Stephen Fine Posted June 4, 2001 Report Share Posted June 4, 2001 I'm serious. It's an ongoing debate that I have with some of my friends. This isn't just on physical strength... assume they're fighting a full scale war on a man to man basis... Judge physical strength, musical ability, mental acuity, sense of humour... everything. Assume they are both 44.5 years old. Let the games begin! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellaphant Posted June 4, 2001 Report Share Posted June 4, 2001 Which one wrote the most music? I prefer Brahms, in the popularity polls. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mu0n Posted June 4, 2001 Report Share Posted June 4, 2001 Is that's what preventing you from polishing your italian, Lymond? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
administrator Posted June 4, 2001 Report Share Posted June 4, 2001 Lymond, get real. You and your friends debate over this? That is utterly absurd. Any thinking man would realize that Brahms would kick Felix' Butt. Read on: If they are 44 years old, Felix would have been dead for many years, Even I could beat up a dead guy. Brahms was probably pushing 220 pounds, Felix would weigh in at 140 tops. Felix was a rich kid, Brahms once played in a brothel, and probably broke up dozens of drunken customers fighting. Check out the beard on Brahms. If he was alive today he would be playing Keyboards for ZZTop in biker bars in Alabama. Or possibly with the Allman Brothers or Molly Hatchet. Felix wrote music for " A Midsummers Night Dream", about fairies. Brahms wrote " We gotta fight.. for the right.. to party", which was later covered by the Beastie Boys. Brahms also wrote " I'm too sexy for my shirt", which was lost for many years until the group "Right Said Fred" discovered it in a music library in Dinkensbuhl, Germany. Johannes= John. John Wayne Felix= Felix. Felix Unger Lets see: Wayne and Felix Unger? The Duke would have him for Breakfast, and even if Oscar Madison joined in, the Duke would give them such a pounding that Murray the Cop would have to run and hide, and maybe even run as far as Milwaukee so he can hide behind the Fonz. I can see Felix talkin to Brahms:" You,Sir, are a Scoundrel and a Rapscallion, and I want perchance enjoy to engage in fisticuffs with you in the clearing outside, Sir". Then Brahms would shout back, in his best DeNiro impression: " You talking to me? ARE YOU TALKIN TO ME?" Brahms=1. Felix=0. Case closed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellaphant Posted June 4, 2001 Report Share Posted June 4, 2001 lol @ david's post. I think thats a very strong argument in Brahm's favour. I love the Robert Deniro bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emma Lily Posted June 4, 2001 Report Share Posted June 4, 2001 I don't know....what kind of war are they fighting? Physical combat? Fist fight or sword fight or pistol duel? Or is it, all in all, who had the most going for him? I think Mendelssohn had genius, spirit, good people skills. What he accomplished, not only in composition, but in performance, establishing great music and high artistic standards, was an unqualified triumph. Brahms seems more reclusive, always studying and revising (where Mendelssohn could whip out a piece in weeks rather than years). Brahms never married, always seemed rather awkwards; Mendelssohn had more social graces as well as good looks. (thus declares the biographical illiterate) But figuratively, Brahms' music is much more --ahem-- violent. I think Mendelssohn's music says just as much as Brahms's does, only Brahms says it louder and longer. Compare their first piano concertos. Physical strength? Well, they both were seen as "frail" in their youth. I think I'll go do some more research. What would really be good would be Brahms vs. Mahler . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
staylor Posted June 4, 2001 Report Share Posted June 4, 2001 If there was a thread about most unique works in history, or even THE greatest, I would certainly say that Mendlesons e minor violin concerto is an extremely unique, one of its kind composition. That's a huge point for Mendleson! I'm quite serious about that! It's only that I've now taken this opurtunity to air this view, if not-observation. But we have heard it so often that we hardly even contemplate it. S.Taylor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Fine Posted June 5, 2001 Author Report Share Posted June 5, 2001 Mu0n... in fact this was one of the things keeping me from polishing my Italian (but specifically I was referring to the study of Latin and Hebrew and school in general). DavidK... I thank you for your honest and accurate post. Brahms has long been my favorite (as far as winning the grudge match goes), I'll make sure to give your response to my friends. staylor raises a good point though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D Ellison Posted June 5, 2001 Report Share Posted June 5, 2001 Johannes would kick Felix's butt!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
illuminatus Posted June 5, 2001 Report Share Posted June 5, 2001 I think DavidK got it right. After all, Mendelssohn was a rich kid who didn't have to do anything. He composed because he was interested in music. Because of his wealth, he was able to do a lot of things other than composing. I think he would have been really great if he had spent all of his energy into composition. I get the same kind of feelings from listening to Medelssohn when I see the English paintings of English rural areas. Quite peaceful, beautiful, but highly idealized and detached from reality. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prok3 Posted June 5, 2001 Report Share Posted June 5, 2001 Brahms is a sure win. I'd put all my money on him. That massive beard-thing Brahms had going assures his success in my eyes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Fine Posted June 5, 2001 Author Report Share Posted June 5, 2001 In the broad sense... Brahms would always win, but in any cultured sport (fencing, shooting, etc...) I think Felix would probably be the victor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Llywellyn_Marr Posted June 5, 2001 Report Share Posted June 5, 2001 Lot's of people would call me a "rich spoiled kid", and yet I weigh 230 and could take on the majority of rich or poor kids. That's not a really important point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Violinerrrz Posted June 5, 2001 Report Share Posted June 5, 2001 What a rediculous topic! Made me laugh. All Brahms would have to do is sit on Mendelssohn and it would be all over! Now how about a fight between Brahms and Wagner? I heard stories about Wagner fans boycotting and heckling outside during the premere of the Brahms symphony no 3. The piece was recieved so well that the hecklers could not be heard over the applause! Furthermore, there seems to be a huge debate as to who was the true successor of Beethoven, Brahms or Wagner, a real no-brainer for me since I found Wagner to be obnoxious. I consider the Brahms and Tchaikovsky concertos to be the best ever written for violin, powerful deep and intense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
staylor Posted June 5, 2001 Report Share Posted June 5, 2001 Kasparov, Kramnik or Tyson are a plessure to listen to, even a delight to the eyes, if you happen to attend a live performance! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LongHair Posted June 6, 2001 Report Share Posted June 6, 2001 The maddest, not the baddest wins the fight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corncan Posted June 6, 2001 Report Share Posted June 6, 2001 I guess Schumann wins then Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Fine Posted June 6, 2001 Author Report Share Posted June 6, 2001 how DARE you suggest that this topic is ridiculous. I demand satisfaction Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mu0n Posted June 6, 2001 Report Share Posted June 6, 2001 This topic is satisfyingly ridiculous. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
altgeige Posted June 6, 2001 Report Share Posted June 6, 2001 Stay tuned for the George Foreman - Evander Holyfield composition contest! Altgeige. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emma Lily Posted June 6, 2001 Report Share Posted June 6, 2001 I think I get what you mean, besides the obvious punchy-fight associations. In real life, with the people I know and have met, there are some people that are simply bigger than others. Although it probably is a matter of subjective perceptions, I can think of a person whose intellect, energy, creativity, and skills are so much beyond what you would expect of a normal person, that I would back him against anyone. Nor is he the only one of his kind who seems to be "larger than life". However, he is somewhat skinny. So the question is, who was more of a "superman", or who had the most of basic human strengths and was least hindered by human weaknesses. Yes? No? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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