A philosophical question.

rvpiano


For Listz I recommend to you this version of Obermann valley :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLk6vqaxU1Y

Close the light and listen to this volcanic eruption out of any other pianist possibility except Liszt himself perhaps...

Sometimes a composer is revealed only by a transcendental interpretation... This one is for me...

You can try Liszt evening bells it is on the same transcendental level by the same pianist...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0S1KDOC8is

Thanks for this excellent thread idea... My best

@tomic601  Legrand fan as well. I don't have access to that reissue / Impex remaster (via streaming).

Listening to 'At Shelly's Manne-Hole' with Michel Legrand alongside Ray Brown (bass) and Shelly Manne (drums)... : )

I manage to do a little of both. I find that exploring new music is like exploring new literature or hobbies. Keeps my 64 year old brain from more rapid distintigration.

That's the fun of it, to learn about and appreciate new things. Now if you miss out on Tommy James and the Shondells, no big loss, but other things might a big loss to never understand, and great things to appreciate if you do get to. Maybe the Second Viennese school is one of those. Having never even heard of the first Viennese school I'd not be a good judge of that.

I've also found that things culturally related I don't understand, but have a strong negative reaction to, often times tells me there is something there worth exploring, and getting to understand and appreciate. That's not to say a third Viennese school might not be simply appalling. One of these days I'm going to get to understand 20th century modern art after Chagall or the German Expressionists. Must be something to appreciate there since they've go whole museum filled with it.

Kind of the same with much of classical music which I'm sure you love, but I'm just beginning to get a handle on. Or Coltrane's post "A Love Supreme"  free-form jazz, the same thing. In my opinion It's worth a bit of effort to achieve those cultural rewards if enough people you respect let you know they're there. Forget Bruckner though. 

Mike

IMO part of discovery is setting aside well worn paths and ego and deliberately seeking out new or different. Humbling oneself to have a Sensei is quite powerful and certainly a traditional thing in some cultures.. including music and musical expression

anyway, “ enjoy every sandwich “ as the late great Warren Zevon said....

some day... it will be that last sandwich