wackyscience

Well, I've listened to Rachmaninoff's 2nd and 3rd Concertos, and I think they're vastly overrated. Frankly, I hardly felt any soaring notes or any feeling of exaltation, as Rand describes in her works. I don't feel much of that with Tchaikovsky or Shostakovich either, and I have no idea how these three are rated as composers with an Objectivist touch. In my opinion, they have all made some pretty ordinary music, nothing superb or brilliant to talk about. The only Rachmaninoff piece that I think is really worth mentioning here, is possibly Vocalize. And also, loads of people tell us of how Jupiter by Holst is great as well. Well, I don't really think so. In fact, I'd rate Saturn better, although many people haven't listened to it. If you want some soaring pieces of Music, that really make you feel like you can stand up, with your convictions against 6 billion people, then listen to pieces like, The Bumblebee in the Transformers soundtrack, or the Gladiator theme, or the Schindler's list theme. There was a very good piece in The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button somewhere in the middle of the movie, but I haven't seen what it is yet. Inception rocks on the soundtrack level as well. A bit more classically, Samuel Barber's Adagio for Strings is brilliant, though it is depressing. It does touch some pretty high notes though, and I'd think you'd be a downright fool if you can't appreciate that. Try listening to some of Ludovico Einaudi's pieces, especially two, Divinere, and In Principio. Enya is pretty nice as well, although I have listened to only two of her songs. Richard Clayderman's Liebestraum is beautiful too, no doubting that. Pachelbel's Canon is pretty uplifting too. And I think Mahler composes some dark and beautiful pieces as well, which though sad, makes you feel a quiet, inner joy as well. And who can forget Moonlight Sonata, by Beethoven? If you're more of the rock-type, then Stairway To Heaven is indeed one of the most beautiful, epic songs I've heard, though the theme of the song is generally theistic, and I am an atheist. Still, try to procure that Orchestral version of Stairway. It is the most enchanting, heroic pieces I've heard. Try it!