What are you listening to now?

[Joy]

Congrats on reaching 2500 posts!!

Thanks for bringing this to my attention, I hadn't even noticed. (I wonder of PDG will be jealous)!

[Sorrano]

Listening to Bruckner's 2nd Symphony.

[Michael]

Every Christmas (or thereabouts) since about 1970, I listen to the Bernstein/NY Phil. version of Beethoven's Ninth. I have just done so about an hour ago, in a darkened room with a glass of wine (or two).
Bernstein's NY Ninth is not the greatest recording of that work, but it pushes all the right buttons as far as I'm concerned. I was leaping out of my chair by the time the double fugue in the finale arrived. (The curtains were not drawn so I hope the neighbours didn't see me. Anyway, a lot of them know about my Beethoven addiction so they probably understood if they did).

Everything about the work sounded right tonight. "Experts" have expounded on the poor scoring of the Ninth, e.g. how the woodwinds are drowned by the strings in the coda of the first movement, how the singers rupture themselves on the high notes in the finale ....... but, you know something,
this deaf, cantankerous German musician knew exactly what he was about!
The Ninth, like the "Missa Solemnis" is not for everyday listening. Ordinary human beings like us cannot always dwell on the heights. (Apologies to any extraordinary humans who frequent this site.)
Anyway, I can't listen to any more music for a while .............

[Moonscore]

I was leaping out of my chair by the time the double fugue in the finale arrived. (The curtains were not drawn so I hope the neighbours didn't see me. Anyway, a lot of them know about my Beethoven addiction so they probably understood if they did)..............

Haha, yeah. I always hate it when I've got my headphones on and I'm "conducting" the music because I'm in the zone, and someone just walks in without knocking. It must look rather foolish.


How anyone can complain after hearing the choral symphony is beyond me, and I definitely agree with what you said about the Ninth and Missa Solemnis not being lifestyle music; It's possible that we would spontaneously combust if they were.

[Michael]

Haha, yeah. I always hate it when I've got my headphones on and I'm "conducting" the music because I'm in the zone, and someone just walks in without knocking. It must look rather foolish.

I've been caught doing that on numerous occasions. Luckily, most times it has been a family member but once it was a door-to-door salesman. I think I scared him off!

[Joy]

Every Christmas (or thereabouts) since about 1970, I listen to the Bernstein/NY Phil. version of Beethoven's Ninth. I have just done so about an hour ago, in a darkened room with a glass of wine (or two).
Bernstein's NY Ninth is not the greatest recording of that work, but it pushes all the right buttons as far as I'm concerned. I was leaping out of my chair by the time the double fugue in the finale arrived. (The curtains were not drawn so I hope the neighbours didn't see me. Anyway, a lot of them know about my Beethoven addiction so they probably understood if they did).

Everything about the work sounded right tonight. "Experts" have expounded on the poor scoring of the Ninth, e.g. how the woodwinds are drowned by the strings in the coda of the first movement, how the singers rupture themselves on the high notes in the finale ....... but, you know something,
this deaf, cantankerous German musician knew exactly what he was about!
The Ninth, like the "Missa Solemnis" is not for everyday listening. Ordinary human beings like us cannot always dwell on the heights. (Apologies to any extraordinary humans who frequent this site.)
Anyway, I can't listen to any more music for a while .............

I understand perfectly what you are saying. I listened to the 9th via the radio a few nights ago and cannot listen to music immediately after that. I always feel sorry for the composer the radio puts on after the 9th, it's very hard to appreciate it whoever it may be.

[Moonscore]

I understand perfectly what you are saying. I listened to the 9th via the radio a few nights ago and cannot listen to music immediately after that. I always feel sorry for the composer the radio puts on after the 9th, it's very hard to appreciate it whoever it may be.

Agreed. I propose a bill requiring an official hour of silence after every radio or television play of the ninth. All in favor, say "aye" or press the magic voting button on your keyboard.

[Peter]

Verdi's requiem - this for me is one of those works that has taken a long time to appreciate. I still find it an uneven work, but it has sublime moments and of course moments of great power.

[Sorrano]

Verdi's requiem - this for me is one of those works that has taken a long time to appreciate. I still find it an uneven work, but it has sublime moments and of course moments of great power.

I particularly like the agnus dei movement! How would you compare this with the Berlioz Requiem?

[Joy]

Agreed. I propose a bill requiring an official hour of silence after every radio or television play of the ninth. All in favor, say "aye" or press the magic voting button on your keyboard.

I say 'aye'! We need about an hour to recover from that masterpiece!

[Peter]

I particularly like the agnus dei movement! How would you compare this with the Berlioz Requiem?

I agree - the Agnus dei is wonderful, simple but haunting. I don't know about a comparison with the Berlioz as that isn't a work I'm over familiar with - it really never made a tremendous impression on me. I'd have to listen to them one after the other which is a tall order!

[gardibolt]

I adore the "Lacrimosa" section of the Verdi Dies Irae. The Verdi Requiem is a heck of a lot of fun to sing with a massive chorus.

[Sorrano]

I agree - the Agnus dei is wonderful, simple but haunting. I don't know about a comparison with the Berlioz as that isn't a work I'm over familiar with - it really never made a tremendous impression on me. I'd have to listen to them one after the other which is a tall order!

I generally prefer listening to the more bombastic Berlioz Requiem (it does have some very nice quiet moments, too) but the Verdi is much more lyrical. The fugue on Hosanna in the Berlioz is outstanding!