Favorite piece written during your lifetime.

[arensky]

Some of us are older or younger but in the larger picture it's not too much difference.

For me, it's probably Ginastera's Piano Sonata #2.

[retrouvailles]

Ha, you took my idea!

Being only 19 years old, it would appear that there is not much to choose from. However, there is a LOT to choose from, especially when you listen to as much music as I do. I'll keep my selections limited only to piano solo works for now. The three Carl Vine sonatas (all written in my lifetime) surely rank up there for me. The book 2 Ligeti etudes are also up there. Esa-Pekka Salonen's Dichotomie is another. I'll post more if I think of more.

[s_bussotti]

Ha, you took my idea!

Being only 19 years old, it would appear that there is not much to choose from. However, there is a LOT to choose from, especially when you listen to as much music as I do. I'll keep my selections limited only to piano solo works for now. The three Carl Vine sonatas (all written in my lifetime) surely rank up there for me. The book 2 Ligeti etudes are also up there. Esa-Pekka Salonen's Dichotomie is another. I'll post more if I think of more.

Not Carter's Retrouvailles?


I'll go with Dillon's Books of Elements, Dusapin's Etudes and Finnissy's History of Photography in Sound.

[retrouvailles]

Carter's Retrouvailles is alright, but I wouldn't put it up with the others. Carter's Caténaires would be an awesome choice though. That is one of his best recent pieces (composed only 2-3 years ago I think). I would also add the Dusapin etudes.

[indutrial]

Dusapin's Etudes and Finnissy's History of Photography in Sound.

Both of these are strong contenders for me (I haven't heard the entire History of Photography), but I would have to choose Rzewski's "The Road" over them, which I'm heard enough of to become a total devotee. It's hard to decide what constitutes a work when you include pieces as large as that or the Finnissy work, which are both multiple hours in length and split into several sections.

Outside of piano music, favorite works written during my lifetime would definitely include the following chamber works:

Charles Wuorinen - String Sextet (1989)
Charles Wuorinen - Saxophone Quartet (1992)
Charles Wuorinen - Dante Trilogy (chamber versions), esp. the Mission of Virgil section which is actually for 2 pianos (1995-1996)
Leo Kraft - Cloud Studies for 12 flutes (1991)
Leo Kraft - Omaggio (1992)
Per Norgard - String Quartet no. 6 'Tintinnabulary' (1986)
Hans Kox - Through a Glass, Darkly for alto sax/piano (1989)
Edison Denisov - Concerto for Two Violas, Harpsichord and String Orchestra (1984)

It's obviously hard to choose just one, and this list will likely change, since most of these guys are continually composing new music and I've obviously not heard everything by most of them. Norgard's 7th-10th string quartets are coming out on CD this month and Wuorinen's second piano quintet (among other new things) will be out by next year. I like a lot of Carter works too, but can't put my finger on any of their dates.

[thalbergmad]

Waterloo - Abba

[pmz310]

stuff by slipknot

[retrouvailles]

This is a classical forum. Surely you can think of actual concert music pieces!

[thalbergmad]

This is a classical forum. Surely you can think of actual concert music pieces!

1. Where does it say this is a classical forum?
2. No.

Thal

[pies]

a

[retrouvailles]

1. Where does it say this is a classical forum?

Alright, if it isn't a classical forum, why is there only classical music in the index for purchase?

[mephisto]

Interesting topic

There Ligeti's etudes book 2 and 3. I think that is uncontroversial. And of course Carl Vine's 1st piano sonata ( I haven't heard the others).

I have to be honest and say that I don't always know the years in wich many pieces have been written, so there may be many others.

I am 18 years old.

[pies]

a

[thalbergmad]

Alright, if it isn't a classical forum, why is there only classical music in the index for purchase?

Ask the owner not me.

Discussions about a wide variety of music takes place here, so i have no idea why you say it is a classical forum.

Its not classicalpianostreets.

Thal

[retrouvailles]

The variety of music is not that wide here really, if you are talking about broad genres, like classical, rock, pop, etc. It is focused about 95% of the time on classical. It is therefore safe to say that this is a classical forum. I think you were just being facetious when you posted your favorite piece because of that fact I just stated. I am not really in the mood for debate anyways.

[pmz310]

dude, retro, chill out, thats what i like, im emo, and thats is my no 2 favorite genre, and it happens to be in my lifetime

[retrouvailles]

I just don't like it when people trivialize a thread like this. I expected to learn some more about more modern classical music (which I think would benefit everyone), but when people trivialize it, it goes the way of other failed threads in this forum. Down to the bottom of the list with few worthwhile responses.

[thalbergmad]

The variety of music is not that wide here really, if you are talking about broad genres, like classical, rock, pop, etc. It is focused about 95% of the time on classical. It is therefore safe to say that this is a classical forum. I think you were just being facetious when you posted your favorite piece because of that fact I just stated. I am not really in the mood for debate anyways.

The title of this thread is "favorite piece written during your lifetime" and all people are doing is answering.

The whole site does not revolve around contemporary classical music.

Reel your neck in and chill.

Thal

[pmz310]

The title of this thread is "favorite piece written during your lifetime" and all people are doing is answering.

The whole site does not revolve around contemporary classical music.

Reel your neck in and chill.

Thal

seconded !!!!

[retrouvailles]

The whole site does not revolve around contemporary classical music.

It does revolve around classical music though. If someone said "What is your favorite piece", would there be any chance of you responding with the post you posted in this thread? I think not, for it hasn't happened in the past before. If you don't like what is in this thread, don't post in it. It is as simple as that. I don't feel that I am overreacting and I am sure people agree with me. Whatever. It doesn't really matter anyways. I have a feeling this thread won't last long anyways.

[pies]

delete

[sharon_f]

Britten War Requiem

[s_bussotti]

Christopher Fox's lliK.relliK, composed in '91 when I was 2.  I just ordered the sheets to this and will be learning it eventually.   

Riiiiight.  Good luck with that one.

[jpowell]

Sorabji: Villa Tasca, and other pieces
Finnissy: English Country Tunes, Verdi Transcriptions, 4th Concerto
Murail: La mandragore, Terretoires de l'oubli
Sciarrino: Sonata no.2, 3 and 5 etc
Xenakis: Evryali and Mists
Ferneyhough: Lemma Icon Epigram (not so sure about Opus c n)
Ambrosini: Rondo di forza'
Nono: Sofferte onde serene

I have a kind of personal relationship with the first two of these pieces, since I gave the premiere of the Sorabji, the first performance of ECT not by the composer, and book IV of the Verdis was dedicated to and premiered by me. I'm not really into Carter, Ligeti or Dusapin (much as I respect and am in awe of what these composers could/can do) so won't comment on these. Perhaps I should try again with them!

[pies]

a

[thalbergmad]

If you don't like what is in this thread, don't post in it. It is as simple as that.

I have posted thanks and i have no problem with people simply answering the question.

It was not me that said "Surely you can think of actual concert music pieces"

Please accept that music exists outside of the classical genre, some people like it and do not mind others knowing that they do.

Thal

[indutrial]

I have posted thanks and i have no problem with people simply answering the question.

It was not me that said "Surely you can think of actual concert music pieces"

Please accept that music exists outside of the classical genre, some people like it and do not mind others knowing that they do.

While the prospect of debating the guidelines and semantics of the thread to the ends of the earth is profoundly exciting, I still think I'd rather be reading about "favorite pieces written during [the users'] lifetime."

That being noted, I find it just a bit retarded that even a thread that is as obviously geared towards contemporary classical music as this one can't get to 20 before someone directly or indirectly accuses the posters of being myopic contemporary music supporters.

So what else besides "Waterloo" do you like?

[thalbergmad]

Corigliano Clarinet Concerto

[mattgreenecomposer]

Great Topic!

Ill have to go with a filmscore on this one.  Howard Shore's "Lord of the Rings" was very impressive.  I saw him conduct it and it was a sight to remember.  I didnt care for the 2nd two movies very much but the score alone is brilliant.

I would also include:
 Goldsmith/Horners "Aliens"
Alan Sylvestries  "The Abyss"
Vangelis "BladeRunner"(The use of Electronic music was very new in 1982 so it was revolutionary)

[cygnusdei]

Great Topic!

Howard Shore's "Lord of the Rings" was very impressive.  I saw him conduct it and it was a sight to remember.  I didnt care for the 2nd two movies very much but the score alone is brilliant.

Are you aware of this one?



I remember seeing it at Walmart - never heard it though.

[retrouvailles]

There are so many great concert music compositions written in my (our?) lifetime, and you go with a film score? That's a bit of a bold move, unless you don't know your contemporary music too well.

[indutrial]

There are so many great concert music compositions written in my (our?) lifetime, and you go with a film score? That's a bit of a bold move, unless you don't know your contemporary music too well.

A film score can be a decent choice for one's "favorite", considering it usually reaches multiple levels of the individual's interest at the same time. Some of my favorite pieces of music that I find myself listening to over and over again are still bits from this or that film, themes from different video games, and/or songs by bands that I love. These would certainly not outweigh a lot of contemporary concert pieces if we were talking about a "piece I expect to draw the most from" type of category.

[thalbergmad]

A film score can be a decent choice for one's "favorite", considering it usually reaches multiple levels of the individual's interest at the same time.

I am not sure i understand this. How can one's personal choice be decent?

What would be an indecent choice?

Thal

[jpowell]

I am not sure i understand this. How can one's personal choice be decent?

What would be an indecent choice?

Thal

I could and often do think of plenty of indecent choices.

[indutrial]

I am not sure i understand this. How can one's personal choice be decent?

What would be an indecent choice?

Thal

'Decent' is probably not the best word I could have used. I just meant to say that choosing a film score is valid, considering the criterion is simply 'favorite,' a criterion which simply comes down to taste and can involve any amount of guilty (or non-guilty) pleasure.

[mephisto]

Have anyone heard Marc-André Dalbavie's piano concerto? Amazing work if I may say so.

[retrouvailles]

Have anyone heard Marc-André Dalbavie's piano concerto? Amazing work if I may say so.

I have heard that piece, but I don't think I would call it one of my favorites. It is still very good. Also, I would nominate Boulez's Sur Incises. I think it is much better than many of the works he has written in the past.

[mephisto]

Sur Incises is definetly one of Boulez' better piece -  I do actually enjoy quite a lot.

I belive Rautavaara's 3rd piano concerto was written in 1996 (?), and it is definetly a good concert - if not as good as nr. 1.

Can anyone recommend any bigger solo piano pieces written from 1989 to the present? Preferably something wich combines a modern language with tradition .

[retrouvailles]

Rautavaara's 2nd and 3rd concertos I think were both written in recent years. I think the 2nd is from 1989 or so and the 3rd is from 1998. Both deserve to be recognized. Vine's three piano sonatas are all great pieces which were written in 1990, 1997, and 2007 respectively and combine modern idiom with older traditions in a great way. Those would be my picks for larger solo piano pieces that do that. I can think of more examples later.

[indutrial]

Can anyone recommend any bigger solo piano pieces written from 1989 to the present? Preferably something wich combines a modern language with tradition .

Have you checked out any works by Lera Auerbach. Her two sonatas are fairly recent. Andrew Violette also has a small heap of sonatas worth checking out. He draws a lot off of Busoni and Sorabji, in addition to throwing several other bits of tradition into his works. Off the top of my head I would also suggest Robert Helps, whose complete piano works recently came out on the always-great Albany Records label. A good look through Albany's catalog will probably find more material of that nature from recent years.

You also may find some good recent works at good old copy-us.com, which tells you in advance whether the piece is tonal, free-tonal, or atonal:

Works for solo piano:
https://www.copy-us.com/?aktion=list&s_g=29

Another good composer who I would recommend is Michael G. Cunningham, who has written 7 sonatas (maybe more now), 4 of them since the late 1980s. His works list is at this address:

https://www.wiscomposers.org/members/cunningham.html

[retrouvailles]

I recently purchased the complete sonatas of Andrew Violette and have gone through a few of them. They aren't exactly the best sonatas I have heard, but they do have their merits in juxtaposing tradition with modern idioms in an attractive manner. I have heard lots of Auerbach and I really like what she has done. Her piano sonatas are similar to Violette's and are slightly more attractive. I would also second listening to Robert Helps, who wrote three great hommages to Fauré, Rachmaninoff, and Ravel, which are my favorite pieces of his. Also, as I mentioned before, Esa-Pekka Salonen's Dichotomie is a great and big solo piano piece, even though it is not the most pianistic piece around. I also hear that Salonen has just finished a large solo piano piece, which I hope to hear. Also, look at the Kapustin piano sonatas, which I know many of you know and love. His second (written in 1989) is an especially great piano sonata of his. Also the twelfth is worth noting.

[indutrial]

Some good sets of piano music penned during my life, all worth checking out if one's interested in works that are somewhat traditional and somewhat not-so-traditional:

Walter Hus - 24 Preludes and Fugues (for one or two pianos)

Henry Martin - 24 Preludes and Fugues

Jacques Lenot - 12 Etudes, 24 Preludes, etc...

Nancy Van De Vate - Fantasy Pieces, Night Journey

There's also a ton of pieces I'd like to hear that either haven't been recorded or are just incredibly difficult to find in the States. I'm really interested in checking out some of the rather large keyboard works by Ukrainian composer Volodymyr Huba (1938-) who wrote works such as these in recent years, none of which I've heard or seen:

"is PIT'MY VIKIV" (From the darkness of centuries), cycle of 4 chapters for piano : 180'
"DISTANT MUSIC" for piano : 90`
"BALLET SCENES" for piano : 30`
"27 PRELUDES" for piano : 270`(!!!)
"UKRAINIAN VARIATIONS" (37 variations) for piano : 40`

If anyone's got any other info on this composer (besides what I've seen at the Music Information Centre site) please share!

[Petter]

John Williams - Battle of Endor
Andrew Lloyd Webber - Variations on Paganini Caprice In A Minor No.24

[ryanyee]

bach's concerto in d minor bwv1052. captivated by it for almost a year after hearing glenn gould's recordings.

[Petter]

duuuuh

[Etude]

Hahaha

[retrouvailles]

bach's concerto in d minor bwv1052. captivated by it for almost a year after hearing glenn gould's recordings.

You should be dead, I think.

[Etude]

I'm not all that familiar with (classical) music of the last nearly 19 years but two that come to mind are Rzewski's "De Profundis"  and Carl Vine's Piano Sonata no. 1.  So yeah,  I really need to look more into contemporary composers. 

[indutrial]

bach's concerto in d minor bwv1052. captivated by it for almost a year after hearing glenn gould's recordings.

"So....Doc Brown's invented a time machine."

[Petter]

"So....Doc Brown's invented a time machine."

What composer would you visit if you had one? I think I´d go back to Mozart and punch him in the face just to boast on facebook.