Beethoven's Ninth Symphony: Greatest piece of music ever, or not?

[pres2032]

Poll question: Beethoven's Ninth Symphony: Greatest piece of music ever, or not?

[Skittles]

1. beautiful, wonderful

LOVE IT! :thumbsup:

[WindRavenX]

2. Yes

How he wrote that while being deaf is beyond me.

[pres2032]

5. yeah, show's his absolute genius

have you ever seen Mr. Holland's Opus? the way Mr. Holland talks how beethoven composed his music while deaf is chilling.

[Reverend_Smitty]

6. Thats what gets me...

One of the greatest musical compositions ever written and It's composer never got to hear it. I'm sure he was able to play it in his mind though

[CanuckAmok]

3. It's pretty good, but it's no "The Night the Lights went Out in Georgia"

n/t

[Reverend_Smitty]

4. ROFL...

I just did a spit take!

[Wapsie B]

7. Not bad,

but I'm a fan of Brukner's Symphony # 0 myself.

[pres2032]

8. huh?

i'm not aware of a Brukner, so I suspect a joke?

[Wapsie B]

11. Oops,

misspelled. Bruckner is the correct spelling. Sorry.

[pres2032]

13. cool, just googled him

downloading that symphony right now

[GoddessOfGuinness]

9. I'm not familiar with Bruckner #0...

How does it go? ;-)

[pres2032]

15. wow, it's really incredible

[saltpoint]

10. Granted, the 9th is a hell of a tune.

But in the quiet of a given winter evening, let me have candlelight and the Brahms Intermezzo in A major.

If Murray Perahia could be the pianist, so much the better.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

56. For that matter, the quiet of a given winter evening

is a magnificent symphony by itself. :)

[saltpoint]

66. Hey GoddessofGuiness -- there you are again --

-- making sense, as usual.

What poetry in your post there.

Thank you for that.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

12. It's great, but

I don't believe in "greatest ever".

I might venture to say that it's among the greatest ever written...

[Seabiscuit]

21. Agreed. There are so many "greatest evers".

Take Britney Spears.

Please. ;)

[ashling]

33. My sentiment exactly

well, not exactly.

Just the same, only different

[7th_Sephiroth]

14. Gimmie the Moonlight sonota any day

Rondo Ala Tucra and Toccata and Fugue, too

[pres2032]

17. those are certianly great too

[7th_Sephiroth]

18. i am sure beetoven could feel the vibration from the piano

The Zatoichi of the piano

[pres2032]

19. That's exactly what he did

he sawed the legs of the piano, so he could but it as close to the ground as possible so he could lay down and feel the vibrations.

[7th_Sephiroth]

20. to compose from not but the vibrrations of the floor

think about what he would have done if he had sen-surround

[pres2032]

22. My God....

i don't think it's possible to comprehend that.

[7th_Sephiroth]

25. it would be like witnessing the dawn of time itself

....

[pres2032]

26. yeah, he's probably the only one who could

compose a piece of music meant to symbolize the creation of the universe and the beginning of time.

[7th_Sephiroth]

27. Rumors are

he once wrote a "suicide Symphony" after being dumped by a woman he really loved

[pres2032]

28. wow

Trans-Siberian Orchestra wrote a concept album about Beethoven's last night on earth and his tenth symphony, which is supposed to be "his greatest work" "according" to him. I'd love it if someone were to actually discover a secret beethoven symphony.

[7th_Sephiroth]

29. lets hope the suicide symphony is only JUST a rumor

it was music said to alter the brains patterns itself and cause one to commit suicide

[pres2032]

30. hm, yeah, on second thoughts, no suicide symphony

now, if there's a tenth symphony, that needs to be found.

[7th_Sephiroth]

31. will the world ever find talent like his again?

[pres2032]

32. who knows, probably not though

there could always be some music major out there that is the next beethoven. or there could be a composer now who is creating great music, but it will never be realized till years into the future. Who know's what the future holds. But I do doubt that there is anyone who will reach the level of beethoven, though reaching the level of some of the other greats, that could be possible.

[7th_Sephiroth]

34. there have been numerous talents throughout all history that

havent been nurtured because of racisim, sexisim ect.

[pres2032]

35. that's true

it does help that he was a white male, but then i think if their was a minority composer with the genius of beethoven, they would have come out by now, especially in this age of equality. someone would have dug back in time and brought them back.

[7th_Sephiroth]

36. even now there might be a verry talented minority

without the ability to have that talent nurtured, not only the piano, but other forms of art, as well, because the family cant afford a piano, lessons, art supplies ect.

[pres2032]

37. yeah, that's true too

that's why it breaks my heart and angers me to hear of schools cutting their music and arts programs, but don't dare cut their sports programs, when funds run low. :grr: I love sports as much as anyone, but it's music that shapes people into the true greats of society.

[7th_Sephiroth]

38. tell that to texas, or here even

football is more important than anything, football players get automatic C grades so they can dry hump, give me this over that any day

[pres2032]

39. oh, i know, football is big here in PA too

like i said, i loved going to my HS football games, but then i went because i was in the marching band and loved that far more than the games themselves.

[7th_Sephiroth]

40. i have a friend that was in one of thos bands

i showed up for that than left

[pres2032]

41. yeah, heh, during our team's long losing streak

our band defintely had more fans than the team had.

[7th_Sephiroth]

42. are you a fan of Yoshitaka Amano?

his art is so whimsical

[pres2032]

43. never heard of him

but that's an awsome drawing. I really love the realistic stuff, like a painting of a street corner, or a battle. But i defintily dig the fantasy stuff too.

[7th_Sephiroth]

44. amano is a verry talented artist

and has a verry whimsical style that can easily turn dark or gothic

[pres2032]

46. that's awsome

[7th_Sephiroth]

47. seriously, google for some of his art

his art for final fantasy and N.Y. Salad are verry engrossing

[pres2032]

48. this is pretty cool

[7th_Sephiroth]

50. check out

his final fantasy 5 art

[pres2032]

51. i will another time

i'm pretty tired, i think it's time for bed. we'll have to continue this later. goodnight!

[7th_Sephiroth]

52. goodnight

his FF10 art is awesome too, sprawling scapes

[nytemare]

68. Love Moonlight Sonata!

I will have to add "Claire de Lune" to that. I must just like songs about the moon.

[mitchum]

16. "Beethoven, y'know...all the hits" David Brent

What David Said :)

Beautiful and hard to beat

[azoth]

23. Honestly, I prefer the mystical quality of Beethoven's 7th.

The 9th doesn't suck, but the 7th is better.

In my opinion. Of course.

[virgdem]

45. I'm with you on this one...

the 7th is by far my favorite of all 9, although the 6th (Pastoral Symphony) is pretty good as well.

[Catshrink]

69. And there you have it....

I couldn't agree more. And I really really love the 6th.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

60. The 8th is my favorite...

Especially the sarcastic Allegretto Scherzando. :hi:

[kayleybeth]

24. Moonlight Sonata

is my favorite of Beethoven's works.

[OffWithTheirHeads]

49. Beethoven sucks

Chopin rules! Piano concerto #1 rocks and the eitudes....

[ignatzmouse]

53. Mahler's 8th Symphony

Of course this is entirely subjective, and I love Beethoven as well, but Mahler's 8th is the most metaphysically transformational piece of music I've ever heard.

[barb162]

82. I love Mahler's Ist (Titan)

[Fleurs du Mal]

54. Ah heh, it sure is!

[Rabrrrrrr]

55. It's mighty fine, but I put the Mahler No. 2 ahead of it

But when one gets into the truly great pieces, they really can't be ranked; they just have to be lumped together as "the greatest five" or "the greatest ten".

[bobbobbins]

57. If you think thats good...you should check out Milkshake by Kelis

it blows beethoven away

[RaleighNCDem]

58. Rachmaninoff's Symphony # 2 is my personal favorite.

[redqueen]

59. Yes, it is.

It's not my favorite Beethoven (that would be his Moonlight Sonata), but it is undeniably the greatest piece of music ever written.

[tjwmason]

61. It's good - idea for a thunder storm

Open the windows as wide as possible, and turn the volume up on the stereo (and hope that the neighbour are out).

No way is it the greatest piece of music ever.

If I had to make a nomination I'd go with 'Miserere Mei' by Allegri. It's incredibly simple, yet haunting to the most extraordinary degree.

[BiggJawn]

62. Actually, I like his 6th better.

But the 9th *IS* good.

[MISSDem]

63. I'll take Chopin's anything over Beethoven's work.

Just depends on what your ears like.

[saltpoint]

67. Chopin? Did I hear you say the name Chopin, MISSDem?

'Cuz if I did, you are a wonderful human bein'.

I could listen to Chopin all night, and have, often.

Bless you for bringing him into this conversation.

[pmbryant]

64. "God's gift to humanity"

The perfect description.

I can't call it the greatest ever, since several other Beethoven works compete on that measure. And no doubt some others as well.

But "God's gift to humanity" fits pretty well. :-)

:thumbsup:

Peter

[puerco-bellies]

65. Beethoven's Eroica (Symphony No. 3 in E flat, Op. 55).

Truly his best, and one of the most beautiful pieces ever written.

[Osamasux]

70. It's great, but not 'the greatest'

I certainly do not mind when it gets stuck in my head for a whole day, that's for sure.

[sendero]

71. I'd have to go with Squarepusher's..

... "Port Rhombus" myself :)

[Taxloss]

72. It is the European national anthem

and as such, I am very ken on it. Also, it is very beautiful.

[hippiechick]

73. Rachmaninoff # 2

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=105&topic_id=2547484&mesg_id=2547484

Turns me to buttah !!! :loveya:

I am also very partial to The Brandenburg Concerto, and just about anything by Dvorzak <spelling?> - he's a Bohemian just like me.

[Rabrrrrrr]

75. Ooooh, Dvorak! I love his string quartets.

His symphonies are fun, and interesting, but not compellingly great like Mahler's or Beethoven's or Sibelius', etc.

But his string quartets - woo hoo! Right up there with Beethoven's!

[LiberallyInclined]

74. there is no such thing as the "greatest piece of music ever"...

the "greatness" of a piece of music is subjective, and a lot about mood and emotion- each person likes different music at different times for different reasons...today someone might think beethoven's 9th is the best ever, and tomorrow they might get drunk and swear it's billy idol's "white wedding" that takes the prize.

[pres2032]

76. that's true, but...

do you really think we'll be talking about "white wedding" or even billy idol in 200 years?

[LiberallyInclined]

79. No. but then WE won't be talking about Beethoven in 200 years either

and i'm not saying that white wedding is necessarily a great piece of music- it's just the one that popped into my head when i needed a title.

speaking of staying power of music- in 200 years do you think people will still be whistling the tune to: "shave and a haircut- two bits"??

[pres2032]

80. considering that's the first time i've heard that

probably not.

heh, fine, WE won't be talking about the ninth, but our great great great great great grandkids will

[barb162]

77. certainly one of the greatest, but so are his 6th and 7th and also

Handel's Messiah and many many MANY more.

[Democrats_win]

78. Mahler's Second: The Resurrection Symphony, a close second

Has the same scope as the 9th. Very beautiful.

[truebrit71]

81. Shostakovich's Fifth Symphony is my personal fave...

As for Beethoven I am more partial to his Pastorale Symphony