Five Pieces you would be happy to never hear again

[ardcarp]

Scanning through the posts, I came across this:

A certain distinguished living conductor/composer used to call Bartók's Concerto for Orchestra The Old Person's Guide thereto.

Well, whatever, I thought to myself that I hadn't heard this wonderful piece for a while, and being too lazy to dig out a CD, I Youtubed it and found this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C68SkzGb6Ww

Orchestra of the University of Music Franz Liszt. A stunning performance..of at least NYO standard.

[Richard Barrett]

Interestingly, a lot of the music mentioned on this thread is staple fare at Classic FM. Apart from Dream of Gerontius I suppose. Oh hang on, nobody's mentioned that piece, have they?

[cloughie]

I'm not convinced that Ravel himself had much affection for his Bolero.
Sibelius VC? SHAME!
Beethoven 9 finale? Oh, come on - a pilot piece for the Missa Solemnis if ever there was one!
Elgar 3? A triumph of an achievement!
Shostakovich 13? One of his best; what do you have against it, just out of interest?

The first three I've heard enough of, the other two I've never really taken to, could add Shost 14 also but I like 15! Music is a very personal thing and there do not have to be rational reasons for likes and dislikes.

[kea]

The answer kea, is clearly not to listen to it with narration, without it the Variations and Fugue on a theme of Purcell are great - and Britten's own Decca recording is excellent!

I honestly don't remember anything about the music itself—listening to a little bit of one version without narration on Qobuz, it seemed rather generic to be honest, and I couldn't get the narration out of my head. This one may remain on the not-hearing-again list.

The same goes for Peter and the Wolf even though there is some charming music in it probably.

I think it's quite interesting to get a rounded view of people's musical enthusiasms by seeing also what they don't like.

Particularly for composers and musicians, eg Debussy's dislike of Beethoven, Tchaikovsky's dislike of Brahms etc.... can add to the understanding of their artistic philosophy, up to a point.

[kernelbogey]

ANY piece with that grace-note tic on the flute made popular by the Titanic theme music!

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

This is difficult. There are more than five works in B flat major , but here goes:

Beethoven: Symphony no. 4
Beethoven: Piano Concerto no. 2
Mozart: Piano Concerto no. 27
Bach: Brandenburg Concerto no. 6
Haydn: Symphony no 98

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

ANY piece with that grace-note tic on the flute made popular by the Titanic theme music!

You mean, I've being trying to perfect this for years, and now you tell me you don't like it?

[Richard Tarleton]

I must confess that I have found Alan Bennett a bit tedious too, in his old age. His wit often seems to have turned to personal bitterness which I don't find attractive.

Quite. His Diaries x2 have, I'm afraid, long since given up their shelf-space.

This thread covers mostly orchestral with a bit of vocal and choral, nothing earlier than Vivaldi, certainly no chamber, instrumental or early music. No operas? Just an observation.

[kernelbogey]

You mean, I've being trying to perfect this for years, and now you tell me you don't like it?

[MrGongGong]

Interestingly, a lot of the music mentioned on this thread is staple fare at Classic FM. Apart from Dream of Gerontius I suppose. Oh hang on, nobody's mentioned that piece, have they?

[boilinthebag]

Mozart: Eine Kleine Nachtmusik. Telephone music
Vivaldi 4 Seasons. Telephone music.
Berg: Violin concerto. I've tried to get into this, but can't. Cacophony
Beethoven 6th. Bores me to death
Mozart: Piano concerto 21. Twee
I haven't really got it in for Mozart, I blame companies who put you on hold

[zola]

I wasn't going to partake in this thread but it did cross my mind to list "anybody's variations on a theme by Paganini". And just now I switched on radio 3 early for the evening concert, stumbled onto the In Tune "mix" and guess what ? A traumatic experience that ensures I shall not make that mistake again.

[P. G. Tipps]

Oh come on, we all love 'dissing' music by composers we don't understand or appreciate.

I've suffered and moaned about anything by Brahms all my life.

With the possible exception of Mahler, I can't think of any other composer I'd rather moan about.

For me, Brahms is truly indispensable.

[Conchis]

I seriously can't BELIEVE some of the choices on here.

What about these for hackneyed and overplayed warhorses?

1) Dvorak - 9th Symphony (wins by a country mile)
2) Bruch - Violin Concerto
3) Ravel - Bolero
4) Copland - Fanfare For The Common Man
5) Gershwin - Rhapsody In Blue

I point blank refuse to attend any concert that features any of these works on the programme.

[Beef Oven!]

I seriously can't BELIEVE some of the choices on here.

What about these for hackneyed and overplayed warhorses?

1) Dvorak - 9th Symphony (wins by a country mile)
2) Bruch - Violin Concerto
3) Ravel - Bolero
4) Copland - Fanfare For The Common Man
5) Gershwin - Rhapsody In Blue

I point blank refuse to attend any concert that features any of these works on the programme.

This just about sums up the ridiculous attitude to music in this forum.

Excellent pieces of music, all of them.

"Point blank"? Who cares whether you're there or not?

All about self-importance.