If you had to choose, what would it be?

FOr piano solo or generally?

Generally, my vote is for the St Matthew Passion.

mazeppa!!!!!!

From the very first note that piece is overwhelming.

For piano, Beethoven's op. 106 sonata tied with 111.

what a hard question to answer.. i think of the twinkle twinkle variations by Mozart, the 2nd movement of Beethoven's 7th.. the hallelujah chorus from Handel's Messiah.. and then think of the finale, the Ode to Joy from Beethoven's 9th, and that gets my vote.

Probably from one of these
Bach: Mass in B-, St. Matthew's Passion
Mozart: Requiem, Operas
Beethoven: Symphony No.9, Late Quartets+Grosse Fuge

No matter what anyone thinks about this pick..... Chopin's A-flat Polonaise

Welcome back, Mark!

We feared you permanently lost in the dark depths of dealership devilry.

-J

Do you BELIEVE what's going on there????
I'm dumbfounded. (<< I know that almost everyone would agree with at least the first half of that sentence.)

And it all started because I just said "he never really said what his deal was......"

Yes, crazy!

btw, I know Russell; he sold me my Estonia last year. Super sharp and knowledgeable; I would *not* want to be on the other end of a written battle of wits with him.

-J

Rach 3
Beethoven op. 111

So......what's the greatest piece of all time?
(If you can't think of anything, maybe just say "Chopin's A-flat Polonaise.")

I think Mozart's "Jupiter" Symphony is up there.

What do you think of that little theme for a couple of seconds at 3:02 in this other Chopin polonaise?

Right, back on topic...

I've always said that the Große Fuge is the greatest. I don't know if I still believe it though, and it would take a lot of work to come up with a current honest answer.

So... I guess I can say the Chopin Ab Polonaise.

-J

Nah, I changed my mind.
It's Chopin's "Introduction and Polonaise for Cello and Piano."

You know James Kreger, Mark, or is this just a random selection?

Mass in B minor - hands down !!!

followed by Mozart's "Jupiter" and Beethoven's "Fifth."

Kreger, what beautiful cellist!!! I am sorry to say that I had not heard of him before.. No too many recordings either.. What is his story?

Geez, what a difficult question! I definitely cannot say what is the greatest, but I can name off my favorites in some genres.

With piano, I really like Liszt's B Minor Sonata. With concerti, I really like Busoni's Piano Concerto. With symphonies, I like Mahler's 8th. With piano duet, I'm really into Schubert's Fantasie in F Minor Op. 103.

There's only 2 kinds of music, music before Beethoven's 3rd symphony and music after the 3rd symphony.

Beethoven took an artform which was mainly reserved for the aristocracy and gave it to the people.

I heard a rehearsal of this symphiny conducted by James Levine. When it got to the place where the chorus sings acappela and very softly he said he thought it was one of th greatest moments in music.

That is an impossible, impossible question. I can't even attempt to answer it, it's impossible.

But, at the end of the day, it would probably be something Bach.. hahahah..

St. Matthew's Passion?

Oh boy, for me that piece is the "Emperor" Concerto from Beethoven

4'33. Obviously.

Bach's Chaconne is definitely one of the greatest of all time.

No contest. Sonata in Bm - Liszt.

In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida!!!