No one since JS Bach has come close to musical perfection

I like Tchaikovsky, and if you remove the "Movie" element you've got to Love John Williams.

I started playing piano about four years ago after being inspired hearing beethoven's "moonlight Sonata," especially the third movement.

I now LOVE Beethoven and find it hard to play anything else although I do play two Bach pieces and a couple Chopin pieces and just finished memorizing Debussy's Clair de Lune.

After reading through this thread, need to rethink this and perhaps play more Bach.

Still Beethoven it a stud!!! Hence my Avatar....

Beethoven struggled with counterpoint his whole life. Even when he got the mechanics down, he generally fell short in the 'musicality' category. His motivic romanticism was quite unlike the music of Bach's time...different to the point of making a direct comparison somewhat futile.

Mozart usually made a concerted effort to hide his polyphony as best he could; brazen counterpoint was somewhat frowned upon during his time. It was inconsistent with the ideals of the Classical era. However, sometimes he couldn't control himself, and he finally created the most successful marriage between the Baroque and Classical ideals with the finale of his 41st symphony. The polyphony is absolutely on par with Bach's finest works, yet seamlessly integrated into a very 'Classical' form. It represents the best of both worlds, and there isn't another piece of music like it in existence.

I have nothing but praise and admiration for Bach, but the musical ideals to which he aspired were far different from those of Mozart's time, and even more so with Beethoven's.

But all roads lead back to Bach, and rightfully so.

Beethoven struggled with counterpoint his whole life. Even when he got the mechanics down, he generally fell short in the 'musicality' category. His motivic romanticism was quite unlike the music of Bach's time...different to the point of making a direct comparison somewhat futile.

Mozart usually made a concerted effort to hide his polyphony as best he could; brazen counterpoint was somewhat frowned upon during his time. It was inconsistent with the ideals of the Classical era. However, sometimes he couldn't control himself, and he finally created the most successful marriage between the Baroque and Classical ideals with the finale of his 41st symphony. The polyphony is absolutely on par with Bach's finest works, yet seamlessly integrated into a very 'Classical' form. It represents the best of both worlds, and there isn't another piece of music like it in existence.

I have nothing but praise and admiration for Bach, but the musical ideals to which he aspired were far different from those of Mozart's time, and even more so with Beethoven's.

But all roads lead back to Bach, and rightfully so.

Agree on all points. Mozarts final symphony, especially the final movement, is unparalled, even by Bach himself. It's the most amazing piece of music I've ever heard. Frankly, I don't like much Beethoven, just doesn't seem to flow right.

I enjoy listening to Back immensely but,



You can't make that statement because you were not there to verify your statement.

...and don't forget HIM...

To paraphrase someone's who's name I can't recall, Wagner had moments of shear genius, hidden away in hours of dross.

and Glenn Gould plays him brilliantly...

Best thread on GLP this month by a large margin.

Never knew you guys could appreciate art this much!

For their shortcomings Mozart and Beethoven were able to bring incredible emotions and personal strife into their pieces


Bach composed for God himself