The thread on "Composers you hate" has produced quite a large response. I wondered whether it should be balanced by "Composers you love", but, then, each person probably has a long list. It all depends on what you're listening to!
So let's narrow it down: there are moments in music - often just one individual chord - which are so wonderful that they give you a tingle all the way down your spine. They give you goose bumps (or goosepimples or whatever you like to call them). Know woddamin?
So here's one to start off with. Can you guess it? Clue: "Bridge's E as added-note in Britten's D". Did you get it? It is the final bars in Britten's "Variations on a theme of Frank Bridge" op.10. The whole work is wonderful, and I was listening to it the other day while doing some boring chores. That ending, though, is just so spine-chillingly superb.................. (no smiley can do justice to it).
Oooh, 
How about the first 6 notes of Chopin's Bb minor nocturne, Op. 9 no 1?
How about the first 6 notes of Chopin's Bb minor nocturne, Op. 9 no 1?
QUOTE(Oddball @ Apr 8 2007, 05:26 PM) 
Oooh,
How about the first 6 notes of Chopin's Bb minor nocturne, Op. 9 no 1?
pity, never heard/played any of chopin's nocturnes exept for the one in Eb.
QUOTE(lizbun @ Apr 8 2007, 05:40 PM)
QUOTE(Oddball @ Apr 8 2007, 05:26 PM)
Oooh,
How about the first 6 notes of Chopin's Bb minor nocturne, Op. 9 no 1?
pity, never heard/played any of chopin's nocturnes exept for the one in Eb.
You muuuust, he's such a legend at the old Nocturnes.
QUOTE(Oddball @ Apr 8 2007, 05:42 PM)
QUOTE(lizbun @ Apr 8 2007, 05:40 PM)
QUOTE(Oddball @ Apr 8 2007, 05:26 PM)
Oooh,
How about the first 6 notes of Chopin's Bb minor nocturne, Op. 9 no 1?
pity, never heard/played any of chopin's nocturnes exept for the one in Eb.
You muuuust, he's such a legend at the old Nocturnes.
My dad has loads of CDs, so I'm sure they'll be in some of them.
Try listening to 'Jesus Blood Never Failed Me Yet' by tramp and Gavin Bryars - one constant prolonged goosebump - I've rarely experienced anything like it - nor have a lot of other people judging by the comments at Amazon...
QUOTE
This late minimalist, 74-minute piece for orchestra and tape has had, and continues to have, a near-legendary effect on its audience. It's the rare work created specifically to tug gently at one's heartstrings that actually does, and not subtly, either. It starts with a found recording of a homeless man singing a halting, simple melody looped over and over. Then Bryars builds and buttresses this with a full orchestra brought in incrementally, from the first carefully placed short pendulum string sweep to, 10 minutes from the end, the gravelly-voiced singer Tom Waits joins in. It's an obvious but effective work--appealing to all the basics of our emotional nervous system, but still tragically beautiful. --Robin Edgerton
QUOTE
Attention: This is dangerously powerful material!, February 9, 2003
Reviewer: A music fan
I know this will start to sound like an urban legend, but my story is just the same as that of so many other reviewers: heard this incredible piece on the radio one afternoon while I was working in my kitchen, was trasfixed, even cried a bit, and eagerly waited for the announcer to say what it was.
This music haunted me ever since, and even if my memory is not very trustable I never forgot title and composer: so when I had to buy a birthday present for my brother, I knew what to get.
You can like this music or not: I never would say that you are dumb if you don't get it, but believe me, this music has nothing to do with "being a Christian, crying at Princess Di's funeral, or watching Bambi", as thesceptic from Vancouver claims.
In fact, I am a more ironical than sentimental person, and I am normally a bit ashamed to show my emotions too much.
So it is an effort for me to listen to this, because it stirrs up emotions you are not always ready to face.
But you will not regret this experience. Get this CD.
Reviewer: A music fan
I know this will start to sound like an urban legend, but my story is just the same as that of so many other reviewers: heard this incredible piece on the radio one afternoon while I was working in my kitchen, was trasfixed, even cried a bit, and eagerly waited for the announcer to say what it was.
This music haunted me ever since, and even if my memory is not very trustable I never forgot title and composer: so when I had to buy a birthday present for my brother, I knew what to get.
You can like this music or not: I never would say that you are dumb if you don't get it, but believe me, this music has nothing to do with "being a Christian, crying at Princess Di's funeral, or watching Bambi", as thesceptic from Vancouver claims.
In fact, I am a more ironical than sentimental person, and I am normally a bit ashamed to show my emotions too much.
So it is an effort for me to listen to this, because it stirrs up emotions you are not always ready to face.
But you will not regret this experience. Get this CD.
QUOTE
Indescribable, September 2, 2002
Reviewer: rubidium84 (Ft. Calhoun, NE) - See all my reviews
All I can say is that this is the only record that has been able to make me weep. I only listen to this on rare occasions, because if I played it over and over I think it would somehow spoil the effect. And after listening to it I can't do anything else but sit alone next to the now-silent stereo, staring out into space for what seems like hours. Just get out and buy the disc - if you don't you're depriving yourself
Reviewer: rubidium84 (Ft. Calhoun, NE) - See all my reviews
All I can say is that this is the only record that has been able to make me weep. I only listen to this on rare occasions, because if I played it over and over I think it would somehow spoil the effect. And after listening to it I can't do anything else but sit alone next to the now-silent stereo, staring out into space for what seems like hours. Just get out and buy the disc - if you don't you're depriving yourself
The beginning of the Dies Irae from Verdi's Requiem always gets me (and the rest of the Dies Irae as well, to be honest!).
There area loads!
1. RVW, A Lark Ascending
2. RVW, Fantasia on a theme by Thomas Tallis
3. 'Sleep' by Eric Whittaker (by Polyphony...)
4. Some of the Chorales in the St Matthew Passion......
The list could go on forever!
1. RVW, A Lark Ascending
2. RVW, Fantasia on a theme by Thomas Tallis
3. 'Sleep' by Eric Whittaker (by Polyphony...)
4. Some of the Chorales in the St Matthew Passion......
The list could go on forever!
My heroes, the wonderful Banchieri Singers, performing Gibbons' 'Drop, Drop, Slow Tears', Kodály's 'Esti Dal' (in particular the last chord when the basses add a low fifth right at the end) and an arrangement (forget who by but The King's Singers have done it too) of 'My Love is Like a Red, Red Rose' - the chorus is so rich and there are two chords in it which are just the nearest thing to heaven...
*swoon*
*swoon*
Edith Piaf starting "Je ne regrette rien" or "La Vie en Rose"
Jacques Brel and "Ne me quitte pas" or "Les Bonbons"
Almost anything sung by Maria Callas... how about when she sings "Io seguo il mio destino" in Madam Butterfly, or "Un Bel di"
Ennio Morricone's "Once Upon a Time in the West" music... amazing !
Beethoven.... lots of pieces/chords etc
someone else's turn now..
Jacques Brel and "Ne me quitte pas" or "Les Bonbons"
Almost anything sung by Maria Callas... how about when she sings "Io seguo il mio destino" in Madam Butterfly, or "Un Bel di"
Ennio Morricone's "Once Upon a Time in the West" music... amazing !
Beethoven.... lots of pieces/chords etc
someone else's turn now..
Among many, many others ...
The tango section in Berg's Der Wein
The massive whole-tone chord in Szymanowski's Symphony no.3 (The Song of the Night)
The bit about a third of the way through Rhapsody in Blue where the trumpets have the melody and the piano soloist is cascading down the keyboard
Most of the fourth movement of Janacek's Sinfonietta
The trumpets/horns exchange in the loudest part of The Sorceror's Apprentice
The part of Bartok's The Miraculous Mandarin where the mandarin is plugged into a light socket
Bach F# minor prelude book 2, major seventh drop in the melody from C# to D (where the audience realises it's not going to get through this without crying)
"The worm" in Haydn's Creation
The first appearance of the main tune in the first movement of Nielsen's Symphony no.6
The Devil coming to get Faust in Schnittke's Faust Cantata
The tango section in Berg's Der Wein
The massive whole-tone chord in Szymanowski's Symphony no.3 (The Song of the Night)
The bit about a third of the way through Rhapsody in Blue where the trumpets have the melody and the piano soloist is cascading down the keyboard
Most of the fourth movement of Janacek's Sinfonietta
The trumpets/horns exchange in the loudest part of The Sorceror's Apprentice
The part of Bartok's The Miraculous Mandarin where the mandarin is plugged into a light socket
Bach F# minor prelude book 2, major seventh drop in the melody from C# to D (where the audience realises it's not going to get through this without crying)
"The worm" in Haydn's Creation
The first appearance of the main tune in the first movement of Nielsen's Symphony no.6
The Devil coming to get Faust in Schnittke's Faust Cantata
Just thought of another one: the descending scale at the end of the first movement of the Ravel G major piano concerto, preceded by the few bars in the piano part that build the tension and expectation which is released by the scale. 
'Fool on the Hill' or 'Eleanor Rigby' by the Beatles, 'God Only Knows' by the Beach Boys, Stan Getz's 'Focus', Louis Armstrong singing and playing 'When You're Smiling', pretty much anything by Django Reinhardt but especially 'Manoir De Mes Reves' or several versions of 'Nuages', Coleman Hawkins playing 'Body and Soul', that slow movement from the famous Mozart Piano Concerto, Bachianas Brazilieras sung by Victoria de los Angeles, Miles Davis' Concierto De Aranjuez...
Where to begin?
Where to begin?
The bit in Chopin's Polonaise in C minor where it goes back to the main tune... 
Beethoven 'Emperor' Piano Concerto, slow movement: the rising 6ths in the tune just after the piano has finished its first 'waterfalls'...gets me every time...
I can think of several, but for me the theme in the Tchaikovsky Variations on a Rococo Theme, Britten's setting of "How Sweet The Answer" and the last movement of the Brahms Violin Concerto usually produce a few goosebumps. Some music will cause me to laugh or cry but you asked for goosebumps!
Yes of course there's lots. But one from what is possibly the greatest violin concerto ever written.
The very very end of the Britten Violin Concerto where the soloist is trilling an F (with Gb appogiaturas before each bow change) in what seems to be a valiant attempt to get to the Gb above it and not succeeding in staying there. The rest of the orchestra is in D (major), just playing a long chord of D and A, only the soloist has the 3rd of the chord, so the effect is of a minor 3rd (F) trying vainly to reach the major 3rd (enharmonically F#) and never quite making it.
Invariably moves me to tears after the whole emotional gamut and struggle of the rest of the concerto.
The very very end of the Britten Violin Concerto where the soloist is trilling an F (with Gb appogiaturas before each bow change) in what seems to be a valiant attempt to get to the Gb above it and not succeeding in staying there. The rest of the orchestra is in D (major), just playing a long chord of D and A, only the soloist has the 3rd of the chord, so the effect is of a minor 3rd (F) trying vainly to reach the major 3rd (enharmonically F#) and never quite making it.
Invariably moves me to tears after the whole emotional gamut and struggle of the rest of the concerto.
The heavy chords at the start of "Local Hero" by Mark Knopfler. It sends shivers down my spine, and I know the beautiful melody is about to begin.
To those who only like classical, this may seem odd, but I love it
Beverley.
To those who only like classical, this may seem odd, but I love it
Beverley.
am all sung out right now, having done three big choral services in the last 24 hours ... currently have the gloria from Charles Wood's evening canticles in F for double choir going round in my head, particularly the fantastic build up towards the end - which is a bit unfair as nothing else gets a look in. Need to come back to this when my head is emptier.
Samuel Barber's Knoxville Summer of 1915, second part from 'Now is the night' but specially from 'On the rough wet grass of the back yard'.
The Marriage of Figaro overture.
Especially the bit at the start where the flute comes in - if that makes sense! Also the running passages at the end.... Difficult to explain
Love it though
Especially the bit at the start where the flute comes in - if that makes sense! Also the running passages at the end.... Difficult to explain
Love it though
the expanse of the tune in Bruch's violin concerto
the excitement of the rhythms in Rawsthorne's piano concerto... (I think that's what it is ... have to check
)
The first chords of Prokofiev's first piano concerto
to name a few more
the excitement of the rhythms in Rawsthorne's piano concerto... (I think that's what it is ... have to check
)The first chords of Prokofiev's first piano concerto
to name a few more
Three moments
Chopin Ballade no 1. The spread chord of D-G-Bb-Eb just before the appearance of the first them is soooo evocative.
Chopin Sonata no 2 in Bb minor - the climax of the development section in the first movement with triplet sixths in the left hand and fragments of the tune in the right as it traverses several keys - great stuff- reminded me of Dracula when I first heard it!
Ravel - Ondine from Gaspard de la nuit - the climax here occurs when the piano has irregular groupings of demisemiquavers that span almost the whole piano in each hand - very Goosebumpy!
Dangermouse
Chopin Ballade no 1. The spread chord of D-G-Bb-Eb just before the appearance of the first them is soooo evocative.
Chopin Sonata no 2 in Bb minor - the climax of the development section in the first movement with triplet sixths in the left hand and fragments of the tune in the right as it traverses several keys - great stuff- reminded me of Dracula when I first heard it!
Ravel - Ondine from Gaspard de la nuit - the climax here occurs when the piano has irregular groupings of demisemiquavers that span almost the whole piano in each hand - very Goosebumpy!
Dangermouse
QUOTE(Violinia @ Apr 8 2007, 07:08 PM)
'Fool on the Hill' or 'Eleanor Rigby' by the Beatles
I agree! Also "Hurt" by Johnny Cash. And Schubert's Impromptus Opus 90 no. 3 and 4!! And then quite a few places in songs in choir with lovely chords. I'm sure I'll think of loads more later.
QUOTE(Oddball @ Apr 8 2007, 04:26 PM)
Oooh,
How about the first 6 notes of Chopin's Bb minor nocturne, Op. 9 no 1?
Or the very end of the Db major nocturne...............
QUOTE(chocolatedog @ Apr 8 2007, 11:15 PM)
QUOTE(Oddball @ Apr 8 2007, 04:26 PM)
Oooh,
How about the first 6 notes of Chopin's Bb minor nocturne, Op. 9 no 1?
Or the very end of the Db major nocturne...............
Oh, that's a great one.
And the final flourish of the last movement of the Pathetique sonata. How cool!
Its probably already been said but.....
Beethovens 9th, final movement, when all the choir and orchestra come in together for the first time, that one always gets the goosebumps going!
Also Tchaikovskys piano concerto no1, the main theme in the first movement, its just amazing!
Beethovens 9th, final movement, when all the choir and orchestra come in together for the first time, that one always gets the goosebumps going!
Also Tchaikovskys piano concerto no1, the main theme in the first movement, its just amazing!
I love this thread
Oh yes I forgot about Beethoven's 9th!
Also Chopin's Polonaise Militaire - the part with the consecutive octaves in the LH that build up
For something cheery I like ELO "Mr. Blue Sky"
Also Chopin's Polonaise Militaire - the part with the consecutive octaves in the LH that build up
For something cheery I like ELO "Mr. Blue Sky"
Prokofiev - ROmeo and Juliet Montagues and Capulets, especially the flute solo!
WIndows on the World, movements 2(rainforest) and 5(celtic dream) by Peter Graham
WIndows on the World, movements 2(rainforest) and 5(celtic dream) by Peter Graham
Today's selection:
"Puttnam's Camp" from Three Places In New England by Charles Ives
The setting of "remember me" in Dido's Lament by Purcell
Cell Block Tango from Chicago
"Mandinka" from The Lion and the Cobra by Sinead O'Connor
Recurring huge brass chords with swooping ondes etc in Messiaen's Turangalila Symphony
Modulation to E major in the Agnus Dei of Rossini's Petite Messe Sollennelle
"Puttnam's Camp" from Three Places In New England by Charles Ives
The setting of "remember me" in Dido's Lament by Purcell
Cell Block Tango from Chicago
"Mandinka" from The Lion and the Cobra by Sinead O'Connor
Recurring huge brass chords with swooping ondes etc in Messiaen's Turangalila Symphony
Modulation to E major in the Agnus Dei of Rossini's Petite Messe Sollennelle
QUOTE(Kovich @ Apr 8 2007, 08:58 PM)
Beethoven 'Emperor' Piano Concerto, slow movement: the rising 6ths in the tune just after the piano has finished its first 'waterfalls'...gets me every time...
OOoooh yes...wonderful!!!!!!!
Casta Diva by the one and only Maria Callas
Be Still My Soul- Libera
Ticking- Elton John
Private Investigations-Dire Straits
First Time Ever I saw your Face- by ??
In Paradisum- Faure
The whole of Mozarts' Requiem
Miserere- Allegri
...etc. etc....
Roberta Flack sang what's probably the best known arrangement of 'First Time ever I saw your Face'. Very good song!
QUOTE(barry-clari @ Apr 9 2007, 06:21 PM)
Roberta Flack sang what's probably the best known arrangement of 'First Time ever I saw your Face'. Very good song!
Yes- that's the one! Lovely...
More additions:
The bit in Bridge over Troubled Water where the full accompaniment kicks in (third verse).
The moment in the Shostakovich Fugue in A major where a second inversion A major chord moves to a first inversion C major chord over a pedal E.
The bit in Bridge over Troubled Water where the full accompaniment kicks in (third verse).
The moment in the Shostakovich Fugue in A major where a second inversion A major chord moves to a first inversion C major chord over a pedal E.
Pirates of the Carribean.
The Gladiator
Anything by Chopin
Tchaikosvsky Piano Concerto - those first few seconds!!!
The beginning of Mr Blue Sky - ELO
Arnold Lane - Pink Floyd
Pelleas & Melisande - Sibelius
Piano Concerto - Keith Emerson - used in a BBC serial 'The Sea and the Anenome' when I was little and brings back memories.
Steve
Tchaikosvsky Piano Concerto - those first few seconds!!!
The beginning of Mr Blue Sky - ELO
Arnold Lane - Pink Floyd
Pelleas & Melisande - Sibelius
Piano Concerto - Keith Emerson - used in a BBC serial 'The Sea and the Anenome' when I was little and brings back memories.
Steve
I recently heard a recording of Purcell's Music for a While that quite simply moved me to tears.....absolutely extraordinary.....
Baggle x
Baggle x
Oh, yes, I know the one you mean - totally agree...
The resolution of the trill in the 2nd movement of the Dvorak cello concerto
QUOTE(noodle @ Apr 9 2007, 11:17 PM)
Would Purcell have felt the same, I wonder?
LOL
.
The Purcell Funeral Sentences
Opening Of Bach's Mass in B minor
Transition between 1st and 2nd movements of Brahms German Requiem
Build up silence and "Take me away" from Elgar's Dream of Gerontius
Last Mvt Beethoven's 5th when it plunges into the major and the trombones and picc are added.
Slow movement of Mozart's Grand Partita
Embroidery Aria - Peter Grimes
Violin solo during Benedictus of Beethoven's Missa Solemnis
Monteverdi 1610 vespers
Bach Komm Jesu Komm
Agnus Dei Byrd Mass for four voices
Dowland Flow my Teares
Mahler's 2nd Symphony
Passacaglia and Fugue in c minor bach
Widor 6th Organ Symphony
Bridge Over troubled Water
Wind beneath my Wings
Don't Cry for me Argentina - when perfomed as part of the play
With drooping tears - the chorus after Dido's Lament
The Plaint from Fairy Queen Purcell
Humfrey Hymne to God the Father
Humfrey O Lord My God
Tallis Spem in Allium
Russian Contakion
If I don't stop this list soon it will go on for ever!
Opening Of Bach's Mass in B minor
Transition between 1st and 2nd movements of Brahms German Requiem
Build up silence and "Take me away" from Elgar's Dream of Gerontius
Last Mvt Beethoven's 5th when it plunges into the major and the trombones and picc are added.
Slow movement of Mozart's Grand Partita
Embroidery Aria - Peter Grimes
Violin solo during Benedictus of Beethoven's Missa Solemnis
Monteverdi 1610 vespers
Bach Komm Jesu Komm
Agnus Dei Byrd Mass for four voices
Dowland Flow my Teares
Mahler's 2nd Symphony
Passacaglia and Fugue in c minor bach
Widor 6th Organ Symphony
Bridge Over troubled Water
Wind beneath my Wings
Don't Cry for me Argentina - when perfomed as part of the play
With drooping tears - the chorus after Dido's Lament
The Plaint from Fairy Queen Purcell
Humfrey Hymne to God the Father
Humfrey O Lord My God
Tallis Spem in Allium
Russian Contakion
If I don't stop this list soon it will go on for ever!
QUOTE(flute fanatic @ Apr 9 2007, 08:08 PM)
Pirates of the Carribean.
I agree!
Numerous moments in Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2 (genius)
'Hallelujah' by Rufus Wainright (yes, the one in Shrek
)Bridge Over Troubled Water
QUOTE
'God Only Knows' by the Beach Boys
Absolutely!! 
There's so many!!
This is the best part of music - the goosebumps - something words can never do.
Goose-bumps happen a lot, but does anyone else find their jaw-drops when they witness the most amazing performances?... or am I just wierd (well I know I am but...)
There was one performance of the RVW serenade to music I went to that was so wonderful I had goose bumps a dropped jaw and tears welling up in my eyes.
(just so you lot don't think I only trust books I do go to concerts too!)
There was one performance of the RVW serenade to music I went to that was so wonderful I had goose bumps a dropped jaw and tears welling up in my eyes.
(just so you lot don't think I only trust books I do go to concerts too!)
Nearly forgot one of my favourites....
The main theme to JAWS
edit : Thinking in particular about the end scene of the movie where he's shooting at the tank in the shark's mouth...
The main theme to JAWS
edit : Thinking in particular about the end scene of the movie where he's shooting at the tank in the shark's mouth...
QUOTE(flute fanatic @ Apr 9 2007, 08:08 PM)
Pirates of the Carribean.
Love it! It's not classical, but there's a bit in a song called 'Hoppipolla' (Planet Earth ad tune!), when the strings come in and it is just wonderful!
Brings me out in goosebumps every time!
I agree with so many. In fact it's the gbf in most pieces that we love to listen to that makes us love them isn't it?
Despite listening to classical music all my life I have only just come across Brahms 'Academic Overture' and I have a couple of moments in that.
And talking of the death of Diana - well someone did pages back anyway - the John Taverner piece played as the coffin left the Abbey.
And so so many more......
This really is a great thread
Despite listening to classical music all my life I have only just come across Brahms 'Academic Overture' and I have a couple of moments in that.
And talking of the death of Diana - well someone did pages back anyway - the John Taverner piece played as the coffin left the Abbey.
And so so many more......
This really is a great thread
QUOTE(sempre dolce @ Apr 10 2007, 05:34 PM)
And talking of the death of Diana - well someone did pages back anyway - the John Taverner piece played as the coffin left the Abbey.
'Song for Athene' - I agree, a hauntingly beautiful piece...
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