FAVORITE piece of music? or Composer? and why?

Question

Let's say that for some unthinkable reason, you had to pick your one and only all time favorite piece of music, or composer, what or who would it be?

And if you would like to give a good reason why, that would be nice.

Wotan

Answer 1

Pink Floyd... cause they have a lot of variety in their songs and basically you can listen to them when you're down and also when you're up. =)

Answer 2

I have many favourite pieces of music, but three in particular stand out. One is Flower of Scotland by the Corries, written by Roy Williamson and then adapted as Scotland's national anthem. It was written as an answer to the anti-Scottish 'British' national anthem, God Save The Queen (or king, whoever is on the throne), and tells of the battles of Stirling and Bannockburn when the Scots repelled the English despite being heavily outnumbered. The latter song was written to commemorate the English suppression of the Scots. You can watch Flower Of Scotland on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2R1TMNxPj8 The Green Fields of France conveys the horrors of war, and is about a young man that died in the Great War in 1916. There are a few versions, the best by the Fureys or The Corries. The latter's version is at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyiLfSHSqds My third choice would be Ghosts of Culloden by Isla Grant. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffugI0G8OsY The video accompanying this is terrific and this song tells of the Scots facing the larger English army at Culloden Moor and their subsequent deaths at the hands of the invaders.

Answer 3

Oh that would be so difficult, as my favorite music changes with mood and circumstance. In the car, sitting in LA traffic, I tend to listen to indie music, choral works such as Mozart's Requiem or symphonies, Wagner or Mahler because they are strong enough to break through the surrounding hum of traffic and they keep me sane(ish). In quieter moments though, I prefer more subtle works: Bach's cello concertos or early modern choral music.

But if I had to choose, I'd probably select William Byrd's Motets and Masses (the recording by the Tallis Scholars). It is so sublime, so beautiful -- the soaring clarity of the voices, the delicacy of the music -- it can still take my breath away, even after listening to it multiple times. Each time, I find myself pausing to listen again to a particular section, a smile upon my face. Music that can appeal to the emotions like that is to be cherished.

Answer 4

Excluding 'pure' Rock & Roll?
Rick Wakeman -- Journey to the Center of the Earth.

The interpretation of parts of Grieg's "In the Hall of the Mountain King" is amazing:
"Edvard Grieg's "In The Hall Of The Mountain King" can be heard near the end with synthesiser, orchestra, overdriven guitar, and all bells and whistles. Wakeman credits him in the liner notes, as he puts it, "Because I stole a few bars"."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Journey_to_the_Centre_of_the_Earth_(album)

Answer 5

Well, you could at least have said whether you mean an individual song or an entire album. Or do you mean classical work, which is usually what "piece of music" means? My favorite classical work is Beethovan's 9th, and my favorite version of it is "Bernstein in Berlin," which was recorded at the ruins of the Berlin Wall, and the chorus was changed from "Ode to Joy" to "Ode to Freedom." Beautiful!

Answer 6

The gift. Jim brickman. dont know the composer. I like the song.

Answer 7

The River
Because it kept me goin