Mike Leghorn wrote:

>I consider Strauss' best tone poems to be works of towering genius: Don
>Juan, Til Eulenspiegel, Zarathustra, Ein Heldenleben, Alpine Symphony
>(and maybe Don Quixote).  His accomplishments with orchestration are
>unique and unrivaled.  This is anything but hollow.  Just because his
>music wasn't an expression of deep neurosis doesn't make it lack depth.
>I've recently gone through a Strauss period, and have been in total awe
>of Don Juan.  I consider it to be one of the most amazing accomplishments
>in music, and by a 24-year-old!

I'd agree with that.  I love Strauss in general including most of his
operatic output.  I also like the quote attributed to him: "I am not a
first rate composer but I am a very good second rate one." It does not
quite fit with the arrogance usually attributed to him but I think he
was a supreme realist.

With particular reference to Don Juan, I made the Heroic motive of that
piece into a ring tone and, for a while, every call produced the Heroic
motive; that continued until I changed to a Treo 600.  I have not had the
time to transcribe the Heroic motive for that.

This brings me to a new complaint which might not have been aired.  Why
cannot one obtain classical ring tones?  Is anyone aware of a good site
for classical ring tones?  Why are we let down in this area as well

One ring tone I am thinking of creating for my Treo is the Hunding pursuit
motive from Die Walkure.  That would be excellent for people who calls
were not necessarily welcome.

Leon Le Leu
Temporarily in WaggaWWagga, Australia