Musical Bon-Bons vs. the "Main Course"

Started by Leon, May 23, 2011, 06:51:59 AM

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Florestan

#20
May 23, 2011, 07:42:54 AM
Quote from: Opus106 on May 23, 2011, 07:42:24 AM
Anyone who is beginning to play Mozart's piano sonata No. 16 would qualify, I suppose. ;)

:)
"Beauty must appeal to the senses, must provide us with immediate enjoyment, must impress us or insinuate itself into us without any effort on our part." - Claude Debussy

Florestan

#21
May 23, 2011, 07:48:02 AM
Brahms is usually (and wrongly, IMO) associated with "seriousness" and "heavyweighted-ness", but (OTOMH)his Serenades for Orchestra opp. 11 & 16, his first string sextet and some of his piano music are just as relaxed, unbuttoned and fun as an afternoon walk in the Prater followed by an evening at Sacher's.
"Beauty must appeal to the senses, must provide us with immediate enjoyment, must impress us or insinuate itself into us without any effort on our part." - Claude Debussy

Opus106

#22
May 23, 2011, 07:48:53 AM Last Edit: May 23, 2011, 08:17:59 AM by Opus106
Quote from: Leon on May 23, 2011, 07:47:05 AM
Which calls to mind the famous quote (I'm not sure by whom) "Mozart is too easy for beginners and too hard for professionals". 

:)

Schnabel. I think he was comparing children and adults. :)
Regards,
Navneeth

Florestan

#23
May 23, 2011, 07:49:48 AM
Quote
But it was Mozart himself who attached the qualifier "for beginners", so I guess during his time they could.

Good point. :)
"Beauty must appeal to the senses, must provide us with immediate enjoyment, must impress us or insinuate itself into us without any effort on our part." - Claude Debussy

Florestan

#24
May 23, 2011, 07:57:41 AM
Quote from: Leon on May 23, 2011, 07:54:54 AM
A related idea is that drama is easy; it's comedy that's hard.

It is my view that the music that evidences the greatest depth is what might appear to be lightweight on the surface.  Mozart is a perfect example, and he is often dismissed by otherwise lovers of classical music for this very trait.

I agree 150 %.
"Beauty must appeal to the senses, must provide us with immediate enjoyment, must impress us or insinuate itself into us without any effort on our part." - Claude Debussy

karlhenning

#25
May 23, 2011, 08:04:40 AM
As a historical parenthesis . . . there's a classic anecdote wherein Chas Ives contemns the slow movement of the Haydn "Surprise" Symphony.  An incident which is probably orthogonal to the present discussion, since Ives did not much hesitate to use "low" forms of music . . . .

Mirror Image

#26
May 23, 2011, 08:12:18 AM
I guess we all have our favorite "lightweight" works. I mean I still enjoy Lyadov's Village Scene by the Inn. I'm not sure if it's considered a "light" piece or not but it sure is great fun!

Sergeant Rock

#27
May 23, 2011, 08:23:48 AM Last Edit: May 23, 2011, 08:25:24 AM by Sergeant Rock
Quote from: k a rl h e nn i ng on May 23, 2011, 08:04:40 AM
As a historical parenthesis . . . there's a classic anecdote wherein Chas Ives contemns the slow movement of the Haydn "Surprise" Symphony.  An incident which is probably orthogonal to the present discussion, since Ives did not much hesitate to use "low" forms of music . . . .

That is surprising coming from Ives....the guy who plastered a rhaspberry on to the end of his Second Symphony.

Sarge
the phone rings and somebody says,
"hey, they made a movie about
Mahler, you ought to go see it.
he was as f*cked-up as you are."
                               --Charles Bukowski, "Mahler"

karlhenning

#28
May 23, 2011, 08:29:02 AM
Aye, I don't think it was really a matter of thinking poorly of the music as music . . . I think he was more vexed at the reverence for The Safe Musical Past, and audiences having no sense of sonic adventure.

Those were rough times in New England for us atonal honkers!

Mn Dave

#29
May 23, 2011, 08:31:52 AM
Quote from: k a rl h e nn i ng on May 23, 2011, 08:29:02 AM
Those were rough times in New England for us atonal honkers![/font]

Those atonal honkers with their herky-jerky rhythms!  ;D

scarlattiglenross

#30
May 23, 2011, 01:09:25 PM
I like a main course that tastes like bon bons. I call it Jordi Savall.
http://www.frozenreeds.com/
Now available: Morton Feldman - Crippled Symmetry: at June in Buffalo, performed by The Feldman Soloists (Eberhard Blum, Nils Vigeland, Jan Williams)

DavidW

#31
May 23, 2011, 02:43:32 PM
Another bon-bon, Mozart's Divertimento for string trio, KV 563:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Seaso9_fszs&playnext=1&list=PL1447306C2B5CD8A1
The playlist is aptly named nectar and ambrosia. 8)

eyeresist

#32
May 23, 2011, 05:34:23 PM
I think Saint-Saens' Carnival of the Animals is a great work.
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