# classical music tastes **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 5, 2001, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-tastes/64430 "2001-05-05T07:04:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![berdollos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@berdollos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/berdollos)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2001, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-tastes/64430/1 "2001-05-05T07:04:53Z")
Was there any sequence in your liking of different classical music? I liked Beethoven when I was 15 (esp his louder symphonies), Bach in my 20s, Schubert in my 30s, and now - Rachmaninoff and Cecile Chaminade. Mozart throughout. I get bored with Beethoven these days. ---
**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2001, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-tastes/64430/2 "2001-05-05T08:07:54Z")
Well, I definitely started to appreciate more complex works as I matured. When I was a kid, The 1812 Overture, and Copland’s Rodeo were _it._ (Not that I don’t like them anymore…) When I got older, I realized that Sibelius’ 4th Symphony was _it_, as was Bruckner, etc. ---
**Author:** ![OldBroad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ed655f/32.png) [@OldBroad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldBroad)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2001, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-tastes/64430/3 "2001-05-05T15:46:42Z")
Never analyzed the sequence, but my tastes certainly have changed over time. At this point, for example, I can no longer tolerate atonal music. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2001, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-tastes/64430/4 "2001-05-05T16:48:45Z")
When I was a teen, i only liked grandiose symphonies. Now in my 20s, I also sort of like spanish guitar work. I suppose when i hit my 30s i will like piano concertos as well :::shudder::: :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2001, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-tastes/64430/5 "2001-05-05T16:53:26Z")
I have always loved J. S. Bach (or, as he now wishes to be known, B-Diddy) first and foremost. I have, for some reason, never cared for Mozart, and what’s more, I don’t think I ever will, in much the same way I don’t think I’ll ever care for violin concerti and solo sopranos. My taste in jazz, however, has followed a definite progression, but that’s not what you asked. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2001, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-tastes/64430/6 "2001-05-05T18:27:00Z")
Hmmm…let’s see: Tchaikovsky-even the Nutcracker, 1812, Swan Lake, etc etc. Prokofiev Rimsky-Korsakov Borodin Debussy Strauss I don’t really care for Mozart either. So sue me. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2001, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-tastes/64430/7 "2001-05-05T20:24:50Z")
Don’t care for Mozart, either. I’m still developing my taste for classical. Beethoven and Bach are still tops, as well as Tchaikovski and Rossini. I’ve also discovered that the “musical cliche” pieces (e.g., “William Tell Overture,” “Nutcracker,” “1812 Overture,” Beethoven’s 5th and 9th, etc.) are cliches primarily because they ARE good – especially when played live by a first-class orchestra (you haven’t heard the “1812 Overture” unless you’ve heard it life with real cannons). In addition, I’ve found a great deal of my classical background comes from Warner Brothers cartoons (“Kill the Wabbit”). Carl Stalling knew a great classical piece when he heard it. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2001, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-tastes/64430/8 "2001-05-05T20:29:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RealityChuck \* > you haven’t heard the “1812 Overture” unless you’ve heard it life with real cannons Full agreement here. Although I would recommend actually being in attendance at the performance. My experience with the 1812 and real cannonfire is limited to the time I fell asleep in my dorm room the afternoon this was to be performed out by the lake. I woke up to the unmistakable sounds of large artillery, and was completely confused … no one on the hall to ask … they were all at the concert. I had to take it on faith that we hadn’t been invaded. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![exchicagoan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/0ea827/32.png) [@exchicagoan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/exchicagoan)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2001, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-tastes/64430/9 "2001-05-06T03:58:50Z")
No progression. I seem to have been born loving certain things---- First and formost, thanks to THE LONE RANGER when I was a kid, the WILLIAM TELL OVERTURE–ROSSINI. (I can not play this without “conducting”.) TCHAIKOVSKY RIMSKY-KORSOKOV RACHMANINOV CHOPIN–a few pieces. VERDI—Have recently begun “conducting” SICILIAN VERPERS OVERTURE. PUCCINI Some BEETHOVEN Like several other peeps here-- no MOZART tho I was VERY impressed with the music used in AMEDEUS. The last one, I’m almost embarassed to admit that I only, within the past 5 years, found out the NAME of. CARMINA BURANA/FORTUNA IMPERATIX MUNDI. LOVE IT! ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2001, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-tastes/64430/10 "2001-05-06T07:38:18Z")
Currently my favorite is Ravel other than _Bolero_, which I’m kind of tired of. I still like Bach. I have to say that Beethoven’s 5th no longer interests me. I like Brahms a bit less than I used to. Mozart wrote some sublime things, but in general doesn’t really grab me. In “Lost Horizon” by James Hilton, Chang (I think) says “Mozart builds a house which is neither too large nor too small and furnishes it in perfect taste.” Yeah, but the houses wind up feeling a lot alike. Rossini’s overtures are still fun to listen to. I had some 45s as a kid which used them as background music for some stories. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2001, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-tastes/64430/11 "2001-05-06T23:27:43Z")
My favorite thing about the 1812 is the musical pieces woven into it. Like, at the beginning, with Oh Lord Save Our People, and then you hear the strains of the Marseillaise, and it has sort of a Russian folk sound to it. And then, at the end, during the famous fanfare, it’s intertwined with God Save the Tsar-the national anthem before the Revolution, and a great piece, if I do say so myself. Actually, as far as modern goes, John Williams. I like listening to the Star Wars soundtrack-it’s like a whole symphony, and each part tells a story. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2001, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-tastes/64430/12 "2001-05-07T02:57:02Z")
I got into Mahler when I was about 15. And I STILL love Mahler at 40. I worked at one time in the classical music biz, and got opinions from gnarly old guys who told me that Mozart could do more in two bars of a piano sonata than Mahler could do in five movements with a massive orchestra and full choir. Still don’t believe it, though I like Mozart. And LOVE Bach. That hasn’t changed since my teens either. I used to dislike Rachmaninoff, then I discovered his forgotten First Symphony and “Isle of the Dead” tone poem, which are decadently delicious. ---
**Author:** ![Evnglion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f04885/32.png) [@Evnglion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evnglion)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2001, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-tastes/64430/13 "2001-05-07T12:21:31Z")
The first piece I ever liked was the _1812 Overture_, when I was about 6 or 7. Then came some of Copland’s stuff like _Fanfare for the Common Man_ and _Appalachian Spring_. Then, as I got a bit older, perhaps 10 or so, I liked _The Nutcracker Suite_ and was starting to get into some Beethoven. Now that I am 17, I really like listening to Paganini (particuarly the 24 Caprices) and tons of Bach. Then there is also Beethoven in my life, and plenty of Dvorak. Every once in a while I get in the mood for some Mozart, or just random violin concertos. I suppose thats about it… ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2001, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-tastes/64430/14 "2001-05-07T12:32:29Z")
My first early love was Ferde Grofé’s Grand Canyon Suite. By the time I was 15 or so, my tastes had shifted towards dynamic, emotionally vivid pieces like Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade or Wagner’s Tannhäuser Overture, as well as more delicate pieces such as Vaughn-Williams’ Variation on a Theme of Thomas Tallis and Edvard Grieg’s Peer Gynt Suite. I tend to add new tastes without losing my appreciation for what I liked previously. I haven’t yet found a reason to listen to Mozart or Bach. (Classical elevator muzak). ---
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2001, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-tastes/64430/15 "2001-05-07T12:41:28Z")
Like most, I first heard the “standards” and that picqued my interest. Beethoven’s 5th lead to 9th which lead to the “Eroica.” From there I got into his piano music. Mozart (who I love, so sue me)lead to Handel and Vivaldi. Tchiakovsky (particularly Swan Lake) lead to Rimsky-Korsokov which lead to Borrodin. Phil Lesh lead me to Stravinsky and my favorite piece, The Firebird Suite. I’ve also been getting into opera for a bit now (I’ve got to start my Italian lessons). Bach is a perennial favorite. Carmina Burrana by Karl Orff was mentioned a few posts ago. I saw a very good production two years ago here in Richmond. ---
**Author:** ![celestina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/258eb7/32.png) [@celestina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/celestina)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2001, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-tastes/64430/16 "2001-05-07T22:46:21Z")
Gosh, this is tough. I think I started off liking Lizst, Bach, Chopin, Grieg, and Beethoven because I played songs by them when I was learning piano. Then I gravitated toward Debussy, Schubert, Schumann, Rachmaninoff, Tchaikovsky, and Prokofiev. I never cared much for Mozart, although I do appreciate listening to him every now and then. My absolute favorite composer–he has been for quite some while now–is Brahms. I have no idea why. I just love his piano concertos and symphonies. I think there’s a warmth, a passion, and yet a precision to his music that I haven’t been able to place in other composers’ stuff. But the more I learn about Brahms, the more interested I get in Beethoven, who was one of Brahms’ primary influences. I love classical music! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2001, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-tastes/64430/17 "2001-05-08T00:28:19Z")
I’d just like to go on record as stating how heart-warming it is to hear that I’m not the only person who doesn’t much care for Mozart. You _guuuuys_! ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_Wright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@Steve\_Wright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_Wright)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2001, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-tastes/64430/18 "2001-05-08T10:51:48Z")
I am clearly fossilized in my attitudes… when I was, say, eighteen, my favourite composers were Sibelius and Holst. Now, _cough-cough_ years later, my favourite composers remain, well, Sibelius and Holst. Though, in those intervening _mumble-mutter_ years, I’ve learned a lot more about both of them, and about others besides… if I had to pick a top five, say, right now it would be Sibelius, Holst, Brahms, Khatchaturian, and (perhaps oddly) Palestrina. The last three places are open to challenge, but I think S&H keep the top spots for the foreseeable future. Nobody orchestrates like Sibelius, and nobody fuses together disparate cultural elements like Holst. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2001, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-tastes/64430/19 "2001-05-08T12:06:37Z")
Am I the only person here who prefers Handel’s operas to Verdi’s? Give me a good performance of _Semele_ any day… My classical music tastes started out with Baroque music and have expanded in both directions. I have to say that I’m still not a huge 19th-century music fan, but have been exposed to a lot of 20th-century English music in recent years and have come to adore it – Britten’s _War Requiem_, Elgar’s _The Dream of Gerontius_, Walton’s _Belshazzar’s Feast_… All good stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2001, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-tastes/64430/20 "2001-05-09T05:43:21Z")
I’m a pianist, so I started off in piano music of all sorts and branched out. I never have learned to love Chopin, however - I suppose it’s all that rubato. It makes me uncomfortable. I don’t care for a lot of the more modern sort - never could like Debussy. When I learned to like orchestral music, however, I did definately start out in Baroque and reach out gradually both ways. I feel ambivalent about Mozart, and I never could like Brahms. Now I find myself particularly enamoured of Khatchaturian and, god help me, Morley. Yeah, the English guy who wrote all the fa la la la songs about the Elizabethan shepherds. Gotta problem with that? 🙂 I’ve never fallen out of love with Bach, though. Nothing beats a good Bach fugue.