Toxygen

Does anyone out there like Tchaikovsky as much as me right now? I swear I've been listening to the symphonies (6+manfred) on repeat for the last week or so.. He's definitely my new favorite composer. I was never much of a fan of the "romantic" period (mozart and beethoven being my previous favorites) but I was introduced to the 6th symphony by Tchaikovsky a few months ago (and to the 1st piano concerto.. wow) and I can't get enough. What are your favorite composers and what is it about them that you like? To me, Tchaikovsky has this weird power about his music.. it's very passionate, very moving.. I don't know, I can't describe it.

Personal stats: I grew up on classical (mainly general compilations with wagner, beethoven, mozart, etc.. some of tchaikovsky's ballet music but i never really got into that for some reason, until now).. spend my teenage years going from rock to blues to metal, but returned to classical after that teenage "phase" . Favorite was always mozart, but now I see that I've been missing out all these years.

- Toxygen

ziggy

I like just about all of the russian romantics - though I couldn't even to begin to spell most of their names.

The romantic movment always spoke to me more than the classicalists. All that prescision and counterpoint makes me edgy.

I like Rachmaninov alot, though I had no idea who he was until I saw that movie a few years ago....whatever it was.

Andalusia

I'll get the obvious ones outta the way... Mozart and Beethoven were a couple of geniuses. I never tire of their compositions.

And yes, Tchaikovsky wrote many great pieces. Come on, how 'bout that "Nutcracker Suite" or "Piano Concerto no. 1".

I also dig Stravinsky, "The Rite of Spring" being his most well-known. I love throwing that on and just "zone out".

Toxygen

do you mean "Shine"? After i saw that movie i was obsessed with the rach 3.. i got all his other concertos (concerti?) as well.. I like him a lot too, but russian romantic music tends to be a bit depressing.. well not always but when you're down, it's a bit much

- Toxygen

Three Day Delay

I enjoy Tchaikovsky. But despite it being trite in saying so, Mozart is my favorite.

I will try out other composers for awhile, and enjoy them, but I always come back to Mozart.

Norm de Plume

I like beautiful piano compositions, hence Schubert is my favorite composer.

Scheherazade

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov

~Scheherazade

TheMadMonk

I tend to like those who were also quite the virtuoso on their instrument: Beethoven, Chopin, Liszt, Rachmaninov & Paganini.

Geoff H

With regards to piano music, I'd have to say that Brahms is my favorite, with Chopin close behind.
I *love* Brahms's Hungarian Dances, and Chopin's Polonaises (helps that I've played many of them myself, too )