Jedi Council Forums - The Greatest Classical Music Works

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Author	Topic: The Greatest Classical Music Works - Arnold Schoenberg's Moses und Aron
Rogue1-and-a-half Title: Manager: Amphitheatre Registered: Nov '00	Date Posted: 2/18/06 9:49pm Subject: The Greatest Classical Music Works - Arnold Schoenberg's Moses und Aron - Date Edited: 7/31 10:04am (75 edits total) Edited By: Rogue1-and-a-half
	Okay, here it is, as promised. The list? Right here. There are problems with it (why 109 works?), but it's a good starting place. #109. The Nutcracker Suite (1892) - Peter Ilyitch Tchaikovsky AVERAGE RUNNING TIME: 22 min. There are several different versions of this one. Generally, people who want to perform it change it around in whatever way they want. This extends to one of the most famous usages of this suite: in Disney's Fantasia. After the ballet's lukewarm reception (something that continues to help prove that the mass public is generally idiotic), however, Tchaikovsky himself created a suite from the ballet's music and this, I suppose, should be considered the definitive version. This is unquestionably great music and it's token of the composer's genius that there isn't a single part of this suite that isn't instantly recognizeable and hummable by the vast majority of the Western world. These are pieces that get in your head and stay there. Once heard, never forgotten. The suite opens with the Overture, proceeds into the March (one of my very favorites), and from there into a series of dances. These include the amazing Sugar Plum Fairy (another favorite), the melancholy Arabian, the bouncy Chinese, the bombastic (and hilarious) Russian and the gorgeous Reed Pipes' dance. It concludes with the longest section, the truly transcendently gorgeous Waltz of the Flowers. Not a single weak bit in the whole bunch. Listen to this in one sitting and your brain will explode trying to figure out which one should get stuck in your head. This should probably be more like top twenty . . . -----signature----- Don't be a fool, don't be blind Heart of mine If you can't do the time, don't do the crime Heart of mine
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Zaz Title: Manager, The Ampitheatre Registered: Oct '98	Date Posted: 2/19/06 9:28am Subject: RE: The Greatest Classical Music Works (Discussing The Nutcracker Suite) - Date Edited: 2/19/06 9:38am (1 edits total) Edited By: Zaz
	I found it very hard to believe that this music wasn't a success in the beginning, and that it would rank this low. And if you've seen "Fantastia", I defy you to hear "The Chinese Dance" and not think of toddling mushrooms. Oh, the power of visual image.
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General Kenobi Title: Administrator Emeritus Registered: Dec '98	Date Posted: 2/19/06 9:56am Subject: RE: The Greatest Classical Music Works (Discussing The Nutcracker Suite)
	That link in the first post by Rogue leads to a "newer" version of the list (150 listed) and Nutcracker isn't on it! The list you were looking at appears to be here. Tchaikovsky is one of my favorite composers, and this wonderful suite certainly deserves to be ranked much higher. I'd say in the top twenty or thirty for sure.
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Rose_Skywalker Registered: Nov '02	Date Posted: 2/19/06 11:17am Subject: RE: The Greatest Classical Music Works (Discussing The Nutcracker Suite)
	I have to say the Nutcracker is my favorite piece of classical music. I can listen to it hours on end, and i've come to find i write better papers when i listen to it. IMO it should be placed much higher. However, the question needs to be asked, who is picking this list? Because my favorite classic music pieces as the average american girl, is going to be very different from my friend Ken who is getting his PHD in classical music. When i looked at the list i only vaugly remembered a few of them, but i knew all the Ballet suites. In fact, it was weird to me for the 1812 overture to not make the list. That is easily one of the most recognizable classic music pieces ever (not to mention really cool because of the cannons). So it begs the question, what are the judging standards for the list. -----signature----- ~* *~ It's like Star Wars, if it was on the WB- Josh
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Moleman1138 Title: Manager Emeritus Registered: Aug '04	Date Posted: 2/19/06 11:20am Subject: RE: The Greatest Classical Music Works (Discussing The Nutcracker Suite)
	I haven't seen the Nutcracker in a long time to appreciate it. I saw it a few times as a kid and thought it was stupid, but as I look at it from a distant perspective, I begin to feel the story and the essential strength it has through music and ballet. -----signature----- Host of CBC (Chapter by Chapter) for PT, CT and SFF forums and Box Office Game ROTS-DS Chapter 3: Seeds of Rebellion FOTR Chapter 29: Bilbo's Gifts TSS Chapter 17: Facts and Feathers (8/24/07)
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Thrawn1786 Registered: Feb '04	Date Posted: 2/19/06 11:45am Subject: RE: The Greatest Classical Music Works (Discussing The Nutcracker Suite) - Date Edited: 2/19/06 11:46am (1 edits total) Edited By: Thrawn1786
	I've danced in 'Nutcracker' for the past 14 years, and it's never grown old. I may get tired of it as a result of hearing the music so much over the usual 4 and 1/2 months of practice, but it always seems new. I have such a hard time picking just one favorite moment in the suite. I've danced to everything in it, except for the Overture(duh!) and Sugar Plum. This past year I fell in love with 'Waltz of the Flowers'-I was in the Flower corps(here is a picture from it-I am the second girl on the left side): http://photobucket.com/albums/b51/Thrawn1786/?action=view&current=Nutcracker05-Flowers.jpg I used to think 'Flowers' dragged as opposed to 'Waltz of the Snowflakes', but I see it in a whole new light. 'Nutcracker' is truly one of the greatest pieces of classical music ever written. I love all of it, not just the 'Suite'. -----signature----- Knick knack, Patti's whack, diva's on her throne-you just got Patti LPwned! Senator of Thrawn Fans Unite, EU Senate My 2009 Dear Diary Challenge entry: http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/29687672/p1/?3
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TheBoogieMan Title: Manager Emeritus Registered: Nov '01	Date Posted: 2/19/06 6:59pm Subject: RE: The Greatest Classical Music Works (Discussing The Nutcracker Suite)
	A fantastic work, I really enjoy it. One of the more 'pop' works these days, but that is hardly a fault of its own, or indeed really a fault.
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General Kenobi Title: Administrator Emeritus Registered: Dec '98	Date Posted: 2/19/06 7:18pm Subject: RE: The Greatest Classical Music Works (Discussing The Nutcracker Suite)
	Yeah, not having the 1812 Overture on a list of the top 100 classical works is insane. It's probably my personal favorite. I think this list was just made by the guy running the web site with a few suggestions from readers; not really a big poll or anything.
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Rogue1-and-a-half Title: Manager: Amphitheatre Registered: Nov '00	Date Posted: 2/19/06 8:02pm Subject: RE: The Greatest Classical Music Works (Discussing The Nutcracker Suite)
	Yeah, the list is just a personal opinion, not like a Rolling Stone poll or anything. So, yes, there are idiocies aplenty. Bach's Cello Suites not making the list for instance. I hadn't seen that 150 works list, but I think I'll just stick with the one I was planning to use. -----signature----- Don't be a fool, don't be blind Heart of mine If you can't do the time, don't do the crime Heart of mine
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Rogue1-and-a-half Title: Manager: Amphitheatre Registered: Nov '00	Date Posted: 2/25/06 9:36pm Subject: RE: The Greatest Classical Music Works (Discussing The Nutcracker Suite)
	108. Little Fugue in G Minor (1703) - Johann Sebastian Bach AVERAGE RUNNING TIME: 4 minutes. This is one of Bach's most famous organ pieces. One of the great things about Bach was how he was able to compose credibly for just about anything. Solo cello, choir, full orchestra, trios, quartets, harpsichord and, of course, organ. And he sold it, regardless. We'll talk about him quite a bit more on this list, but it's worth noting that Bach's organ works are stunning, something you wouldn't expect solo organ to necessarily be. And, even, if you've never heard of it, you've heard it. It's simple, but he makes it complicated and it features one of the most stunning moments of music ever: the organ PEDALS are required to play sixteenth notes. If that doesn't make your jaw drop, you probably don't know much about organs or music theory. That is, quite simply, about the craziest thing ever and I'm going to say this is a precursor to Hendrix or something just for that jaw dropping moment. This was titled the Little fugue, not because it's that much shorter than most or because it's less in importance, but only to differentiate it from a previous composition by Bach, the Grand Fugue in G minor. Regardless, this isn't as famous as some, at least by name, but it is stunning and, if only for that incredible pedal passage, I'm more than willing to give placement here. -----signature----- Don't be a fool, don't be blind Heart of mine If you can't do the time, don't do the crime Heart of mine
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Rogue1-and-a-half Title: Manager: Amphitheatre Registered: Nov '00	Date Posted: 3/4/06 9:36pm Subject: RE: The Greatest Classical Music Works (Now Disc. Little Fugue in G Minor (1703) -Johann Sebastian B
	107. Pomp and Circumstance (1901 - 1930) - Edward Elgar AVERAGE TIME: 28 Minutes Most people think this is one march. It's not. It's actually five. And, frankly, the fact that the first march was picked up as a graduation song, at least here in the US, seems pretty As it stands, these are all brilliant pieces of music. Years of being played at graduations has yet to even begin to dim the luster of the gorgeous number one and the other four don't even have that to deal with. This is stunning music, profound and beautiful. There's joy and exuberance here, there's sadness and grief, dignity and honor. This is one of the greatest musical line ups of all time. If we must pick, the first, third and fifth are slightly better than the second and the third, but this is amazing music. You'll be humming them for weeks. Again, ranked far, far too low. Top thirty, I think, would be better. -----signature----- Don't be a fool, don't be blind Heart of mine If you can't do the time, don't do the crime Heart of mine
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Zaz Title: Manager, The Ampitheatre Registered: Oct '98	Date Posted: 3/5/06 1:10pm Subject: RE: The Greatest Classical Music Works (Now Disc. "Pomp and Circumstance" by Elgar)
	I didn't know there was more than one, so I guess I'll now have to do some research...
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Forcefire Registered: Jul '00	Date Posted: 3/6/06 2:02pm Subject: RE: The Greatest Classical Music Works (Now Disc. "Pomp and Circumstance" by Elgar)
	It's in Fantasia 2000 in what I'm pretty sure is its entirety, if you're interested in that. I'll pop it into the VCR when I get home for spring break next week, come back with comments. -----signature----- "Dear Diary, today I was pompous and my sister was crazy. Today we were kidnapped by hillfolk, never to be seen again. It was the best day ever." Jayne Cobb, the Hero of Canton
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Rogue1-and-a-half Title: Manager: Amphitheatre Registered: Nov '00	Date Posted: 3/6/06 2:51pm Subject: RE: The Greatest Classical Music Works (Now Disc. "Pomp and Circumstance" by Elgar) - Date Edited: 3/6/06 2:52pm (1 edits total) Edited By: Rogue1-and-a-half
	The version in Fantasia 2000 is a cobbled together version, barely over six minutes long. It's not just the first march, but neither is it anywhere close to the whole thing which is almost thirty minutes. -----signature----- Don't be a fool, don't be blind Heart of mine If you can't do the time, don't do the crime Heart of mine
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Terr_Mys Registered: May '02	Date Posted: 3/6/06 6:32pm Subject: RE: The Greatest Classical Music Works (Now Disc. "Pomp and Circumstance" by Elgar)
	Ah, I'm glad you started this thread, Rogue. I've felt terribly guilty about letting my old hosted discussion die . But at least this time we have a ranking to analyse. I agree that The Nutcracker is far more observing than the 109th spot, although I'm pretty sure that Tchaikovsky himself was actually ashamed of the work. But I suppose that doesn't really matter. The whole suite is great IMO, and has a special place in my heart. One of the first CDs I ever owned was a 2-CD Tchaikovsky set that included the Nutcracker Suite...I can't count how many times I listened to it on the stereo in our parlor. I think I was about 8 years old at the time. I also have fond memories of seeing the ballet performed in Boston on a field trip in 3rd grade, although I think I was one of the only kids who enjoyed it. While I'm probably familiar with that Bach piece, that man was just so prolific I can't possibly memorise the titles of all his music. As for Pomp and Circumstance, I have to admit that I've only listened to the first march, but it's definitely deserving of a higher spot here. I've always been in love with the majestic melody, although playing it in high school for three graduations wore down some of its magic for me. I think someone should try actually playing the first march in its entirety for a graduation. The marchers would really have to be aware of the tempo. -----signature----- Many Bothans died to bring us this information... http://verseau.wordpress.com/ http://flickr.com/photos/verseau/collections/ All Hail Cliegg's Blue Leg!
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Rogue1-and-a-half Title: Manager: Amphitheatre Registered: Nov '00	Date Posted: 3/6/06 8:57pm Subject: RE: The Greatest Classical Music Works (Now Disc. "Pomp and Circumstance" by Elgar)
	You know, Terr, I actually considered using your list, which I still have and have now listened through in its entirity. Pretty darn good list, I think. But this one had more breadth, I think, more modern pieces and it was, quite frankly, much more uneven which is always good for discussion. -----signature----- Don't be a fool, don't be blind Heart of mine If you can't do the time, don't do the crime Heart of mine
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