Classical music fans...

[G-Lexington]

I was noticing that, on my iPod, every one of my classical pieces has played a few times. I know that doesn't seem like much of a big deal, but consider - I have a folder of 80s retro music, I listen to that way more than classical, and most of the tunes in that folder haven't even been listened to once.

So it finally dawned on me - I need more classical music.

However, I'm rather an idiot when it comes to this genre. I mean, I know the basics (Bach is baroque, Debussy is romantic, etc), but I don't really have any clue as to what I should go searching for next. So the gargoyle comes to you, asking for recommendations.

What are some good classical pieces?

I wish I could narrow down what I like and what I don't, but that's tough. I like solo pieces, chamber music, and full orchestral works. I like early music, baroque, classical, romantic, you name it. I like short simple pieces and long complex symphonies. About the only thing I'm really not crazy about is vocal/operatic, but I have no trouble giving things a listen to see if it floats my boat.

So go ahead and suggest as many as you'd like - one, two, ten, a hundred. You can suggest a specific recording of the piece if you'd like, or just the piece in general. Just give me some things to try out to see if I like them.

...and if anyone wants a list of semi- to obscure 80s retro songs in return, let me know. It's about the only way to return the favor.

Lex

 

[Syn]

OH Lex, why couldn't you have posted this earlier. I'm about to go to bed.

I'm a BIG classical music nerd.

Can I get back to you with some of my favs???

 

[G-Lexington]

Sorry, this offer expires in an hour.

...yes, of course you can post tomorrow.

Lex

 

[landers]

First of all Debussy was an impressionist. The impressionist movement in music was much smaller than in the art world and took place chronologically entirely within in the romantic period but it still existed.

My favourite composer is Dvorak, pretty much anything by him is a hit with me.

 

[Aflute04]

Hmmm this is right up my alley!

Let's start with symphonies...

I'm a big fan of Shostakovich I think you will get a kick out of anyone of his symphonies (Personally, Symphony no. 5 is my favorite... If you go on itunes, the NY Philharmonic has an album from the 70's I believe... It's with Leonard Bernstien conducting... Very good recording if I may say so.

Can't go wrong with Tchaikovsky symphonies either, I think you will find a lot of variation of sounds (in terms of different sections of the orchestra, winds, strings, brass, percussion with a lot of his symphonies). My personal favorite is Symphony no. 4... The Chicago Symphony (once again on Itunes) has my favroite recording... It's from 97 I believe... And it is well worth downloading/purchasing!

Let's see... Can't go wrong with Schuman I'm not too familiar with all of his symphonies, but I'm a fan of the 'Rhenish' symphony (no 3)... I haven't found a good recording on Itunes (I have three of them btw), but when I do, I will let you know. Scratch that... if you can find the recording from...95 i think it is from the NY phil, that would be your best bet. I can't remember off the top of my head where I got that particular one...

Then there is Mahler... God I could go on for hours about his works... I'd recommend getting all of his symphonies... Any by Chicago Symphony, or the NY philharmonic would be best.

You also have your classic Beethoven, Bach, Mozart and other earlier composers...

I find that the London Symphony does a great job with Beethoven, so if you are going to get any of those symphonies, I'd go with them... Same with Brahms.

Debussy... Ah Debussy. As a flute player, you learn to... Accept Debussy because there is one piece (afternoon to a faun) that will haunt you for the rest of you life
But if you are into the impressionist movement, Debussy would be a good choice, as well as Charles Ives...

That should get you started. I'll think some more and let you know.

Hope that helps a little.

And EVERYONE needs more classical music... If only they all knew that

And Shit, I forgot to mention, my favorite recording of all... Scheherezade by Rimsky Korsakov... Best piece ever! I have 8 recordings of it and I only listen to one. It's from the Atlanta Symphony orchestra in the 90's *when they were good...lol* You should find this or... a newer NY Phil recording right away! Beware of the sucky recordings though... Stay away from the Chicago Symphony recording from the 60's... Same with the NY phil... I believe the LA phil and The London Symphony have decent recordings... but try the two that I recommended first. You can't go wrong. Sorry for forgetting to post this at first.

 

[looseliam]

For me, it's all about Vivaldi. I just can't get enough.

 

[Aflute04]

Vivaldi is good, but I just can't seem to get into him that much. I think I'm scarred from a concerto of his that I performed in College... But I'll get to him once I do Concertos...

 

[Swellegant]

For an iPod, I would recommend compilation albums. "The Romantic Era" or "Twenty Favorite Classical Hits" or something of the kind. You get more of a sampling that way.

On my iPod, I have a selection of Mozart piano concerti, Carmina Burana, "The World's Greatest Waltzes," Bernstein's Candide, a passel of Callas arias, and the soundtrack from Marie Antoinette (which contains a number of baroque pieces). One of these days, I'm going to get the soundtrack to Farinelli and a nice swatch of Beethoven (especially the Moonlight Sonata, the Fifth Symphony, and the Edgmont Overture) as well.

The whole worry about classical music is that there's so goddamned much of it... you'll never get to the end! I listen to a classical radio station most of the time, and it always kind of amazes me how much content there really is.

 

[chatolandia]

Madonna





I like a bit of Mozart, but it can get too... pretty

so more modern composers would be great to add to the mix...

Honestly go to youtube and check them out....

and pick what you like

 

[Aflute04]

For sure! On your itunes, you can listen to tons of classical music stations. It's one of my favorite features on Itunes.

That's the great part of classical music though. There is so much and for someone who is as scatterbrained as I am, that's a very good thing. I remember in high school doing a classical music competition. They gave us three thick books which came with CD's for each book and it contained at least 200 different pieces of music ranging from baroque, to contemporary. I was in heaven!

 

[Croynan]

All of the Brahms symphonies - but do not play them in order - play them in a different order and then you will truly see how they pair up. you want no. 1 and 3 and then no. 2 and 4 - Christoph von Dohnányi

Shostokovich Symphony No. 1, No 5

Mahler - just about any of the symphonies

Prokoviev - Symphony No. 5

Ravel

Elgar - Cello Concerto No. 1 Jacqueline DuPres - soloist

eM.

 

[Absolut]

Rachmaninoff - Prelude in C Sharp Minor, Op. 3 No. 2 is beautiful.

Romance - Jean Sibelius make me happy because it's so awesome in so many ways.

Un Sospiro - by Franz Liszt. An orgasm played on the piano. "They" say that only Liszt could play Liszt.

Wedding Day at Troldhaugen - Edvard Grieg. A song that makes me think of faries dancing around (no pun intended )

If you need more Lex, let me know.

God I miss it so much

 

[HPNJ2006]

LOL. To me this is like hearing someone say, "I like food. Which ones should i start with?"

Where to begin?

Ok so instrumental works, Baroque/Classical/Romantic.

One work that always makes me feel chipper is Josef Haydn's Cello Concerto in C. I have a recording of that one with his cello concerto in D and violin concerto in G and violin concerto in D. Simple works, well-known, and they're good, classical "feel good" works. Crisp, clean and peppy. I got these on one of the first "classical" CDs I ever owned when I was in middle school. I listen to it on my iPod on the subway and it makes me feel happy.

For Baroque, almost any concerto by Vivaldi or Corelli is classic. Handel's "Water Music" is well-known. If you want to experiment with some vocal music from this period, I have some stuff by Henry Purcell that I love.

Classical Period, anything Beethoven (particularly piano sonatas and symphonies) or Mozart (anything) is gold. The Haydn concerti I mentioned above.

Later 19th C,
I really like piano trios (chamber ensemble of piano, violin and cello). Schumann (Piano Trio in F) and Schubert (Piano Trio in E flat) had some good ones. Brahms Symphony No. 1. Edvard Grieg's Piano Concerto in a minor. Antonin Dvorak is great too, as landers said. New World Symphony, Slavonic Dances and so on.

Getting into 20th Century stuff,

Elgar's "Enigma" Variations. Download now please.
If you like piano music, I downloaded a nice album recently, "Rachmaninov Plays Rachmaninov."
I like Dmitri Shostakovich, some don't. His 5th Symphony is classic, and his 10th is great too.
Every library must have Gustav Holst's "The Planets," particularly the movement "Jupiter."

These are just things off the top of my head that I'd put in a "Your library can start with these." I'm not a classical music student, but being a fan for a few years I've accumulated some things. I like a lot of choral work. Masses, opera, but the darker and heavier the better.

Don't be ashamed to go to the iTunes Essentials playlists for classical music. They'll lead you to some good things, and whatever tracks you select, iTunes will find related tracks for you which may take you to some more good finds. Also, if you're reluctant to purchase, check out what your local library has in its collection of recordings. I haven't done this in years, but I used to check out CDs, take them home and copy them. Libraries probably keep everything digital these days, though.

And please let me know if you find some good things on your own. I'm always looking to expand my library too

 

[jwarren69]

schubert 'winterreise'

 

[Swellegant]

I really like piano trios (chamber ensemble of piano, violin and cello). Schumann (Piano Trio in F) and Schubert (Piano Trio in E flat) had some good ones.

Ooooh, yassss! I forgot about Schubert's Piano Trio... one of my all-time favorite pieces of music (which is on my iPod with other parts of The Hunger soundtrack... I get a lot of my music from soundtracks because I'm a very visual person, and when I see something pretty and there's music with it, it'll stick in my head better for me to remember... like Mahler's Adagietto used so extensively for A Death in Venice. Or Lustra's "Scotty Doesn't Know" from EuroTrip )

 

[Sunshine]

You could try Evanescence. Amy Lee was trained to play classical music. She did a cover of Mozart's "Lacrymosa" on the bands newest album "The Open Door"

I would recommend the songs "Lacrymosa" (obviously) "Your Star" "Hello" "Give Unto Me" and "Away From Me"

The piano in them will make you melt.

 

[strokes630]

Great to see some cello suggestions! I'm a cellist!

Here are some other cello suggestions:

-Brahms cello sonatas...wonderful music
-Bach Suites for cello...they're just solo cello
- Chopin cello sonata...mainly for the Adagio...BEAUTIFUL

I'm not a huge opera person myself...but you should check out these cause the music itself is so good:

Mozart's the Magic Flute
Bizet's Carmen

Orchestra:

Often overlooked, but I suggest the Brandenburg Concertos of Bach (especially No 5)

Tchaikovsky Symphony No 5....you will not find a more beautiful, more moving symphony in full.



UM....the CARDINALS suck!

 

[Absolut]

UM....the CARDINALS suck!

Oh my dear, so off topic...

Take it to a PM with me. I love talking about it

 

[nitish]

I have a huge hardon for chopin's Music. I started out listing to Nocturne in C# minor, and now I love all the Nocturnes.

Look for the following Chopin works

Nocturne in G minor (very awesome)
Nocturne in E Minor, Op. 72, No. 1 (Kind of slow and quite)
No.2 In E Flat Major, Op.9 No (it's very famous, so you probably know it)
Nocturne in C-sharp Minor (my love)
Butterfly Etude
Waltz in A minor, Op 34 No 2
Waltz No. 10 in B Minor

-Mozart, Turkish march aka Piano Sonata in A major

Only have a superficial knowledge, but I seem to like solo pianos. So I definitely like Fur Elise, Moonlight Sonata, by Beethoven, but you probably already know them.


Piotr Tchaikovsky: swan lake, dace of four little swans
Scott Joplin, maple leaf rag, the entertainer.

I am making obvious recommendations :O

 

[nitish]

If you like violin, I would recommend

this

and this

Both from wonderful movies. In the mood for love, and 2046.