I think the early and renaissance liking stems from the fact that it was being redisovered big time when I as at uni in the seventies. The likes of the late David Monrow, a young James Bowman and such all making wonderful things heppen with music that was unlike any other I'd ever heard. I was bought up largely on Handel, whose music I still love.

Like you, I sometimes find 19th century music heavy and over orchestrated. I have to be in the mood.