What is humanity's greatest achievement?

@ghost-of-a-duke said
On Putin's part, probably for show.

You know something similar about them?

They are both short men one is 5'5" the other 5'6".

-VR

@very-rusty said
I never like to see them two together, you know something is happening. Korea as we know are going to help out Putin and Russia in their war. Do we see a 3rd world war coming or is it all for show?

-VR

I believe Putin has negotiated a deal for NKorea to supply Russia with drones,, maybe missiles, too.

@earl-of-trumps said
I believe Putin has negotiated a deal for NKorea to supply Russia with drones,, maybe missiles, too.

Indeed, I have heard the same thing.

-VR

@fmf said
Elon Musk says it's going to the moon. But is it?

What are your three nominations?

This is a hard one, since it has so many aspects as several posters pointed out before.

* abstract thought

* taming fire

* mastering high sea sailing with just sun and stars

@ponderable said
* mastering high sea sailing with just sun and stars

Interesting suggestion. What would have happened to humanity if it had been restricted to the land and coastal waters, do you think?

@fmf said
Elon Musk says it's going to the moon. But is it?

What are your three nominations?

1) B minor Mass by J.S.Bach
2) Einstein’s General Law of Relativity
3) Antibiotics

A word of explanation:
Bach’s B minor Mass is a work of such monumental musical complexity and emotional and spiritual depth that has impacted, inspired and given solace to millions of our fellow human beings in a way that the moon landings have not.

@pianoman1 said
1) B minor Mass by J.S.Bach
2) Einstein’s General Law of Relativity
3) Antibiotics

A word of explanation:
Bach’s B minor Mass is a work of such monumental musical complexity and emotional and spiritual depth that has impacted, inspired and given solace to millions of our fellow human beings in a way that the moon landings have not.

Interesting. As a listener, I can appreciate Bach, but to me, he's like Brahms, he lulls me to sleep. As a player, I prefer comfortable Beethoven and challenging Mozart.

I will give the Mass another listen.

@fmf said
Interesting suggestion. What would have happened to humanity if it had been restricted to the land and coastal waters, do you think?

I think that humanity would have developed slower society-wise. It is difficult to say however.

I just think it amazing that you can find your way on the high seas keeping the non-linear effects of drift and wind somehow...

@very-rusty said
You know something similar about them?

They are both short men one is 5'5" the other 5'6".

-VR

As was Stalin.

@drewnogal said
As was Stalin.

Napoleon was 5 "2".

@ponderable said
I think that humanity would have developed slower society-wise. It is difficult to say however.

But is there something inherently "great" about development that is more rapid? This is an interesting question, I think.

@ponderable said
I just think it amazing that you can find your way on the high seas keeping the non-linear effects of drift and wind somehow...

Indeed, although I think there was a great deal of trial and error, some of it fatal, upon which 'history' does not dwell. This does not detract from what was eventually achieved, though.

@suzianne said
Interesting. As a listener, I can appreciate Bach, but to me, he's like Brahms, he lulls me to sleep. As a player, I prefer comfortable Beethoven and challenging Mozart.

I will give the Mass another listen.

Very surprised by your comments, and I urge you to give the B minor Mass, as well as the great Passions - St Matthew and St John another listen. Bach’s music is interesting because he is the perfect culmination of the Baroque era, everything leads up to him and nothing from him.

Beethoven, on the other hand, the colossus bestriding the Classical and Romantic eras, is the great innovator and iconoclast who broke all the rules and forged a new harmonic and structural landscape. Brahms, Mahler, Tchaikovsky, Wagner all sprang from Beethoven’s genius.

I agree that Mozart is surprisingly difficult to perform; as a performing pianist myself I find his simplicity so innocently beguiling and charming, but hard to interpret.

Please PM me for further discussions of classical music if you would like.

@pianoman1 said
Very surprised by your comments, and I urge you to give the B minor Mass, as well as the great Passions - St Matthew and St John another listen. Bach’s music is interesting because he is the perfect culmination of the Baroque era, everything leads up to him and nothing from him.

Beethoven, on the other hand, the colossus bestriding the Classical and Romantic eras, is th ...[text shortened]... but hard to interpret.

Please PM me for further discussions of classical music if you would like.

Off topic, but what are your thoughts on Haydn? I can listen to his string quartets endlessly.

Yes to Bach. The perfection and culmination of a genre.

@moonbus said
Off topic, but what are your thoughts on Haydn? I can listen to his string quartets endlessly.

Yes to Bach. The perfection and culmination of a genre.

Ah, Haydn, the witty and playful composer and teacher who knew his place in the order of things. Oh Yes to the string quartets: brilliant and endlessly entertaining, the perfect antidote to a busy day! Glad you’re a Bach fan; I absolutely love playing his keyboard music.