Classical Music recommendations

[andyhix]

OK, running with some ideas from the "earth shaking idea" thread, from a songwriting perspective (and just enjoyable listening, too, I suppose), give me some classical tunes, composers, actual CD names, etc. I'm a dunce about classical stuff, and a lot of it bores me quite a bit, honestly. Occasionally, tho, I'll here something totally moving...

From that other thread, I saw recommendations for Lute Suite #4 (bach, right?) performed by Segovia or John Williams, and Rite of Spring (Stravinstky).

Lets hear some others, that an open minded child of the hair-metal/grunge/indie era might appreciate and learn from.

[Son of Mixerman]

My favorite is the Sountrack from Amadeus. It had a quite a variation of Mozarts work from dark to happy Turkish dancing stuff.

SoMm

[apl]

Bach's Brandenburg concertos. Should be able to find it at your local liblrary.

[Aaron Cheney]

Wow... saying "recommend me some classical music" is like saying "recommend me some pop music". There are lots of different types of classical music and it really depends on what you like. "Classical music" is really divided into several different "eras" or periods:

Rennesance(sp?) Period (Gregorian chant)
Baroque Period (Bach, Handel, Vivaldi, Pacchabel)
Classical Period (Mozart, Beethoven)
Romantic Period (Tchiakovsky, Chopin, Brahms)
Modern Period (Debussy, Copeland)

I'm just throwing these out off the top of my head....I'm sure a google search would get you a better breakdown of eras/composers. The least you need to know is that each era is defined by a particular and unique style. Here's a quick breakdown:

Renasance(sp?) Period (single line melodies, generally without harmony until later)
Baroque Period (Harmony is explored more fully, pieces are very "mathmatical", without emotion, and very ornamented with lots of trills and such)
Classical Period (Music begins to become more artful and crafted in a more emotional way, yet still very musically "correct")
Romantic Period (Art supplants musical "correctness" in importance and all harmonic options, even dissonance, are on the table for maximum emotional impact)
Modern Period (all bets are off... do whatever you want. There has been sort of a return to the Classical style, and also a movement towards "Nationalism", e.g. Copeland's pieces sound very American old west)

For listening suggestions, I'd second Bach's Brandenberg Concertos. The Amedaus soundtrack (mostly Mozart) is another great one. There are lots of "Best of" CD's out there that can be a good place to introduce yourself to classical music. Generally you can't go wrong with: Bach, Mozart, or Beethoven. They are the big three. Buy yourself a "best of" disc from every composer I named above and you will have a darn good start.

Two things will probably surprise you: 1) how much classical music you already know and will recognize, and 2) how cheaply you can buy classical CD's.

Good luck,
A

[Garry Sharp]

Second all the excellent advice above. One piece you will know but which bears careful listening is the 4th movement of Beethoven's 9th Symphony. What is particularly interesting is how he takes a simple melodic theme and extracts every last inch from it - introducing bits of it, teasing the listener with parts, making very recognisable counterpoints, using different parts of the orchestra to repeat it, all without it ever being in the slightest bit tedious. Some very interesting lessons there.

[andyhix]

Thanks, especially to Aaron for your breakdown of periods - just knowing that much more can help me distinguish one from another a bit. Keep em coming. I'm writing this stuff down and heading to the used CD place after work today.

[up-fiddler]

Rachmaninoff is good, typically minor key stuff. Shevanna Jackamanoff is more bedtime music. Dave

[Rokket]

Originally Posted by up-fiddler

Rachmaninoff is good, typically minor key stuff. Shevanna Jackamanoff is more bedtime music. Dave

It took me a couple reads, but I got it!

You're silly!


Oh, and I second the Amadeus soundtrack. I wore it out as a cassette... Still listen to the CD when I get restless...

[andyhix]

Originally Posted by up-fiddler

Rachmaninoff is good, typically minor key stuff. Shevanna Jackamanoff is more bedtime music. Dave

Once, when we had a substitute teacher when I was in high school, a classmate convinced the sub that he just transfered into the class (which is why he wasn't on the class list) and his name was Peter Gozinya. She never caught on...and called on young "peter" several times that day.

[cliff richard]

keeping with the classical sort of theme. i have just been reading a book written by sheila davis who explained that research had been done which proves that when lyric writing, 20% more subject matter can be covered when largo (slow) movements of baroque are played in the background. i haven't tested this theory yet but maybe its worth a go. also has anybody elses musical radar latched on to the works of the composer Arvo Part yet? amazing stuff.

[apl]

Originally Posted by cliff richard

...Arvo Pärt...

I just have to get excited when an Estonian is mentioned, especially when we share the same first name!

[joemintz]

I love Debussy. La Mer is probably his best symphonic work (in my opinion), and the Suite Bergamesque is best for solo piano. The only famous, official impressionistic composer. I won't talk about it. It's better to just listen, I think.

Plus, I love the whole-tone scale.

[Cosmic]

Hi Andy,

For a non-classical listener, a disc you might really get caught up in is Prokofief's score for the film "Alexander Nevsky." Great sweeping, dramatic stuff. I have the old LP of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra conducted by Fritz Reiner, and, if re-issued on CD, it might be reasonably priced.

Best,

C

[Aaron Cheney]

Originally Posted by joemintz

I love Debussy. La Mer is probably his best symphonic work (in my opinion), and the Suite Bergamesque is best for solo piano. The only famous, official impressionistic composer. I won't talk about it. It's better to just listen, I think.

Plus, I love the whole-tone scale.

Oh what the heck.... I'll talk about it! Probably his most well-known piece for a beginner would be Deaux Arabesque.

My personal fav's is Doctor Gradus Ad Parnussum from The Children's Corner.

Debussy is almost jazz to my ear.... it's like classical jazz.

And pardon all my crappy French spelling....

A

[andyhix]

Thanks everyone. Great tips, and seemingly varied, too! I did buy a CD w/ rite of spring last week, and I DID enjoy it. I'll have to get back for a few more of these soon. I tend to write slightly psychedelic experimental stuff, so I think the chord progressions, melodies, etc., from a lot of this stuff can help my creativity significantly. Probably could help anyone actually, but I guess I'm not as concerned with the "pop formula" as others might be.

[XLR]

Personally, I like chamber music and solo instruments better than symphohic music. I guess it's the intimacy of the sound and personal nature of the performance.

For something sweet sounding: Christopher Parkening's CD, Parkening Plays Bach (classical guitar). For something that's beautiful on the surface and as deep as you want to go intellectually: Gustav Leonhardt (harpsichord) playing Bach's The Well Tempered Clavier, Book 1. Guess you can tell I like Bach. For something that's harder listening but beautiful, Darius Milhaud (composer): La Cheminée du Roi René for wind quintet or his Saudades do Brazil for solo piano.

Just my 2c,
Tim

[Commander]

You should check these out:

Respighi
The fountains of Rome - very powerful stuff this one.

Ravel
Daphnis et Chloe.

Prokofiev
Scythian Suite "Ala and Lolly" - one of my absolute favourites!.
Romeo and Juliet.

Stravinsky
The Rite of Spring.
Firebird suite.

Wagner
Tristan und Isolde (not the vocal version!).

Tchaikovsky
Romeo and Juliet.

Gorecki
Symphony no3 / Lento E Largo - Tranquillissimo.
Totus Tuus - absolutely beautiful.

[chazba]

A very good place to shop for "best of" CD's is WalMart (!) Although the orchestras and recordings may be unknown , the performances are OK and they usually go for about $7. Also, you might checkout your local College FM station if you live near a city of any size. They often play a broad selection of "Greatest Hits" from "serious composers" ( as if we are not!!) from any and all eras. Plus , it's free!!.


write on...
chazba

[andydeedpoll]

we've been studying Schuberts lieder in school at the moment, and its quite interesting.

Haydns the master of the string quartet ... try "the Fifths".

hehehe... its all fun though. generally the crap stuff has slowly been gotten rid of, and no one plays it anymore

Andy

[Toonsmith]

Adagio for Strings by Samuel Barber. If it does'nt move you in some way, your dead.

[Benreturns]

I havent got the patience and attention span for it. I like a good 3 minute belting pop tune. (similary i like draughts but not chess/pool not snooker...)

-BUT-

There is only 1 musical peice in the entire world which can genuinly bring a tear to my eye when i let the mood overcome me and I dont have a clue why except the music is unbearingly powerfull to me and has the most sweet melody... its Pachabel's Canon in D. Anyone know it???

[XLR]

Originally Posted by Benreturns

the music is unbearingly powerfull to me and has the most sweet melody... its Pachabel's Canon in D. Anyone know it???

Another really sweet one is the Pavan for a Dead Princess by Ravel for piano or, better yet, transcribed for guitar.

Tim

[rjt]

Some great suggestions listed. I always loved Mussorgsky's "Pictures at an Exhibition." Also, to go along with Rite of Spring... how about "Night on Bald Mountain." I am a fan of Debussay as well..... in addition to the titles mentioned, I like his preludes..... Sunken Cathedral, Girl with the Flaxen Hair etc. Just a taste of what is out there!

Take Care

[grn]

don't forget berlioz...
beethoven and chopin are my favorite as far as listening pleasure goes... especially beethoven's 5th sypmhony 2ND MOVEMENT (oh and Tchaikovsky)

edit: and don't forget schumans (both of 'em, the wife wasn't bad either)

[azraelswings]

I didn't see them mentioned above, I like bach's cello suites a great deal. I've only ever listened to the Yo-yo Ma recording.

Particularly great casual listening, when reading or what not.

--Sean