Classical Music

I have loved Classical music for many years. When I was a small boy, my parents bought a set of records from Reader's Digest that had 10 albums in it, each one from a differnet country, highlighting major composers from each of those nations. The countries included England, Germany, Austria, Bohemia, Scandinavia, Italy and several others. This was my introduction to classical music. At this time, although I do not own an LP player, I still have that set of Records.

There are literally thousands of classical music pieces to choose from out there, and they vary in quality, listenability (?), and memorability. There are some composers that whilst I wouldn't cross the street to listen to, others find them to be the most divine music ever. An example is Mahler. My Father-in-law loves Mahler...I on the other hand am less than impressed. I like to compare classical pieces to professional athletes. (Huh?) Well, it's like this...there are say, 384 active players in the NBA and, at the moment, there are no Michael Jordans playing. There is the PGA tour, and then there is Tiger Woods (still a great player in spite of his recent trouble). There is the NHL, and there was Wayne Gretsky. You get the idea...I think. There are thousands of classical music pieces out there, and yet every now and then, I come across a movement of music that just stands out above the rest.

My list of favourite movements, in no particular order, goes something like this.

Rodrigo, Concierto Andaluz for 4 guitars, First movement.

Beethoven Symphony Number 8, second movement.

Mozart, Symphony Number 39 in E flat major Third Movement: Menuetto. Allegretto

Chopin Piano Concerto # 1 3rd Movement

Haydn Trumpet Concerto in E flat Major, Third movement

Handel Pastoral Symphony, from Messiah

Tchaikovsky Spanish Dance from Swan Lake

Grieg In the Hall of the Mountain King, from Peer Gynt

Grieg Morning Mood also from Peer Gynt

Mozart, Die Zauberflote: Dies Bildnis ist bezaubernd schön,

and Der Vogelfangher

Mozart (Again) Le Nozze de Figaro, Sull'Aria, as heard in the movie, "The Shawshank Redemtion"


That is also one of my most goose pimply producing movie moments also....

Many people say they hate clssical music. I think it is a question of acclimatisation. Recently a woman who had lost a good deal of weight told me that her nutritionist told her to eat an apple every day. She said "But I hate apples" The nutritionist bet her her consultation fee that in 30 days, she wouldn't be able to go without an apple. The nutritionist won. I bet you, if you are a classical music hater, that if you try one small taste of something beautiful every day for a month, you will like it also.