Unpopular Opinions

[Kalevala]

bumpity bump!

I have had more than enough of "Ich Habe Genug" BWV 82

One day, hopefully, the anvil will fall and all will become clear.   

K

[Papy Oli]

One day, hopefully, the anvil will fall and all will become clear.   

K

Took me 15 years of classical listening before Bach clicked. A few more years for his odd work is ok by me 

[71 dB]

Took me 15 years of classical listening before Bach clicked. A few more years for his odd work is ok by me 

J.S.Bach clicked to me very fast not long after Elgar. It is composers like Liszt, Schubert, Schumann and even Dvořák that have taken me years and years to get into. Liszt particularly seemed in the beginning of my classical music journey almost impossible to get into, but I did! It just took 20+ years!   

[Papy Oli]

J.S.Bach clicked to me very fast not long after Elgar. It is composers like Liszt, Schubert, Schumann and even Dvořák that have taken me years and years to get into. Liszt particularly seemed in the beginning of my classical music journey almost impossible to get into, but I did! It just took 20+ years! 

We all have our own path

Oh the enjoyment once the ears ready for it though!   

[Belle]

I presume this thread means 'unpopular musical opinions'?!  For me, it's Mahler and Bruckner;  I've always regarded their symphonic music as over-rated.   I agree with Dr. John McWhorter, whose description of Bruckner could fit both:  "a dense, grandiloquent crawl".

For those who enjoy both composers;  my comments won't affect your enjoyment!!

[LKB]

Happily. those of us who (like Bartók) understand that it isn't a horse race, simply love 'em both.

As you like. FWIW, I'm a huge fan of the latter, and haven't felt motivated to listen to the former.

The Petite Messe Solennelle is a bit peculiar, but I had the opportunity to perform it about a decade ago and my opinion of Rossini went up significantly as a result.

( Still prefer the Grand Messe des morts though. )

[Spotted Horses]

I presume this thread means 'unpopular musical opinions'?!  For me, it's Mahler and Bruckner;  I've always regarded their symphonic music as over-rated.   I agree with Dr. John McWhorter, whose description of Bruckner could fit both:  "a dense, grandiloquent crawl".

For those who enjoy both composers;  my comments won't affect your enjoyment!!

I don't understand the impulse to claim an artist is "over-rated," which is an implicit assertion that those who revere the artist are somehow deluded. Isn't it enough to say that that an artist's work "is not to my taste?"

[Mandryka]

In the 18th century, Italian music was the most original, developed and fecund, and most of the greatest non-Italian composers, such as Gluck, Haydn and Mozart, were all heavily indebted to it. Even JS Bach was not exempt of its positive influence.

Later, Italian music was corrupted precisely by French and German influences intruding upon it.

Have you heard music by Gian Francesco Malipiero?  I think he wanted to plug into a 19th century pure Italian classical music tradition, which he thought had been sidelined and forgotten because of a German musical ideological hegemony. I'm not sure of any of this, but it's maybe something to explore.

[maticevska]

Unpopular opinion of mine...
I think Schoenberg is far overrated for his 12 tone works (his best and singular stand out composition above all the rest of his 12 tone works is his Wind Quintet)

Berg and Webern seemed to know better what they wanted to do.

[JBS]

Unpopular opinion of mine...
I think Schoenberg is far overrated for his 12 tone works (his best and singular stand out composition above all the rest of his 12 tone works is his Wind Quintet)

Berg and Webern seemed to know better what they wanted to do.

I tend to agree.
Although I describe it as Schoenberg being less lyrical and more emotionally cool than the other two (especially Berg).

[maticevska]

I tend to agree.
Although I describe it as Schoenberg being less lyrical and more emotionally cool than the other two (especially Berg).

Schoenberg's tonal and early atonal works are brilliant though. But even then, I also don't believe his later tonal works are as good as his early ones. Something happened to the poor guy.

[Karl Henning]

Unpopular opinion of mine...
I think Schoenberg is far overrated for his 12 tone works (his best and singular stand out composition above all the rest of his 12 tone works is his Wind Quintet)

Berg and Webern seemed to know better what they wanted to do.

I agree as to the excellence of the Quintet. I'd find it hard to choose between the Quintet and the String Trio for the best of his twelve-tone works.

[Daverz]

Unpopular opinion of mine...
I think Schoenberg is far overrated for his 12 tone works

Hardly an "unpopular" opinion.

I think Schoenberg is still underrated and -- apart from Verklarte Nacht -- underplayed because people react to the name rather than the music.

I wouldn't want to be without the Violin and Piano Concertos, the last 2 quartets, and the Variations for Orchestra.  I admit that I haven't engaged much with the later vocal music like Moses und Aaron.  Still a lot to explore.

[Karl Henning]

As Schoenberg has never been a popular composer, possibly no opinion expressing negativity toward his work is itself genuinely "unpopular." If, say, seven or eight GMG'ers are, simply, great fans of even the serial works, does that make them "overrated?" Probably nearer the truth is that the "codification" of the method may cast a longer shadow than the music he wrote via that method, itself.

[maticevska]

i am just a serial complainer about schoenberg

[Madiel]

As Schoenberg has never been a popular composer, possibly no opinion expressing negativity toward his work is itself genuinely "unpopular." If, say, seven or eight GMG'ers are, simply, great fans of even the serial works, does that make them "overrated?" Probably nearer the truth is that the "codification" of the method may cast a longer shadow than the music he wrote via that method, itself.

I thought it was pretty obvious it was about a comparison to other 12-tone composers, not a general assertion that Schoenberg was wildly popular.

Because Schoenberg is generally seen as a popular serial composer, as far as serial composers go.

[maticevska]

I thought it was pretty obvious it was about a comparison to other 12-tone composers, not a general assertion that Schoenberg was wildly popular.

Because Schoenberg is generally seen as a popular serial composer, as far as serial composers go.

Yeah that's what I mean. Idk, sometimes I just think schoenberg got worse (or less to my taste) the more he composed. I worry every day about this happening to me and pray it never does.

[Karl Henning]

I thought it was pretty obvious it was about a comparison to other 12-tone composers, not a general assertion that Schoenberg was wildly popular.

Because Schoenberg is generally seen as a popular serial composer, as far as serial composers go.

Wouldn't be the first nuance I missed.

[Karl Henning]

i am just a serial complainer about schoenberg

If it's comforting, you do not lack for company. 

[maticevska]

If it's comforting, you do not lack for company.

I don't think they're company I like to keep...