silver

It does sound very different--and kind of soothing at a low volume. :D

Yes, I have--I play piano, and took history lessons (they were, surprisingly, lots of fun). Liszt--all his pieces require massive hands and amazing technical skill--but they're all so beautiful. I remember hearing that he'd done a transcription of the Erlkonig (Schubert, and absolutely haunting - here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XP5RP6OEJI)'s my favorite version [and spectacular pianist/singer, too--watch his expressions change between characters]) that supposedly made it easier to play. Schubert had written it with triplet octaves in 4/4 time, so twelve in a bar, and it's very difficult to play. I tracked down Liszt's transcription and discovered that I need about seven fingers on each hand and possibly another hand, actually, to play it.

*starting to ramble* I have my favorite composers organized in time periods, thanks to music history, although I still like Chopin best (bias: he wrote almost exclusively for piano). So, so beautiful. If you haven't heard of his stuff: here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZGi49Bnghs), here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laSh3D_77ZM), and here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qa0Z6g1XJkU). Also, West Side Story. And Handel's Messiah, especially the overture and the rejoice (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1xlYIoekE8) section. Plus cartoons like the Animaniacs, and the Gregorian chants (particularly the Kyrie, aaah). As for the really popular songs now, it's usually because of nostalgia (like Taylor Swift).

*breathes* What about you?