Let's talk music, no genre boundaries

@frogman thatnks for that link. I never heard of this Haydn oratorio! Listening to it now.

I much prefer Haydn's choral/liturgical writing to instrumental (I'm probably alone in feeling that way, but there it is).

Delighted to see people talking about Kiri Te Kanawa. I love her voice. Every voice is totally unique ... the timbre of hers is wonderful.

Her interpretation of Richard Strauss' 4 final songs is easily the best of the dozens I've heard (probably own more than dozen, between LP and CD):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lzrbd6uuunA&list=PL0iOugSvrIBy65Uho2Kl7gT-JwcHyQCf1&index=1

@audio-b-dog, you are so right about Bach's Mass in B Minor. It's magnificent music. So much of what the man composed is magnificent.

Are you hip to Haydn's "The Creation"? I love that oratorio. The man was playing his A game when he wrote that. I have four or five versions, but one stands far above the others.

@frogman are you referring to Dorati's version of "The Creation" (Royal Phil, London/Jubilee)? If yes, it's easily the best version of the four or five I own. Just my 2 cents. I'm nuts for oratorios, so many through the centuries. Handel is the master here, but other composers wrote spectacular pieces, too.

And while we're talking about liturgical music, can't overlook Beethoven's "Missa Solemnis" (masterful). Just the most epic piece of music from a composer who wrote epic music throughout his career.

I heard music from infancy onward. I actually remember music as a very distinct feeling as far back as 2 yrs old. I have pictures of my twin brother and me sitting in our high chairs at dinner time. My mother was feeding us (food we immediately threw at each other) while my father played the record player and grooved. He typically played Duke Elllington, Count Basie or Woody Herman at dinner. Later on it was all classical.

I was allowed to drop the needle on the big, fancy record player at age 5 or so (after having destroyed my own record player and records). At that age I loved practically every type of music I heard. For me there were no distinctions between (for example), Beethoven symphonies, John Philip Sousa marches, and the theme from the TV show, Dragnet. Pretty much all music made me swoon. It was always an otherworldly experience. My mind travelled far and wide whenever music was on.

I didn’t know it until much later, but my music appreciation was greatly aided by a striking case of synesthesia: I perceived music not only as sound but also as colorful visual informaiton. I closed my eyes and saw ever expanding geometric and architectural shapes, quite specific to each piece of music. After that, the acid and mescaline trips years later seemed oddly familar.

Very little changed over the years: music moves me intensely, as it always has. I learned a great deal about what I was hearing; was able to pursue deep explorations of classical and jazz. And within classical, my tastes are strongly tied to choral/liturgical music from any era; and modernity (dissonance is totally fine for me). And of course, chasing audio improvements has further aided my enjoyment of music.

The day I stop caring a LOT about music is the day I leave this earth.

mindless technicolor rat?

besides, I have it on good authority the future will be a dingy, medium grey light.

@audio-b-dog, I know all about Oliver Sachs. Actually have a copy of Musicophelia; this is a good reminder to read it. I’ve also heard his lectures. I first became acqainted with him via the neurology connection: he was a well-known researcher in migraine medicine (I’ve had a wicked/continual case of that for the past 15 years). His writing on that topic are fascinating, indeed.

The brain is a funny beast. Once it forms pleasure pathways (with music, sex, drugs, food--literally anything that can light up the pleasure center and pump those endorphins), it’s very hard to make it let go. And in the case of music, I don’t ever want that jones to stop.

Your musical background is pretty interesting. Can’t believe you saw Richie Valens! No doubt we share some "age appropriate" music tastes. I left out a lot in my post (such things as Jimmy Hendrix, Jeff Beck, countless jazz & classical performances).

@mahgister, I, too, was an alter boy and choir boy. My love of polyphony and liturgical music began with music in the church. I’ve been to Italy 3X and saw some stupendous churches and cathedrals there, as well as in the U.S. I have zero religiosity: all I want from religion are the buildings and the music. As for J.S. Bach, I could live on a diet of nothing but and die happy. I listen to his music ~12 hrs/day, every day.

@larsman, that’s a good plan. If a thing is worth doing, it’s worth over-doing!