Which is the best is not important

A recent post highlighted Jazz Raga, a John Coltrane and Ravi Shankar tribute, as one of the few notable new albums in 2025. Another standout among too many dreary derivative new releases is CPO's 16 CD box Michael Haydn: Complete Symphonies; Wind Concertos. 

Michael Haydn's music is overlooked because of meaningless comparisons of 'greatness' with his older brother of Joseph and his contemporary and friend Mozart. As Ajahn Sumedho has explained: "...which is the best is not important. 'The best' is merely a condition we create with thought. When we think about which is the best, we are going into opinions, preferences, conditioning and attachment". Just like the music of Joseph Haydn and Mozart, Michael Haydn's music 'is' and should simply be appreciated for its 'isness'.  

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mmbb said…
INterestingly, church organists of some Protestant denominations get acquainted with a smidgen of Michael Haydn's works as a few of his vocal works (like his brother's) were made into hymns.
2:11 am
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