General Chat

When I was at boarding school, sometime before the Crimean War (lol!), I was introduced to Elgar (no, he wasn't in the same house as me!). Then I bumped into Beethoven - initially the Eroica, with which I consequently still have a strong affinity - followed by the 9th, 5th and the whole gamut. Now that I'm a Classic FM golden oldie, I can enjoy virtually everything served up, although I still prefer orchestral music and some opera over most single instrumental music. I have to admit that violin virtuoso cat strangling or heavy piano plonking don't go down well with a light breakfast! Time of day, I suppose. Always amused by the Beet Bruisers v Mozart Maulers shoot out, but thoroughly enjoy Jane Jones's progs, plus many more. If I had to plump for my greatest favourites (difficult!!!), I think they'd include Mozart's clarinet concerto (slow movement), which I saw once performed by Emma Johnson in Bath under the chandeliers! Plus Vivaldi's double mandolins, Haydn's trumpet, Handel generally and our English team (Purcell, Elgar, Vaughan Williams, Walton etc etc). 'Nuff to be going on with for now. Keep 'em rolling! Philip

What about MEDITATION by MASSENET used on the St Ivel Gold advert. Its got to be the saddest and most moving music at the same time very calming. Usually play it after my eight grandkids have gone home just to calm me down.

Depends on my mood, I love Beethoven, Sibelius, Rachmaninov, Vivaldi, Tallis, Vaughan Williams. Poor old Wagner gets a bad press but he wrote some gorgeous melodies, and who can resist 'Ride of the Valkyries' at full blast to let off steam!!

Played the piano a bit as a teenager, totally overwhelmed by Chopin esp. the ballades. Thirty odd years on still think they are incomparable. His "gods" Bach and Mozart are not bad too! Bob

nudge

nudge Philip (give you my own preferences in a day or two!)

Oh where to begin....Vaughan Williams, J.S.Bach, Mozart, Chopin, Purcell, Rachmaninov, Shostakovich, Debussy, Vivaldi, Albernoni, Holst, Grieg, Sibelius, Handel, Mahler, Elgar and Allegri to name but a few. The Lark Ascending by Vaughan Williams is my all time favourite with Vivaldi's Gloria a close second. Viv

Philip, I think you can see why I had difficulty in giving up my job. Yes, I worked in the Classical Musical Department of Phonogram - Editorial Department. We had classical music playing all day, always knew when new CDs came out. Sylvia

John Can't believe I left out Gershwin! Not only is his music brilliant, but the lyrics his brother wrote for their songs are fantastically witty! Also Vivaldi - everybody likes the Four Seasons!

Some great choices here already. What about Gershwin, Byrd, Tallis, J Strauss and Purcell . All these were great classical (in the wide sense of the word) composers imho!

I like many clssical composers but if I've got to pick one it would have to be Faure. We used the opening few bars of his Pavane op.50 at my daughter's wedding. It was ideal for a slow and dignified entrance - and she galloped in like she was wearing trainers!! You may recognise his music from television's world cup coverage(?2000) - something that we didn't !

Love Mozart, Beethoven and Handel but Elgar is definitely my favourite!! David :)

As soon as I saw this thread, I thought - Holst - The Planets. It seems I'm not alone on this one. Rebecca

I cannot pick a favourite composer I can tell you that my favourite radio station is Classic FM I love the Opera and I love the majority of classical music but chamber music doesn't do a lot for me. But then I love Jazz and C&W and easy listening, also a lot of rock & roll. So I suppose I am what yopu might call a Music Lover. Ernest

Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninov, Shostakovich at the moment. My father brought me up to enjoy classical music. He bought a lot of records with stories on, interspersed with classical music, so The Sleeping Beauty had Tchaikovky's ballet music and so on. Whenever I hear Mendelssohn's violin concerto I can hear the baddy Sheriff of Nottingham saying "You're too late Robin. The flames are licking round her!" Of course, he wasn't too late. Bach, Beethoven, Mozart are the three biggies. I also like Gluck, Elgar, Schubert, Rossini, Verdi and Gluck. Oh, and Haydn.

Like Handels Messaih, but also like Beethoven, Mozart, and Holst - Planets. Liz

As we speak my bust of Ludwig von is looking over my head and out of the window from the top of my bookcase. During his lifetime my 6th ggma, recorded as Ruth Wedrald due to her mum's speech impediment, lucky she wasn't christened Roof, lived in bleak Wensleydale. Beethoven's 5th Piano Concerto is my No 1 of all time. Although Dire Straits are not far behind. Jim

Beethoven is my favourite, especially his famous Ninth. I seem to like most of his works though. I also like very much Faures Requiem, which we usually play breakfast time on Sundays. How else would we know it was Sunday? Mozart and Liszt I like too. I'm not keen on modern composers of classical music though. Am glad Night of the Proms series has started now. Sylvia

Beethoven, Mozart and lots of others, ive not been listening lately, i think all the beeps, and the music they put over the system at work as put me off, I want a bit of peace and quiet when i get home. Ill go back to it though cant do without it got quite a few CDs. Brass bands is the next my dad loved them we always new where to find him when we were out, if there was a brass band playing.

Debussy - easy on the ears and just about manageable on the piano too! Mandy :)