Top10 compositions that you don't like but everyone else does

[Moonfish]

Well, he just doesn't like what other people like! 

Does that mean one should not read Brian's reviews?   

[mc ukrneal]

But we can state that Mozart was better than Salieri... even Brahms spoke of his own limitations compared to Beethoven. Bruckner bowed down to Mahler, etc...   

No, I don't think so - not objectively. We can state that one had better technique or better use of certain aspects in music or that their rhythm/counterpoint/etc was somehow more advanced. But saying someone is 'better' than someone else is not something that is measureable in an objective way (it is subjective). How does one measure 'better'?

Showing humility or appreciation of those who came before does not mean they are better.

[johnshade]

Any 10 of Shostakovich`s symphonies


...

[Jo498]

There are certain pieces I do not dislike, but I apparently do not share the extremely high opinion of them many other have. E.g. Beethovens 6th symphony is a wonderful piece, but for me it ties with his 1st as my least favorite of his symphonies. Or Mozart's second to last piano concerto K 537 which is for me less interesting than e.g. K 271 or 449 (I also prefer many others to the famous K 467).
But I'll try for some famous pieces I don't much care for, in no particular order:

Puccini: Madama Butterfly
Puccini: La Boheme
Tchaikovsky: Rococo variations
Tchaikovsky: Violin concerto
Shostakowitch: 7th symphony "Leningrad"
Ravel: Bolero
Rachmaninoff: 2nd piano concerto
Bruckner: 4th symphony
Strauss: Heldenleben
Wagner: Tannhäuser

[ibanezmonster]

Beethoven: Symphony 5
Beethoven: Symphony 9
Mozart: Symphony 41

...guess that would be the main ones.

[EigenUser]

Beethoven: Symphony 5
Beethoven: Symphony 9
Mozart: Symphony 41

...guess that would be the main ones.

Mozart 41 is the one thing by Mozart I've heard that I do like.

[Florestan]

Mozart 41 is the one thing by Mozart I've heard that I do like.

Too much engineering damages the brain... 

[Jo498]

I like Mozart's #41, but probably not as much as many others (the finale is great, but I am not too fond of the 1st movement). I prefer 38-40 and maybe also 36.

[Brahmsian]

I like Mozart's #41, but probably not as much as many others (the finale is great, but I am not too fond of the 1st movement). I prefer 38-40 and maybe also 36.

I'm the same way.  I prefer Symphony No. 38-40 and 36 over the #41 (but still love it).  Number 38 is my favourite.  It used to be Number 40.

[TheGSMoeller]

I'm the same way.  I prefer Symphony No. 38-40 and 36 over the #41 (but still love it).  Number 38 is my favourite.  It used to be Number 40.

38 and 40 are my favorite of his later symphonies. But one that I've played the most the past year is No. 25 in G minor, the best opening of any Mozart symphony.

[Florestan]

one that I've played the most the past year is No. 25 in G minor, the best opening of any Mozart symphony.

Except No. 40, that is. 

[Ken B]

Too much engineering damages the brain... 

Ask the expert I always say.

[Ken B]

Except No. 40, that is. 

Indeed, as long as you do it right. Bohm does it right. This is angst ridden music of dread and foreboding. Maybe the next piece on the program is Gruppen.

[not edward]

Indeed, as long as you do it right. Bohm does it right. This is angst ridden music of dread and foreboding. Maybe the next piece on the program is Gruppen.

That sounds to me like a pretty good program for a one-hour concert.

[ibanezmonster]

Indeed, as long as you do it right. Bohm does it right. This is angst ridden music of dread and foreboding. Maybe the next piece on the program is Gruppen.

Mozart is too graceful too be truly foreboding, though. Anything described as "angst ridden music of dread and foreboding" will catch my interest. 

[mszczuj]

3. Brahms' First Symphony
4. Mahler's Fifth (except the adagietto,

+1

And then

Schumann - Piano Concerto
Berg - Violin Concerto

[yeongil]

With a few exceptions (Mozart's Die Zauberflöte and Requiem, Beethoven's Missa Solemnis, Brahms' Liebeslieder Walzer, and Bizet's Carmen), I don't like vocal music, be it songs, canatas, operas, masses, etc.  I can't explain why -- I've always preferred purely instrumental music.

As for instrumental compositions, I can't pick the top 10.  Here's 10 out of a larger number, off the top of my head. 
- Mozart: Eine Kleine Nachtmusik
- Mozart: Piano Sonata K. 545
- Beethoven: Für Elise
- Strauss II: Blue Danube Waltz
- Grieg: Piano Concerto
- Any piano concerto of Rachmaninov (including the Paganini Rhapsody)
For most of these, I've heard each piece so many times that I'm sick of them.

[Brahmsian]

I'm the same way.  I prefer Symphony No. 38-40 and 36 over the #41 (but still love it).  Number 38 is my favourite.  It used to be Number 40.

OMG, that is an oopies on my part.  I meant #39 in E flat!  #39 is my favourite Mozart symphony.   

Why couldn't Mozart's final three have been 40, 41 and 42.  It would have made life so much easier.

[EigenUser]

It's one of the most popular post-war orchestral scores of the 20th century. And his most famous orchestral piece. But he has widely known works in many different areas. But outside of the classical music world .. he is probably most widely known for his pioneering work within the field of electronic music without a doubt. In fact, often cited as historically & artistically its most important & valuable exponent.

It is impossible for anyone to predict the future, but so far I get the impression that Stockhausen will:
1) Always have a small group of strong enthusiasts
2) Be remembered as a pioneer of electronics in music, along with (though to a lesser extent) Varese
3) Not become a household name
This doesn't at all reflect whether I like him or not -- it is just an attempt at predicting what will happen based on what I know so far.

As biased as this might be coming from me, I think it is Ligeti who will be remembered much more and be programmed much more regularly, aside from being known for historical importance. For one, he already has the exposure from three of Kubrick's films, one of which (2001:SO) consists of four works. Furthermore, from the other end, he has a phenomenal set of etudes that many advanced piano students and professionals find very attractive -- and that even many conservative listeners seem to find very approachable and enjoyable.

[EigenUser]

Ligeti & Stockhausen are 2 great artists/composers of the era, when we look back at this time, they will certainly stand out for numerous reasons.. any deadly serious music lover or musician living today knows both names already .. art music of it's time will always have a smaller following in relation to mainstream popular or commercial culture .. both of their names & work will remain, what they left behind is built for long distance time travel.

Agreed. Personally, it is important to me that I educate myself on music whether I like it or not. Besides, lots of times it ends up growing on me. I started out detesting Stockhausen, but even I have found a few works that I like and I approach him with a much different attitude than, say, six months ago.

I was talking not so much about the serious classical listeners, but more about the occasional concert-goers. You know, today you might mention the name Bartok and someone might respond along the lines of "Oh, I remember seeing that name on the program of classical concert at the Kennedy Center a few years ago." That sort of thing.

For our time, Stockhausen had the greater impact due to his early & effective embrace of technology .. in this area few touch him in terms of deep imagination and structural integrity.

True. Out of the two of them, Stockhausen was the pioneer for sure. While I don't listen or know much about rock and more popular music, it has always fascinated me how many artists of these genres admired him.