About CMG's contributors!

LSAmadeus · Post by **LSAmadeus** » Sun Jun 07, 2009 5:37 pm

Alrighty then. Here's me after a hard bout of playing with my dog Lady. we were both exhausted at this point!

Chalkperson · Post by **Chalkperson** » Sun Jun 07, 2009 10:37 pm

LSAmadeus wrote:Alrighty then. Here's me after a hard bout of playing with my dog Lady. we were both exhausted at this point!

My dear departed friend, Alex Harvey, had a Dog like yours called Hey, You!...it was perfect, you just had to shout Hey, You! and the Dog would come running...you look like you come from Up North...

LSAmadeus · Post by **LSAmadeus** » Mon Jun 08, 2009 3:23 am

Chalkperson wrote:
LSAmadeus wrote:Alrighty then. Here's me after a hard bout of playing with my dog Lady. we were both exhausted at this point!
My dear departed friend, Alex Harvey, had a Dog like yours called Hey, You!...it was perfect, you just had to shout Hey, You! and the Dog would come running...you look like you come from Up North...

Ha,do I now? Well i actually come from the south,well,the midlands. I moved up north in 2001

Chalkperson · Post by **Chalkperson** » Mon Jun 08, 2009 11:43 am

LSAmadeus wrote:Ha,do I now? Well i actually come from the south,well,the midlands. I moved up north in 2001

There is a famous Road Sign on the M1 that says Hatfield and the North, anything further than Watford is North to me... as for the Midlands, I was born in Cheltenham but moved back to Wales when I was very young...

LSAmadeus · Post by **LSAmadeus** » Mon Jun 08, 2009 12:05 pm

Chalkperson wrote:
LSAmadeus wrote:Ha,do I now? Well i actually come from the south,well,the midlands. I moved up north in 2001
There is a famous Road Sign on the M1 that says Hatfield and the North, anything further than Watford is North to me... as for the Midlands, I was born in Cheltenham but moved back to Wales when I was very young...

Cheltenham is well south isnt it, near Gloucester? I lived in south Staffordshire.

Jared · Post by **Jared** » Mon Jun 08, 2009 3:32 pm

Chalkperson wrote: There is a famous Road Sign on the M1 that says Hatfield and the North, anything further than Watford is North to me... as for the Midlands, I was born in Cheltenham but moved back to Wales when I was very young...

I was brought up in Bourton-On-The-Water... 17 miles East of Cheltenham...

Chalkperson · Post by **Chalkperson** » Mon Jun 08, 2009 5:26 pm

LSAmadeus wrote:
Chalkperson wrote:
LSAmadeus wrote:Ha,do I now? Well i actually come from the south,well,the midlands. I moved up north in 2001
There is a famous Road Sign on the M1 that says Hatfield and the North, anything further than Watford is North to me... as for the Midlands, I was born in Cheltenham but moved back to Wales when I was very young...
Cheltenham is well south isnt it, near Gloucester? I lived in south Staffordshire.

Yea, that's right, It's in the Midlands, I think...that's why I mentioned it...

Chalkperson · Post by **Chalkperson** » Mon Jun 08, 2009 5:27 pm

Jared wrote:I was brought up in Bourton-On-The-Water... 17 miles East of Cheltenham...

One of the most picturesque places in that area...lots of ducks I remember, mind you I was only five when I went there...

Sylph · Post by **Sylph** » Mon Jun 08, 2009 5:30 pm

Chalkperson wrote:I was born in Cheltenham but moved back to Wales when I was very young...

And then you ran away from there, too?

Sylph · Post by **Sylph** » Mon Jun 08, 2009 5:32 pm

Chalkperson wrote: One of the most picturesque places in that area...lots of ducks I remember, mind you I was only five when I went there...

Jared had a very picturesque life. Or so it seems.

First it was the ducks, then Hereford cattle.

What's in Norfolk?

Chalkperson · Post by **Chalkperson** » Mon Jun 08, 2009 5:45 pm

Sylph wrote:
Chalkperson wrote: One of the most picturesque places in that area...lots of ducks I remember, mind you I was only five when I went there...
Jared had a very picturesque life. Or so it seems. First it was the ducks, then Hereford cattle. What's in Norfolk?

A Wonderful Cathedral, lots of Villages, Waterways, Windmills, Walking, Cycling etc etc...

http://www.visitnorfolk.co.uk/norfolk/default.aspx

LSAmadeus · Post by **LSAmadeus** » Mon Jun 08, 2009 5:54 pm

Oh I'd love to visit Norfolk. The fens,the birds,fabulous

Jared · Post by **Jared** » Tue Jun 09, 2009 2:17 am

Sylph wrote:
Chalkperson wrote: One of the most picturesque places in that area...lots of ducks I remember, mind you I was only five when I went there...
Jared had a very picturesque life. Or so it seems. First it was the ducks, then Hereford cattle. What's in Norfolk?

I started in Leicestershire, moved to Gloucestershire, then Birmingham, then West Yorks, then Mid Wales, then Cumbria, then North Wales, then Mid Wales again, then Herefordshire, and now Norfolk... I'm exhausted...

Norfolk has lots of churches, historic buildings, classical concerts and a VERY flat landscape..

LSAmadeus · Post by **LSAmadeus** » Tue Jun 09, 2009 2:25 am

I was born in Wolverhampton,moved to south staffs as a baby,lived there for 32 years in the same house,then moved 183 miles up north.

Post by **Corlyss_D** » Wed Jun 10, 2009 4:20 am

Chalkperson wrote:I was born in Cheltenham but moved back to Wales when I was very young...

Now's when we need Nigel. *Sigh* He's a ex-pat Welshman living high in Paris. At one point he had us all praying for him to be fired so he could collect the generous unemployment the French provide, regardless of whether one is hired by another firm the very next day. Quite a wit, he. He did a riff on Wagner's Ring in which many of our regular members were given recognizable names as counterparts in the plays. He dubbed me Ruthlyss ever though I wasn't here much and we neither had nor enforced policies with respect to banning members or moderating the board. It was pretty much the wild west in those days.

DavidRoss · Post by **DavidRoss** » Wed Jun 10, 2009 11:43 am

Corlyss_D wrote:
Chalkperson wrote:I was born in Cheltenham but moved back to Wales when I was very young...
Now's when we need Nigel. *Sigh* He's a ex-pat Welshman living high in Paris. At one point he had us all praying for him to be fired so he could collect the generous unemployment the French provide, regardless of whether one is hired by another firm the very next day. Quite a wit, he. He did a riff on Wagner's Ring in which many of our regular members were given recognizable names as counterparts in the plays. He dubbed me Ruthlyss ever though I wasn't here much and we neither had nor enforced policies with respect to banning members or moderating the board. It was pretty much the wild west in those days.

I miss Nigel, too. He even bailed out of GMG a couple of years ago in disgust over the moderating. I've been tempted to bail, too, for one or more reasons at times, both here and there, but I've learned just to stay away for a few months when I've had enough of the foolishness that spoils things sometimes.

Nigel was unusually bright, well-educated, worldly, and--best of all--witty! We could do with a few more like him, though there are not many such in the world. Last I knew he was still writing insightful reviews of opera performances all over the Continent. See http://npw-opera-concerts.blogspot.com/.

ravel30 · Post by **ravel30** » Wed Jun 10, 2009 12:46 pm

Hi,

My name is Matt and I am 31. I live in the Ottawa region in Canada. I have been coming on this forum for almost 1 year now but I never really introduced myself.

I am a Ph.D. student in Mathematics. I should complete my studies within the next few months. It is very enjoyable to listen to classical music while working on maths. It helped me to keep a good balance for many years now.

I became interested in classical music by vengeance. You read right, vengeance. One reason why an ex-girlfriend ended our relationship was because she thought that I was not cultivated enough. She was more of the upper class type and thought that lower class people could not enjoy or appreciate classical music because... I don't know. At first, I listened to classical music to prove her wrong but within a few weeks, I realized that it was silly. A whole new world opened up to me because of that and classical music has become a passion of mine (for the right reasons).

Why do I like classical music so much now ? For several reasons but I think that it is mostly because its gives you a much different view of the world. A world of beauty, feelings, imagination, originality, cleverness and ideas. A world where ideals can be achieved. I think that it is a wonderful entertainment that makes one appreciate the beauty of the world a lot more.

There aren't many composers that I do not like. In fact, I very much like anything. I do have favorites. For some reasons, I feel very close to the french composers like Debussy, Ravel, Satie, Faure, Franck (Belgian). I am at total awe at spanish composers like Albeniz, De Falla and Granados and have big affinity with the music of scandinavian composers like Sibelius, Nielsen and Grieg.

On top of that, I am a big fan of Robert Schumann and the symphonies of Bruckner (Wow!).

If I had to make a top 5 of my favorite composers, it would be:

1- Debussy
2- Sibelius
3- Schumann
4- Bruckner
5- Ravel

I consider that I have good knowledge of classical music but feel like I have a lot to still learn. Since I joined this forum, I learned a great deal and I am very thankful for that. People have always been friendly and always gave me good advice. I intend continue to do so for many years to come.

I never really bought more than one version of a particular piece. However, it is starting to change now because of all the good recommandations that people do here. People here sure are good for that.

I am very fond on learning about different composers and give them a try. In the past, I have tried on a few occasions to suggest some of my favorite lesser known composers with no real success. To name a few here, I would suggest the swedish composers Wilhelm Peterson-Berger and Hugo Alfven and the french composer Deodat de Severac.

If you read this and you feel like you may have some similar interest, do not hesitate to write me.

Hoping to make many new friends here.

Ravel30

LSAmadeus · Post by **LSAmadeus** » Wed Jun 10, 2009 1:21 pm

Greetings Ravel. Mathematics and music make fine bedfellows! Combine the two with astronomy employing the so called music of the spheres and you can determine the orbits of the planets.
Unfortunately altho I like music and astronomy I'm not so good with maths!

karlhenning · Post by **karlhenning** » Wed Jun 10, 2009 1:38 pm

Welcome, Matt!

And, Larry, Edward Weston's work is highlighted in a current exhibit at the MFA here in Boston

Also, the only time before this thread I had heard the name Wolverhampton was in that Monty Python skit, the Communist Quiz Show . . . .

Presenter | Yes, yes! One final question Karl and the beautiful lounge suite will be yours... Are you going to have a go? (Karl nods) You're a brave man. Karl Marx, your final question, who won the Cup Final in 1949?

Karl | The workers' control of the means of production? The struggle of the urban proletariat?

Presenter | No. It was in fact, Wolverhampton Wanderers who beat Leicester 3-1.

Cheers,
~Karl[/color]

Jared · Post by **Jared** » Wed Jun 10, 2009 4:14 pm

^^ and being a Leicester City fan Karl, that's a particularly cruel jibe...

Jared · Post by **Jared** » Wed Jun 10, 2009 4:21 pm

Hi Matt, thanks for the great intro...

I have to be honest, Debussy remains one of the great impenetrable mysteries of CM to me (as do most of his French compatriots) however I'm still working on it..

that said, it'd be great to get to know you better, in time, so stick around..

ravel30 · Post by **ravel30** » Wed Jun 10, 2009 7:07 pm

Hi Jared,

It is great to know you too. The french composers are sometimes difficult to appreciate immediately. In fact, I still have a tough time appreciating some of the pieces by Ravel. For example, Gaspard La Nuit. To me, Debussy is more approachable than Ravel.

It took me a while to fully appreciate some of Debussy's piano pieces like his Preludes. But with a lot of listening, everything started to make sense. Also, at the beginning I found some of his earlier pieces easier to appreciate than his later ones. The two arabesques, Pour le piano and Suite Bergamasque are wonderful pieces in my mind.

The nice thing about CM is that it has many genres within a genre. You may like a specific group of composers but your friend doesn't like it but after talking with him or her, you start to see something in his or her preferences.

From another thread, I learned that you like choir music. That is a genre that I do not know much about but listening to your comments and other people's comments I become more and more curious about it and may start to dig into sometimes soon.

Once again, glad to know you all.

Ravel30

karlhenning · Post by **karlhenning** » Wed Jun 10, 2009 7:14 pm

ravel30 wrote:. . . The french composers are sometimes difficult to appreciate immediately. In fact, I still have a tough time appreciating some of the pieces by Ravel. For example, Gaspard La Nuit. To me, Debussy is more approachable than Ravel.

It took me a while to fully appreciate some of Debussy's piano pieces like his Preludes. But with a lot of listening, everything started to make sense. Also, at the beginning I found some of his earlier pieces easier to appreciate than his later ones. The two arabesques, Pour le piano and Suite Bergamasque are wonderful pieces in my mind.

Interesting, Matt! For whatever passel of reasons, I actually took to both books of the Préludes right off, and Gaspard, too (for the latter, ithelped perhaps that a good friend prepared the piece for his Master's recital). The French literature has somehow been very aimable for me.

Cheers,
~Karl

Jared · Post by **Jared** » Thu Jun 11, 2009 8:23 am

ravel30 wrote:
From another thread, I learned that you like choir music. That is a genre that I do not know much about but listening to your comments and other people's comments I become more and more curious about it and may start to dig into sometimes soon.

that's right, Matt... as I mentioned in my self-indulgent 'One Year In' thread, I was lent three large choral works by a friend, all of which I love now.... I've got to say, this has surprised me more than I can tell you. It started with Mozart: Requiem, Beethoven: Missa Solemnis & Dvorak: Requiem, before the passion spread to Brahms: Ein Deutsche Requiem, Mozart: Great Mass, Mendelssohn: Hymn Of Praise, the set of Hummel Masses and back through the list of early choral works I mentioned... I just love the harmonies and the drama of them all... (although Tchaikovsky's Liturgy op.41 is perhaps a bridge too far...

)

I genuinely think there has been a change in my tastes, because I distinctly remember when I was about 20, a girlfriend's Mum leant me Vaughan Williams' Sea Symphony, and I was thoroughly bored by it. Whilst it still isn't my favouruite choral work (I think its overly long), I nevertheless can appreciate its power and symbolism, and it gets fairly regular listens..

anyway, you never know, I'll be getting into Opera next...

stephenjohn · Post by **stephenjohn** » Wed Jun 24, 2009 3:29 pm

Hello
I am a new member. I have been listening to classical music since 1984. I am currently enjoying Mozart and Haydn a lot. Previous obsessions have been 20th century string quartets and Baroque music.best wishes
SJ

Post by **Corlyss_D** » Wed Jun 24, 2009 3:39 pm

stephenjohn wrote:Hello
I am a new member. I have been listening to classical music since 1984. I am currently enjoying Mozart and Haydn a lot. Previous obsessions have been 20th century string quartets and Baroque music.best wishes
SJ

Howdy, Stephen. Kick your shoes off and set a spell. Tell us a little about yourself. Where are you? Do you attend concerts or opera regularly? What got you started in classical music?

LSAmadeus · Post by **LSAmadeus** » Wed Jun 24, 2009 5:02 pm

Evening Stephen,welcome to the CMG!

ravel30 · Post by **ravel30** » Wed Jun 24, 2009 11:37 pm

Hi stephenjohn,

Welcome to CMG. I hope you enjoy it here. I am also fairly new and so far I found everyone to be very friendly.

You are lucky, you got a greeting for Corlyss_D. I didn't !

Looking forward to talk further with you in the future.

Ravel30

Post by **Corlyss_D** » Thu Jun 25, 2009 5:01 am

ravel30 wrote:You are lucky, you got a greeting for Corlyss_D. I didn't !

I'm not sure everyone here would agree with you about the luck.

You joined during the 3 months I was off the site.

karlhenning · Post by **karlhenning** » Thu Jun 25, 2009 1:15 pm

Welcome, Stephen!

And being greeted by Corlyss can't be bad.

Cheers,
~Karl

stephenjohn · Post by **stephenjohn** » Thu Jun 25, 2009 2:18 pm

Thanks for all the greetings.
In answer to the questions
I got into classical music in my 20s - I had heard pieces I liked and some I didn't so wondered how to find my way in. I read that there were over 10 CDs of Vivaldi's Four Seasons made already [it was a new medium then]. I thought this must mean something so a bought a cassette [5 years to wait before I owned a CD player] and never looked back. I did go to a modest number of concerts each year until 3 years ago when my son was born - I don't go out now in the evenings - well almost never anyway.
atb
SJ

ravel30 · Post by **ravel30** » Thu Jun 25, 2009 10:45 pm

Hello Corlyss_D and everyone else,

I joined last summer I think and I have come on and off the forum because I have felt ignored on several occasions

. I greatly enjoy it here sometimes but on other times it feels like people don't care about one's opinions, comments or questions. It feels like it is very hard to fit in unless you have been here for a long time or if you are highly knowledgable. So sad because I feel like I have a lot to share

.

I thought that writting on the introduce yourself thread would help to get in touch with more people but I only got three welcomes from LSAmadeus, Jared (two newcomers as well.) and karlhenning (you have always been my favorite member to read)

I have always wish that I could come here and share thoughts on some pieces or passage of pieces. For example, I just love the way Prokofiev use the saxophone in Romeo and Juliet, any thoughts on that ? And then no one will reply to that even if they know the piece and have an opinion.

However, if I ask for suggestions for a recording of Brahms symphony (for example) I will get something like 10 different suggestions and then people will argue among themselves.

I am old enough to know that this is a forum and that I should have no expectaction in regards to people's answers to my questions. People are free to answer to whichever thread that they like and that they are interested into. I just don't know anymore how to make the most of my CMG experience

.

Ravel30

stephenjohn · Post by **stephenjohn** » Fri Jun 26, 2009 8:43 am

ravel30 wrote:Hello Corlyss_D and everyone else,

I have always wish that I could come here and share thoughts on some pieces or passage of pieces. For example, I just love the way Prokofiev use the saxophone in Romeo and Juliet, any thoughts on that ? And then no one will reply to that even if they know the piece and have an opinion.

Ravel30

I don't own or know this piece of music - so it's difficult to have an opinion. If I had one I would share it

best wishes

Stephenjohn

Post by **Corlyss_D** » Fri Jun 26, 2009 7:07 pm

ravel30 wrote:Hello Corlyss_D and everyone else,

I joined last summer I think and I have come on and off the forum because I have felt ignored on several occasions . I greatly enjoy it here sometimes but on other times it feels like people don't care about one's opinions, comments or questions. It feels like it is very hard to fit in unless you have been here for a long time or if you are highly knowledgable. So sad because I feel like I have a lot to share

I thought that writting on the introduce yourself thread would help to get in touch with more people but I only got three welcomes from LSAmadeus, Jared (two newcomers as well.) and karlhenning (you have always been my favorite member to read)

Gee. I apologize. It's as if we invited you to a great party and left you sitting alone in the corner. Like I said, I wasn't here when you joined but that is no comfort, really, as I primarily hang in the Pub. Lance usually welcomes new member here; I can't think how he missed you.

I have always wish that I could come here and share thoughts on some pieces or passage of pieces. For example, I just love the way Prokofiev use the saxophone in Romeo and Juliet, any thoughts on that ? And then no one will reply to that even if they know the piece and have an opinion.

All I can say is hang in there, don't give up yet. That's a pretty specific thing, that saxophone in Prokoviev. I've noticed it but that was as far as it went. Maybe there's just not a lot to be said about it unless you're a saxophone player . . . are you? A saxophone player, I mean? The specificity may be why your threads have not been posted to. I hesitate to use the word ignored because that may not be the case at all. I understand why you feel the way you do, but you shouldn't stop posting because of that. If you have opinions on thread topics, I trust you jump in. We have quite a few members here who rarely start threads but comment alot on existing threads. It's not often a sign of disrespect that a thread receives no comments. Sometimes it is, but not often and usually not in the music room.

However, if I ask for suggestions for a recording of Brahms symphony (for example) I will get something like 10 different suggestions and then people will argue among themselves.

Well, that's kind o' the nature of the thing, really. We have a lot of very experienced listeners here, many professional musicians too. They are very bright folks and eager to share their opinions on matters that really have no final verdict because the opinions are based on personal preferences that vary from person to person. Also folks here are very passionate about what they like. I don't know if you've ever tried to make sense out of the infamous recmusicclassicalrecordings newsgroup, but it's even moreso there.

Anyway, in closing, I hope you will continue to participate here. Don't be shy. Grab a drink and a nosh and push into the discussions.

jbuck919 · Post by **jbuck919** » Fri Jun 26, 2009 7:37 pm

ravel30 wrote:Hello Corlyss_D and everyone else,

I joined last summer I think and I have come on and off the forum because I have felt ignored on several occasions . I greatly enjoy it here sometimes but on other times it feels like people don't care about one's opinions, comments or questions. It feels like it is very hard to fit in unless you have been here for a long time or if you are highly knowledgable. So sad because I feel like I have a lot to share .

I thought that writting on the introduce yourself thread would help to get in touch with more people but I only got three welcomes from LSAmadeus, Jared (two newcomers as well.) and karlhenning (you have always been my favorite member to read)

I have always wish that I could come here and share thoughts on some pieces or passage of pieces. For example, I just love the way Prokofiev use the saxophone in Romeo and Juliet, any thoughts on that ? And then no one will reply to that even if they know the piece and have an opinion.

However, if I ask for suggestions for a recording of Brahms symphony (for example) I will get something like 10 different suggestions and then people will argue among themselves.

I am old enough to know that this is a forum and that I should have no expectaction in regards to people's answers to my questions. People are free to answer to whichever thread that they like and that they are interested into. I just don't know anymore how to make the most of my CMG experience .

Ravel30

First, belated welcome to the board.

Speaking only for myself, I just don't notice new posters automatically in the Chatterbox because, frankly, a lot of topics there are not things to which I can make a useful contribution. All that really means is that since I have joined we have had quite an influx of newer posters with specific interests or who are into things I'm just no good at, such as large CD collections and discographies of specific performers. So please don't take it too personally.

On the matter of feeling like you're trying to break into a clique (though you didn't use that word), I can relate to that. Look at my profile and you'd think I had been here forever slapping people on the back and getting, er, slapped in return.

But the truth is when I joined I had never been a member of any message board. I just up and googled "classical music message boards" and then joined without even lurking. And for quite a long time, perhaps as much as a year, I felt a little outside the group of regulars who did a lot of the posting then, which included some currently active members and some who no longer post here. They all called each other by real given names instead of screen names, knew things about one another's background, etc. Unfortunately, that's going to be a feature of any successful message board. It wouldn't be fun if the ice didn't break at some point.

I'm not going to say that there is no truth in your assessment of how people respond on the board, from ignoring a very specific topic to gong overboard on a broader one. The most experienced posters will sometimes get zero responses, as when I suggested once that Mahler might have missed his calling as a chamber music composer. (Well, I suppose I can understand why that one was ignored.

) I can't tell you that these things don't happen, but I can tell you that in this house there are many mansions. Take one of our moderators, for instance, Corlyss, who calls herself the Contessa d'EM, meaning she really loves early music and is a bit insouciant about some other eras. She certainly doesn't have something to contribute to every thread, but when she does join in it is always with a pithy comment. Similarly, I prefer to discuss music somewhat abstractly and just don't have much to contribute to a list of the best performances of Mahler's Ninth, or whatever. So if you can deal with this much specialization and hang in there, I'm sure the apparent ice will melt.

So please, have a little patience and don't think you can err on the side of posting too much; it's making yourself too scarce that is likely to delay your becoming a fixture here.

Post by **Lance** » Sat Jun 27, 2009 12:19 pm

Hey Matt! Welcome to CMG. I'm away on vacation and only occasionally looking in on things. It's nice to get away from a computer keyboard - it makes one appreciate it much more when one sits at one's OWN computer at home!

You sound exactly like the kind of person we enjoy on CMG. I am looking forward to reading your posts and your participation on our boards. Just jump in and you will see how many friends will come your way.

All best,
—Lance

ravel30 wrote:Hi,

My name is Matt and I am 31. I live in the Ottawa region in Canada. I have been coming on this forum for almost 1 year now but I never really introduced myself.

I am a Ph.D. student in Mathematics. I should complete my studies within the next few months. It is very enjoyable to listen to classical music while working on maths. It helped me to keep a good balance for many years now.

I became interested in classical music by vengeance. You read right, vengeance. One reason why an ex-girlfriend ended our relationship was because she thought that I was not cultivated enough. She was more of the upper class type and thought that lower class people could not enjoy or appreciate classical music because... I don't know. At first, I listened to classical music to prove her wrong but within a few weeks, I realized that it was silly. A whole new world opened up to me because of that and classical music has become a passion of mine (for the right reasons).

Why do I like classical music so much now ? For several reasons but I think that it is mostly because its gives you a much different view of the world. A world of beauty, feelings, imagination, originality, cleverness and ideas. A world where ideals can be achieved. I think that it is a wonderful entertainment that makes one appreciate the beauty of the world a lot more.

There aren't many composers that I do not like. In fact, I very much like anything. I do have favorites. For some reasons, I feel very close to the french composers like Debussy, Ravel, Satie, Faure, Franck (Belgian). I am at total awe at spanish composers like Albeniz, De Falla and Granados and have big affinity with the music of scandinavian composers like Sibelius, Nielsen and Grieg.

On top of that, I am a big fan of Robert Schumann and the symphonies of Bruckner (Wow!).

If I had to make a top 5 of my favorite composers, it would be:

1- Debussy
2- Sibelius
3- Schumann
4- Bruckner
5- Ravel

I consider that I have good knowledge of classical music but feel like I have a lot to still learn. Since I joined this forum, I learned a great deal and I am very thankful for that. People have always been friendly and always gave me good advice. I intend continue to do so for many years to come.

I never really bought more than one version of a particular piece. However, it is starting to change now because of all the good recommandations that people do here. People here sure are good for that.

I am very fond on learning about different composers and give them a try. In the past, I have tried on a few occasions to suggest some of my favorite lesser known composers with no real success. To name a few here, I would suggest the swedish composers Wilhelm Peterson-Berger and Hugo Alfven and the french composer Deodat de Severac.

If you read this and you feel like you may have some similar interest, do not hesitate to write me.

Hoping to make many new friends here.

Ravel30

IcedNote · Post by **IcedNote** » Sat Jun 27, 2009 12:41 pm

ravel30 wrote:I am old enough to know that this is a forum and that I should have no expectaction in regards to people's answers to my questions. People are free to answer to whichever thread that they like and that they are interested into. I just don't know anymore how to make the most of my CMG experience .

Ah, another guy around my age (I'm 28). Don't worry about "fitting in" on the board. Hell, I'm working on a PhD in music and I still can't contribute that much around here!

As with anything, most knowledge just comes from "doing" whatever it is you're studying. So in the sense of classical music, you just gotta listen, listen, listen. And...well...there's just no way to rush that.

Over time posters will get to know you, and sure you'll go through some growing pains (jbuck once jumped on me because I listed Chopin as a great composer.

). But that's just how it goes.

But hey...it's the internet...so don't take it too seriously.

-G

karlhenning · Post by **karlhenning** » Sat Jun 27, 2009 1:16 pm

IcedNote wrote:(jbuck once jumped on me because I listed Chopin as a great composer. :shock: ).

John's a decent chap otherwise, Garrett ; )

Cheers,
~Karl

IcedNote · Post by **IcedNote** » Sat Jun 27, 2009 2:45 pm

karlhenning wrote: John's a decent chap otherwise, Garrett ; )

Cheers,
~Karl

Yeah, I've gotten to know his personality, so I can handle him now!

-G

Chalkperson · Post by **Chalkperson** » Sat Jun 27, 2009 11:02 pm

ravel30 wrote:I thought that writting on the introduce yourself thread would help to get in touch with more people but I only got three welcomes from LSAmadeus, Jared (two newcomers as well.) and karlhenning (you have always been my favorite member to read)........I just don't know anymore how to make the most of my CMG experience .

Ravel30

I'm sorry if I did not welcome you, I try and do so as often as possible, but, on seeing you had been a member since 2008 I did not do so, I also do not read this thread too often, as for getting no replies to a Thread it's exactly why I rarely start Threads, don't feel intimidated, it's like jumping into a swimming pool at the deep end, you won't sink because survival is the prime concern...so welcome, and please contribute...

Post by **Corlyss_D** » Sat Jun 27, 2009 11:56 pm

IcedNote wrote:(jbuck once jumped on me because I listed Chopin as a great composer. ).

He's never quite trusted me since I made such a big deal of disliking Bach.

DavidRoss · Post by **DavidRoss** » Sun Jun 28, 2009 8:19 am

ravel30 wrote:Hello Corlyss_D and everyone else,

...I greatly enjoy it here sometimes but on other times it feels like people don't care about one's opinions, comments or questions. It feels like it is very hard to fit in unless you have been here for a long time or if you are highly knowledgable. So sad because I feel like I have a lot to share .
....
People are free to answer to whichever thread that they like and that they are interested into. I just don't know anymore how to make the most of my CMG experience.

Hello, Matt--welcome to CMG! Some of us don't get around to this "Introductions" thread very often. It's relatively new here and likely to be ignored as a sticky atop the index page with the announcements.

I see that you joined during the time I was gone, from the last month of the US election campaign until after the inauguration, at which time you stopped posting until recently. I see also that you and I share some similar tastes--Debussy & Sibelius particularly, and some of the Spanish composers as well. One thing about this place, it helps to have a thick skin--especially if you venture into some of the political, economic, or "religious" discussions in The Pub! On the music side, you've probably already learned that there are a lot of hard core record collectors here, the sort who can tell you which make and model of microphone the recording engineer used to capture the soprano's voice in a long OOP recording of Kirsten Flagstad singing the theme from Walt Disney's Steamboat Willie. Composers with extensive discographies are likely to be the subject of the more active threads; ones like Borodin and Albéniz spark less interest.

To become better known here and feel more like a member of this virtual community, in the heart of it instead of on the fringes, I suggest that you heed the advice of that noted social butterfly, Al Capone: post early, and post often! (It might also help if you were to invade every thread with absurd off-topic comments about your particular obsession--say, "Raff rules and Beethoven drools"--but I doubt that's the sort of notoriety a sharp young fellow like yourself really wants to court!

)

Sylph · Post by **Sylph** » Sun Jun 28, 2009 8:22 am

I remember how David Ross attacked me when I joined and everyone was saying: Don't mind him, he's a wacko.

jbuck919 · Post by **jbuck919** » Sun Jun 28, 2009 11:21 am

IcedNote wrote:(jbuck once jumped on me because I listed Chopin as a great composer. ).
-G

Them's fighting words. I worship Chopin. You'd better be able to find that post.

DavidRoss · Post by **DavidRoss** » Sun Jun 28, 2009 11:49 am

Sylph wrote:I remember how David Ross attacked me when I joined and everyone was saying: Don't mind him, he's a wacko.

Gosh. If you felt attacked and I was responsible, I would like to apologize. If you will please direct me to that post so I can see the truth in this charge, I will be happy to admit my wrong and ask your forgiveness. Thanks!

(I realize this was probably intended as a joke

, but there really are some around here who feel "attacked" when others stand up to their bullying or request support for their improbable claims, and it's also possible that I might have said something carelessly that could reasonably be construed as an attack--though I think that's extremely improbable in the case of a noob.

)

Sylph · Post by **Sylph** » Sun Jun 28, 2009 12:13 pm

DavidRoss wrote:Gosh. If you felt attacked and I was responsible, I would like to apologize. If you will please direct me to that post so I can see the truth in this charge, I will be happy to admit my wrong and ask your forgiveness. Thanks!

(I realize this was probably intended as a joke , but there really are some around here who feel "attacked" when others stand up to their bullying or request support for their improbable claims, and it's also possible that I might have said something carelessly that could reasonably be construed as an attack--though I think that's extremely improbable in the case of a noob. )

Oh, don't worry, it was silly! Back then, I thought: My goodness, what kind of a place is this? Did I really have to register? Turns out: I kind of misinterpreted it and took it very seriously.

That happened when I said: I hate Verdi. Remember?

DavidRoss · Post by **DavidRoss** » Sun Jun 28, 2009 2:35 pm

Sylph wrote:
DavidRoss wrote:Gosh. If you felt attacked and I was responsible, I would like to apologize. If you will please direct me to that post so I can see the truth in this charge, I will be happy to admit my wrong and ask your forgiveness. Thanks!

(I realize this was probably intended as a joke , but there really are some around here who feel "attacked" when others stand up to their bullying or request support for their improbable claims, and it's also possible that I might have said something carelessly that could reasonably be construed as an attack--though I think that's extremely improbable in the case of a noob. )
Oh, don't worry, it was silly! Back then, I thought: My goodness, what kind of a place is this? Did I really have to register? Turns out: I kind of misinterpreted it and took it very seriously. That happened when I said: I hate Verdi. Remember?

Sorry, I did not remember. But I was able to track it down with the clues you offered. On a thread about "composers you can't stand" you had said you hated Verdi. Some folks took exception, one just said that Verdi's good enough not to need defending. I agreed with that, saying that "He no more needs defending than Mozart or Beethoven, dislike of whom evokes only pity for the poor shallow soul thus afflicted." You took offense and demanded that I be banned. I think that got sorted out back then so no need to rehash it here, but please allow me to apologize for not clarifying to your satisfaction that (a) the comment referred specifically to folks unable to enjoy Mozart or Beethoven, (b) the phrase "poor shallow soul" was neither addressed to nor referred to you, personally, and (c) the snobby affectation at which you took umbrage satirizes the sort of pompous ass who often pops up on sites like this one.

Just so you know: Probably half of what I say here is intended ironically (my tongue's nearly worn a hole in my cheek). Not everyone gets the jokes or appreciates them. Oh well--not everyone gets Verdi or appreciates him...or Schubert, Schumann, Sibelius, Stravinsky, Schoenberg, Strauss, or Stenhammar! (Who?)

ravel30 · Post by **ravel30** » Tue Jun 30, 2009 2:03 pm

Dear all,

I feel like it is hard to fit in at times but I understand that it may take some times to become better known around here. Also, I do understand that it is not everyone who may be interested in every thread. I personnally don't look at all the thread but take a look at those that I may be interested in.

I feel like I should explain what I was trying to say. For the experience that I had here, I would say that CMG is a wonderful place to come if you are looking for some suggestions or recording of a particular piece. I had the chance to do that on a few occasions and was pleased by the reaction each time.

However, I have been disappointed on several occasions whenever I shared an opinion and asked for people's people. This is what I was trying to show with the Prokofiev example. For me, one of the nicest thread that I read lately was the : "What does CMG think of Borodin" started by IcedNote. What a wonderful idea it was. In that thread, I posted my opinion that I found his third symphony to be amazing. I asked people their thoughts on that people and no one replied. I found the two movements on youtube and posted them on the thread thinking that people that do not know the piece could listen to it and give their opinion. I received no answers and this thread if saddly forgotten by now.

It sure isn't the first time that it happened to me. Months ago, I started a thread on the music of the swedish composers Alfen and Petersen-Berger (two composers that should be better known in my opinion) asking the opinion here. Only one person really replied to me (Febnyc) and another person said that he would get the symphonies of Alfen. I even posted excerpts of the piano music of Petersson-Berger on that thread but no one replied.

My point is that I am mostly here to share ideas and get some feedback of people but it seems like it is very hard to get unless you are well known or part of the gang. The worst is that it feels like the output would be much bigger if say Lance, Corlyss_D or Karlhenning would start a thread asking the same similar questions.

On top of that, I introduced myself on the ''introduce yourself'' thread and only get 3 replies (2 of which are newcomers and trying to make friends like I am) while other people who introduced themsleves got a lot more, and you may understand why I find it difficult to fit in.

Now, don't get me wrong here. I still find CMG enjoyable. And I am planning on coming here. It is just that I learned not to share too much and expect a reply from anyone about what I think because it may not happen.

I appreciate all your replies and shall write back to each of you. Also, I am planning to start a thread sometimes soon on a particular composer (with no expectations).

Ravel30

ravel30 · Post by **ravel30** » Tue Jun 30, 2009 2:05 pm

stephenjohn wrote:
I don't own or know this piece of music - so it's difficult to have an opinion. If I had one I would share it

best wishes

Stephenjohn

Thank you for your reply. I really appreciate. It was very kind. I will try to give my opinion on any question that you asked in the future (if I have one, of course.)

Ravel30

karlhenning · Post by **karlhenning** » Tue Jun 30, 2009 2:12 pm

ravel30 wrote:Dear all,

I feel like it is hard to fit in at times but I understand that it may take some times to become better known around here. Also, I do understand that it is not everyone who may be interested in every thread. I personnally don't look at all the thread but take a look at those that I may be interested in.

I feel like I should explain what I was trying to say. For the experience that I had here, I would say that CMG is a wonderful place to come if you are looking for some suggestions or recording of a particular piece. I had the chance to do that on a few occasions and was pleased by the reaction each time.

However, I have been disappointed on several occasions whenever I shared an opinion and asked for people's people. This is what I was trying to show with the Prokofiev example. For me, one of the nicest thread that I read lately was the : "What does CMG think of Borodin" started by IcedNote. What a wonderful idea it was. In that thread, I posted my opinion that I found his third symphony to be amazing. I asked people their thoughts on that people and no one replied. I found the two movements on youtube and posted them on the thread thinking that people that do not know the piece could listen to it and give their opinion. I received no answers and this thread if saddly forgotten by now.

It sure isn't the first time that it happened to me. Months ago, I started a thread on the music of the swedish composers Alfen and Petersen-Berger (two composers that should be better known in my opinion) asking the opinion here. Only one person really replied to me (Febnyc) and another person said that he would get the symphonies of Alfen. I even posted excerpts of the piano music of Petersson-Berger on that thread but no one replied.

My point is that I am mostly here to share ideas and get some feedback of people but it seems like it is very hard to get unless you are well known or part of the gang. The worst is that it feels like the output would be much bigger if say Lance, Corlyss_D or Karlhenning would start a thread asking the same similar questions.

On top of that, I introduced myself on the ''introduce yourself'' thread and only get 3 replies (2 of which are newcomers and trying to make friends like I am) while other people who introduced themsleves got a lot more, and you may understand why I find it difficult to fit in.

Now, don't get me wrong here. I still find CMG enjoyable. And I am planning on coming here. It is just that I learned not to share too much and expect a reply from anyone about what I think because it may not happen.

I appreciate all your replies and shall write back to each of you. Also, I am planning to start a thread sometimes soon on a particular composer (with no expectations).

Ravel30

Matt, I'm sorry I didn't chime in on the Borodin thread . . . fact is, my musical enthusiasms tend to be elsewhere, and I try to avoid a situation where my participation in a thread is not much beyond "gosh, I don't know all that much by this composer, and what I do know doesn't quite ring my bell" ; )

Also, while youtube is an interesting new resource, it can be dicey, sonic-quality-wise.

Just some thoughts . . . otherwise, I exhort you please to make yourself free of the place, and don't take it as 'unwelcoming' if a query or two don't hit targets . . . .

Cheers,
~Karl

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