[Peyotero]

Hey guys!

I wan't to get into classical but "ordinary/conventional" music annoys me.. O_o i don't "connect" to it.. Please HELP!

So who would it be? You can suggest other masters to, but it must be classical.

P.S
i never heared any of them.

**Disclaimer** no disrespect intended by this thread!! not the artists nor their listeners. i'm just like that

 

[K2Grey]

"Do you believe I am thinking of your wretched fiddle when the spirit moves me?"

- Beethoven (or close enough quote, not precise)

 

[grandenigma1]

a safe bet is just about any German or Russian composer

A few excellent composers that come to mind are Stravinsky, Verdi, Tchaikovsky, Holst, Vivaldi, and Handel

 

[PSmith08]

If we're talking about real insanity, Robert Schumann spent his last days in an asylum and Richard Wagner had to have had, and was probably undiagnosed with, something.

Mahler and Wagner are the big two for me, with Bruckner coming in third, or second - depending on how I count. You, though, would do well to pick up a copy of Glenn Gould's 1981 performance of Bach's Goldberg Variations. It's about twelve dollars and a cornerstone of Bach performance.

 

[grandenigma1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by PSmith08 If we're talking about real insanity, Robert Schumann spent his last days in an asylum and Richard Wagner had to have had, and was probably undiagnosed with, something. Mahler and Wagner are the big two for me, with Bruckner coming in third, or second - depending on how I count. You, though, would do well to pick up a copy of Glenn Gould's 1981 performance of Bach's Goldberg Variations. It's about twelve dollars and a cornerstone of Bach performance.

How could I forget them... Im just happy I believe I spelt all of their names right

 

[jagorev]

Schumann suffered from multiple personalities. But I find his music comparatively conventional (even though they reflect his different personas).

If you want classical music that doesn't sound ordinary, Beethoven would be a great start, followed by Stravinsky and probably Berlioz. Handel also was a manic-depressive and produced some tremendously exciting music.

 

[asmox]

If you want the antithesis of ordinary and conventional in contemporary composition, the best thing I can recommend for you is Conlon Nancarrow. About as deranged as it gets, as well.

The man is untouchable.

 

[Doc Sarvis]

Beethoven was much more deranged than Bach. Beethoven was deaf, a horrible slob and mean as a snake. He took his brother to court for possession of his brother's son, and changed the name of one of his biggest works after a politician disappointed him. According to one story, he died after shaking his fist at God. He also wrote some of the greatest, most revolutionary music ever conceived.

By comparison, Bach was a mild mannered church organist.

Other deranged composers (besides the ones that psmith mentioned):

Berlioz - Driven mad by obsession over a woman - she finally fell for him and he lost interest.
Tchaikovsky - Driven mad by, among other things, confusion and guilt over his sexual orientation; probably gave himself cholera on purpose by drinking infected water.
Scriabin - Thought he was God.
Mahler - Got therapy from Freud himself.
Shostakovich - Lived in constant fear of the secret police; reportedly composed secret subversive code messages into his music.

The list goes on and on, actually. The line between genius and insanity is pretty thin...

 

[jagorev]

Handel apparently composed the Messiah in just 24 days, during one of his manic phases.

Mozart probably had some issues with his parents that would have landed him in therapy in a later age - and he remained infantile throughout his life.

Schubert - syphillis and depression in his last years.

 

[Tyson]

In Shostakovich's defense, it's not paranioa if they really are out to get you (and they were)....

 

[Sladeophile]

Neither are ordinary or conventional. Both were extremely ahead of their time, Bach more so than Beet, IMO. By the general classical music standards, neither are modern or progressive. If that's what you mean by "deranged" then you may want to look into something more like Mahler or Shostakovich. Any of their symphonies will suffice. Feel free to pm me with any more classical music questions, as I would be very happy to help you out...

Slade

 

[jagorev]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sladeophile Neither are ordinary or conventional. Both were extremely ahead of their time, Bach more so than Beet, IMO. By the general classical music standards, neither are modern or progressive. If that's what you mean by "deranged" then you may want to look into something more like Mahler or Shostakovich. Any of their symphonies will suffice. Feel free to pm me with any more classical music questions, as I would be very happy to help you out... Slade

Not to disrespect them or anything (I love some of their music), but Mahler and Shostakovich are not modern or progressive. They were way more backward-looking and conservative than Beethoven for his time, especially when you consider that their contemporaries included people like Strauss, Schoenborg, Debussy, and Stravinsky.

 

[xchagg]

You want deranged, try Schoenberg

Atonal music just scares me . . . . I'm guessing it'll take another 5 years before I begin to understand Schoenberg.

Although Schoenberg probably won't help much in getting you 'connected' to classical music.

Try some Mahler, Stravinsky (Rite of Spring and Firebird prob), or Debussy.

Or if you like your head to spin, Ravel's Bolero.

 

[Mark from HFR]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doc Sarvis Beethoven was much more deranged than Bach. Beethoven was deaf, a horrible slob and mean as a snake. He took his brother to court for possession of his brother's son, and changed the name of one of his biggest works after a politician disappointed him. According to one story, he died after shaking his fist at God. He also wrote some of the greatest, most revolutionary music ever conceived.

True enough on the surface, but I've never found one bar in Beethoven that sounds as twisted as some of the harmonic clashes in Bach. Look at the Prelude #2 in c minor from the Well-Tempered Clavier. It starts out as a rather manic, but fairly orderly machine-like pattern. But then it starts destabilizing and spinning off into distant keys, finally collapsing into a tailspin. A passionate appeal restores enough order to bring the mad adventure to a close, releasing a sigh of relief as it turns to major in the final measure. A full mental breakdown & recovery in just under two minutes! Just because the man was a church organist didn't mean he wasn't seething inside!

 

[jagorev]

Quote:

Originally Posted by xchagg You want deranged, try Schoenberg Atonal music just scares me . . . . I'm guessing it'll take another 5 years before I begin to understand Schoenberg. Although Schoenberg probably won't help much in getting you 'connected' to classical music.

I used to feel that way about Schoenberg...atonal, difficult, etc.

Then I heard Verklaerte Nacht. Whaddya know, Schoenberg also made really moving and beautiful tonal music. I highly recommend you try it out.