Welcome
Classical Music Thoughts started as a list of CDs Vince discovered on the Naxos Complete Tracks service (at $20US/yr, excellent for expanding musical horizons, but offers a very limited user interface) and then the Naxos Music Library (about $150/yr, but the features and audio quality are worth the money if you listen to more than a few CDs a month).* He wanted to share responses to this music with others and discovered WordPress.
Vince’s friend, Andrew, liked this idea and joined the blog. Andrew approaches Classical Music by researching and purchasing key performances, offering profound reviews of what he hears (Look for a name under the title of each post to see who wrote it – and you’ll see what I mean! – Vince).
We’re not musicologists or even fluent in music theory. We just enjoy Classical music and this experiment in long-distance collaboration. Sometimes we’ll offer detailed remarks, or convey an emotional response.
Participate
Read, listen, and leave a reply with your Classical Music Thoughts!
Categories
While we could include sub-categories such as Ars Nova, Renaissance, Reformation, Baroque, Romantic, etc… we find these broad labels handy enough.
- Asian Sound – Examples include Yun, Chen, He, Gu, Ma – some reflect western idioms, some are quite “non-European.”
- Classical (1600-1910s/WWI) – Examples include popular composers ranging in style from Baroque to Romantic, from Russian to Wagnerian.
- Early Music (pre-1600s) – Examples include Agricola, Landini, Dufay – from Gregorian chant to Ars Nova to Renaissance to Reformation.
- Modern (post WWI/1920s-present) – Examples include dozens of popular composers. Some (like Barber and Rodrigo) offer Romantic-style music. Others (like El-Khoury or Ohki) present new sounds.
- Outstanding Favorites – a few pieces we’d listen to over and over.
- Sound Samples – an MP3 sample of an interesting sound or melody with a bit of discussion.
- Soviet-era Russian Composers (1917-1991) – Examples include Shostakovich, Roslavets, Prokofiev – their particular context suggested giving them their own category.
- Writing – we like to write, and think about writing – since it’s our blog we’ll toss it in
Please converse with us!
Andrew, Vince
About Andrew
Andrew Oman is a character with training in Information Science, Accounting, and Literature. His other hobbies include obscure computer games, Mr. Bean, and ephemeral film.
About Vince
Vince manages technology analysts, having previously been a technology analyst tasked with writing tactical guidance for IT leaders. His hobbies outside of music include reading (history, socio-economic theory, and SF with the occasional mystery thrown in), video gaming, and board gaming. If you play board games, be sure to visit BoardGameGeek!
* Classical Music Thoughts is not affiliated with or endorsed by Naxos in any way. The opinions expressed herein are for commentary/criticism and mutual enjoyment.
Thank You
Vince. You have an unusually eclectic set of pieces listed. Your commentaries show a great love for some of the music. Your NAXOS list seems to be missing a lot of the popular works by Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, etc.
Cheers. Andy
Hi Andy,
Good to hear from you! Familiar with the major composers, I purposed to hear those “less traveled by” via the Naxos service. It has been an interesting trip
Vince
Hi Andrew … the world of classical music is never-ending. I am thrilled to see what you are up to! Analyzing recordings, my favourite geeky activity. Since you guys are in the romantic period, have you discovered my favourite man Brahms? I would love to know what you think!
Hello Taina,
Thanks for visiting! Vince and I took a look at Brahms’ Ballade in G Minor op. 118 a number of months ago:
http://classicalthoughts.wordpress.com/2007/02/22/brahms-op-118-ballade-in-g-minor/
Andrew