Haupz Blog

Catchy Music Openings

Do you know that feeling when a piece of music captivates you with the first few notes? I experience this in two different ways. One is that a piece of music just goes BAM! and ties me to the spot so that I can't stop listening. The other is that it gives me that "oh, this is interesting" feeling and makes me curious. Here are some examples. What are yours?

BAM!

• Robert Schumann, Symphony No. 3

• Gustav Mahler, Symphony No. 8 (I took part in one performance myself once - whoa!)

• Johannes Brahms, Symphony No. 3

• Leonard Bernstein, Chichester Psalms (sang that one too once - the lyrics are in Hebrew, and the 7/4 measure in the first movement is pure joy)

• Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy, 100. Psalm (no idea how often I've sung that one)

• Arvo Pärt, Passio

"Oh, this is interesting."

• Anton Bruckner, Symphony No. 3

• Johannes Brahms, Piano Concerto No. 2

• Einojuhani Rautavaara, Symphony No. 7 "Angel of Light"

• Kurt Atterberg, Symphony No. 2

Tags: the-nerdy-bit, music