The votes are in.
Last week, with a delectable €25 Golden Discs voucher on offer, I asked you for your favourite piece of classical music.
You answered in your tens.
But there could be only one winner.
Third Place:
Moonlight Sonata by Beethoven
Liam Deliverance writes:
Ludwig Van Beethoven – The Piano Sonata No. 14 in C minor “Quasi una fantasia”, Op. 27, No. 2 (Year 1801). Or, to you and me, Moonlight Sonata – a piece I regularly come back to, something very enjoyable about the frenetic-ness of it all and the evocative melodies. To hear a fine piece of music is sublime, to see it actually being played is magic. This video (above) shows the complexity involved for the pianist quite nice.
Runner-up:
Rhapsody In Blue by George Gershwin
Daisy Chainsaw writes:
Damn sexy piece of music…
Winner:
St Matthew Passion by JS Bach
Ragamuffin writes:
Being both a philistine and an atheist, I hadn’t come across this magnificent piece until the opening scene of Martin Scorsese’s 1995 film Casino, . Then, as an admittedly intense teenager, I used to listen to it in the dark, turned up to the max. It tells the story of Jesus’ last days, and deals with the relatable themes (to my adolescent brain at least) of betrayal, judgement, love and death. It wasn’t until Good Friday 2019 that I finally got to see it live in the National Concert Hall. Bach was not messing about with this one: the production requires a double orchestra, a double choir, 6 soloists, and a continuo organ. It was, quite simply, epic.
Nick says: Thanks all.
Last week: Win Nick’s Voucher
Gershwin is classical?
Would have said it was Jazz myself
Nice choices :)
+1 :)
Great choices, love these competitions/mucic piracy opportunities.
Oh beautiful choices! And a wonderful win!
Well done, @Ragamuffin!
Nice one Ragamuffin! It’s like a posh Jesus Christ Superstar!
Well done Ragamuffin, I just flicked through your video, it’s funny the faces opera singers make in the execution of their craft, thanks, I have bookmarked it for later.
re. ragamuffin & other commenters: no comparison with the musical Jesus Christ Superstar is realistic. J.S.Bach’s Matthew Passion is a deeply profound musical work, not intended for showy sensation. You don’t eat popcorn when listening to this long solemn work.
Ah wow, thanks a million Nick, I’m delighted with that. Hopefully NCH will put it on again on Good Friday 2021, and I will follow same plan as last time: alcohol and red meat – before & after – lest anyone think I’ve taken up religion in my spare time.
Masterpieces one and all, great choices guys