"Best" Classical Music of the Decade

[Michael]

I think most people would say Andrew Lloyd-Webber, which is an even sadder state of affairs...

Well, to paraphrase Peter, the above-mentioned could be considered as highly-regarded by the ordinary people of his generation. As were Lennon and McCartney before him.
Actually, I quite like Andrew's music. Have you heard his "Variations" on the famous Paginini tune?

[Peter]

I think most people would say Andrew Lloyd-Webber, which is an even sadder state of affairs...

Well he hasn't made it onto the back of a £20 note yet!

[Peter]

Well, to paraphrase Peter, the above-mentioned could be considered as highly-regarded by the ordinary people of his generation. As were Lennon and McCartney before him.
Actually, I quite like Andrew's music. Have you heard his "Variations" on the famous Paginini tune?

This isn't exactly what I was meaning - not simply popular, rather symbolic - I certainly don't rate a composer's worth on his popularity. For example there is a certain pride and admiration for Dickens and Shakespeare though most people probably haven't read a word of them. Most people are simply unaware of the names Philip mentions (despite the unprecedented media exposure available today) because they have failed to connect with the national consciousness, (probably deliberately so).

[Preston]

Well Philip, I decided to listen to one of the musicians you named, Stockhausen.

I listened to two pieces by him: "Kreuzspiel" and "Gesang der Junglinge". The former seemed to make more sense, although, I did not like either at all. Gesang, seems like it just consists of poor electronic glissando's almost and other random sounds and children's voices. I hear no true music in this- perhaps that is because I am not studied or perhaps it is because there is no true music in these pieces?

To me, it sounds like music from The Prehistoric years when human beings were just starting to practice music- slamming things around and having no understanding of form- even harmony, melody, rhythm, etc. Then after around 10,000 years came fully mastered composers (Beethoven, Mozart, Bach, etc.) who were unimaginably talented at music and were full of feeling for music, and, who were true genius who knew the expression of feelings through music- sadness, pain, love, purity, sacredness, etc.

Here is what one post said under "Gesang":

This is analogous to the fine art scene where people pretend to enjoy a crappy painting because it will make them look intelligent and sophisticated - and get laid. They come up with all kinds of bullshit explanations about the meaning of the art and ways in which it is "genius." Jackson Pollock is a perfect example of this so-called genius. Creating "weird" for weirdness' sake is no different from the immature teenage impulse to shock people to get the desired response they so crave.

Perhaps he is right- "to get the desired response they so crave." I feel this could definitely be a possibility.

I am not a fan of Pollock at all. Throwing paint onto canvases from a big brush, and, calling it art!

[Preston]

Thank you for the generous reply Philip. I will get back to you in a couple of days or before.

[Preston]

Still, that said, if pontificating on an art work can "get me laid" (see your posting above), then I suppose, purely momentarily, it can't be a bad thing.

I believe that "getting laid" should be one of the last reasons anyone should try to or create a piece of art, well, at least good art. To my mind that is absurd. Art should be a higher revelation of the soul, to my mind- not some hack doing it for materialistic purposes.

For instance, what if Beethoven had written the Missa Solemnis to get laid, instead of, his belief in spirituality and the divine?

Also, to my mind, music is an expression of feeling, for the most part. To be frank, I do not know if any real feeling ran through Cage's, Ligeti's, or Stockhausen's souls. It certainly does not sound so to my ears?

[Michael]

I believe that "getting laid" should be one of the last reasons anyone should try to or create a piece of art, well, at least good art. To my mind that is absurd. Art should be a higher revelation of the soul, to my mind- not some hack doing it for materialistic purposes.

What about Purcell's famous lament: "When I am laid ....." ???

[Preston]

What about Purcell's famous lament: "When I am laid ....." ???

I do not understand? Would you explain further?

Ah, I see- The lament, "When I am laid on Earth".

Thy hand, Belinda, darkness shades me,
On thy bosom let me rest,
More I would, but Death invades me;
Death is now a welcome guest.

When I am laid, am laid in earth, May my wrongs create
No trouble, no trouble in thy breast;
Remember me, remember me, but ah! forget my fate?
Remember me, but ah! forget my fate.

I do not think he was writing Dido's Lament to get laid, . Quite the opposite.

[Michael]

Beautiful piece of music. Sorry about the joke.

[Preston]

Just read your post. I was hoping that it was a joke!