Saturday, March 21, 2009

Bach's birthday

Listening to the radio in the car just now, I was reminded by the announcer that J.S. Bach "was born on this day in 1685. Perhaps" -- the announcer added (gratuitously?) -- "the greatest genius in Western music."

I like Bach, but there are moods and times when only Rachmaninoff or Tchaikovsky (or perhaps Dvorák) will do.

2 comments:

El Jefe Maximo said...

Don't forget Mozart. I would also put in a word for Elgar, in particular the last movement of his Symphony No. 2

When I'm in the darkest of black moods -- Shostakovich, Symphony No. 5...is just the ticket.

LFC said...

Re Elgar: I don't think I know his Symphony No.2, at least not well, so thks for the rec. I kind of like the Enigma Variations, but they're over-performed, I think.
Never got much into Shostakovich. Perhaps time to give him a 2nd chance.