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Music Lane It's all about the music, dude! Sit down, relax and listen to some tunes. |
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Music Lane It's all about the music, dude! Sit down, relax and listen to some tunes. |
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In Reply to: Help Needed posted by thetubeguy1954 on July 21, 2011 at 02:26:38:
There are pieces of classical music that are warhorses for a reason. Yes, we all have our personal preferences and quirks. Do you ever stop and think about what you enjoyed most when you first started listening to classical music? Was it really Bartok?
How about these, which bore most veteran classical listeners to tears, but are simply the most enjoyable, easy to grasp, beautiful music?
Dvorak: Symphony No. 9, "New World" There are dozens of recordings, many with excellent sound, many excellent performances, a few rare combinations of both. There are few terrible perfomances, few awful recordings, none that are not worth at least listening to.
Holst: The Planets Dutoit on Decca is very popular, very spectacular, and there are many others, but none quite as good.
Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition The best recordings are spectacular. See Maazel on Telarc or Reiner on RCA. There is no good reason to buy anything else.
Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade See Reiner on RCA or Kondrashin on Philips, but there are many others. Only one I can think of to avoid: Gergiev.
Next level challenges:
Brahms: Double Concerto for Vioin and Cello or Symphony No. 1 or No. 2 Now I love Brahms, but it took me a few years to get to fully appreciate his music. They all have a similar pastoral, powerful tenderness about them. There are many fine recordings of all these works.
Stravinsky: Rite of Spring Lots of fine recordings, performances can vary. Everyone has their favorite. This is modern music, with touches of jazz, a little harder to grasp at first, but the effort is worth it. After three listens, you'll start to get it. After ten listens, it's old hat but never boring. Very spectacular orchestral sounds.
If you're feeling mellow, try these.
Mozart symphonies, especially 40 or 41. This is truly "classical" music with very straightforward structure. It is an excellent introduction.
Almost anything by Beethoven, but especially Symphony No. 5, Piano Concerto No. 5 "Emperor", or Violin Concerto. There are dozens to choose from. Unless you like prissy, thin sound, played much too fast and robbed of its impact, stay away from "period" instrument performances. Beethoven's music is powerful and timeless, but not always an ideal place to start. The more you learn about music, the more you will appreciate his genius. Unless you are an insufferable intellectual snob, you will never grow tired of it.
That should get you started, but there is so much more to discover.
Peace,
Tom E
berate is 8 and benign is 9
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Follow Ups
- Some of these suggestions are baffling - madisonears 08:48:42 07/22/11 (3)
- Actually, it was really Bartok - rbolaw 10:10:08 07/24/11 (0)
- Was it really Bartok? - Daverz 20:41:23 07/22/11 (0)
- excellent, peace, Tom - docw 10:05:38 07/22/11 (0)
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