Oh my goodness, how did I miss this thread the first time around? I have been In Cognito for a long while, but my usual haunt of Facebook has become so anxiety-inducing that I thought I'd pop in for a visit- and there's some great threads, good old friends, and well, I'm back.

Classical music is my very first auditory memory. It was the main soundtrack of my childhood. In my early teens I discovered Robert J. Lurtsema on WGBH radio, Boston, and he formed my taste and the basis of my music education. Thus I studied classical music at Boston University, became a music teacher, and I'm so grateful for that foundation.
JS Bach sits on the right hand of the divine. My second (sophomore) year at university, basically all we did in my music theory class was analyze Bach chorales. I had always enjoyed listening- but to begin to grasp the complexity, elegance and intricate beauty of his music was a major epiphany in my life. Now, on a daily basis I turn to his organ works, chorales, cello suites, Goldberg variations, etc- there's always something new to learn.

I primarily prefer tonal music, so, up to the late 19th c., but I don't have much patience with the Romantics. I guess that's why I'm a folkie- I like clear tonal harmonies, discernible melody, and clarity of thought and feeling in my music as in my life.

Now I'm going to go back and catch up with what y'all have had to say. It's nice to be back in the fold!