Robert Schumann (1810-1856)
The World's Greatest Composer

If you have followed this website through, then firstly congratulations on your perseverance! You must have realised that this is a very personal website.  Your opinion is just as valid as mine. I have spent a lot of time (probably too much) listening to Schumann's orchestral music and in studying the violin concerto. Maybe you agree with Clara and Joachim and think that it's not worthy of Schumann.  Maybe you even think that Hindemith's and Kulenpampff's alterations really are improvements.
Or maybe you think that Schumann's greatness is best revealed in his piano pieces or even songs.  That's fine by me. Maybe you don't like Schumann. I've never understood the popularity of Mozart.  In polls of the greatest composer ever, Schumann generally comes in between no. 10 and no. 15, respectable but not earth shattering.
All I can say is that my life has been enhanced by his music: without him there would definitely be something missing.
The Schumann Violin Concerto in D Minor WoO 23 is the greatest piece of music ever written.

And now for something completely different
I have a wide and eclectic taste in music.  To love classical music is common.  So is lapping up the latest pop music.  But for some reason it seems odd to enjoy both (though not as odd in the sixties, when I was considered weird by both camps).
So here are a couple of pieces of very different music which have stood the test of time,, two of which you may not be familiar with.

The Kinks
I was a typical post-war baby boomer in that I loved (and still do) the pop music of the 1960's.  The Kinks were my favourite group.  But it was in the 1980's that I think they did their best work. Here is a sample.
 
Cliches of the World   

Delia Derbyshire (1937-2001)
You may well not know the name Delia Derbyshire, but I'm certain you're familiar with at least one of her works, which I offer here.  Her story is well told on her website, included in the links

 Doctor Who    
Ziwzih Ziwzih OO-OO-OO    

Links

Schumann
Schumann in Zwickau
Biography
Another Biography
Complete list of Works

Music Download
Free Downloads, plenty of Schumann
Mp3Panda - lots of Schumann at very reasonable prices
EMusic - 25 (Schumann?) downloads free

Others
Delia Derbyshire
The Kinks
My list of Web Domains for Sale
My Home Website