chopin can kick mozart's ass anytime he want. : |

Pachelbel is an amazing composer and most definitely not a one hit wonder! he's the master of the organ. The chaconne in f minor is monumental.

John William's is more like a one hit wonder; after Shindler's List everything sounded like Dvorak! hahahaha i'm only joking.

Pun intended?

JF

While not a true statement, a more grammatical way to say this is: Anytime he wants to do it Chopin can kick Mozart's ass.

Of course, since they are both long since deceased any speculation about their relative abilities with regard to pugilistic endeavors is purely academic and hypothetical - but note that Chopin was constantly "whipped" by what's her name, George something-or-other .

JF

Here's a great Christmas present for the music lover on your list (which may be you) - a 170 CD Boxed Set!:

Mozart - The Complete Works

JF

I'd say there are 41 symphonies, 27 piano concerto's, 5 violin concerto's, 4 horn concerto's, 7 woodwind concerto's, 18 piano sonata's, 36 violin sonata's, 23 string quartet's, 6 string quintet's, 18 masses, 17 church sonata's and 23 opera's that would speak against that. And these are very successful works! There has never been (and probably will never be) a more successful composer on all fronts of music. Surely not to be compared by 4 ballade's, 27 etude's, 4 impromptu's, 49 mazurka's, 18 nocturne's, 15 polonaise's, 27 prelude's, 3 sonata's and 17 songs. Not that I want to start a whole composer war, but imo, if you take away the piano works of Chopin, what do you have left? I think alot of people on this PIANO forum are biased towards Chopin, because he wrote an amazing amound of very beautiful piano works. But in the grand scheme of things, you won't find many orchestra's perform Chopin, you won't find him in Opera, his songs aren't popular, and his works for other instruments than piano aren't popular either. I'm going to run away now....

Sounds like as good a reason as any to be biased in favor of a composer - but then again he did have for creative inspiration the love of his life, what was her name, George Sand? Or was it George Elliot? Why do I always get those two women confued?

JF

It was George Sand!!!

Yes, of course, George Sand. I knew that.

George Elliot was the pen name of the English novelist Mary Anne Evans ("Middlemarch", "Silas Marner", "The Mill on the Floss", etc.), who was Sand's contempoary.

This is just a small part of what Wikipdeia has to say about Sand (real name: Amantine Aurore Lucile Dupin) and Chopin:

...Sand conducted affairs of varying duration with Jules Sandeau (1831), Prosper Mérimée, Alfred de Musset (summer 1833 – March 1835), Louis-Chrystosome Michel, Pierre-François Bocage, Félicien Mallefille and Frédéric Chopin (1837–47 ). Later in life, she corresponded with Gustave Flaubert. Despite their obvious differences in temperament and aesthetic preference, they eventually became close friends.

She was engaged in an intimate friendship with actress Marie Dorval, which led to widespread but unconfirmed rumors of a lesbian affair.[6] Letters written by Sand to Dorval mentioned things like "wanting you either in your dressing room or in your bed."

In Majorca one can still visit the (then abandoned) Carthusian monastery of Valldemossa, where she spent the winter of 1838–39 with Chopin and her children. This trip to Majorca was described by her in Un Hiver à Majorque (A Winter in Majorca), published in 1855. Chopin was already ill with incipient tuberculosis (or, as has recently been suggested, cystic fibrosis) at the beginning of their relationship, and spending a winter in Majorca - where Sand and Chopin did not realize that winter was a time of rain and cold, and where they could not get proper lodgings - exacerbated his symptoms.

Sand was the author of almost 40 novels and 8 plays, which is a remarkable artistic output given the apparent time and energy she invested in affairs (so to speak) of the heart

JF

For your edification, reading pleasure, personal enrichment, musical enhancement and intellectual enlightenment:

Mozart Biographies at Amazon

JF

Tangleweeds: I'm in sort of the same position as you; the math geek loved the logic in J.S. Bach (didn't hear much from the others till adulthood), and the seeker in me responded to the unusual 20th C. stuff. However, the part of me that likes rock & roll (after the discovery of overdriven amps, anyway) also likes later romantic works.
With Mozart, I usually listen, even though with e.g. Haydn I change the program. I can only think that this is because Mozart's inner logic is strong enough to compel me.
Haydn is for me like Elton John: I can certainly appreciate the craft, but it doesn't quite emotionally connect.

Elton John's Levon and Border Song are amazing imo.

Be sure to check out Haydn's XVI 34 Hoboken Piano Sonata!!

I'm coming in late (WAY late!) here, but can't help but agree that music enjoyment is a matter of taste. Personally, I won't go to a movie that isn't fun, as I have enough strife in my life already I don't want to share anyone else's even if it is "only a movie." Different strokes and different times; what is ho-hum now was likely completely shocking (hence the swooning!) and new when it was written.

However, since the thread references Pachelbel, and Frozenicicles related his orchestral "Canon" story, I thought this might inject a lighter note into the post. Have you viewed Rob Paravonian's "Pachelbel Rant"?

There is much "inner logic" in the works of Haydn - and much enjoyable musical creativity of the highest order - to a large extent he was the inspiration for Mozart, his 'musical father" as it were - overall Haydn's output was prodgious and masterful, especially the later symphonies. Listen at length and in depth - you will be surprised and delighted.

JF

Thanks for bringing this back Jeanie - we've seen this at least several times here, but it's always welcome and amusing!

JF

Well stated!

JF

The initial premise of this thread might be a little tongue in cheek, nevertheless evaluating a composer on the basis of one short popular piece is silly. It's like saying Eine kleine Nachtmusik IS Mozart, the theme from the final movement of Beethoven's 9th IS Beethoven, Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance March No 1 IS Elgar.

I would guess that very few, if any, contributors to this thread have heard any Pachelbel apart from the Canon (and that piece is often heard in bastardized arrangements anyway).

Not at all - the tongue was firmly planted between the molars and the canines, I assure you...

JF

Earlier in this thread (a few pages and months ago) I recommended the Divertimento in D Major, K.251 as an excellent starting point for an at length and in depth immersion into the delightful realm of Mozart's somewhat lighter and more throughly listenable "chamber" pieces variously termed Divertimenti and Serenades .

This work was composed in July, 1776 (at the time of the greatest political event in world history) as a private entertainment piece for the celebration of his sister Nannerl's (Maria Anna, 1751-1829) name-day.

The Divertimento, K.251 (aka Divertimento No. 11) was composed for an ensemble of 2 violins, viola, double-bass, oboe and 2 horns (french) - although it is often performed by larger chamber orchestras.

It consists of the following 6 movements, being in structure more of a "suite" than any other classical form:

1. Molto allegro
2. Menuetto-Trio
3. Andantino
4. Menuetto (Tema con Variazioni I-III)
5. Rondo. Allegro assai
6. Marcia alla francese

The work is roughly 25 minutes in length and is as completely Mozartian and as immensely enjoyable as one would expect ot could hope for.

There are many fine recordings of this available. Here is one from the outstanding Orpheus Chamber Orchestra :


Serenades and Divertimenti

JF

What to suggest to the person who is always complaining that you're hard to buy for and they never know what to get you for Christmas (the price - even used -would seem somewhat prohibitive, but it's really so very little for so very much...or so you can say...)

Mozart: Complete Works

JF

I just bought Mozart: The Piano Concertos for myself.

Excellent choice MaryBee - you'll love it!

JF

P.S. a notable milestone has been reached with this thread with the 5,555th hit as of now.

You will also fully enjoy this 2 disc set from the world famous Academy of Ancient Music, known for playing on "authentic period instruments" - a very unique and delightful sound indeed:

Mozart - The Violin Concertos

JF

Mozart>>>>>>>>>>>>

my favorite composer of all time above beethoven and all of them

The fact that even after 200+ years from his lifetime, people still talk about his music (e.g., this thread), and of course still perform it, speaks for itself.

Your love of and devotion to Wolfgang is readily apparent - you actually capitalized his name!

JF

Yes, but some of us like to reiterate that to which itself speaks

JF

For your edification, encouragement, enlightenment and enrichment:

Mozart Biographies

Just listened to the "Posthorn" Serenade (K. 320) for the first time in awhile - this is on an early CD recorded in 1981 - it features the outstanding orchestra of the Academy of St. Martin-In-The-Fields under the direction of the distinguished conductor Neville Marriner.

This is a excellent rendition of this wonderful light-hearted and thoroughly entertaining and listenable Serenade, which consists of eight relatively short movements totaling just over 43 minutes.

I recommend it heartily for your listening, dining and - if you're creative - dancing pleasure

JF

I agree!
but [i]"Every difficulty slurred over will be a ghost to disturb your repose later on. Frederic Chopin"[/i]
means I'm in real trouble!!!