What are you listening to?

[Diapason]

As an aside. A friend of my daughter's "studies" the piano, when he's not making a fierce racket with his electric guitar that is. He is presently studying keyboard works by Bach, Haydn and Chopin for his next exam. He does not like Bach. I asked him if he found the counterpoint too difficult and he responded with, "yeah Bach, it's too fussy". He prefers his rock guitar.

Bach is also just bastard-hard to play on the piano, there's just too much control required, IMO, and you can't help but feel that the piano (as lovely as it sounds) just isn't the right instrument for some/much/all of this music. Hard to explain, but I *never* play Bach on the piano. Not that I play anything these days anyway!

The Haitink/RCO is brill!

Ta!

[fergus]

.... I am trying JSB, really trying; some of his sacred stuff is really hard work though. His instrumental music is sublime by comparison. It's me, it's me, it's not JSB.

As an aside. A friend of my daughter's "studies" the piano, when he's not making a fierce racket with his electric guitar that is. He is presently studying keyboard works by Bach, Haydn and Chopin for his next exam. He does not like Bach. I asked him if he found the counterpoint too difficult and he responded with, "yeah Bach, it's too fussy". He prefers his rock guitar.

First off Seán,and I have said it to you before, there is no point in forcing the JSB music (or anybody's for that matter) because if it does not connect then it simply does not connect. You do not have to like it and lots don't. There is always Ludwig and Gustav!!

In relation to the rock guitarist's comments I remember being around that age when I too was doing the rock guitar thing. Bach had his attractions for me then but he was way down the list at that time. It was not until I got older with some Life experience and maturity under my belt that I began to fully appreciate what the music was saying. That may sound ridiculous but for me it was true! For all of its apparent simplicity all of Life is behind the music I feel.

[markof]

A bit late to the party re the Four Seasons but you have to see this when you have the time:



I have this version as part of a box set and could not figure out why there was so much extraneous noise.
Now I know.

Mark.

[Seán]

A bit late to the party re the Four Seasons but you have to see this when you have the time:



I have this version as part of a box set and could not figure out why there was so much extraneous noise.
Now I know.

Mark.

I enjoyed that, thanks for posting it Mark.

[Seán]

.... I am trying JSB, really trying; some of his sacred stuff is really hard work though. His instrumental music is sublime by comparison. It's me, it's me, it's not JSB.

As an aside. A friend of my daughter's "studies" the piano, when he's not making a fierce racket with his electric guitar that is. He is presently studying keyboard works by Bach, Haydn and Chopin for his next exam. He does not like Bach. I asked him if he found the counterpoint too difficult and he responded with, "yeah Bach, it's too fussy". He prefers his rock guitar.

First off Seán,and I have said it to you before, there is no point in forcing the JSB music (or anybody's for that matter) because if it does not connect then it simply does not connect. You do not have to like it and lots don't. There is always Ludwig and Gustav!!

Indeed you have but you see I am a wee bit different: I have never enjoyed listening to the human voice, too many years of pop/rock & Jazz "singers" have done that to me. I can't give up on Bach because of that, no, I have to learn. I have a small collection of Bach's music. Last April I got the 27 cd collection of Herreweghe's Bach and I have fallen in love with Bach's Magnificat (it is an extraordinary piece of music) and with BWV 61 & 62 to name but a few. So I am afraid I will persevere, I still have 18 shrink wrapped Herreweghe cds on my shellf. I can be stubborn, you know.

In relation to the rock guitarist's comments I remember being around that age when I too was doing the rock guitar thing. Bach had his attractions for me then but he was way down the list at that time. It was not until I got older with some Life experience and maturity under my belt that I began to fully appreciate what the music was saying. That may sound ridiculous but for me it was true! For all of its apparent simplicity all of Life is behind the music I feel.

No it doesn't sound ridiculous at all. I think that our tastes can broaden as we get older. We have more time and patience, greater powers of concentration, the experience of having spent a long time listening to music, are of a calmer disposition and enjoy the finer things in life. Had I come to Mahler 30 years ago his music would probably have sailed over my head, I needed Ellington first and because of Ellington the combination of HvK and the BPO performing Mahler's Fifth were the perfect catalysts for me. [End of rant]

[Jose Echenique]

I must be some kind of freak. I started listening to Classical Music at about 12, and 4 years later I already knew by memory most of Mozart operas, half of Verdi operas, all Beethoven symphonies, and yep, most of Mahler too. I can proudly say that I´ve been listening to the same music all my life.

I never cared for Rock & Roll :-)

[jaybee]

for the month that's in it....

Nocturne #5.....

[Seán]

I must be some kind of freak. I started listening to Classical Music at about 12, and 4 years later I already knew by memory most of Mozart operas, half of Verdi operas, all Beethoven symphonies, and yep, most of Mahler too. I can proudly say that I´ve been listening to the same music all my life.

I never cared for Rock & Roll :-)

Well I for one am glad you did. How did you get such wide exposure to Classical Music?

[Jose Echenique]

I must be some kind of freak. I started listening to Classical Music at about 12, and 4 years later I already knew by memory most of Mozart operas, half of Verdi operas, all Beethoven symphonies, and yep, most of Mahler too. I can proudly say that I´ve been listening to the same music all my life.

I never cared for Rock & Roll :-)

Well I for one am glad you did. How did you get such wide exposure to Classical Music?

Big Brother is a conductor :-)

[Seán]

I must be some kind of freak. I started listening to Classical Music at about 12, and 4 years later I already knew by memory most of Mozart operas, half of Verdi operas, all Beethoven symphonies, and yep, most of Mahler too. I can proudly say that I´ve been listening to the same music all my life.

I never cared for Rock & Roll :-)

Well I for one am glad you did. How did you get such wide exposure to Classical Music?

Big Brother is a conductor :-)

Ah, I see, how wonderful! My big brother plays the drums, takes it very seriously, and when I was a child, had amassed a large collection of Buddy Rich LPs so I had exposure to Jazz from a very early age.
Is your brother still working?