What Century Would You Best Fit In?

[Florestan]

Based on both your musical taste and main personal traits, what century would you best fit in?

My answer: definitely the (late) 18th century. In Thomas Mann's words (as he described a minor character in The Buddenbrooks) I fully share and endorse as a general life philosophy the serene gaiety which was the trademark of that period. Haydn, Mozart, Cimarosa, Paisiello --- dramma giocoso.

Your turn.

[Maestro267]

Oh goodness me I'm happy in this century here. We wouldn't even have an internet to post on in the first place otherwise. Plus plenty of other technological and social advancements we take for granted these days would be nowhere to be seen.

[Florestan]

Oh goodness me I'm happy in this century here. We wouldn't even have an internet to post on in the first place otherwise. Plus plenty of other technological and social advancements we take for granted these days would be nowhere to be seen.

That goes without saying. My question is entirely for fun only.

Nevertheless, if it were true that we lived another life, I must surely have lived mine in late 18th century Venice. The very first time I went to Venice I had a most uncanny feeling of coming home --- and the more I became familiar with the city and its cultural attractions, the more I felt at ease and at home. I've even had my honeymoon in Venice and guess what, my wife was spellbound and enchanted by this magical city.

[BWV 1080]

Any century with antibiotics, modern dentistry and the internet

[Jo498]

The calamitous 14th century...
Not based on musical taste, though...

Seriously, I'd probably be fine as a middle class (vicar, higher level civil servant, middle-sized business owner, university professor or the like) contemporary of Brahms or so, about one generation older than Th. Mann, i.e. born 1820-40s and most of life spent before ww 1. I'd have access to most of the music I like, as well as other stuff I am interested in, it would be mostly peaceful in Europe and the food would be not too different from what I am used to, there would even be the beginnings of modern medicine available.

[Florestan]

The calamitous 14th century...
Not based on musical taste, though...

Seriously, I'd probably be fine as a middle class (vicar, higher level civil servant, middle-sized business owner, university professor or the like) contemporary of Brahms or so, about one generation older than Th. Mann, i.e. born 1820-40s and most of life spent before ww 1. I'd have access to most of the music I like, as well as other stuff I am interested in, it would be mostly peaceful in Europe and the food would be not too different from what I am used to, there would even be the beginnings of modern medicine available.

I've oftenly thought this myself, yet ultimately, the 19th century is not for me, at least not the late 19th century --- they took themselves much too seriously, they liked it big, grand and bold and they eventually turned the concert-going and opera-going experience from the genial and social entertainment it used to be into the dull and solipsistic stiff-and-still ritual of today.

[vers la flamme]

23rd

[BWV 1080]

Forgetting about the healthcare issues, mid-late 18th century Naples would be tolerable.  No European city had widespread electric indoor lighting in the 19th century - Cannot imagine dealing with a dark Northern European winter with candles or oil lamps.  Naples was a major musical capital with a much better climate

[71 dB]

I think I should have born 10 years earlier (1961 instead of 1971). That way I might have been able to create strong enough career for myself before these dark times of global crony capitalisms. I think the world that fits me ended when the first iPhone was released and social media was born. However, I don't want to take my birth more than 10 years into the past, because those were crappy times too. Finland in the 50's was still quite poor country paying war reparations to the Soviet Union. So, early 60's would have been optiomal I think... at least I would have been 8 years old when man went to the Moon instead of being only 2 years old when the Moon flights were over in 1973.

...in case humanity learns to live in peace, harmony and prosperity for all in the distant future, then that century, whatever it is would be the correct one for me. However, I am very pessimistic about that.

[Florestan]

Forgetting about the healthcare issues, mid-late 18th century Naples would be tolerable.  No European city had widespread electric indoor lighting in the 19th century - Cannot imagine dealing with a dark Northern European winter with candles or oil lamps.  Naples was a major musical capital with a much better climate

Clever reasoning, excellent choice.

[ChamberNut]

Clever reasoning, excellent choice.

Your avatar Andrei....is it Rossini?

[Florestan]

Your avatar Andrei....is it Rossini?

Yep.

[Mandryka]

5th century BC, in Athens. Dinner with Socrates, Phaedrus and Alcibiades, exchange a few ideas with Aristotle, go to the pub with Aristophanes, discuss politics with Euripades  . . . .

[Florestan]

5th century BC, in Athens. Dinner with Socrates, Phaedrus and Alcibiades, exchange a few ideas with Aristotle, go to the pub with Aristophanes, discuss politics with Euripades  . . . .

No spectralism, though...

[ritter]

The problem for me with this kind of games is that whenever one says, e.g., "the century I would have loved to have lived in was the 17th", one usually thinks one would have been Louis XIV (or at least a member of the aristocracy),  not a stable boy, an innkeeper, or foot soldier. The latter, I'm afraid, would have not had been able to enjoy any of the benefits (cultural included) one would attach to that period, and all the disadvantages compared to modern life (in terms of healthcare, education, and the general standard of living).

[Florestan]

The problem for me with this kind of games is that whenever one says, e.g., "the century I would have loved to have lived in was the 17th", one usually thinks one would have been Louis XIV (or at least a member of the aristocracy),  not a stable boy, an innkeeper, or foot soldier. The latter, I'm afraid, would have not had been able to enjoy any of the benefits (cultural included) one would attach to that period, and all the disadvantages compared to modern life (in terms of healthcare, education, and the general standard of living).

Blimey, Rafael, you're the death of joy...

[ChamberNut]

Blimey, Rafael, you're the death of joy...

Indeed. Let the man have his dream of gorging on food and discussing music and all art forms with his pal Rossini! 🙂

[Florestan]

Indeed. Let the man have his dream of gorging on food and discussing music and all art forms with his pal Rossini! 🙂

If only... 

[Florestan]

gorging on food

And sipping wine... 

[Lisztianwagner]

Leaving outside healthcare, standard of living, education and voting right, I would say the second half of the 19th Century.