Astrovaan here.

[Astrovaan]

After a few days of lurking and a slip-up with my validation, I've finally joined this forum. Now it's time I said a few things about myself, just in case anyone actually reads this.

I play the cello, piano, guitar, violin, and mandolin. I'm at beginner level on the latter three, and I'm rusty on the piano because I haven't had formal piano lessons since I was 12. However, most of the cello repertoire is within my reach. In short, the cello is the only instrument where I'm making significant progress.

I've played classical music my whole life, but I didn't seriously listen to it until a few years ago. Most of my childhood was spent liking generic rock bands, like other kids. I didn't break from society's mold until I realized that orchestral music spoke to me more than the popular kind.

As I said before, I haven't actually listened to that much classical music until recently. As such, I'm probably familiar with a smaller number of pieces than the average member on this site. However, I'm a fast learner, and I'm willing to listen to (almost) anything.

I'd like to list my favorite composers, but I've noticed my taste changes quite rapidly. I don't really place the major composers above one another, since comparing them is like comparing apples and bananas for me. By era, I've compiled a list of those whose music I currently enjoy, though this list will probably change soon:

Renaissance: Byrd, Tallis
Baroque: Bach, Vivaldi, Rameau, Zelenka
Classical: Mozart, Beethoven, Haydn (such great selection in this era)
Romantic: Saint-Saëns, Tchaikovsky, Mussorgsky, Dvorak, Rheinberger
Modern*: Shostakovich, Barber, Elgar, Debussy, Stravinsky

*It's difficult for me to get my hands on decent recordings of living composers' works. Most of what I listen to is what I can get for free. This too may change in the near future.

I also take interest in "sleeping giants", because there are quite a few relatively unknown composers (Zelenka and Rheinberger come to mind) that I think should become more recognizable figures because of their talent as composers.

I think that's it. I'll respect the opinions of others since I know not everyone will agree with mine.

Oh, and the Bach emoticon is neat.

[sospiro]

Originally Posted by Astrovaan

After a few days of lurking and a slip-up with my validation, I've finally joined this forum. Now it's time I said a few things about myself, just in case anyone actually reads this.

Welcome Astrovaan.

I read all introductions but don't always respond which is bad manners on my part & not because I don't find the people interesting.

Originally Posted by Astrovaan

I play the cello, piano, guitar, violin, and mandolin. I'm at beginner level on the latter three, and I'm rusty on the piano because I haven't had formal piano lessons since I was 12. However, most of the cello repertoire is within my reach. In short, the cello is the only instrument where I'm making significant progress.

I've played classical music my whole life, but I didn't seriously listen to it until a few years ago. Most of my childhood was spent liking generic rock bands, like other kids. I didn't break from society's mold until I realized that orchestral music spoke to me more than the popular kind.

I don't play any instrument but I'm curious - once you've learned one, is it then easier to learn others? Like learning languages?

Originally Posted by Astrovaan

As I said before, I haven't actually listened to that much classical music until recently. As such, I'm probably familiar with a smaller number of pieces than the average member on this site. However, I'm a fast learner, and I'm willing to listen to (almost) anything.

I'd like to list my favorite composers, but I've noticed my taste changes quite rapidly. I don't really place the major composers above one another, since comparing them is like comparing apples and bananas for me. By era, I've compiled a list of those whose music I currently enjoy, though this list will probably change soon:

Renaissance: Byrd, Tallis
Baroque: Bach, Vivaldi, Rameau, Zelenka
Classical: Mozart, Beethoven, Haydn (such great selection in this era)
Romantic: Saint-Saëns, Tchaikovsky, Mussorgsky, Dvorak, Rheinberger
Modern*: Shostakovich, Barber, Elgar, Debussy, Stravinsky

*It's difficult for me to get my hands on decent recordings of living composers' works. Most of what I listen to is what I can get for free. This too may change in the near future.

I also take interest in "sleeping giants", because there are quite a few relatively unknown composers (Zelenka and Rheinberger come to mind) that I think should become more recognizable figures because of their talent as composers.

I think that's it. I'll respect the opinions of others since I know not everyone will agree with mine.

Oh, and the Bach emoticon is neat.

Good list. Hope you enjoy your visits here & I look forward to reading your posts.

[Philidor]

Welcome There's loads of Zelenka hereabouts!

[Astrovaan]

I don't play any instrument but I'm curious - once you've learned one, is it then easier to learn others? Like learning languages?

Once you learn a string instrument, all the others are a lot easier to learn. You've probably noticed I don't play any brass/woodwinds, because I never bothered to learn one and now it's pretty difficult for me to pick one up. However, I'm sure if you learn one of those instruments it will be easier to learn the others.

I might find success in percussion, thanks to my piano background...

Originally Posted by Philidor

Welcome There's loads of Zelenka hereabouts!

That's actually how I found this site. I was following a link from Zelenka's IMSLP page.

[Philidor]

Originally Posted by Astrovaan

That's actually how I found this site. I was following a link from Zelenka's IMSLP page.

Well done Zelenka, well done IMSLP. I so admire IMSLP. They had terrible trouble from Universal but came out stronger than ever.

International_Music_Score_Library_Project