|
Sibelius' seventh symphony and Tapiola are so central to my compositional thought. The themes are so addictive, the development so suspenseful, and the whole piece just evolves and grows inexorably and in such a logical, beautiful way. I couldn't help listening to them over and over again in my Sibelius phase a couple of months ago, and I still listen to them when I feel like it.
Mahler's second symphony is pure revelation and absolute inspiration. This is what music is for; the entire last movement had me almost in tears as it spiraled to its overwhelming climax and conclusion.
Brahms' first was the first symphony I really sat down and listened to. It's amazing drama and controlled intensity make the brass chorale at the end overwhelming in a totally different way than anything by Mahler; the whole symphony was going right to that moment, whereas Mahler's seem to reel and sprint into oblivion.
Rachmaninoff's C-sharp minor prelude (yeah yeah, overplayed, I know) and his second piano sonata (B-flat minor) gave me a different way of looking at tonality, as the music of Rachmaninoff is quite apt to do. He used the Romantic style of composing, but he also had a very unique palette of colors to utilize. He's definitely changed my life in several ways.
Finally, Scriabin's D-sharp minor etude (solo piano) was what brought me to solo piano literature in the first place. I've never regretted it.
|