You'll warm up to it.

I... already have.

Unless you're talking about the organ version specifically.

The organ version but specifically organ in general. I find it a bit harder to listen to at first (the harpsichord is another instrument I had that trouble with) because it is divorced from a lot of regular experience but damn is it powerful.

Lately I've been listening a lot to Haydn's symphonies. The kick began when I played a symphony or two from one of Dorati's 4-disc box sets, two of which I bought awhile ago largely because they were cheap, but hadn't listened to. I enjoyed them more than I expected. They were some of his works from the mid to late 1760's, a period generally considered to be prior to his peak. But I found that I really like the way Dorati plays Haydn, and in his hands I enjoy these symphonies just as much as I enjoy his later symphonies by other conductors.

I haven't picked up any more of the Dorati boxes yet, but I did start looking into other Haydn symphony boxes, and found some highly regarded boxes and very reasonable prices on the Internet, so I picked up a 7-disc Bruno Weil set, 3 discs consisting of symphonies 82-90, and 4 discs consisting of symphonies from the early 1770's, known as his Sturm und Drang period. I also bought what is widely considered the best box from Adam Fischer's complete cycle, the one consisting of symphonies 21-39. I'm enjoying both boxes, but I especially like the way Fischer plays Haydn, so I recently ordered his box of symphonies 70-81, which should be arriving any time. The guides say that Fischer kept getting better as he progressed through the cycle, and the two boxes I'll have are the last two he recorded.

I'm finding that with the right performances, I like most of Haydn's symphonies. I'd say almost all of the symphonies he wrote in 1764 or later are good, and that's almost all of 76 of them.

I was figuring it would be The Art of Fugue that taught me to appreciate the organ, but right now it's the German Organ Mass that's doing it. There's something very vibrant about this piece. Definitely one of my favorite Bach pieces. (I'm listening to the Walcha recording.)

Hearing a live organ concert in Germany is what made me appreciate the organ. Wonderful instrument. Those bass notes really tear right through you when you hear them in person.

one of the pieces we're playing in our guitar ensemble this quarter... i don't know what it is about it... but for such a modest piece it has a very interesting and graceful personality.

I wish Nat Whilk still posted here, I need someone to guide me through the choppy waters that are English 20th century classical music in order to find other gems in this class (this goes for much of Finzi's pieces).

fucking oath. great piece by the way, vbg!

This is probably his best, rv:

finally reacquired Glenn Gould: The Complete Original Jacket Collection yesterday, so much glorious playing here

Finzi's 5 Bagatelles. I'm not extremely familiar with this music yet but my initial impression is that they're pleasing to listen to, like just about all Finzi