Piece #25 - Prelude from Tristan und Isolde - Richard Wagner

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fktwPGCR7Yw&feature=related

Ranking ninth on the list compiled by NY Times critic Anthony Tommasini is German composer Richard Wagner.

Factoids:

• The "Tristan" chord, which happens about 14 seconds in, is perhaps the most famous chord in the history of Western Classical Music.
• This half-diminished chord, as a part of a leitmotif associated with the character Tristan.
• Remember that a leitmotif  is a musical idea meant to evoke thoughts of a specific character.
• This idea is similar to The Imperial March and Darth Vader.
• This is just a short excerpt from his lengthy opera Tristan und Isolde.

Have fun!