pieces that transcend composition

What are some pieces you love, but you can't really say there is anything great about them. Maybe it isn't the "busiest" piece, the counterpoint is lackluster or the orchestration is sort of generic; it just speaks to you.

I'd have to nominate Erik Satie:

YouTube - Erik Satie - Gnossienne n

I'd have to nominate Erik Satie:

YouTube - Erik Satie - Gnossienne n

I think Satie's piano pieces are brilliant for a lot of reasons, despite how simple they may as well seem. I think it's precisely because of how simple they are that they're so effective.

I think Satie's piano pieces are brilliant for a lot of reasons, despite how simple they may as well seem. I think it's precisely because of how simple they are that they're so effective.

I just think a lot of his works are too similar - his nocturnes and gymnopedies for instance.

He also used to write a lot of criticisms about other composers, but isn't a particularly great one himself.

Don't get me wrong, though, I can certainly see what there is to like about his work - I just don't think he's a good as he thinks he is!

I just think a lot of his works are too similar - his nocturnes and gymnopedies for instance.

He also used to write a lot of criticisms about other composers, but isn't a perticularly great one himself.

Don't get me wrong, though, I can certainly see what there is to like about his work - I just don't think he's a good as he thinks he is!

..... ?

Too similar? How much HAVE you heard?

What about chopin's prelude in A major? short, easy, effective. (also used a bit too much though:()

I just think a lot of his works are too similar - his nocturnes and gymnopedies for instance.

He also used to write a lot of criticisms about other composers, but isn't a perticularly great one himself.

Don't get me wrong, though, I can certainly see what there is to like about his work - I just don't think he's a good as he thinks he is!

Where do you get the idea that Satie was so pleased with himself? I haven't read an awful lot about him, but I wouldn't automatically assume that because he was critical of other tendencies in music at his time (which certainly he was), he would necessarily have thought himself to be a genius or something. If you have reason to believe otherwise, I'm interested.

Anyway, suggesting that the Gymnop

(Sorry for the hijack. If I turn out to be the only one who finds this interesting, I take it all back...)

I'd say plain ignorant, not interesting.

Satie was critical of a lot of things, sure, but he tried to do the opposite of what he criticized.

Anyways, there are tons and tons of different pieces by Satie which sound nothing alike. Parade sounds nothing like Socrate or the cabaret songs! Nevermind Vexations or furniture music, or the parody pieces... etc etc.

...Anyway, suggesting that the Gymnop

I'd say plain ignorant, not interesting.

Difference of opinion is not ignorant!

Satie was critical of a lot of things, sure, but he tried to do the opposite of what he criticized.

I never said he was a hypocrite. I'm sure he probably did try to do the opposite of what he criticised.

'O Magnum Mysterium' by Tomas Luis de Victoria.

IDK, I just really love the piece, but to get the real effect I have to be in a concert listening to it. It has a certain 'dimensional' aspect that can best be experienced live.

Most of Paganini's works. Technically it's not outstanding music, but it speaks to me a lot.

In fact, my whole musical tastes seem to rely on 'unworthy' music, as I've explained here:

http://www.youngcomposers.com/forum/244662-post273.html

I've linked this about 6 times on this site...one more can't hurt.

YouTube - ARVO PART - MY HEART IS IN THE HIGHLANDS