Has there been a piece that has changed your life?

A mix CD that I listened to at some point in middle school. I don't really know what was on it, other than that it was some sort of trance music. I was listening to it in a friend's CD player, which I had borrowed, and I remember walking around just completely tripped out, totally lost in this new, alien world of sound, hypnotized by the pounding rhythms and the dancing, wiggling synth lines. It was definitely an epiphany for me. In any case, whatever this CD was, it sparked my interest in electronic music, and certainly led me to where I am today, in terms of taste.

Barber's Adagio for strings op. 11 certainly springs to mind.

I have to say though that actually composing in music for my A levels really hit home to me how important music was for me. Up until that point, I was planning on doing Accountancy at University - how different can you get!

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.

I wouldn't say there has been a piece that has "changed my life". Despite the large extent that listening to music plays in my life, no single piece could be held responsible for "changing" it in any noteworthy way.

Nevertheless, a few pieces (but merely a selection) that remain highly important for me are:

Beethoven Symphony No. 5
At the age of 10, this was the first major work I ever listened to in its entirety and it convinced me that sometimes music needs to last longer than 5 minutes.

Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 5
The first symphony I ever heard performed live, beginning a love of live classical music performance. It was also the major piece I performed in the orchestra I play in when we went on an overseas tour last year - the first time I had left the country since I was 11, and the largest musical event I had ever participated in.

The Rite of Spring
Made me believe, for the first time, in "modern" music, and the progressive nature of music today.

Finlandia
Sibelius would be my favourite composer today, and it was thanks to this piece that I discovered him.

Mahler Symphony No. 9
I heard this live, and while it was the longest piece I have ever heard live, it was also one of the most captivating. An absolutely incredible concert - I couldn't listen to any music for a week afterwards. My first experience with the power of "slow" music.

Cesar Franck's Symphony and Beethoven's Eroica were the two pieces that most roped me into classical music. The Franck was the first "real" piece of large scale I played and the Beethoven, well, started my Beethoven obsession.

Klonos by Piet Swerts for saxophone and piano made me change the way i approach the saxophone and music in general. It made me really appreciate atonal music and understand the concepts behind it. I listen to it whenever I'm feeling down or need a confidence boost. I dont know why but I feel calm listening to it. It's weird because most people would probably be confused or freaked out listening to it and think I'm psychotic. lol

Le Tombeau de Couperin by Ravel.

Yes, to such an extend!

- ALL compositions of John Williams changed me!!! Especially Star Wars. Original ideas galore!!!

- Ravel's Piano Concerto and Czigane for Violin. Amazing!

- Paganini!!! All his works changed my composing style 100%

My Benediction

Mahler's Second Symphony, one of the most spiritual endings ever written.

The first piece I consciously remember liking was Pop goes the weasel, which I would listen to endlessly as a toddler. The first pieces of real music I enjoyed were: The Sourcerer's Apprentice, Ravel's Bolero, The Planet's Suite, Handel's water music and one of Dire Straights albums. Tubular Bells as well.

The Rite of Spring in particular changed my life, as it actually gave me a slight volcano phobia, due to its use in fantasia, which as a four year old scared the living crap out of me. I'll bet there are many other's who had similar experiences.

Last year, the 2nd movement of Shostakovich's Symphony no. 10 has completely and utterly changed the way I think about composition, and has opened my ears to greater levels of dissonance.

Most importantly, the music from Star Wars made me realise early on in my composing career (not that long ago really), that orchestral music had far more weight than the new breed of electronic/orchestral hybrid film scores.

I think the piece that has moved me the most, despite it's age is Mozart's Andante from the 21'st piano concerto. It's the one pieces where despite it's subtlety and simplicity, remains to be in my view, a masterpiece.

Dvorak's Symphony No. 9 in E Minor, Op.95

Forgot this one too! It's a shame that part of it is hard to listen to without the image of a piece of bread being sliced in slow motion coming to mind. Thank you Hovis..!