23 Days Left
To commemorate, I list the 23 pieces of music that mean more to me than any others. They are listed in no particular order. And no, this is not OMG FUR ELISE IS SO SAD AND MOONLIGHT SONATA TOO LOL I CRY EVERYTIME I HEAR THEM BCUZ THER REALLY DEPRESSING.
23. Antonin Dvorak - Biblical Songs, Op. 99, No. 4. There is something about this song--the serenity of it, the man's voice in the recording I have, or just the sincerity of it all--that always chokes me up a little.
22. Johannes Brahms - Alto Rhapsody. It begins so suddenly with anguish, yearning, such pain and grief and ends with a respite that only magnifies the notes before it. It's never made me cry, but it's come close.
21. Georges Enescu - Impressions d'Enfance. A piece, as the title suggests, that offers impressions or visions of sorts from childhood. It's a very unique piece in its sense of infancy.
20. Johann Sebastian Bach - Violin Sonata No. 7 in G minor, BWV 1020, II. Adagio. This is the most calming three minutes I have ever heard. Probably a terribly obscure three minutes to pick, but I've not once heard this and ever felt anything other than "everything is okay."
19. Johann Sebastian Bach - Cello Suite No. 5 in C minor, IV. Sarabande. On the opposite end of the spectrum, the three minutes that most symbolizes to me grief in its infancy. There is no massive climax, no struggle, simply sadness with a sort of gray monotony.
18. Georges Bizet - "Carmen" Act III, V. "Je dis que rien ne m'epouvante". A simple prayer for strength in a tumultuous territory. One of the lesser-known arias from this otherwise overplayed opera.
17. Johannes Brahms - Ein Deutsches Requiem. One of the secular requiems I know of. This piece is intended for the survivors of the deceased unlike a traditional requiem mass. "Denn alles fleisch" is haunting.
16. Pytor Illych Tchaikovsky - Symphony No. 6 "Pathetique". Another piece dealing with scenes from life, at least from my interpretation. The beginning movement contains one of the single most beautiful melodies ever written. The climax during this movement stops my heart every time.
15. Frederic Chopin - Nocturne No. 15 in F minor, Op. 55 No. 1. Undoubtedly my favorite piece for solo piano. One of the few pieces I'd ever say captures "me."
14. Richard Strauss - Death and Transfiguration, Op. 23. This is, simply, the seven stages of grief.
13. Pyotr Illych Tchaikovsky - Eugen Onegin. A grand opera dealing with unrequited love. The letter scene is Tchaikovsky at his most autobiographical.
12. Zoltan Kodaly - Valsette. I don't know where this piece comes from, what it was written for, or if I can find the sheets. It's just a fun little waltz.
11. Franz Xaver Scharwenka - Six Waltzes, Op. 28 No. 5. And this waltz is fun, but in a more longing, nostalgic way.
10. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Requiem, K. 626, Lacrymosa. Anguish.
9. Antonin Dvorak - Suite in A Major, Op. 98. Written during his visit to the Americas and considered by the composer to be one of his best pieces. To me, it's just a bunch of great melodies.
8. Antonin Dvorak - Stabat Mater. More effective than his requiem and a bit more tuneful. This was written between the deaths of his family members.
7. Frederic Chopin - Andante spianato and Grande Polonaise Brillante. Catchy, Polish. A lot of fun.
6. Erno Dohnanyi - Passacaglia, Op. 6. This is more of a pianistic fetish for me than anything else. Something I yearn to play perfectly.
5. Brian Ferneyhough - Second String Quartet. By far the strangest piece I've come to love. Sort of representative of how I view the world outside of my own experiences.
4. Giacomo Puccini - Madama Butterfly. A life lost for love and honor. There is enough beautiful music in this opera to make anyone weep for poor Butterfly at the end.
3. Antonin Dvorak - String Quartet No. 13. My favorite string quartet.
2. Ludwig van Beethoven - Piano Concerto No. 3. This was the first piano concerto that made me say, "I have to learn how to play that."
1. Krzysztof Penderecki - Capriccio for Oboe and 11 Strings. Along the same lines as the Ferneyhough, but I like the oboe a lot.
23. Antonin Dvorak - Biblical Songs, Op. 99, No. 4. There is something about this song--the serenity of it, the man's voice in the recording I have, or just the sincerity of it all--that always chokes me up a little.
22. Johannes Brahms - Alto Rhapsody. It begins so suddenly with anguish, yearning, such pain and grief and ends with a respite that only magnifies the notes before it. It's never made me cry, but it's come close.
21. Georges Enescu - Impressions d'Enfance. A piece, as the title suggests, that offers impressions or visions of sorts from childhood. It's a very unique piece in its sense of infancy.
20. Johann Sebastian Bach - Violin Sonata No. 7 in G minor, BWV 1020, II. Adagio. This is the most calming three minutes I have ever heard. Probably a terribly obscure three minutes to pick, but I've not once heard this and ever felt anything other than "everything is okay."
19. Johann Sebastian Bach - Cello Suite No. 5 in C minor, IV. Sarabande. On the opposite end of the spectrum, the three minutes that most symbolizes to me grief in its infancy. There is no massive climax, no struggle, simply sadness with a sort of gray monotony.
18. Georges Bizet - "Carmen" Act III, V. "Je dis que rien ne m'epouvante". A simple prayer for strength in a tumultuous territory. One of the lesser-known arias from this otherwise overplayed opera.
17. Johannes Brahms - Ein Deutsches Requiem. One of the secular requiems I know of. This piece is intended for the survivors of the deceased unlike a traditional requiem mass. "Denn alles fleisch" is haunting.
16. Pytor Illych Tchaikovsky - Symphony No. 6 "Pathetique". Another piece dealing with scenes from life, at least from my interpretation. The beginning movement contains one of the single most beautiful melodies ever written. The climax during this movement stops my heart every time.
15. Frederic Chopin - Nocturne No. 15 in F minor, Op. 55 No. 1. Undoubtedly my favorite piece for solo piano. One of the few pieces I'd ever say captures "me."
14. Richard Strauss - Death and Transfiguration, Op. 23. This is, simply, the seven stages of grief.
13. Pyotr Illych Tchaikovsky - Eugen Onegin. A grand opera dealing with unrequited love. The letter scene is Tchaikovsky at his most autobiographical.
12. Zoltan Kodaly - Valsette. I don't know where this piece comes from, what it was written for, or if I can find the sheets. It's just a fun little waltz.
11. Franz Xaver Scharwenka - Six Waltzes, Op. 28 No. 5. And this waltz is fun, but in a more longing, nostalgic way.
10. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Requiem, K. 626, Lacrymosa. Anguish.
9. Antonin Dvorak - Suite in A Major, Op. 98. Written during his visit to the Americas and considered by the composer to be one of his best pieces. To me, it's just a bunch of great melodies.
8. Antonin Dvorak - Stabat Mater. More effective than his requiem and a bit more tuneful. This was written between the deaths of his family members.
7. Frederic Chopin - Andante spianato and Grande Polonaise Brillante. Catchy, Polish. A lot of fun.
6. Erno Dohnanyi - Passacaglia, Op. 6. This is more of a pianistic fetish for me than anything else. Something I yearn to play perfectly.
5. Brian Ferneyhough - Second String Quartet. By far the strangest piece I've come to love. Sort of representative of how I view the world outside of my own experiences.
4. Giacomo Puccini - Madama Butterfly. A life lost for love and honor. There is enough beautiful music in this opera to make anyone weep for poor Butterfly at the end.
3. Antonin Dvorak - String Quartet No. 13. My favorite string quartet.
2. Ludwig van Beethoven - Piano Concerto No. 3. This was the first piano concerto that made me say, "I have to learn how to play that."
1. Krzysztof Penderecki - Capriccio for Oboe and 11 Strings. Along the same lines as the Ferneyhough, but I like the oboe a lot.