The Worst First!

[ritter]

Prokofiev's (much admired) 'Classical Symphony' comes to mind. I like all his other symphonies.

For once, Jeffrey, we agree on matters musical .. 

[Maestro267]

This place reeks of abysmal takes.

[vandermolen]

For once, Jeffrey, we agree on matters musical .. 

HAHA 

[Karl Henning]

Prokofiev's (much admired) 'Classical Symphony' comes to mind. I like all his other symphonies.

Yet, from the very fact (as you point out) that it is much admired) probably cannot be The World's Worst First. 

[Karl Henning]

For once, Jeffrey, we agree on matters musical .. 

We can still be mates, Rafael 😀

[71 dB]

Both Walton 1 and Prokofiev 1 are to my liking. 

[vandermolen]

Both Walton 1 and Prokofiev 1 are to my liking. 

V much agree about Walton - one of the great 20th Century symphonies.

[Florestan]

I might have said it before, but of all the great names, I like Brahms' First the least. Mozart's and Haydn's are vastly superior, while Schumann's, Tchaikovsky's, Mahler's and Sibelius' are from another galaxy. Heck, even Schubert's, Mendelssohn's and Saint-Saens' are better.
 

[Iota]

Prokofiev's (much admired) 'Classical Symphony' comes to mind. I like all his other symphonies.

If this thread was titled, 'Firsts that do nothing for me', my agreement with you would be unqualified. But despite not really seeing the point of Prokofiev's first,'Worst' somehow seems a bit harsh.

I might have said it before, but of all the great names, I like Brahms' First the least. Mozart's and Haydn's are vastly superior, while Schumann's, Tchaikovsky's, Mahler's and Sibelius' are from another galaxy. Heck, even Schubert's, Mendelssohn's and Saint-Saens' are better.
 

A number of people seem to express a lack of enthusiasm for Brahms 1, both here and elsewhere, and it always rather mystifies me. I know tastes vary, but I find it such a magnificent, beautiful and moving thing, that disparagement of it by people who otherwise like Brahms seems particularly incomprehensible.
I remember the marvellous opening with its rising strings and falling woodwind, was an awe-inspiring lightbulb moment for me as a young teen, a whole world seemed to open up in front of me, one which I jumped into and have remained in ever since. Try Rattle with Berlin Phil, if interested, a great performance that does a wonderful job of revealing its many glories.

[Florestan]

If this thread was titled, 'Firsts that do nothing for me', my agreement with you would be unqualified. But despite not really seeing the point of Prokofiev's first,'Worst' somehow seems a bit harsh.

A number of people seem to express a lack of enthusiasm for Brahms 1, both here and elsewhere, and it always rather mystifies me. I know tastes vary, but I find it such a magnificent, beautiful and moving thing, that disparagement of it by people who otherwise like Brahms seems particularly incomprehensible.
I remember the marvellous opening with its rising strings and falling woodwind, was an awe-inspiring lightbulb moment for me as a young teen, a whole world seemed to open up in front of me, one which I jumped into and have remained in ever since. Try Rattle with Berlin Phil, if interested, a great performance that does a wonderful job of revealing its many glories.

Thanks for the tip, will investigate.

TBH, I prefer Brahms' chamber music to his symphonies, all of them. For instance, his first piano trio is much more appealing to me than his first symphony.

[Iota]

Thanks for the tip, will investigate.

TBH, I prefer Brahms' chamber music to his symphonies, all of them. For instance, his first piano trio is much more appealing to me than his first symphony.

Yes, nowadays I listen to far more chamber than orchestral music too, but the inner light still glows when visiting some of the big brothers ..

[Florestan]

Yes, nowadays I listen to far more chamber than orchestral music too, but the inner light still glows when visiting some of the big brothers ..

With a few notable exceptions, for any given major composer I prefer chamber and solo piano music  and songs over symphonic/orchestral.

[DavidW]

Try Rattle with Berlin Phil, if interested, a great performance that does a wonderful job of revealing its many glories.

Glad to know that I'm not the only fan of the Rattle/Berlin Brahms!

[DavidW]

With a few notable exceptions, for any given major composer I prefer chamber and solo piano music  and songs over symphonic/orchestral.

I like both, but I agree with you about Brahms really shining in the chamber works, lieder and piano works.

[Karl Henning]

Yes, nowadays I listen to far more chamber than orchestral music too, but the inner light still glows when visiting some of the big brothers ..

My feeling is certainly, if you have any quarrel with Brahms' symphonies, well, listen to something else!

but of all the great names, I like Brahms' First the least. Mozart's and Haydn's are vastly superior....

That may be the most eccentric remark on this thread.

[foxandpeng]

*straps on helmet*

Brian's Gothic. Bleh.

 

[Karl Henning]

*straps on helmet*

Brian's Gothic. Bleh.

 

I've got to applaud your bravery!

[JBS]

If this thread was titled, 'Firsts that do nothing for me', my agreement with you would be unqualified. But despite not really seeing the point of Prokofiev's first,'Worst' somehow seems a bit harsh.

A number of people seem to express a lack of enthusiasm for Brahms 1, both here and elsewhere, and it always rather mystifies me. I know tastes vary, but I find it such a magnificent, beautiful and moving thing, that disparagement of it by people who otherwise like Brahms seems particularly incomprehensible.
I remember the marvellous opening with its rising strings and falling woodwind, was an awe-inspiring lightbulb moment for me as a young teen, a whole world seemed to open up in front of me, one which I jumped into and have remained in ever since. Try Rattle with Berlin Phil, if interested, a great performance that does a wonderful job of revealing its many glories.

I think it suffers from its fame, and that it's the sort of thing that is pushed at people (including kids) who are new to classical music

So we end up with

It's by A GREAT COMPOSER
And it's a GREAT SYMPHONY
So of course YOU MUST BE IN AWE OF IT OR YOU'RE AN IGNORAMUS WHO CLEARLY HAS NO TASTE IN MUSIC

Hopefully most people are able to get past the trauma and realize they're allowed to be bored by it or decide there's other music they like better--or decide they like it because it's a good piece of music and not because people tell them they should like it.

[JBS]

*straps on helmet*

Brian's Gothic. Bleh.

 

I like it but it has some flaws. I can see how it might come across as a gargantuan overblown mess.

[Karl Henning]

I think it suffers from its fame, and that it's the sort of thing that is pushed at people (including kids) who are new to classical music

So we end up with

It's by A GREAT COMPOSER
And it's a GREAT SYMPHONY
So of course YOU MUST BE IN AWE OF IT OR YOU'RE AN IGNORAMUS WHO CLEARLY HAS NO TASTE IN MUSIC

Hopefully most people are able to get past the trauma and realize they're allowed to be bored by it or decide there's other music they like better--or decide they like it because it's a good piece of music and not because people tell them they should like it.

Such exaggerated typography is most unlike you. I hope I have always turned a sympathetic ear to fellow listeners who suffer from Opus Fatigue. E.g. our esteemed @Florestan hopes never to hear the Beethoven Seventh again. I don't mind both celebrating his liberty to shun the piece, and indicating that I find it richly rewarding still. I've said that I love the Firsts of both Prokofiev and Brahms. If @vandermolen or @Florestan feel that I have somehow tarred them as ignorami I pray they will give me the opportunity to sue for pardon.