Yes, an interesting sidebar! It's hard to believe he would think that, after hearing it performed, but there you go.
--Bruce
I saw this thread earlier and thought, "Yes! An invitation to put the boot in and trample over people's sensibilities. Must come back to this with my list."
But I'm struggling now. There is plenty of music that I don't care for, but I generally assume that the failing is mine and perhaps I might appreciate it in the future.
But if anybody tries to get me to sit through Rossini's Gazzetta again, I'll run away screaming. Absolutely bloody horrible.
Only one.
Fur Elise.
It sets in motion a genuinely physical reaction - pure, violent hatred. I don't actually feel ill, but I feel the closest thing to ill. My physical reaction to hearing Fur Elise is similar to inhaling cigarette smoke or being doused by a bucket of ice water: a sort of shudder away from sensory oppression.
Please note that this is not so much a reflection on Beethoven as it is on the fact that his chosen instrumentation was "cell phone ringtone chorus." ::)
Karl Jenkins - Adiemus — Stupid "mystical" new age pablum from the composer who brought you "that song from the diamond commercials." ClassicFM, which played at my last job luhhhves this piece of aural torture.
Saint-Saëns - Symphony No. 3 (Third Movement) - I can't not hear this and think of the movie "Babe". Another one killed by ClassicFM
Aaron Copland - Fanfare for the Common Man - Overplayed.
Anything by Nico Muhly. I gurned through one of his moronic tonal noodlings a couple months ago. Also a terrible writer.
Rachmanninoff - any Piano Concerto (but esp. No. 3) - Soupy orchestration and meaningless piano tinkling makes me physically ill.
Quote from: Corey on April 04, 2011, 01:23:07 PM
Rachmanninoff - any Piano Concerto (but esp. No. 3) - Soupy orchestration and meaningless piano tinkling makes me physically ill.
(http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/40970000/jpg/_40970917_rachmaninov203.jpg)
The RACH would like to have a word with you out back! $:)
*tugs tie collar*
I do like the Boléro. In fact, we have a disc with some 7 or so different versions, and yes: I like listening to that disc in its entirety.
Strictly speaking, I could bear to hear Grofe again, but I cannot promise to think much of it.
All four of the Rakhmaninov concerti earn my affection & compositional admiration, and I don't care who knows it.
Quote from: Corey on April 04, 2011, 01:23:07 PMRachmanninoff - any Piano Concerto (but esp. No. 3) - Soupy orchestration and meaningless piano tinkling makes me physically ill.
By far the worst piano concerto is Tchaikovsky 1. Starts with that dramatic theme, which never returns, only relentless piano tinkling.
The story goes that Tchaikovsky played the concerto for Rubinstein, who told him it was crap. Tchaikovsky replied that he refused to change a note. Big mistake.
1. Glass: Einstein on the Beach
2. Glass: Einstein on the Beach
3. Glass: Einstein on the Beach
4. Glass: Einstein on the Beach
5. Glass: Einstein on the Beach
Just sounds like elitism to me. If it's too popular, it ain't any good?...
Quote from: Il Barone Scarpia on April 04, 2011, 02:36:23 PM
By far the worst piano concerto is Tchaikovsky 1. Starts with that dramatic theme, which never returns, only relentless piano tinkling.
The story goes that Tchaikovsky played the concerto for Rubinstein, who told him it was crap. Tchaikovsky replied that he refused to change a note. Big mistake.
It is much more complicated then that. Suffice to say, I don't think it was a mistake. A summary of some of the story can be found here though, for those interested in the history: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piano_Concerto_No._1_(Tchaikovsky) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piano_Concerto_No._1_(Tchaikovsky)). It is an interesting story.
EDIT: And by the way, there is more to the story. Tchaikovsky did later change some of it, with three revisions.
Quote from: bigshot on April 04, 2011, 11:11:49 PM
1. Glass: Einstein on the Beach
2. Glass: Einstein on the Beach
3. Glass: Einstein on the Beach
4. Glass: Einstein on the Beach
5. Glass: Einstein on the Beach
That shuld be:
Einstein on the Beach
Eineinenstein on the on the Beach
Einstein ononon thethethe Beabeachchch
Einsteinsteinstein on thethethe Beach
Eineinesinstein ononon the BeachBeachBeachBeach the Beach
Pick any five Xenakis.
Quote from: MishaK on April 04, 2011, 09:15:10 AM
Ravel would have agreed, conincidentally. He was baffled as to its popularity.
And I'm double-baffled by the author himself downplaying such a lovely composition. To me, the melody sounds so complete that it doesn't have to
go anywhere – the journey is the destination – and yet it
does, slowly growing from this serene little ditty to a manic march, like someone walking on undaunted in the same direction while the onlookers slowly realize he's headed straight into oblivion. Stairway to Lenin (excerpt here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoANrOmdtYc)) nailed the heart of this piece, IMO.
Quote from: Sid on April 04, 2011, 11:29:10 PM
Just sounds like elitism to me. If it's too popular, it ain't any good?...
Please expound on the virtues of Karl Jenkins for me.
Quote from: Il Conte Rodolfo on April 05, 2011, 01:26:14 AM
Pick any five Xenakis.
Why Xenakis in particular? Do you like any other post-WWII 20th C. music?
Quote from: Corey on April 05, 2011, 02:24:51 AM
Why Xenakis in particular?
Because of all the music I've heard, his is the only one that I consistently can't stand for more than a minute. ;D
Quote
Do you like any other post-WWII 20th C. music?
Rautavaara, Glass and Part, to name three, wrote music which I do like.
And then there is of course Karl Henning.
Quote from: Il Barone Scarpia on April 04, 2011, 02:36:23 PM
By far the worst piano concerto is Tchaikovsky 1. Starts with that dramatic theme, which never returns, only relentless piano tinkling.
The story goes that Tchaikovsky played the concerto for Rubinstein, who told him it was crap. Tchaikovsky replied that he refused to change a note. Big mistake.
Oh, I'm feelin' the love ; )
Quote from: mc ukrneal on April 04, 2011, 11:50:34 PM
It is much more complicated then that. Suffice to say, I don't think it was a mistake. A summary of some of the story can be found here though, for those interested in the history: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piano_Concerto_No._1_(Tchaikovsky) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piano_Concerto_No._1_(Tchaikovsky)). It is an interesting story.
EDIT: And by the way, there is more to the story. Tchaikovsky did later change some of it, with three revisions.
Yes, and thanks.
Quote from: Il Conte Rodolfo on April 05, 2011, 03:14:21 AM
Rautavaara, Glass and Part, to name three, wrote music which I do like.
And then there is of course Karl Henning.
At first, methought, Is that my name in the 5 Pieces You Never Want to Hear thread? . . . .
Quote from: Rinaldo on April 05, 2011, 02:07:38 AM
And I'm double-baffled by the author himself downplaying such a lovely composition. To me, the melody sounds so complete that it doesn't have to go anywhere – the journey is the destination – and yet it does, slowly growing from this serene little ditty to a manic march, like someone walking on undaunted in the same direction while the onlookers slowly realize he's headed straight into oblivion. Stairway to Lenin (excerpt here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoANrOmdtYc)) nailed the heart of this piece, IMO.
Dickens once commented to the effect that an author's books are like his children . . . Unless there's story which I'm missing (I may well be) I don't think Ravel was 'down-playing' the Boléro, so much as he was mystified that so much other music he had written, went comparatively unnoticed.
Quote from: Sid on April 04, 2011, 11:29:10 PM
Just sounds like elitism to me. If it's too popular, it ain't any good?...
Well, for me, the works that I chose I truly can't stand and popularity has nothing to do with them nor should this be a factor in anyone else's choices.
Five more pieces I never want to hear again:
1. Anything by John Tavener
2. Anything by Stockhausen
3. Anything by John Cage
4. Anything by Babbitt
5. Any of Tippett's symphonies
Quote from: Mirror Image on April 05, 2011, 09:15:51 AM
3. Anything by John Cage
Next time you step into an elevator, ask yourself: "How can I be sure there isn't an elevator music system in here that's playing 4'33"?" ;D
Quote from: Brian on April 04, 2011, 01:07:14 PM
Fur Elise.
I've loved
Elise from the time I heard it butchered by my first serious girlfriend, playing an out-of-tune upright in her parent's small living room. I was stupid enough to criticize her performance and the relationship did not end well ;D ...but Elise is still my babe. I don't listen to it very often though: once every couple of years.
Sarge
Quote from: Brian on April 05, 2011, 09:17:05 AM
Next time you step into an elevator, ask yourself: "How can I be sure there isn't an elevator music system in here that's playing 4'33"?" ;D
Heck, the HVAC system plays that piece . . . .
Quote from: The new erato on April 05, 2011, 01:23:47 AM
That shuld be:
1.Glass: Einstein on the Beach
2.Glass: Eineinenstein on the on the Beach
3.Glass: Einstein ononon thethethe Beabeachchch
4.Glass: Einsteinsteinstein on thethethe Beach
5.Glass: Eineinesinstein ononon the BeachBeachBeachBeach the Beach
;D ;D ;D SKÅL ;D ;D ;D
Quote from: Brewski on April 05, 2011, 10:39:09 AM
:'( :'( :'(
--Bruce
Aye, many are called, few are chosen!
:o I once played a
Xenakis piece for my sons, who studied stochastic differential equations, because the composer used stochastic methods for the work.
Their reaction was rather closed-minded! :P
I'm only joking; I do realize Xenakis isn't for everyone. It's just interesting to me when a composer who speaks to you so deeply doesn't resonate with others. But isn't that always the case! :)
--Bruce
Quote from: Brewski on April 05, 2011, 11:22:26 AM
I'm only joking; I do realize Xenakis isn't for everyone. It's just interesting to me when a composer who speaks to you so deeply doesn't resonate with others. But isn't that always the case! :)
--Bruce
Rejecting all of Xenakis is like rejecting three distinct composers. Unfortunately I now forgot which phase corresponds with which one... but I like one (I think middle-Xenakis), and dislike another (late, if I recall correctly).
I think with his late works, problems with a decline in his mental accuity began to emerge - it's a sad scenario.
Just browsed this Wiki list of Xenakis works (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_compositions_by_Iannis_Xenakis) and realized that I haven't heard many of his compositions after say, 1985. The two string quartets I adore (ST/4, 1-080262 and Tetras) were written in 1956-62 and 1983, respectively, and most of the other things I love are from the 1960s and 1970s. So I guess I'm a fan of his early work--and clearly need to hear more of the later things, just for perspective.
--Bruce
I could list some things, but then I'll feel compelled to go listen to them again to give them just one more chance.
Currently, my Top 5 I don't want to hear again anytime soon (never say never) :D :
in no order:
1) Vaughan Williams - A Sea Symphony
2) Holst - The Mystic Trumpeter
3) Schoenberg - Suite, Op. 29
4) Stravinsky - Les Noces
5) Copland - I Bought Me a Cat song
Quote from: ChamberNut on October 06, 2011, 04:45:05 PM
Currently, my Top 5 I don't want to hear again anytime soon (never say never) :D :
1) Vaughan Williams - A Sea Symphony
Then I'll just have to listen to it for you. ;D
Quote from: TheGSMoeller on October 06, 2011, 07:07:15 PM
Then I'll just have to listen to it for you. ;D
:D Apres vous, monsieur! 8)
Top 5 Things I Never Want To Hear Again:
1. Anything by Bach
2. Anything by Beethoven
3. Anything by Mozart
4. Anything by Handel
5. Anything by Rossini
Quote from: Mirror Image on October 06, 2011, 07:20:25 PM
Top 5 Things I Never Want To Hear Again:
1. Anything by Bach
2. Anything by Beethoven
3. Anything by Mozart
4. Anything by Handel
5. Anything by Rossini
;D I actually agree about the Handel. No thank you. :P
Quote from: Mirror Image on October 06, 2011, 07:20:25 PM
Top 5 Things I Never Want To Hear Again:
1. Anything by Bach
2. Anything by Beethoven
3. Anything by Mozart
4. Anything by Handel
5. Anything by Rossini
mental
Quote from: Mirror Image on October 06, 2011, 07:20:25 PM
1. Anything by Bach
2. Anything by Beethoven
3. Anything by Mozart
4. Anything by Handel
5. Anything by Rossini
I might agree with you about Rossini, except for "The Barber of Seville"; but Bach, Händel, Mozart and Beethoven were certainly geniuses, what a pity you don't like their music.
Quote from: ChamberNut on October 06, 2011, 04:45:05 PM
2) Holst - The Mystic Trumpeter
Very funny, I'm just listening to that work; so beautiful and harmonic :D
Ilaria
Quote from: Lisztianwagner on October 07, 2011, 05:41:10 AM
I might agree with you about Rossini, except for "The Barber of Seville"; but Bach, Händel, Mozart and Beethoven were certainly geniuses, what a pity you don't like their music.
Not really a pity for me. ;)
Quote from: Mirror Image on October 06, 2011, 07:20:25 PM
Top 5 Things I Never Want To Hear Again:
1. Anything by Bach
2. Anything by Beethoven
3. Anything by Mozart
4. Anything by Handel
5. Anything by Rossini
I'm amazed that you've heard the entire oeuvre of five composers! ;)
To be fair, MI has been listening to tons of music by the South American Bach, the Mexican Beethoven, the French Handel, etc. For someone who has listened to plenty of Bach, Beethoven and Handel previously, listening to other, especially 20th century composers instead of repeatedly listen to the same composers over and over again is, to me, no loss but a hugh gain! Way to go!
Quote from: springrite on October 07, 2011, 07:08:15 AM
To be fair, MI has been listening to tons of music by the South American Bach, the Mexican Beethoven, the French Handel, etc. For someone who has listened to plenty of Bach, Beethoven and Handel previously, listening to other, especially 20th century composers instead of repeatedly listen to the same composers over and over again is, to me, no loss but a hugh gain! Way to go!
Actually, it's MI who has mostly constrained himself to repeatedly listening to composers from a certain period. Not making any judgements; just stating the facts, sir. 0:)
Quote from: Opus106 on October 07, 2011, 07:16:06 AM
Actually, it's MI who has mostly constrained himself to repeatedly listening to composers from a certain period. Not making any judgements; just stating the facts, sir. 0:)
I hate it when people confuse me with facts... ???
Quote from: Opus106 on October 07, 2011, 07:03:29 AM
I'm amazed that you've heard the entire oeuvre of five composers! ;)
:P
Quote from: springrite on October 07, 2011, 07:08:15 AM
To be fair, MI has been listening to tons of music by the South American Bach, the Mexican Beethoven, the French Handel, etc. For someone who has listened to plenty of Bach, Beethoven and Handel previously, listening to other, especially 20th century composers instead of repeatedly listen to the same composers over and over again is, to me, no loss but a hugh gain! Way to go!
As Opus106 pointed out, I do constrict myself to the early 19th and 20th Centuries, but I listen to music I enjoy. I'm really into harmony and I find the kind of harmony I enjoy comes from this period in classical music's development.
Quote from: Mirror Image on October 07, 2011, 06:52:19 AM
Not really a pity for me. ;)
;)
But I'm a little sorry to read this anyway, especially if I think about Mozart and Beethoven; they are two of my absolute favourite composers.....
Luckily you didn't include Wagner in that Top 5 ;)
Quote from: Lisztianwagner on October 07, 2011, 07:31:24 AM
;)
But I'm a little sorry to read this anyway, especially if I think about Mozart and Beethoven; they are two of my absolute favourite composers.....
Luckily you didn't include Wagner in that Top 5 ;)
Ha! I like Wagner a lot. I admire his music. The harmonic and melodic complexity was completely ahead of its time. One listen to
Parsifal was all that I needed to come to the conclusion that he was an extraordinary composer.
Quote from: Lisztianwagner on October 07, 2011, 07:31:24 AM
Luckily you didn't include Wagner in that Top 5 ;)
Are you sure you wants him to expand beyond top5? Don't risk it, although you got away with it this time.
(Now, ask him about Liszt...)
Quote from: springrite on October 07, 2011, 07:38:06 AM
Are you sure you wants him to expand beyond top5? Don't risk it, although you got away with it this time.
(Now, ask him about Liszt...)
Hehehe.... :P
I like Liszt as well.
Faust Symphony is still a favorite. The general problem I have with Liszt's orchestral music, though, is it does take him, not all the time, an awfully long time for the music to reach a climax. But like I said, not all his orchestral works are like this, but I can't remember what work it was by him but I actually fell asleep!
Quote from: springrite on October 07, 2011, 07:38:06 AM
Are you sure you wants him to expand beyond top5? Don't risk it, although you got away with it this time.
(Now, ask him about Liszt...)
All right ;)
Oh no, it would be terrible to see Liszt in this top 5 as well, I'm a great lover of his music!!
I see that this topic began over 4 years ago! :o
Back then, I wrote about my severe distaste for "works" by Ferde Grofe'. :o
Somebody begged to differ, citing that e.g. Bernstein and Fiedler had decided the works were good enough to play and record! My dislike was therefore irrelevant.
Should I respond? Does it matter? $:)
Quote from: Lisztianwagner on October 07, 2011, 05:41:10 AM
I might agree with you about Rossini, except for "The Barber of Seville"; but Bach, Händel, Mozart and Beethoven were certainly geniuses, what a pity you don't like their music.
I have to agree with Ilaria! I am still amazed, John, that you hate these composers so much! Rossini, maybe... but the others are some of the greatest geniuses ever! Surely you must enjoy some of their music.....
My response to this thread... :)
1. Ligeti Mysteries of the Macabre, plus much more of his music
2. anything of John Cage.... I don't mind sitting in a room being silent for 4'33 really, but it's just not really music! ;)
3. Paganini Caprices
4. Mozart Eine Kleine Nachtmusik!
5. Boulez ...explosante-fixe...
Many other pieces I can mention as well, I would happily add Berio, and a fair bit of the Waltz Strauss's as well (sorry Ilaria! ;) )
Quote from: madaboutmahler on October 07, 2011, 09:45:57 AM
Many other pieces I can mention as well, I would happily add Berio, and a fair bit of the Waltz Strauss's as well (sorry Ilaria! ;) )
No problem Daniel ;) Which Strauss' Waltzes if I may ask?
I'm also a little amazed you include Paganini's Caprices; instead I like them a lot.
My list could be:
1. anything by Verdi, apart from the Requiem
2. Rossini, Semiramide
3. Donizetti, Lucia di Lammermoor
4. Stockhausen, Telemusik
5. Suppé, Leichte Kavallerie
Quote from: madaboutmahler on October 07, 2011, 09:45:57 AM
2. anything of John Cage.... I don't mind sitting in a room being silent for 4'33 really, but it's just not really music! ;)
Oh, hee hee hee, 4'33. You don't know
any of his other music at all, do you?
Quote from: Daverz on October 07, 2011, 04:35:15 PM
Oh, hee hee hee, 4'33. You don't know any of his other music at all, do you?
What an incredibly asinine assumption on your part. >:(
Quote from: Lisztianwagner on October 07, 2011, 11:05:02 AM
No problem Daniel ;) Which Strauss' Waltzes if I may ask?
I'm also a little amazed you include Paganini's Caprices; instead I like them a lot.
My list could be:
1. anything by Verdi, apart from the Requiem
2. Rossini, Semiramide
3. Donizetti, Lucia di Lammermoor
4. Stockhausen, Telemusik
5. Suppé, Leichte Kavallerie
Quite a few of them! Sorry, they are just too "light" for me, and do not express much emotion at all in my opinion. For the same reason, I would agree with the Suppe that you included on your list! And also a lot of Offenbach, etc.
I just find Paganini's Caprices nothing more than technically interesting showpieces. Sorry again! :)
Quote from: Daverz on October 07, 2011, 04:35:15 PM
Oh, hee hee hee, 4'33. You don't know any of his other music at all, do you?
I do. 4'33 is just a perfect example of how Cage's "music" can be complete and utter nonsense. I hate pretty much everthing he wrote, although understand that his style is fascinating (but nothing more to me...) and highly influential to many other composers who followed (many of whom I dislike also).
Thank you Ray for the backup! :) I am sure John (MI) would happily back me up on this one as well!
Schubert: The Wanderer Fantasy (I loathe the insipid main theme)
Liszt: both piano concerti (they sound like flashy, empty nonsense to me)
Paganini: Caprices (or anything by any composer for solo violin)
Mozart Eine Kleine Nachtmusik (absolutely hate this piece)
[madaboutmahler and I have some hatreds in common!) ;D
Quote from: madaboutmahler on October 08, 2011, 09:37:22 AM
I do. 4'33 is just a perfect example of how Cage's "music" can be complete and utter nonsense. I hate pretty much everthing he wrote, although understand that his style is fascinating (but nothing more to me...) and highly influential to many other composers who followed (many of whom I dislike also).
Thank you Ray for the backup! :) I am sure John (MI) would happily back me up on this one as well!
While I agree that some of his stuff just doesn't pass muster (cough 'Music for Piano [1953]' cough), I have always found the Sonatas and Interludes for Prepared Piano one of the most engaging and original pieces for the piano in the 20th century. That's just me of course but this is music that is meticulously planned and incredible in its search for new sonorities. I would thoroughly recommend having a listen if you haven't, just for the experience of wishing an hour of your life back if nothing else ;). There are plenty of versions around but I would recommend John Tilbury who takes the whole thing at a slightly faster clip giving it a stronger rhythmic edge than found in some recordings (Schleiermacher and Fremy for example).
Boris Berman's recording is available in its entirety on youtube. Here's the first part, it's an all round excellent recording also.
http://www.youtube.com/v/8fPSz-o4zzY
Quote from: Amfortas on October 08, 2011, 10:51:53 AM
Schubert: The Wanderer Fantasy (I loathe the insipid main theme)
Liszt: both piano concerti (they sound like flashy, empty nonsense to me)
Paganini: Caprices (or anything by any composer for solo violin) Bach too?
Mozart Eine Kleine Nachtmusik (absolutely hate this piece) ouch! Sure, the first movement's main theme is way too familiar, but you hate all of it?
[madaboutmahler and I have some hatreds in common!) ;D
Quote from: Coco on October 08, 2011, 09:49:43 AM
You might want to try his works written before 1950 — they are more traditionally musical and often have a beautiful simplicity:
http://www.youtube.com/v/XF1DoVdHM9M
I have to admit that I find this a lovely piece!
So I change my previous statement to:
"anything of John Cage.... apart from "In a Landscape" ;)
Quote from: Il Furioso on October 08, 2011, 10:57:10 AM
While I agree that some of his stuff just doesn't pass muster (cough 'Music for Piano [1953]' cough), I have always found the Sonatas and Interludes for Prepared Piano one of the most engaging and original pieces for the piano in the 20th century. That's just me of course but this is music that is meticulously planned and incredible in its search for new sonorities. I would thoroughly recommend having a listen if you haven't, just for the experience of wishing an hour of your life back if nothing else ;). There are plenty of versions around but I would recommend John Tilbury who takes the whole thing at a slightly faster clip giving it a stronger rhythmic edge than found in some recordings (Schleiermacher and Fremy for example).
Boris Berman's recording is available in its entirety on youtube. Here's the first part, it's an all round excellent recording also.
http://www.youtube.com/v/8fPSz-o4zzY
I certainly cannot argue that Cage's music is highly original. I just personally don't see much more merit in much of his output than it's originality though. I am fascinated when I listen to it, but I do not connect with it at all, it triggers no emotional response from me. For me, that is what music is about, triggering an emotional response from the listener. That can be enjoyment, joy, depression ;) and so on... :)
The prepared piano pieces are for me a perfect example of why as I see Cage's music as nonsense, sorry!
John, get here quick and back me up! ;)
Quote from: Amfortas on October 08, 2011, 10:51:53 AM
[madaboutmahler and I have some hatreds in common!) ;D
:D
Quote from: Grazioso on October 08, 2011, 11:09:16 AM
Paganini: Caprices (or anything by any composer for solo violin) Bach too?
Mozart Eine Kleine Nachtmusik (absolutely hate this piece) ouch! Sure, the first movement's main theme is way too familiar, but you hate all of it?
Bach too, anything for solo string bores me to death, even my beloved Bartok
Eine Kleine is just too overplayed. If you only heard it every 10 years, it would be alright. (I'd sooner hear Vivaldi's Four Seasons for the umpteenth time)
I think Mozart is way overrated anyway. Most of his piano concerti put me into a deep slumber
[I could easily throw John Cage in there too. He's a very interesting person with important ideas and influence. But his own music (I have heard lots of it, including an entire live concert, early and late works) does exactly nothing for me. But since this thread is about works we don't want to hear again, I can hardly begin to name one of his that I disliked more than any other.]
Quote from: madaboutmahler on October 08, 2011, 09:37:22 AM
Quite a few of them! Sorry, they are just too "light" for me, and do not express much emotion at all in my opinion. For the same reason, I would agree with the Suppe that you included on your list! And also a lot of Offenbach, etc.
Yes, that one is a rather common opinion about Strauss' music, that is too "light"; on the contrary, I've always been struck by extreme beauty and vitality his works expresses, especially the waltzes.
I would agree about Offenbach, I don't find his operettas particularly involving.
Yes, I agree with our friend Daniel (MadaboutMahler) when it comes to John Cage. I think he had the ability and the means to compose a work that was direct, but he chose novelty over making a connection with the listener. There are those who will argue to the death about the validity of Cage's music and I say let them argue. I respect the fact he forged his own path, but I don't enjoy his music. That's all I'll say.
Quote from: Mirror Image on October 08, 2011, 07:02:06 PM
Yes, I agree with our friend Daniel (MadaboutMahler) when it comes to John Cage. I think he had the ability and the means to compose a work that was direct, but he chose novelty over making a connection with the listener. There are those who will argue to the death about the validity of Cage's music and I say let them argue. I respect the fact he forged his own path, but I don't enjoy his music. That's all I'll say.
I don't think he chose novelty, as in novelty for it own sake. I think he chose to explore the limits of music (as in Duchamps "what is an artistic object"). Novelty has never been threatening in the artistic world. What
is threateing however, is if someone questions the very norms of what someone else helds dear. That's the
only explanation why he succeeded in pissing so many people off. Me, I don't care. It's only music.
Barbara PENTLAND Symphony in Ten Parts
Don BANKS Horn Concerto
Murray SCHAFER: Son of Heldenleben
MAXWELL DAVIES Tavener (or was it Taverner? I fell asleep)
MESSIAEN Quartet for the End of Time (the only one I've not heard live, I had the Tashi recording, gave it away).
Quote from: Opus106 on October 07, 2011, 07:03:29 AM
I'm amazed that you've heard the entire oeuvre of five composers! ;)
I think I'd heard all of JS Bach, Beethoven and Mozart by 2000 or so, doesn't stop me wanting to listen to them again though. I always like to listen to music that is new to me too. Ultimately there isn't the time to hear all the music you want to.
Quote from: The new erato on October 09, 2011, 12:51:29 AM
I don't think he chose novelty, as in novelty for it own sake. I think he chose to explore the limits of music (as in Duchamps "what is an artistic object"). Novelty has never been threatening in the artistic world. What is threateing however, is if someone questions the very norms of what someone else helds dear. That's the only explanation why he succeeded in pissing so many people off. Me, I don't care. It's only music.
Ultimately, people have two choices: 1. they can listen to the music or 2. they can ignore the music. In regards to Cage, I always chose the second option. ;) :D
Quote from: Mirror Image on October 09, 2011, 07:54:34 AM
Ultimately, people have two choices: 1. they can listen to the music or 2. they can ignore the music. In regards to Cage, I always chose the second option. ;) :D
Thank you for coming to back me up John! :) Yes, I tend to ignore Cage's music as well, just does nothing for me emotionally so I see little point in taking the time to listen to it.
Quote from: madaboutmahler on October 10, 2011, 08:14:47 AMThank you for coming to back me up John! :) Yes, I tend to ignore Cage's music as well, just does nothing for me emotionally so I see little point in taking the time to listen to it.
Good to know I'm not alone in my distaste for all things Cage. 8)
Quote from: madaboutmahler on October 10, 2011, 08:14:47 AM
Thank you for coming to back me up John! :) Yes, I tend to ignore Cage's music as well, just does nothing for me emotionally so I see little point in taking the time to listen to it.
Some of his music for string quartet is actually worth listening to. I know one of those works kept me -- very much to my surprise -- electrified when I first heard it by the Zehetmair Quartet (amid some Schumann et al.) Not all of it is gratuitously silly or aleatory, random, or too clever by half.