Peter Goldstein wrote:

>I was wondering what people on this list saw as the philosophical essence
>of various composers, and why they felt that certain composers did or did
>not appeal to them.

I immediately thought of Bach's music while reading this but I would like
to give my opinions about Henry Purcell's music.  His music is all at once
heroic, solemn, joyful and intense.  For me, Purcell's music encompasses
the entire scope of the human experience.  I admit that I am young (23) and
probably do not understand everything that is the human experience but I
imagine what it must be when listening to the works of this, the greatest
of all composers before or after Bach (IMHO).  Even given the fact that
Purcell wrote music for so many royal gatherings and public ceremonies, I
always feel a very real human quality when listening.  I don't know how
philosophical this really is but I thought I would take a moment to honor
one of my favorite musical masters and one of my greatest inspirations.

Wes Crone (Bach, Purcell and Brahms...I won't accept anything less on my
desert island.)