Customer Reviews

Beethoven or Bust

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is one of the very first CDs I bought, way back in 1988 when it was released, and, as it turns out 18 years later, it's still one of my favorites. Why would a near-20-year-old classical recording -- of synthesized origin, no less -- continue to be a favorite?

Perhaps it's a bit of nostalgia. Perhaps it's my love of neo-classical that made me gush over this album nearly 20 years ago when it was fresh, and yet even today. Perhaps it's the fact that I can take this disc into my vehicle, crank the volume and get blown away by the bass in tracks 1 - "Rage Over a Lost Penny", 4, 11 - "Für Elise", and 12. Track 1 literally blew the sound coil off the cone of my subwoofer on one particularly enthusiastic playback. Perhaps it's the fact that this thing is pure digital (when DDD meant something) and sounded amazing when it came out -- and still does; it's a great reference disc for putting speakers through their paces. Perhaps it's because Beethoven was a musical genius and the appeal of his work transcends time and instrumentation. Perhaps it's because Dorsey is an artist and has masterfully translated these beautiful ancient works into something reverently (and occasionally reverently comically) modern. Perhaps it's a combination of all the above.

Dorsey succeeded in making classical music FUN with this recording! "Beethoven or Bust" complemented his previous effort, "Bachbusters" perfectly, even though the two composers' styles were so different. Oh, and it is apparently pretty solid stuff technically and stylistically -- "Beethoven or Bust" was #1 on the Classical charts for nearly half a year in '88 and the #2 album of the year, so the naysayers have some explaining to do. This is not just another "Switched-on Bach". A previous reviewer said that Dorsey has a heck of a sense of humor - you just have to read the liner notes to see that this is true!

Bottom line is you'll enjoy -- even love! -- this disc unless you're a die-hard classical fan that can't quite accept the shift of classical music into the electronic world. The irony of this situation is that most of the great ancient composers were on the cutting edge of music technology of their time and would undoubtedly have used synthesizers if they had them at the time. Buy this album. Denny Krane.

This is another highly entertaining CD from Mr Dorsey. While not as good as Bachbusters, is still delightful, particularly the Moonlight Sonata and the Bagatelles. Even though this recorded early in the CD age, the sound is full and rich.

This ranks right up there with Jesse Cook and Sarah McLachlan on my list of modern recordings. Dorsey obviously adores the music of Beethoven. Full, rich sound with lots of good base notes and just the right touch at all time.

This album is terrific. I love synthesized classical music and this album is a home run. My only issue is that I didn't find out about it for so long.

If you are a classical and electronic music fan, were around in the late 80's and early 90's and have never heard this album you were probably in a comma :) Its predecessor Bachbusters was the number one classical music recording of the year, the only classical recording without any musicians (aside from mr. Dorsey ) ever to attain such popularity! Though not groundbreaking as its predecessor, this one is also great, it goes from bombastic raucous renditions to truely moving adaptations like ode to joy. This album as well as Bachbusters are a must have for electronic classical music fans. Only "Everything that you ever wanted to Hear on the Moog" is a more important album in this genre.

I initially discovered Don Dorsey and his "Bachbusters" CD in the mid-80s while I was looking for audiophile demonstration pieces for my new stereo system. I loved the recording from the first listen and it became one of my all-time favorite CDs. Thus, when I found "Beethoven or Bust" a few years later, I bought it instantly. No asking or listening or anything like that. At first play, I was somewhat taken back and didn't like it nearly as well as the earlier "Bachbusters." Well, that first impression gradually changed and now I'd rank it right along with "Bachbusters" as outstanding.

It's fun to muse about what Bach or Beethoven might think about these recordings. Hmmmm. My guess is that they'd like them. They'd marvel at the new instruments and the pristine sound reproduction and be somewhat amused and taken back by Dorsey's arrangements. Some of the humor, such as the auto crash (track 4), would escape them, of course. In any case, I love their music and these rollicking and humorous renditions by Dorsey are delightful, in my opinion.

One of my reasons for buying this disc is for the quality of the sound reproduction. Telarc Records is known as an audiophile label and these two discs really deliver. The sound is clear, pristine and dramatic. I couldn't ask for anything more and these recordings are 20 years old. They've aged extremely well!

Give it a spin, keep an open mind with a sense of humor and you'll probably be delighted. Personally, I like the rocking "Rage Over a Lost Penny," "Moonlight Sonata," "Presto from Sonata #6," "Fur Elise" and "Sonata #18," but all tracks are excellent. Enjoy!

Gary Peterson

First off, one needs to understand that Don Dorsey has a great sense of humor in order to fully appreciate his recordings. Years ago, he made a splash with his Telarc release titled "Bachbusters" which presented Bach keyboard pieces on the Synclavier with explosive sonics. This disc is a followup to Bachbusters and although it didn't sell as well or receive as much praise as its predecessor, I actually like it more. I find this disc to have more artistry and musicality and still provide plenty of sonic punch. If you doubt that claim, then que up track 11 (Fur Elise), crank the volume knob to 11 and get ready to see the coil from your subwhoofer get launched across your listening room floor. For more good clean fun, try track number 1, then perhaps skip up to the Moonlight Sonata (tracks 5 through 7). This is great stuff, but to enjoy it to the ultimate, your sense of humor will need to approach that of Mr. Dorsey's.

Have you EVER heard classical music that someone added a modern drum-beat to that didn't suck?

Yeah, me neither.

Too bad, the pieces that are just synthesizer aren't bad. He's no Wendy Carlos, obviously, but some of the tracks are somewhat charming. But the drumming just turns this into musical kitsch.

This is one of my favorite CD's. It preserves the genius of Beethoven while remaining faithful to rock.

I've only been listening to this for a year or two, and it's my all-time favorite CD! This is a must have for anyone who likes classical and rock.