The peak of their [insert genre] output
Posted by: Tam on 23 June 2006
Sitting here, listening to the wonderful sweeping and driving sonorities of Sibelius's 3rd symphony (those words, frankly, being a totally inadequate description of this magnificent work) it occurs to me that, personally, I think it represents the peak of his symphonic writing. That's not to say other works aren't very fine (the 7th is a sublime lesson in just how far it is possible to travel in just over twenty minutes), just that I find the 3rd hangs together in a very special way and find myself returning to it more than any other of his works (especially in the fine Davis/LSO Live account mentioned on Milo's thread).
Obviously this is a very personal thing, and I don't think I'm necessarily contending that the 3rd is his best symphony, just my favourite.
Anyway, it occured to me, what works do other forum members feel stand out amongst a given composer's (or, frankly, artist, no reason why this should be exclusively classical) output in a particular genre?
regards, Tam
N.B. The more eagle-eyed may feel this is somewhat a contradictory post for me (since I have in the past been critical of top ten lists and the like). My defence, to the extent that it is possible to make one, is that I envisage listing multiple works for multiple composers in multiple genres, thus making for a slightly broader thread. Either that or I'm a raging hypocrite [hopefully self effacing smiley].
Obviously this is a very personal thing, and I don't think I'm necessarily contending that the 3rd is his best symphony, just my favourite.
Anyway, it occured to me, what works do other forum members feel stand out amongst a given composer's (or, frankly, artist, no reason why this should be exclusively classical) output in a particular genre?
regards, Tam
N.B. The more eagle-eyed may feel this is somewhat a contradictory post for me (since I have in the past been critical of top ten lists and the like). My defence, to the extent that it is possible to make one, is that I envisage listing multiple works for multiple composers in multiple genres, thus making for a slightly broader thread. Either that or I'm a raging hypocrite [hopefully self effacing smiley].