Forget about the seriousness of your favorite composer's work, what works of your favorite composer is the most charming? Charming in a way that it is full of life and will put a smile on your face.. (i.e. the opposite of Beethoven's Grosse Fugue, hahhaa).
Pne of the most charming and joyful symphonic works I know is the beautiful, underrated and almost unknown Suite Algerienne by Saint-Saëns. Last movement "French Military March" is heard sometimes, but all 4 are just lovely.
Brahms: I think his work for clarinet. I've a lot to explore yet of his work though, having focused so far chiefly on the Requiem, Piano Concerto #2, and chamber music.
Mahler: He's wonderful, exciting, tragic, intense. Charming is not a word that comes to mind with Mahler. However, I think the brief 5th movement from symphony #3 with the boys' choir does in fact fit the bill.
Mendelssohn: almost the opposite of Mahler. I find quite a lot of his work charming, in fact why I can listen to him at almost any given moment. His concertos and chamber works especially.
I think Mahler could be plenty charming. Especially in his earlier symphonies. For example:
The 2nd movement of the 2nd symphony:
The 2nd movement of the 3rd symphony:
The trio of the 2nd movement of the 4th symphony: (1:41 and 5:03 of this video)
the last movement of the 4th symphony (Maybe the most charming of all):
The 3rd movement of Das Lied:
The 4th movement too:
Simonnz@: Tchaik.s.sextet: Leonid Kogan-Elizabeth Gilels Kogan- Mikhail Terian- Rudolf Barshai- Rostropovich-Knushevitsky (!!!!). An absolutely incredible version. No better exists IMO.
For Bach I would say he was probably at his most charming in the Brandenburg Concertos, my other favorite composer Ravel's most charming work was possibly Ma Mere L'oye.
I would not claim to have a favorite composer, as none was a master at all of the various forms of composition that comprise classical music, but I think that most every composer who intends to charm the listener will be successful. While the musicians are largely responsible for being consistent with such intent in their interpretations.
Brahms:
- Piano Concerto No.1 - I. Mestoso
- Symphony No.3 - IV. Allegro
- Serenade No.1 - VI. Rondo: Allegro
- Piano Trio No.1 - First movement
- Ein Deutsches Requiem - Denn Alles Fleisch, Es Ist Wie Gras
Dvorak:
- Violin Concerto - II. Adagio ma non troppo
- Symphony No.6 - IV. Finale Allegro con spirit
- Piano Trio No.4 "Dumky": IV. Andante moderato
- String Quartet No.13 in G major - II. Adagio ma non troppo
- Piano Trio No.3 - IV. Finale Allegro con brio
Schumann:
- Symphony No. 3 'Rhenish' - I. Lebhaft
- Symphony No. 4 - III. Scherzo: Lebhaft
- Piano Quartet - III. Andante
- String Quartet No.3 - II. Assai agitato-Un poco adagio-Tempo risoluto
- Cello Concerto - 3rd movement
- Requiem fur Mignon
- Piano Concerto in A minor - I. Allegro Affettuoso
It takes much time! Praper yourself for my next marvelous post in the future!
There is amazing charm in the simplicity and innocence of pieces like "In a Landscape" and "Dream" and "Suite for Toy Piano" by John Cage. His "Child of Tree" also exudes charm. Alot of his music is pretty charming actually.
Wagner's "Siegfried Idyll" is pretty charming. Of my other favourites, Bruckner never composed a charming thing in his life, and when Mahler sounds charming, I always have a sneaking suspicion that he's just being ironic...
The Adagio from Brahms' Violin Concerto is an unbelievably charming song.
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