justlistening

Everyone knows, of course, that this is all subjective Underrated: Mahler is still not recognized as the greatest symphonist of all time. If you can't agree with that, you must not have time to listen. Egotistical? Why? He devoted his entire life to listening, conducting, and composing. Who would actually think that those 'ginormous' symphonies were just to show off? Beethoven. I can see how hearing his symphonies over and over and over might deflate the listener. But after Haydn and Mozart, he did transform the whole style. He was the first to write politically revolutionary symphonies. The main thing though is Beethoven's diversity. His quartets and sonatas are unlike anything before, very genius, and changed music forever. The piano and Beethoven will always be synonymous. Mozart. Of course, over the centuries we have come to hear Mozart's daddies as predictable and puerile. And Mozart did write a lot of music that fits into that category. But much of Mozart's chamber music is simply otherworldly, he wrote outstanding concertos and sonatas, and wow, the opera. And died at 36. So, Mozart is overrated? Oh, the shame! Well, that's it for me. I don't know if Wagner is overrated or not, I just know he was vile and I never listen to him. Composers I'm listening to lately: Rachmaninov, Prokofiev, Shostakovich (the whole Russian brigade), Bruckner (the introvert, I like that), Ravel, Bartok, et al. I want to listen to more Haydn, Bach, and Stravinsky. That's all I can think of for now. Oh, and sorry, I agree the Brahms had great intentions and struggled, but for me he can be a real bore and I can hear him struggling. Like I said it's subjective. Oh, and I agree pretty much on Chopin, but you know, I really like those concertos. For strictly piano, I much prefer that way out Listz.