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Sashadroogie · Last edited by Sashadroogie on Thu Apr 11, 2013 9:21 am; edited 1 time in total

This was a question, posed in my classroom, which elicited quite a lot of good language.

Might be interesting for us as teachers to voice our preferences too. I am quite taken with Borodin at the moment. I'll spare you all the superlative adjectives though. Listen to him yourself and supply your own : )

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DK_a73LC7_k

Dedicated · Joined: 18 May 2007 Posts: 972 Location: UK

It's difficult to choose just one. I enjoy Mussorgsky, Rimsky-Korsakov, Prokofiev, Rachmaninoff, Alexander Scriabin and of course, Tchaikovsky.

coledavis · Joined: 21 Jun 2003 Posts: 1838

Mussorgsky.

coledavis · Joined: 21 Jun 2003 Posts: 1838

I pressed on your link and found some Chomsky follower. I am not keen on Chomsky and was not aware of his or Pinker's contributions to Russian musical composition.

Sashadroogie · Posted: Thu Apr 11, 2013 9:22 am Post subject:

Cheers Cole. I was getting mixed up on the links front. Has been corrected. Now listen to the aural feast : )

coledavis · Joined: 21 Jun 2003 Posts: 1838

Avogadro's Number · Joined: 30 Aug 2012 Posts: 14 Location: North Caucasus

Tchaikovsky first and foremost, followed by Rachmaninov, Rimsky-Korsakov, and Borodin.

Sashadroogie · Posted: Fri Apr 12, 2013 7:38 pm Post subject:

A lot to be said about Scriabin too, of course:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bW7C8ulp8s

Avogadro's Number · Joined: 30 Aug 2012 Posts: 14 Location: North Caucasus

Sashadroogie · Posted: Sat Apr 13, 2013 2:07 pm Post subject:

Oh, I dunno. I think they both have something special to offer. Of course, some listeners get really sniffy about Sergei Vasilievich, for his crime of being immensely popular. "How could he?!"

Interesting clip here about just said theme:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwBNOBVsXPw

Avogadro's Number · Joined: 30 Aug 2012 Posts: 14 Location: North Caucasus

Thanks for that link Smile

I used to play trombone in high school, and the philosophy was the same: prepare for contests. We would play the hell out of three or four pieces, and the emphasis was on technical elements rather than emotional expression.

I didn't mean to put down Scriabin. Their styles differ. Music isn't a competitive sport.

I feel Pyotr Ilych is the greatest victim of immense popularity. He was a genius, but because of his popularity many music critics then and now see him as the court favorite, producing saccharine sweet pablum for the nobility and bourgeoisie. The extensive use of his music in TV and film, and of course the annual Nutcracker performances at Christmas time, only serve to diminish his reputation among the artsy-fartsy.

Sashadroogie · Posted: Sun Apr 14, 2013 2:56 pm Post subject:

Yer welcome! I'd say, however, that Sergei Vasilievich is a greater victim than Pyotr Ilych. I don't know too many arty types who'd be gauche enough to say that they looked down on the latter. But for the former, it seems to be a badge of honour among the atonalists whom I know...