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A personal "7 Wonders of (classical) music"

I was browsing in another forum yesterday, looking at thoughts on performances of the Rachmaninov Vespers and a poster opined that this was, in his opinion, one of the Seven Wonders of Music - a reference to the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

This set me thinking - what would I put on such a list - and came up with (in alphabetical order)

Bach Cello Suites
Beethoven 9th Symphony
Beethoven A minor quartet op 132
Elgar Cello Concerto
Mahler 2nd Symphony
Rachmaninov Vespers
Verdi Requiem
 

Clearly I could add another dozen or two works, but this seven first came to mind.

I'd love to see others' lists, and perhaps other threads for Jazz, Rock etc. could be started but I would not know where to begin in those genres.

Also, I have not referenced specific performances.  I'll think about that and try to post those thoughts later.

 

 

retiredaudioguy
tuberist
1,017 posts
 

What immediately came to mind: Elgar Enigma Variations and Bachs Goldbergs

larryi
4,631 posts
 

For Elgar, don't overlook his Cello Concerto and his magnificent oratorio:  "The Dream of Gerontius." 

charliecheese
43 posts
 

Mahler's 9th

Prokofiev: Lieutenant Kije Suite

Berg: Wozzeck

Stravinsky: The Soldier's Tale

Beethoven's 5th

JS Bach: Goldberg Variations

JS Bach: Brandenburg Concertos

simonmoon's avatar
simonmoon
646 posts
 

My list is going to be substantially different than any that I have seen so far.

I want to be challenged, not calmed or relaxed, when I listen to classical music.  

Elliott Carter - Concerto for Orchestra (1969)

Charles Wuorinen - Fourth Piano Concerto (2003)

 Bruno Maderna - Concerto no. 3 for Oboe and Orchestra (1973)

Kaija Anneli Saariaho - Laterna Magica (2008)

Beat Furrer - Konzert, for piano and orchestra (2007)

Ernst Krenek - Static and Ecstatic for chamber orchestra (1972)

Krzysztof Eugeniusz Penderecki - Violin Concerto No. 2: Metamorphosen (1992–95)

Brian Ferneyhough - Prometheus (1967)

I could very easily list a couple dozen more, but I’ve been listening to these most recently, so they made my list this time. 

Ask me again in a few days, and at least some of these will be different.

 

mahgister's avatar
mahgister
15,061 posts
 

Astounding! On  more than one millenium of Western Music you picked  all composers in the almost same few decades.

When i listen music i dont want to sleep but i dont want  only secondary masters because they all want to be recognised  "original".. Why not Scriabin sonatas a top of pianistic writing ?  Why not Sorabji transcendental studies ?  Why not Robert Simpsons or an opera from Weil  or Busoni  (Faust) or Akhnaten From Glass ? 

Where is Jakob Obrecht ? Not mentioning the hundred years of French Flamish school composers.or italian genius as Gesualdo no composer ever replicate as poweful emotional engine and more modern in his expressionism  than most modern composers.

smiley

My list is going to be substantially different than any that I have seen so far.

I want to be challenged, not calmed or relaxed, when I listen to classical music.  

Elliott Carter - Concerto for Orchestra (1969)

Charles Wuorinen - Fourth Piano Concerto (2003)

 Bruno Maderna - Concerto no. 3 for Oboe and Orchestra (1973)

Kaija Anneli Saariaho - Laterna Magica (2008)

Beat Furrer - Konzert, for piano and orchestra (2007)

Ernst Krenek - Static and Ecstatic for chamber orchestra (1972)

Krzysztof Eugeniusz Penderecki - Violin Concerto No. 2: Metamorphosen (1992–95)

Brian Ferneyhough - Prometheus (1967)

I could very easily list a couple dozen more, but I’ve been listening to these most recently, so they made my list this time. 

Ask me again in a few days, and at least some of these will be different

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