I'd disagree that all Baroque and Classical sounds the same, but I would say that they sound more similar than music that came after, especially since the electric evolution.

For example, I was watching the film Watchmen the other day and heard the background music and immediately recognised it as either Philip Glass or an imitator of his. Similarly, a while back I watched the remake of Lolita with Jeremy Irons and heard the first piece of music and instantly thought it was Ennio Morricone. Both were pieces I hadn't heard before or at least don't remember hearing them. Now if I heard a Mozart piece that I had never previously heard I may think that sounds like Mozart but there would be a doubt in my mind, thinking it may be Haydn or a couple of other classical composers. But I'd never think it was Purcell or Scarlatti.

So I think individual composers have become more distinguishable as time passes, as nowadays composers are more interested in standing out from the crowd and going their own way rather than adhering to a strict style or method as in the past.

Actually, upon second reading of maestro267's comment's I think he was meaning that all Mozart sounds like all other Mozart, all Haydn sounds like all other Haydn etc. Not that all different pre-Beethoven composers sound alike. If this is the case I would disagree even more and say that is this not true of all great compsers, Classical, Baroque or other wise.

Obviously over time more styles got added to the possibilities in music. But I wonder if this is always an advantage, with so many styles to choose from there may not be as in depth an exploration of a particular style as there could be in the past. Also I think in Beethoven's time the predominant style was that of Beethoven, there weren't a huge variety of styles then necessarily. Listen to some of Beethoven's contemporaries and alot of them are influenced by him (and earlier classicists) and in a similar style.

For me that composer would be Beethoven. On an objective scale I would certainly rate him at the very top among composers. At the same time, while I realise that the music's great I would happily live the rest of my life without hearing a note of Beethoven again.

This is one of the most pretentious comments I have ever seen on a classical music board...which is saying quite a lot!

While it is likely a stretch for someone to assert that all of the music before Beethoven sounds the same (perhaps the hyperbole was intentional), it is clear that this person is not a big fan of either a Baroque or Classical periods. Contrary to popular belief, not everyone who likes western art music will like these periods.

So, to tell someone to get lost because they have an obvious distaste for these periods is silly. But perhaps that was a little intentional hyperbole too!

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"Music is not philosophy." --Akira Ifukube

Don't be ridiculous. Oh, apologies, perhaps you can't help it.

Just because someone doesn't have a preference for a particular period doesn't mean they can voice some ill informed judgement on it without criticism. And Zingo's remark that he/she could live the rest of their life happily never hearing Beethoven is ill informed too imo. I guess that member must be a fortune teller who can tell how their musical taste will develop over the rest of that life, because most of us wouldn't be able to.

Mahler-Some things I like but others I find just boring, including the 1st Symphony. This is just my opinion.

no no no!!!!!!

I don't accept apolgies from internet hack-jobs like you. So please don't bother.

How foolish of you to think I was apologising.

That's right. Of course they can; this is a public discussion forum after all. Equally, I can voice my opinion on their "ill informed judgement".

To say I dislike Mozart's music is completely different to saying the entire period to which Mozart belonged was somewhat stagnate and that real progress came only after Beethoven, and I supposedly knew what I was talking about because I am musically trained, too.

Well, here's a musician I certainly wouldn't hire!

Yep. They sure stand out alright, for writting shitty music.

That statement says more about you than the classical music of today. I haven't heard a "shitty" (as you describe) piece of contemporary music, every piece has it's merits. Of course, if you are unable (or unwilling) to perceive, then that's your limitation, not the composers...

Just because he/she thinks the music is shitty doesn't mean there is a problem or limitation with him/her (ie that he/she is "unable or unwilling to perceive" - whatever that means). It's a bizarre conclusion.

Do you think a composer sets out to create what can be "objectively" defined as "shitty" music? That would be a bizarre conclusion. I think the ball is in the listener's court - either s/he is flexible & willing to perceive the music, or not...