Beethoven Scarlatti and Prokoviev - You Can Tell

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This one is for musical folk - and I don't mean just classical, although I am madly in love with certain "classical" composers
Since my parents got their first cassette player (70's!) when I was about 7 I would listen to Beethoven's Appasionata under a total spell, Beethoven himself was talking directly to me. I honestly go onto another level when I listen to his sonatas and it's always been that way. There are some which aren't dramatic or poignant but even the witty lighter movements have something magical in them.

I read Prokovief was probably AS as well. And I am willing to place money on Scarlatti as well. You can tell from the exuberant quirkiness which he can never seem to keep at bay. Like gremlins jumping out at you (well perhaps in the piano works). The Classical Symphony is in total different character though, such grandeur, and the opening confident, tingling strains of Peter and the Wolf, well..

Anyone feel that way about music ?

Neil

Prokofiev is great, some of the clanging stuff is annoying but there's great stuff there too.

I know what you mean, although that's partly what intrigues me, it's like he has had enough of everything and wants to get it out of his system, then he relaxes into a more lyrical mood.
I suppose the pieces of music that stick most in my head are the ones with a strong or regular or unusual rythm. When I first discovered the Rite of Spring by Stravinksy (composed 1917 ish) it was like s bomb going off. Although very different to Beethoven, the music has its own presence and is like a force of nature.

What other stuff do you like ?

Beethoven always seemed like playing with Legos; you'd start with a block of music, and repeat it, and build on it, until you'd have the 9th... Scarlatti I don't know so well. I remember Hayden as being like a cat sneaking up on a mouse.

other stuff I like...Ravel, the left hand piano concerto and other stuff...mm Elgar.

Yes Beethoven is a real Master of musical archtecture and he designs it so well that you don't notice the joins !
If I listen to someone plaing it well I don't seem to be aware there are any notes, it's just the spirit of the music. If I am playing that's a different matter, I have to concentrate on the notes more but can still lose myself in the music.

The Ravel concerto - I will have to give that another try, I do't really know it. The ones I know best are Gaspard de La Nuit (impossible to play) which in mood are pretty austere and tragic. They are based on some French poems, Ondine, story about a Mermaid and her lover, Le Gibet (man hanging from a gallows!) and Scaramouche I thihnk - sort of gremlin I think. guess I just reliased I must like music with gremlins in. He also orchestrated other composers - such as Rimsky Korsakov.

Anyone know Ravel's chamber music, I've no idea which piece, but years ago I recorded something off the radio which I think was a piano quintet which was so thick with suspense, it felt like it was haunted !


N

I love that famous piece from Romeo and Juliet (Dance of the Knights?).

But Peter and the Wolf used to really get on my nerves in music class.