Posted on 03/01/2006 7:54:55 PM PST by Reaganesque
I was sitting here tonight listening to Mozart's Requiem and I got to thinking: what do I consider to be the best work of music ever? For my part, Mozart's work really does the trick for me when I need to be re-energized. Therefore, I believe that his Requiem is the greatest work of all time. There just isn't another work that is as powerful and passionate. When the chorus sings the final "Amen" at the end of "Lacrimosa" I get the feeling that he knew it was the last thing he would ever write. It gives me chills at times.
Other favorites are:
Handel's Messiah
The 1812 Overture by Tchaikovsky
For the Freepers who mentioned classical music, and particularly of the Baroque era, I am surprised at how few composers of this era were named. For example, the concertos by Arcangelo Corelli are amazing in their use of harmony. Others to give a listen to are Telemann, Albinoni, Pergolesi, Heinichen, Lully, etc.
Dolly, when I was in charge of it, it was not so beautiful. It was a 25 year old stage and movie theater at what was then Macinac College (Defunct after graduating one class). The movie people spiffied it up in exchange for being allowed to use it. They did a real nice job. It was much plainer in 1968 when I ran Abigail and Betty, the two 35 mm movie projectors (including the night when I had to run all 14 reels of The Sound of Music when Abigail's take-up reel drive chain broke in the middle of reel three... I used my index finger to spin the reel... I still have the scar from the abrasion).
Of course there is no such thing as "the greatest musical work of all time", but I happened to recently be thinking that this must be a top candidate. It's interesting that some of those like Mozart and Chopin who are considered to have have written astonishingly beautiful music were also child prodigies.
Re: 433: Did he just say "Making F*(k?"
Gee, Most people refer it to MEAT LOAF's Bat out of Hell... But Steinman is indeed the composer :-) .
As it happens, I've been listening to it for about the last 45 minutes. I'd be hard pressed to choose between it and Bat out of Hell II; Both are my very favorite post '1970 music.
Generally, I'm not into rock and roll, and like music that I can listen to on fairly low volume.... But both BOoH albums, I can listen to over and over, and crank up the volume.
Couldn't tell you why though; I just love them.
The correct answer is: Messe in h-moll by J. S. Bach. In English, Mass in B-minor, or colloqially, The B-Minor Mass. Greatest musical work of all time, bar none.
Many folks did get the the number two piece, though: Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. After that, in no particular order, Beethoven's Fifth Symphony, Brahms's Ein Deutches Requiem, Mozart's Requiem, Handel's Messiah, Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro.
Some notes: No popular contemporary piece can possibly make the list. They are just too short. The constraints of radio make that necessary, and no piece that lasts only three or four or five minutes can possibly measure up.
Bach - Mass in B Minor?
Bach - St. Matthew Passion?
Schubert - Winterreise. An esthetic blowout. If you ever attended a live performance by Fischer-Dieskau, the audience was always just shattered by the end.
For Ives, try "Variations on America." Also the 2nd String Quartet. Fourth Symphony is magnificent, but takes some getting used to if you are not already familiar with the sound of Ives. The Second Symphony is also a favorite, particularly the ending.
Havergal Brian is also very interesting. I have the Gothic Symphony, and listen to it, but I prefer some of the others: 6th, 16th, 22nd. A Shropshire Lad is also very nice.
Wow, just 16 posts into this thread and my soulmate appears. "I miss you, darlin', more and more ev'ry day, as heaven would miss the stars above ... with ev'ry heartbeat, I still think of you ... and remember our faded love."
*flutter*
Thank you for mentioning Debussy. That one you listed and La Mer among others are peerless.
Is that Charles Ives?
YeeHaa
"Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band", followed closely by "Rubber Soul". "Tommy" a close 3rd.
Pink Floyd's
"Wish You Were Here"
.
Mozart's requiem in D.
Turkish March by Mozart
My vote is Bach, St. Matthew Passion.
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