Condoleezza Rice Top 10 best musical works

[mourningstar]

1 Mozart
Piano Concerto in D minor

At the age of 15, Rice began piano classes - although she has played since she was three - with the intention of becoming a concert pianist. This concerto holds many memories for her: "I won my first piano competition at the age of 15, playing this work."
2 Cream
'Sunshine of Your Love'

Cream - Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker and Jack Bruce - were one of the first of the great supergroups. Despite the fact that the band split up in 1968, Cream's fans are still going strong. "I love to work out to this song," says Rice. "Believe it or not, I loved acid rock in college - and I still do."
3 Aretha Franklin
'Respect'

"The Queen of Soul's anthem", in Rice's opinion. Aretha Franklin is best known for her soul and R&B music, but is also skilled at jazz, rock, blues, pop, gospel and opera. The singer, known also as Lady Soul, has won 18 Grammys and earned the music world's unstinting respect.
4 Kool and the Gang
'Celebration'

Released in 1980, "Celebration" was a No 1 hit for Kool and the Gang in the US, although it only made No 7 in the UK charts. Rice loves this upbeat track, saying: "It's just such a great song." Not so great was Kylie Minogue's 1991 cover version, which reached No 22 in the UK top 40.
5 Brahms
Piano Concerto No 2

This is considered one of the most difficult piano works to learn, but Rice isn't fazed. "It's a stormy, difficult piece, but I'm going to learn to play it before I leave this earth!" Premiered in 1881, the Second is unusual because it is in four movements instead of the usual three.
6 Brahms
Piano Quintet in F minor
This piece by Johannes Brahms is "passionate without being sentimental", Rice says. The work, composed in 1864, is the piece she most loves to play with her quintet. Like most piano quintets, it is written for piano and string quartet (two violins, viola and cello).
7 U2
Anything

Founded in 1976, U2 have regularly topped the record charts since the late 1980s. The band have sold 130 million albums and had six No 1 albums in the US and nine in the UK. One of the most successful groups of all time. Rice, a big fan, is happy to listen to any of their tunes.
8 Elton John
'Rocket Man'

This pop ballad was co-written by Bernie Taupin. It first appeared on John's 1972 album Honky Château and became a hit single. For Rice - and many children of the 1970s - this song is a blast from the past: "It brings back memories of college, friends, my first boyfriend."
9 Beethoven
Symphony No 7

"Quite simply the greatest symphony of all time," is how Rice describes Beethoven's Seventh. The work was written in 1811 and 1812 during what is known as the composer's middle period, at a time when Beethoven was struggling with his increasing deafness.
10 Mussorgsky
Boris Godunov

"The greatest opera of all time," Rice says. "If you love Russia, you have to love Godunov." The composer, Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky, was one of five Russian composers who became known as The Mighty Handful, and were the chief innovators of Russian music in the 19th century.

[mourningstar]

I took this article from the Special "bono" Edition from the Independant newspaper... Well her music taste is topnotch. my affections to Ms(mrs?) Rice are growing more and more

[jbuck919]

Sigh, another sellout to eclecticism (to put a polite word on it). I won't assume it's in the name of avoiding the appearance of snobbery or to be politically correct or because she lacks confidence in her own tastes. I don't know the lady. But Eric Clapton over Beethoven's Seventh, when she thinks the latter is the greatest symphony? Some screw is loose there, especially for someone who holds soirees for classical chamber music in her own apartment.

[Ralph]

It says a lot that Dittersdorf doesn't make her list.

[Corlyss_D]

Well her music taste is topnotch. my affections to Ms(mrs?) Rice are growing more and more

Mourningstar! You are smitten! And she's single!

[mourningstar]

Sigh, another sellout to eclecticism (to put a polite word on it). I won't assume it's in the name of avoiding the appearance of snobbery or to be politically correct or because she lacks confidence in her own tastes. I don't know the lady. But Eric Clapton over Beethoven's Seventh, when she thinks the latter is the greatest symphony? Some screw is loose there, especially for someone who holds soirees for classical chamber music in her own apartment.

I think this list is based on her sentiment .. her attachment to certain songs.

[mourningstar]

Well her music taste is topnotch. my affections to Ms(mrs?) Rice are growing more and more

Mourningstar! You are smitten! And she's single!

Dear gods you are right, but i am not a republican, so it would never work out

[Ralph]

Well her music taste is topnotch. my affections to Ms(mrs?) Rice are growing more and more

Mourningstar! You are smitten! And she's single!

*****

And always will be.

[Corlyss_D]

And always will be.

Ralph! Don't tell him that! Let him dream!

[Ralph]

And always will be.

Ralph! Don't tell him that! Let him dream!

*****

Imagine if Dubya left Laura for her!

[mourningstar]

And always will be.

Ralph! Don't tell him that! Let him dream!

*****

Imagine if Dubya left Laura for her!

"As I was telling my husb— As I was telling President Bush." Condeleezza Rice

* Newsweek, May 3, 2004

Yeah, I wonder what would happen

[Corlyss_D]

Yeah, I wonder what would happen

It would be a lot more difficult for you to court her.

[mourningstar]

Too bad, I was hoping that she could be the first Female President. And then i could be the first men

[Corlyss_D]

Too bad, I was hoping that she could be the first Female President.

Yeah. Me too.

Maybe someday, but not in 08.

[mourningstar]

Oh .. who are you thinking of?

By the way. in 08 Who's going to Win? Democrats or Republican,

Funny my aunt and uncle both live in the US. my aunt is democrat and my uncle Republican

[Corlyss_D]

Oh .. who are you thinking of?

Well, Condi has said she's not running. If she were running, she'd have to resign her job and start laying the groundwork for a campaign. It's all most too late to start now if one anticipates running. I don't want her to leave State - she's the only intelligent one there.

By the way. in 08 Who's going to Win? Democrats or Republican,

One of them. Too soon to tell which. You may not follow American politics closely enough to know that in order to run successfully - i.e., have the backing of one of the two major parties - you have to win that party's primary. In America the primaries are owned and operated by the true believers in both parties. That usually results in candidates who represent views that are too spicy for the general public's tastebuds. If the Republicans don't form a circular firing squad and do something dumb like nominate Rick Santorum, if they nominate John McCain, he'll win. If they nominate Santorum, the Democrat will win. No question on this. Clinton on the other hand is viewed even by old experienced hands in the Democratic party as too liberal to win in the general election. But she has hoovered up all the money running up to the primaries and most political analysts are fairly confident she will win the Democratic nomination even tho' the interest groups that form the Democratic base think she's too conservative for their tastes but they won't hear anyone that says she's unelectable. You get the idea.

Funny my aunt and uncle both live in the US. my aunt is democrat and my uncle Republican

Sounds like the normal American household. Mommies belong to the Mommy Party and daddies belong to the Daddy party.

[Ralph]

And the kids belong to the Hedonist Party.

[Werner]

Corlyss, are you serious about mentioning Santorum? I thought he's in trouble in his reelection campaign this year - so how could anyone imagine him as a national candidate?

[Corlyss_D]

Corlyss, are you serious about mentioning Santorum? I thought he's in trouble in his reelection campaign this year - so how could anyone imagine him as a national candidate?

Ya know, he looks in the mirror in morning and sees a future Prez. It would be a boon to all if he lost his bid for re-election. I don't know if I can stand one more Senator campaigning from the floor of the Senate for the next 2 years. If you want to see what his recent poll numbers are look here. A caveat about them: they were prior to the primaries that blew out so many Republican incumbents. The ire in Pa could have affected his numbers.

[Werner]

Thanks for the link. Does this mean some people shouldn't look in the miror?

[Corlyss_D]

Thanks for the link. Does this mean some people shouldn't look in the miror?

Yes. I think the minute they get elected to office, the mirrors become funhouse mirrors.

[Cyril Ignatius]

Sigh, another sellout to eclecticism (to put a polite word on it). I won't assume it's in the name of avoiding the appearance of snobbery or to be politically correct or because she lacks confidence in her own tastes. I don't know the lady. But Eric Clapton over Beethoven's Seventh, when she thinks the latter is the greatest symphony? Some screw is loose there, especially for someone who holds soirees for classical chamber music in her own apartment.

You're absolutely right.

[lmpower]

I also agree with Jbuck on this. I can't understand a mind that would create such a list.

[Haydnseek]

It looks to me as if Secretary Rice understood the question to be "what are your favorite pieces of music." Maybe that was the question - we aren't told really. I know my list of favorites would include some popular songs that wouldn't be on my list of the greatest musical works of all time.

[Corlyss_D]

H., love your sig.

[Haydnseek]

H., love your sig.

O'Rourke is very quotable. How about these:

"The Democrats are the party that says government will make you smarter, taller, richer, and remove the crabgrass on your lawn. The Republicans are the party that says government doesn't work and then they get elected and prove it."

"The whole idea of our government is this: If enough people get together and act in concert, they can take something and not pay for it."

"At the core of liberalism is the spoiled child - miserable, as all spoiled children are, unsatisfied, demanding, ill-disciplined, despotic and useless. Liberalism is a philosphy of sniveling brats."

"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences."

"You can't get good chinese takeout in China and cuban cigars are rationed in Cuba. That's all you need to know about communism."

[Brendan]

Just need to add my personal fav P.J. quote:

"Giving money and power to governments is like giving whiskey and car-keys to teenage boys."

[Cyril Ignatius]

Just need to add my personal fav P.J. quote:

"Giving money and power to governments is like giving whiskey and car-keys to teenage boys."

Wonderful quote, Brendan!!

[karlhenning]

10 Mussorgsky
Boris Godunov

"The greatest opera of all time," Rice says. "If you love Russia, you have to love Godunov." The composer, Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky, was one of five Russian composers who became known as The Mighty Handful, and were the chief innovators of Russian music in the 19th century.

Well, if it makes her top ten list (especially crowding out such contenders as Lionel Richie, "All Night Long") it must be the greatest opera of all time, even as the Beethoven Opus 92 must be quite simply the greatest symphony of all time.

I wonder how she feels about the Shostakovich edition of the opera . . . ?

[Corlyss_D]

Karl, you do know she's a Russian specialist, right? That's how she got on the NSC staff in the 80s. Maybe if she were an Italian specialist, she'd think that of Otello.

[Haydnseek]

Dr. Rice appeared on the radio show "Mad About Music" with Gilbert Kaplan. Here is a link to a transcript of the show.

http://www.wnyc.org/shows/mam/episodes/2005/01/02

Her choices to share and discuss that day were:

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Concerto No. 20 in D Minor, K.466. Artur Rubinstein, Piano, RCA Victor Symphony Orchestra, Alfred Wallenstein, Conductor. RCA Victor Gold Seal 7967-2-RG.

Ludwig von Beethoven Christ on the Mount of Olives. Maria Venuti, Soprano; Keith Lewis, Tenor; Michel Brodard, Bass; Gächinger Kantorei Stuttgart; Bach-Collegium Stuttgart; Helmuth Rilling, Conductor. Musical Heritage Society 5261121.

Johannes Brahms Variations on a Theme by Joseph Haydn for Two Pianos, Op. 56b. Sir Georg Solti and Murray Perahia, Pianos. CBS Records Masterworks MK 42625.

Ludwig van Beethoven Symphony No. 7 in A Major, Op. 92. Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Sir Georg Solti, Conductor. London Records 430 400 2.

Johannes Brahms Piano Quintet in F Minor, Op. 34. John Browning, Piano; Krista Bennion Feeney, Violin I; Mayuki Fukuhara, Violin II; Louise Schulman, Viola; Daire Fitzgerald, Violoncello. MusicMasters Classics 67161-2.