Recommend me some classical music

Gravey wrote:

Obviously it all doesn't have to be ffff

But sometimes it does...

Tanglebones wrote:
Minarchist wrote:

Fair enough. I only mentioned it specifically with Rite of Spring because it was written as a ballet, and really makes a lot more sense if you see dinosaurs performing the choreography.

And it does get better. You have to work harder at it, but dates are still possible after kids are born. :)

FTFY.

YES

Also, if you're willing to ignore the idea of three-fingered T-Rexes. Silly 1940s.

There would probably be a ton of stuff on CD and DVD available at the local library. That helps if on a budget.

Minarchist wrote:

The first time I heard Duruflé's Requiem I went in blind to a performance because my vocal teacher was one of the soloists. Sat 3rd row. Had my hair parted I was so blown away by it. I think that it would have lost some of that magic had I already done some aural research on the piece.

I had the same experience with Gorecki's 3rd Symphony. I was unfamiliar with the work, but I went to the concert with my wife (girlfriend at the time) because her voice teacher was the soprano soloist. The first movement reduced me to tears.

Minarchist wrote:

The first time I heard Duruflé's Requiem I went in blind to a performance because my vocal teacher was one of the soloists. Sat 3rd row. Had my hair parted I was so blown away by it. I think that it would have lost some of that magic had I already done some aural research on the piece.

It's a tricky tradeoff. I find that especially for more extended pieces if I know the structure ahead of time it's easier to stay focussed. Many times even if you have heard the piece before particular performances might blow you away just because they are really that good. My hit ratio tends to be better with prior knowledge, but maybe that's jus thow my brain works.

I've got it: I'm a casual classical music fan. Oh sure, I took Royal Conservatory piano lessons when I was kid, and my parents usually had the CBC on the background. But now I just want to relax and tap along on my iOS device.

I realize I'm ruining it for the hardcore classicers.

Gravey wrote:

I've got it: I'm a casual classical music fan. Oh sure, I took Royal Conservatory piano lessons when I was kid, and my parents usually had the CBC on the background. But now I just want to relax and tap along on my iOS device.

I realize I'm ruining it for the hardcore classicers.

More cheevos for the rest of us, brah..

Tanglebones wrote:
Gravey wrote:

I've got it: I'm a casual classical music fan. Oh sure, I took Royal Conservatory piano lessons when I was kid, and my parents usually had the CBC on the background. But now I just want to relax and tap along on my iOS device.

I realize I'm ruining it for the hardcore classicers.

More cheevos for the rest of us, brah..

That would be awful. On the other hand, why hasn't Xbox Music gotten on that...

But as much as I laughed to myself when I transplanted the casual/hardcore distinction, it's as valid here as anywhere else. (With no value judgement: the bit about "ruining it" is meant to be an ironic poke at whinging hardcore gamers—it'd be impossible for one person's listening habits to ruin another's. Besides, don't you want to be called classicers?) I really did open up the gates to the hardcore.

You're welcome to it though! Let tuffalo's dream of the classical music catch-all live, I've got plenty to get me started.

I mean, there's only so much 1-6-4-5 you can take, y'know?

I just thought of something that you might enjoy, Gravey, and it's perfect for your iPhone and budget! You might dig the Top Score podcast. Emily Reese interviews game soundtrack composers. A lot of comparisons to classical music get made. The interview with the Stacking composer and audio designer is a great one. Some music is original and some is old stuff. The interviews can get slightly awkward at times, but it's not too bad.

There were some spots I skimmed, so it may already have been mentioned. Feel free to cough whoever you are. I look forward to spending some time going back through and listening to everything that got mentioned.

Gravey wrote:

You're welcome to it though! Let tuffalo's dream of the classical music catch-all live, I've got plenty to get me started.

Hurray!

The more you learn about classical music the more fully you are able to appreciate it, and unlike with popular music, there is really no limit to the extent to which you are able to expand your horizons. My personal experience was that the more I learned about the way music works, the smaller the pool of popular music that I was able to enjoy, while art music worked the opposite way--the greater my musical knowledge and experience, the more I was able to appreciate. I agree to some extent with just about everything that's been said in the thread regarding preparation (I have been pleasantly surprised by unfamiliar music, and also moved by a masterful interpretation of a familiar work), live performance versus recordings (this music is generally meant to be played and heard live, but some of my most memorable listening moments have happened on a pair of earbuds or headphones), "casual" vs "hardcore" (even the hardest-core among us were once casual listeners) and so on.

Those of us who have some aspect of our careers rooted in classical music are always excited to share our passion with others, and I realize that we may come on a little strong, but I think that ultimately all we want is for the listener to engage with this music on their own terms with an open mind and heart. If it doesn't connect, that's okay, but if it does, it's a beautiful thing.

More recommendations!

Fantaisie-Impromptu by Chopin
Mahler's Symphony No. 8, Symphony of a Thousand.
Symphony No. 3 "Eroica" by Beethoven.

The greatest single introduction to classical music? There's no contest. That accolade goes to the massive space battle scenes in the anime based on Yoshiki Tanaka's "Legend of Galactic Heroes."

Example? Episode 33 "Fortress vs Fortress" features the following:

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky – Swan Lake (Op. 20): Spanish Dance
Ludwig van Beethoven – Symphony No. 7 in A major (Op. 92): IV. Allegro con brio
Ludwig van Beethoven – Symphony No. 7 in A major (Op. 92): I. Poco sostenuto - Vivace
Joseph Haydn – Symphony No. 88 in G major (Hob. I/88): II. Largo
Joseph Haydn – Symphony No. 97 in C major (Hob. I/97): I. Adagio - Vivace
Gustav Mahler – Symphony No. 6 in A minor: IV. Finale: Sostenuto - Allegro moderato - Allegro energico

Gravey, I was in a similar position to you a few years ago (ok, more like 20 years ago) in that there were pieces of classical music I liked and recognised, but my experience wasn't all that broad. What helped me was finding "Highlight" CDs of composers I liked such as Tchaikovsky, Wagner, Vivaldi, Puccini, Verdi, etc. and listening to other things they had done. You mentioned Ride of the Valkyries as being a piece you like and that loud German stuff is good. I'm the same and what I did was pick up a couple of compilation CDs of highlights from Wagner's Ring Cycle and his other operas from an older analogue recording from the 1960s done by one of the major German orchestras. Now I love listening to the full operas (it sure beats the ambient music in most MMOs ) but sometimes it's still good to just play my old compilation CDs. Wagner isn't to everyone's taste and I'm really just using his work as an example but I think basic principle is sound for most composers.

Start with what you know. Find out what it's from and with baby steps explore from there.

spankyboy wrote:

Gravey, I was in a similar position to you a few years ago (ok, more like 20 years ago) in that there were pieces of classical music I liked and recognised, but my experience wasn't all that broad. What helped me was finding "Highlight" CDs of composers I liked such as Tchaikovsky, Wagner, Vivaldi, Puccini, Verdi, etc. and listening to other things they had done. You mentioned Ride of the Valkyries as being a piece you like and that loud German stuff is good. I'm the same and what I did was pick up a couple of compilation CDs of highlights from Wagner's Ring Cycle and his other operas from an older analogue recording from the 1960s done by one of the major German orchestras. Now I love listening to the full operas (it sure beats the ambient music in most MMOs ) but sometimes it's still good to just play my old compilation CDs. Wagner isn't to everyone's taste and I'm really just using his work as an example but I think basic principle is sound for most composers.

Start with what you know. Find out what it's from and with baby steps explore from there.

I'm a fan of this method. Naxos stuff is pretty controversial because the musicians don't get paid well and the interpretations are sometimes not the best, but the albums are cheap. I know not many people 'do' CDs any more, but buy a handful of discs, rip them and see what grabs you.

If you like 'Night on a Bald Mountain' try Mussorgsky's 'Pictures at an Exhibition' also check out the Emerson, Lake and Palmer version for fun, also Rimksy-Korsakoff. If you like 'Flight of the Valkyries' a 'Greatest Hits of Wagner' selection is a no brainer. Also check out some stuff by Richard Strauss. Wagner's great Romantic period rival, less bombastic, but good to listen to.

Now Playing: Stravinsky 'The Nightingale'

Thinking about the CDs method has suddenly made me realize: my dad has tons of classical/Romantic CDs (mostly Russian), which is how I'm familiar with some of this stuff to begin with (Tchaikovsky, Mussorgsky, Rimsky-Korsakov, Bruckner), having grown up with it in the background.

So I should probably just raid his collection the next time I visit my parents (unless he's sold them...), and give some of them a proper listen.

Otherwise, this thread has been a lot of fun. I also mentioned CBC radio earlier, which my parents always had on, so classical music has always been around in the background for my first 20 years. So it's been fun listening to the YouTube links and thinking "Oh, it's that piece", or finding myself able to hum along.

Étude Op. 10, No. 4, an excerpt from Nocturne Op. 55, No. 1, both by Chopin
Piano Concerto No. 2 by Sergei Rachmaninoff
Symphony No.1 in C Minor by Johannes Brahms.

Could I interest you fine folks in some Japanese modern, er, "classical" music?

This is "Memories from the OST composed by Ryou Kunihiko. Apparently it's modern classical music.

I get to go see this guy play on Sunday. I'm excited.

Yikes, I didn't even realize he was still alive. Yeah, RIP.

So, the recital was great. I thought he played Rachmaninoff best. Here is a not so great recording of him playing the Sonata #2:

He played his variations on a theme by Paganini. It was pretty amusing and fun.

He played Ravel's Gaspard de la nuit. I had listened to the following recording beforehand:

He didn't play it with nearly as much control as that. Having said that, I think you could make a case for blaming the piano on this one. The piece is ridiculously difficult. Whatever particular piano used could definitely make a difference. This particularly Steinway definitely seemed more at home with Rachmoninoff being played on it. So, I would probably recommend the Pogorelić version.

Here is the 1st movement with Hamelin. I don't think the right hand is as nice and crisp as the Pogorelić version. However, it's a bit quicker and the phrasing is done really well.

Let me know which version you think is best!

I left after a couple rounds of clapping totally forgetting that there would be an encore. I had the intention of picking up a recording of him playing Rachmoninoff. Ah well.

One of Bridge's titles is WQXR's album of the week this week, including free streaming

We have a friend that plays claranet for the local community college and they had a performance when I heard this song as played by a high school orchestra. I fell in love.

Commissioned by the Indiana Bandmasters Association for the 2008 All-State High School Honor Band, this stunning work from the pen of Samuel Hazo is a tour de force of Middle Eastern sounds for the contemporary wind band. From delicate and sensual soloistic writing to full-blown ensemble passages with rapid fire tutti rhythms and frenzied percussion, here is a rewarding piece with drama and depth that will be the high point of any concert or festival program.

The real story is that his mom bugged him to make it because she didn't know of any Arab influenced classical music as he is Lebanese/Syrian.

Edwin wrote:

We have a friend that plays claranet for the local community college and they had a performance when I heard this song as played by a high school orchestra. I fell in love.

That was fun! I liked the percussion parts. I could see how playing the clarinet would be the most fun part of that composition. Thanks for sharing that!

Does anyone care to expand suggestions to medieval/renaissance music? I have a handful of recordings of Anonymous 4 and Flanders Recorder Quartet, but I don't have a huge music collection.

If anyone can recommend some good recordings of Dufay, especially, I'd be interested.

I'd be interested in some thoughts on that as well, Katy. I haven't delved much further back than baroque music. I do love some good Vivaldi and Telemann recorder sonatas.

Edwin wrote:

We have a friend that plays claranet for the local community college and they had a performance when I heard this song as played by a high school orchestra. I fell in love.

Samuel Hazo is one of the most respected band/wind ensemble composers today, but this piece reminds me of Respighi's ballet music which is fricking awesome:

Part I:

Part II:

edit: Part II here is just sexy as hell - sultry opening, and the last movement is entitled "Danza Orgiastica".

Re: Arab influenced music - here's an Arabic opera that was premiered this year:

Re: Medieval and Renaissance, other people know much more than I do; I like what I've heard, generally, though from these ensembles:

So, I'm having a complete, stupid mental block recalling what the following melody is from:

IMAGE(http://i.imgur.com/xop7lyN.png)

I watched Anna Karenina last night, and I kept thinking the soundtrack sounded a bit like the above piece. I just can't remember who did it. It's probably in the wrong key, and it's definitely in the wrong octave. It's a violin that plays it, and I think it gets used very often in movies for mournful moments.

Help!