Getting started on classical

[Joe Schmoe]

Acoustic instruments and the orchestral passages on pop/rock CDs sound so fantastic through my new system that I am thinking about giving classical a try.
I haven't listened to classical since high school orchestra almost 30 years ago, and know practically nothing about it. Is there a list of 10 or so "must have" classical CDs to start with?

 

[obscbyclouds]

Here's a thread that has some stuff on good classical pieces. Enjoy!

3 Favorite Classical Pieces

 

[Joe Schmoe]

Cool, thanks.

 

[Brett A]

Hi All,

Don't know whose a fan of classical, but I figure this is a good way to find new/good music that others like.

For Me:
Dvorak- Symphony #9 "The New World"
Mozart- Symphony #41- "Jupiter"
Bach Brandenburg Concertos

I see Obscured recommends Dvorák: Symphony 9.
I’d recommend it too as Dvorák: Symphony 9 is staple of the classical cannon.
There is a recording of that piece that won a Grammy for best engineered classical album in 2001

http://www.amazon.com/Dvorák-Requiem-Symphony-Gustáv-Belácek/dp/B00004SZU1

I’d also suggest Beethoven’s third symphony –the Eroica. It appeals to my rock and roll sensibilities. As far as which recording of the Eroica, a couple links might help.
http://www.grunin.com/eroica/
http://www.audioasylum.com/audio/music/messages/6/66547.html

 

[Pyrrho]

Acoustic instruments and the orchestral passages on pop/rock CDs sound so fantastic through my new system that I am thinking about giving classical a try.
I haven't listened to classical since high school orchestra almost 30 years ago, and know practically nothing about it. Is there a list of 10 or so "must have" classical CDs to start with?

This kind of thing is so subjective that I would not care to list 10 CDs for everyone. Some, for example, love Mahler, and others loathe him. The same basic idea applies to all composers, though some are more universally loved than others (though none are absolutely loved by all). A good place to start would be with going to your local library and checking out all of the classical CDs you can. Then you can judge for yourself what you like and what you don't. It is also good to listen to different performances of the same piece of music, as there is some disagreement about which is best in most if not all cases.

Also, if you have access to a classical radio station, you can listen to it for a while to get ideas about what you like.

If you want professional advice, you can try:

http://www.amazon.com/NPR-Guide-Building-Classical-Collection/dp/0761104879/

You may wish to read the reviews of this book at Amazon.

 

[Brett A]

When I first got curious about classical, I bought a copy of Classical Music for Dummies. It's a shallow but wide pool of information that helped me have some context as I explored. It was also helpful in explaining a bit about the whole living classical music culture. It even comes w/a CD.

 

[skizzerflake]

Go to www.allmusic.com and click on the Classical link in the band under the search box. It has links to lots of recommended recordings in various segments of the classical world (opera, choral, chamber, etc). It has lots of good info on how to get oriented. It can be intimidating (often I think it's done that way on purpose) since a title like symphony #38 or opus 327 doesn't tell you much. Don't fall for all the high-toned BS though; it's just music played by humans and buy what you like.

 

[3db]

Go to www.allmusic.com and click on the Classical link in the band under the search box. It has links to lots of recommended recordings in various segments of the classical world (opera, choral, chamber, etc). It has lots of good info on how to get oriented. It can be intimidating (often I think it's done that way on purpose) since a title like symphony #38 or opus 327 doesn't tell you much. Don't fall for all the high-toned BS though; it's just music played by humans and buy what you like.

I agree. Just because its classsical doesn't make it good music. I;m very select of my classical music and there are some composures that I will stay away from because I consider it to be a little bit more than noise.

Its funny, Tchaikovksy who wrote the 1812 overture considered this to be his worst work. He hated and was embarrassed by it. Its one of the greater pieces of work out there.

 

[cbraver]

I agree. Just because its classsical doesn't make it good music. I;m very select of my classical music and there are some composures that I will stay away from because I consider it to be a little bit more than noise.

Its funny, Tchaikovksy who wrote the 1812 overture considered this to be his worst work. He hated and was embarrassed by it. Its one of the greater pieces of work out there.

Classical is like any other genre, a few winners, a whole lot of garbage.

 

[Joe Schmoe]

Last night, for the first time, a classical CD held my attention all the way through. It was a Beethoven violin concerto performed by Anne-Sophie Mutter. I kid you not, that gal can play that fiddle!

 

[Pyrrho]

Last night, for the first time, a classical CD held my attention all the way through. It was a Beethoven violin concerto performed by Anne-Sophie Mutter. I kid you not, that gal can play that fiddle!

Anne-Sophie Mutter is highly regarded. And in her case, the good reputation is deserved; she can play the violin quite well. Not just technically well, but with feeling and, dare I say it, musically.

When I was first getting into classical, Beethoven was my favorite composer. He is a "romantic" composer, and I think many of his works are easy to enjoy. For starting, I recommend looking to his works from the middle part of his composing life, as he improved, like most composers, but his later works might not be so readily accessible to someone unaccustomed to "classical" music. His later works generally don't "reach out" to the listener in the same way as his earlier works tended to do.

Among his symphonies, you might like his third and seventh. I would also recommend his fifth, but bits of it have been played so much in popular culture that it is difficult to properly enjoy it. Herbert von Karajan is good with Beethoven's symphonies. He recorded all of them four times, and the one generally regarded as his best cycle, the one from the early 1960's, has been released on digital disc three times: as a budget CD set, as a remastered CD set, and as a remastered hybrid SACD set (plus, one can buy them individually). There were also a few live performances of some of the individual symphonies that have been released. And, of course, there are some who prefer some other conductor (which is always going to be the case, no matter who one selects).

Now, my favorite composer is Bach. Other than, perhaps, a good recording of the Brandenburgs:

http://www.amazon.com/Bach-Brandenburg-Concertos-Lamon-Tafelmusik/dp/B000002AQ4/

I recommend not trying to get into Bach for a few years. I think the romantic composers (roughly, those of the 1800's) are probably easier for people brought up on rock music to enjoy.

 

[3db]

When I was first getting into classical, Beethoven was my favorite composer. He is a "romantic" composer, and I think many of his works are easy to enjoy. For starting, I recommend looking to his works from the middle part of his composing life, as he improved, like most composers, but his later works might not be so readily accessible to someone unaccustomed to "classical" music. His later works generally don't "reach out" to the listener in the same way as his earlier works tended to do.

Among his symphonies, you might like his third and seventh. I would also recommend his fifth, but bits of it have been played so much in popular culture that it is difficult to properly enjoy it. Herbert von Karajan is good with Beethoven's symphonies. He recorded all of them four times, and the one generally regarded as his best cycle, the one from the early 1960's, has been released on digital disc three times: as a budget CD set, as a remastered CD set, and as a remastered hybrid SACD set (plus, one can buy them individually). There were also a few live performances of some of the individual symphonies that have been released. And, of course, there are some who prefer some other conductor (which is always going to be the case, no matter who one selects).

Now, my favorite composer is Bach. Other than, perhaps, a good recording of the Brandenburgs:

http://www.amazon.com/Bach-Brandenburg-Concertos-Lamon-Tafelmusik/dp/B000002AQ4/

I recommend not trying to get into Bach for a few years. I think the romantic composers (roughly, those of the 1800's) are probably easier for people brought up on rock music to enjoy.

Beethoven, Haydn, Brahms, and Mozart were composers in the "classical" period. Schubert was a composer of the romantic period. The romantic period came after the classical period. I think Wagner is also considered romantic but I'm unsure of this. Bach, Handel, and few others were composers of the baroque period. The baroque period came before the classical period. Beethoven had an infinite respect for Bach and his music. In German, bach means stream or brook. Beethoven called Bach a sea of music.


Barogue music is very compl

 

[3db]

Last night, for the first time, a classical CD held my attention all the way through. It was a Beethoven violin concerto performed by Anne-Sophie Mutter. I kid you not, that gal can play that fiddle!

Joe, if you like that one, I'd also suggest Tchaikovsky's violin concertoe in D. Another piece to ease into from Tchaikovsky's is the 1812 overture. You have heard this music before, maybe not in its entirety but in snipets here and there.

Did you know the tune "twinkle twinkle little star" was written by Beethoven. He is my favourite composer for sure.

 

[Pyrrho]

Beethoven, Haydn, Brahms, and Mozart were composers in the "classical" period. Schubert was a composer of the romantic period. The romantic period came after the classical period. I think Wagner is also considered romantic but I'm unsure of this. Bach, Handel, and few others were composers of the baroque period. The baroque period came before the classical period. Beethoven had an infinite respect for Bach and his music. In German, bach means stream or brook. Beethoven called Bach a sea of music.


Barogue music is very compl

Please continue your thought, as I would like to know what you were going to say about Baroque music.

With Beethoven, he is generally regarded as a transitional composer, bridging the "classical" and "romantic" eras:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beethoven

See also:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romantic_music

But with Brahms, you are simply mistaken. He is squarely in the romantic era, not the classical era:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brahms

I suspect, however, that Joe Schmoe is interested in "classical" music in the broad sense in which baroque, classical, and romantic music (as well as music that precedes and succeeds those eras) are all "classical". Probably, he is interested in what some pedants call "European art music". As I am not so pedantic as that, I am happy to call it all "classical" music. Still, Beethoven has a more romantic quality to his music than someone like Bach, and that romantic quality, I think, makes it more accessible for people raised on Rock music.

 

[3db]

Please continue your thought, as I would like to know what you were going to say about Baroque music.

With Beethoven, he is generally regarded as a transitional composer, bridging the "classical" and "romantic" eras:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beethoven

See also:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romantic_music

But with Brahms, you are simply mistaken. He is squarely in the romantic era, not the classical era:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brahms

I suspect, however, that Joe Schmoe is interested in "classical" music in the broad sense in which baroque, classical, and romantic music (as well as music that precedes and succeeds those eras) are all "classical". Probably, he is interested in what some pedants call "European art music". As I am not so pedantic as that, I am happy to call it all "classical" music. Still, Beethoven has a more romantic quality to his music than someone like Bach, and that romantic quality, I think, makes it more accessible for people raised on Rock music.

I thought Brahms was born a little earlir but I guess I was clearly mistaken. Thanks for pointing that out. As far as Beethoven being a traditional composure goes, it depends on what site/book you are looking at. From what I've read about Beethoven from the records I own, the one book I have about hine and from various other web sites, he is listed as a "classical" composer. I know his music was very revolutionary and alot of his structure in his piano sonatas are or were being used in jazz. I'm not sure what that means as I'm not a musician but this is what I've read.

I meant to say that baroqgue music is very intricate and complicated, at least to my ears anyway. Thats the sense I get from it by listening to it. When I listen to Bach's Brandenburg Concertoes, it always amazes me how he could keep all of this straight in his mind. I also saw this on TV where the show reported that one of his movements from the Brandenburg concertoes followed a sin wave pattern. The Voyager spacecraft is carrying alot of his works as well.

LIke you, I lump the periods into one classification and call it classical music.

 

[Pyrrho]

I thought Brahms was born a little earlir but I guess I was clearly mistaken. Thanks for pointing that out. As far as Beethoven being a traditional composure goes, it depends on what site/book you are looking at. From what I've read about Beethoven from the records I own, the one book I have about hine and from various other web sites, he is listed as a "classical" composer. I know his music was very revolutionary and alot of his structure in his piano sonatas are or were being used in jazz. I'm not sure what that means as I'm not a musician but this is what I've read.

I meant to say that baroqgue music is very intricate and complicated, at least to my ears anyway. Thats the sense I get from it by listening to it. When I listen to Bach's Brandenburg Concertoes, it always amazes me how he could keep all of this straight in his mind. I also saw this on TV where the show reported that one of his movements from the Brandenburg concertoes followed a sin wave pattern. The Voyager spacecraft is carrying alot of his works as well.

LIke you, I lump the periods into one classification and call it classical music.

I wrote that Beethoven was a transitional composer, not a traditional composer. He started in the "classical era", and ended in the "romantic era". Hence, he transitioned from classical to romantic. He is one of the main figures who ushered in the new "romantic" era, so, for his time, he did some very non-traditional things.

I more or less agree with you about Bach, and that is why he is now my favorite. I never tire of hearing the Brandenburgs, probably because they are so rich with ideas. But they do not have the "in your face" emotion that so much of Beethoven has, so I think that many are better off starting with Beethoven. And, even though Bach is now my favorite, I still very much like Beethoven. In my opinion, he is in the top three greatest composers of all time (with Bach and Mozart). So you see, my taste in classical music is fairly standard. Generally speaking, I think there is good reason why the most famous composers are the most famous composers.

One of the great things about Beethoven is that he was the master of the "false ending", where the piece of music seems to be at an end, but then it goes on. You can hear this by listening to his symphonies. He does this masterfully, and makes for a nice surprise the first time one hears the piece.

 

[3db]

I wrote that Beethoven was a transitional composer, not a traditional composer. He started in the "classical era", and ended in the "romantic era". Hence, he transitioned from classical to romantic. He is one of the main figures who ushered in the new "romantic" era, so, for his time, he did some very non-traditional things.

I more or less agree with you about Bach, and that is why he is now my favorite. I never tire of hearing the Brandenburgs, probably because they are so rich with ideas. But they do not have the "in your face" emotion that so much of Beethoven has, so I think that many are better off starting with Beethoven. And, even though Bach is now my favorite, I still very much like Beethoven. In my opinion, he is in the top three greatest composers of all time (with Bach and Mozart). So you see, my taste in classical music is fairly standard. Generally speaking, I think there is good reason why the most famous composers are the most famous composers.

One of the great things about Beethoven is that he was the master of the "false ending", where the piece of music seems to be at an end, but then it goes on. You can hear this by listening to his symphonies. He does this masterfully, and makes for a nice surprise the first time one hears the piece.

The last movement of Beethoven's 5th is a perfect example.

I think Joe should listen next to the 1812 overature by Tchaiskovsky. Thats a beautiful piece of music.

 

[Joe Schmoe]

I think Joe should listen next to the 1812 overature by Tchaiskovsky. Thats a beautiful piece of music.

If I buy any more clasical CDs at all, that will be one of them.

 

[Pat D]

There's a lot of classical music of many different periods and types. It might help if we knew what you already like. However, I can suggest some which many people like, but pieces others have mentioned are just as good:

Mussorgsky (arranged for orchestra by Ravel), Pictures at an Exhibition.

Stravinsky, Firebird Suite.

Overtures by Mozart, Beethoven, Rossini, Berlioz, Mendelssohn, Tchaikovsky, Wagner, and more minor figures such Suppe, Auber, Glinka.

Mozart Symphonies 1-41 (terrific cheap box set with Trevor Pinnock), but 35-41 are the greatest of them.

Beethoven Symphonies 1-6 (excellent cheap box set by Karajan (1963)--others like the modern cheap Zinman).

Violin concertos by Mozart, Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Tchaikovsky, Sibelius, Prokofiev, Bartok.

Beethoven Piano Sonatas.

Chopin Piano Music—Sonata No. 2, Waltzes, Nocturnes, Ballades, Scherzos, etc.

Brahms Symphonies 1-4.

Tchaikovsky Symphonies (esp. 4, 5, and 6).

Rachmaninoff Symphonies.

Sibelius Symphonies.

Piano Concertos by Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms, Tchaikovsky (No. 1), Rachmaninoff, Prokofiev.

String Quartets by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Brahms, Bartok, Shostakovich.

 

[jliedeka]

To make matters more complicated, different recordings of the various classical pieces are better than others. If you read the NPR Guide or the British one (Penguin maybe?), they will list specific recordings with conductor and orchestra. I have three different versions of the Brandenburg Concertos and they are all different.

Often when classical recordings are reviewed, they rate both the performance and the recording quality. I appreciate that. I started building my classical collection from the bargain bins but now I seek out one of the better versions of a given piece.

A good free resource is the ratings on Arkiv Music, a retailer of classical discs.

Jim