[Oompa Loompa]

I wondered if there's that one song or classical piece of music that forever changed you; made you think different; made you appreciate life; made everything beautiful.

For me it is the Rach 3 played by Eugene Kissin: it has made such a enormous impact on me; I will not ever forget this as long as I live. Piano Concerto No. 3 in D Minor by Rachmaninoff is one of the most beautiful things that exists on this planet!


Linky if you're interested: http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=1501685&s=143452


Edit: I want to add that the only artist that ever came close to the Rach was Jeff Buckley with his album Grace.

[chucker]

Hmm. Maybe Maurice Ravel: Bolero would fit that description.

[Oompa Loompa]

The Bolero... I appreciate that, chucker! Do you like a specific performer/ performance?

[julesstoop]

My parents used to have an old record with John Williams playing lute suites by Bach. I can recall that music quite clearly from my early childhood, and Bach has always stayed with me as the home base from which I've discovered other music (and more from Johann Sebastian himself)

[chucker]

I wouldn't say so; most performances I've heard were very close to the original arrangement, and I appreciate it that way. The rhythm? Genius. The instrumentation? Excellence.

That said, the version in my iTunes was apparently conducted by Leonard Bernstein and performed by the New York Philharmonic orchestra. Very good dynamics. Quiet yet passionate for a long time, then louder and stronger over time.

[chucker]

Oh, another piece of music I'd like to point out that perhaps shaped me more, seeing as I performed it myself (with Bolero, I can obviously only either do a violin part, or the rhythm, etc.) on piano, is Bach's Prelude No. 1 in C Major, BWV 846. I bought the iTunes version from Jenö Jandó's* "Chill with Bach"; very smooth performance, perhaps not dynamic enough for my taste (on occasion, I prefer just playing it by myself). Unfortunately, it fades into another Bach song that I don't like as much, so I'm having it cut off.

*) Who, for whatever reason, shows up as "Jeno Jando" in iTunes when purchased. Maybe they edited this after I bought it.

[Oompa Loompa]

Leonard Bernstein is such a genius, chucker... he's wonderful!



And Jules... which piece of Bach would you recommend?

[Jerman]

For me it is "Sleep" by Eric Whitacre. Our college choir sang it last year for our Ireland tour, and it is such an incredible piece. He combines more of a modern sound with the classical style, and his work with dissonance is amazing. You can hear it at:

http://www.myspace.com/ericwhitacre/

Presently it is the first song there.

[Foj]

I'm not sure if this counts as classical, but I love the opening score to Forrest Gump.

[Wrao]

They all change me, that's kinda the point.

[chucker]

Originally Posted by Foj I'm not sure if this counts as classical, but I love the opening score to Forrest Gump.

Yep! It's quite nice.

[Kickaha]

It may be cliche, but Beethoven's Ode to Joy.

So simple, and yet it just continues to grow in strength and magnificence to a triumphant crescendo...

[faramirtook]

Beethoven's 5th and 8th, I think. Both started me into the world of classical. I have all 9 now.

[curiousuburb]

Old school, I'd have to agree with Kickaha and lean towards Ode to Joy, though I dig some Bach (loved the Bobby McFerrin live special at a 90's? Bach anniversary festival in Germany I saw on TV last year), some Mozart, and my first experience of Tchaikovsky's 1812 overture.

New school, I'd probably go with Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue. Beautiful.

Particularly Marcus Roberts 28 min version with New Orleans style Jazz Orchestra. Genius. (Sadly not on iTMS)

Super new school, I suspect a few geeks would cite some John Williams... either in fear of the JAWS theme, or some of the original SW trilogy... Imperial March, etc.

[alcimedes]

Enter the Sandman from Metallica. That was the first song I heard when I realized that not all music has to be weenie.

Of course, that was before they become giant douche bags.

[CFP]

Maybe Beethoven's Piano Sonata 14, or the "Moonlight Sonata". I can't really play the piano, but I love this piece so much I learnt it by heart (well, the first movement, anyway). The only 'proper' piece I can play

Also: O Fortuna by Carl Orff
Ave Maria by (?)
Ravel's Bolero
Mozart's Requiem in D minor

And lots more by Mozart and Beethoven whose titles I can't quite remember...

More recently: Michael Nyman - The Heart Asks Pleasure First/The Promise (theme from The Piano)
Craig Armstrong - Balcony Scene (from Romeo & Juliet)
Con Te Partiro - (sung by many, not sure of the origin)

[elvismac]

Also Sprach Zarathustra - if ever there was a piece of music suitable for The King to enter the stage to.

Basil Poledouris's work on the Conan soundtracks

The main theme from the Last of the Mohicans

[Banana]

Hold on. As soon as I hear something, I'll let everyone know.

[colivigan]

Originally Posted by chucker Hmm. Maybe Maurice Ravel: Bolero would fit that description.

Tell us the truth chucker. Was it the music itself that changed you, or the (Bo Derek) Bolero scene from the movie "10"?

Personally, I'd have to say that the movie probably had a more profound effect - I was about 15 at the time.

[patrickatm08]

In high school we played "Music for Prague: 1968" by Karel Husa and "Fanfare for the Common Man" by Aaron Copland and they were both my all time favorite pieces.

[elvismac]

Yep, Fanfare for the Common Man is a great piece. The Rolling Stones, upon learning of Elvis' adoption of Also Sprach Zarathustra as his entering the stage music, started playing Fanfare from a cassette over the PA system in the mid 70's.

[RichieB]

In no specific order of preference:

Achy Breaky Heart - Whatsisname... who cares? he has a MULLET!
Swan Lake - Tchaikovsky RULES!
Für Elise - Beethoven RULES TOO!

[Wrao]

I still vividly remember the first time I heard "different trains" by Steve Reich. Can't say it profoundly changed me, but it certainly opened my musical ear up quite a bit.

[chipz]

Beethoven's Symphony #5 got me into classical music and I've been there ever since. I still listen to pop, etc., but anything classical is fine with me.

[blakbyrd]

Originally Posted by chipz Beethoven's Symphony #5 got me into classical music and I've been there ever since. I still listen to pop, etc., but anything classical is fine with me.

I remember learning about classical composers in elementary school music class. I remember the teache playing Beethoven's "Symphony #9".

Besides Symphony #9:

"Requiem" by Bach (?) (opening to Battle Royale).

Jerry Goldsmith's Star Trek movie music.

"New Classicism" by 12 Girls Band.

[scratt]

Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D Minor

Jerry Goldsmith's Star Trek movie music.

[Brad]

Although it didn't really "change" me, I'd say the earliest and most memorable piece of classical music for me would be Mozart's Symphony no. 40.

[BlueRabbit]

Originally Posted by scratt Jerry Goldsmith's Star Trek movie music.

I'm having a bit of trouble narrowing down my list of classical music, but to this I'd have to add the music from Wrath of Khan, by whoever it was. Good stuff.

[Brad]

Originally Posted by BlueRabbit I'm having a bit of trouble narrowing down my list of classical music, but to this I'd have to add the music from Wrath of Khan, by whoever it was. Good stuff.

*checks iTunes library*

• Jerry Goldsmith did the original motion picture (1), The Final Frontier (5), First Contact (8), Insurrection (9), and Nemesis (10).
• James Horner did The Wrath of Khan (2) and Search for Spock (3).
• Leonard Rosenman did The Voyage Home (4).
• Cliff Eidelman did The Undiscovered Country (6).
• Dennis McCarthy did the TNG series and Generations (7).

[Kickaha]

Dude.

I...

I have no words.