Five Pieces you would be happy to never hear again

[Suffolkcoastal]

I know, I know. Better to get these things out of the closet every now and then. I have tried, especially with Mahler 3, numerous recordings, but without any enlightenment. As for the Bach, I just switch off after a while. Nothing to do with the religious aspects whatsoever, it’s all of those interminable DC arias. Conversely, or even perversely, I’m a huge Gerontius fan. Admitting that on here is akin to lobbing a musical hand-grenade but I’ve got my flak jacket on in readiness!

You're not alone Braunschlag, my dislike of Mahler 3 borders on loathing, 100 minutes of empty meandering that ends up going nowhere, nos 7 & 8 are almost as bad. With Monteverdi, I like L'Orfeo, but the excessive declamatory style of L'incoronazione di Poppea just leaves me cold. Mind you I'm no Gerontius fan, I find the whole experience of listening to it cloying and suffocating, yet I rather like parts of both The Apostles & The Kingdom.

[silvestrione]

I originally vowed not to take part in these negative threads, but after my latest attempt to enjoy the last of these from Thursday's R3 concert, it has to be:
Berg Seven Songs
Berg Passacaglia
Berg Three Orchestral Pieces
Berg Lulu Suite
Berg Violin Concerto

[Petrushka]

Berg Passacaglia

What piece might that be?

[Petrushka]

A pity that this thread was resurrected.

I cannot see for the life of me why anyone would have the slightest interest in certain individuals loathing of Mahler 3 or the music of Berg, to highlight just two recent examples. It does nothing to enlighten or spark enthusiasm. Instead it becomes terribly embarrassing to witness the choices of Forum members for whom one had some respect.

[LMcD]

What piece might that be?

His Opus 1?

[LMcD]

His Opus 1?

I don't think that not wanting to hear particular works again necessarily means that one loathes them. I would hate to think that I'd gone down in anybody's estimation because I simply don't 'get' Steve Reich' and am brave enough to admit to myself that continued efforts to do so would be as fruitless as earlier efforts.

[Petrushka]

His Opus 1?

Ah yes. I see I have it in the orchestration by Theo Verbey and recorded by Chailly

[Serial_Apologist]

Ah yes. I see I have it in the orchestration by Theo Verbey and recorded by Chailly

And it contains no passacaglia.

[Bryn]

What piece might that be?

New to me, too. Not Opus 1 though, that was the Piano Sonata.

[HighlandDougie]

A pity that this thread was resurrected.

I cannot see for the life of me why anyone would have the slightest interest in certain individuals loathing of Mahler 3 or the music of Berg, to highlight just two recent examples. It does nothing to enlighten or spark enthusiasm. Instead it becomes terribly embarrassing to witness the choices of Forum members for whom one had some respect.

Seconded and thirded - a rather pointless thread which serves little purpose than to allow people to trot out their prejudices, as opposed to reasoned arguments.

[visualnickmos]

Seconded and thirded - a rather pointless thread which serves little purpose than to allow people to trot out their prejudices, as opposed to reasoned arguments.

Quite. I hope I didn't at sometime in the past, contribute to this thread !

[MrGongGong]

Seconded and thirded - a rather pointless thread which serves little purpose than to allow people to trot out their prejudices, as opposed to reasoned arguments.

Yeah yeah yeah ... I know what you mean
but DoG is still shite innit

[mallard fizz]

My own heart sank when I saw the Thread title (I was away - and without Wi-Fi/Broadband access - when it started) as I don't find these "negative List" Threads very encouraging, not least because they very often repeatedly list much of the works, composers, and performers that have most "lifted" and inspired me throughout my life. But I wouldn't go so far as to ascribe motives for other people's contributions to such Threads - I understand a sense of curiosity and playful letting off steam at pieces/composers/performers whose reputations won't be at all affected by such posts. (And not a little mischief-making by suggesting items that it's known other Forumistas adore.) It doesn't have to demonstrate "low self-esteem" or an "unhappy" personality.

There can be genuine insights into Music by individuals' genuine discussion of the features that they dislike - this can (and often has on this Forum) focus those who enjoy the pieces onto aspects they'd overlooked, and re-ignite their enthusiasm. My problem with these "lists" is that there isn't enough time to devote to such specifics, and comment is restricted to dull and vague generalisations: "I've heard it too often", "hackneyed and overplayed warhorse", "bores me to death" ...

I much prefer reading Forumistas' (or anyone's) enthusiasm for a work/composer. EdgeleyRob's for Alwyn and (less so) Alkan has led to my own interest being piqued to my great delight - and I'll get round to sampling Weinberg some time, too. (And the barrage of enthusiastic posts in praise of R-K's Scheherazade on another Thread prompted me to listen to that work a couple of times again ... which was very useful in confirming that my original opinion was right!) I'd love more of these sorts of Threads, messel'n. But don't let that stop anyone from continuing to offer lists of all the pieces I adore: why should my day be full of sunshine?

[Barbirollians]

A pity that this thread was resurrected.

I cannot see for the life of me why anyone would have the slightest interest in certain individuals loathing of Mahler 3 or the music of Berg, to highlight just two recent examples. It does nothing to enlighten or spark enthusiasm. Instead it becomes terribly embarrassing to witness the choices of Forum members for whom one had some respect.

Sorry Petrushka I resurrected it for one non negative purpose. How one performance of recording might change one’s mind for the better.

It remains the case that there is music one either does not get , dislikes or has been over exposed to . I am not sure why this is deplorable or why pious responses are required ?

[mallard fizz]

Seconded and thirded - a rather pointless thread which serves little purpose than to allow people to trot out their prejudices, as opposed to reasoned arguments.