Classical Music

[SalvadorMontenegro]

I would like to learn about and hear more of it. I really don't know anything about it. I can name some famous composers, but I can't tell you who composed what and what period they lived in. I can't tell you anything about it other than naming some guys with large hair pieces.

This is sort of a broad question, but, is there a good place to start?

 

[sid3000]

Hi!
Glad you're interested in this great genre. The first thing you should do is figure out what time period interests you most. There are a few to choose from. Do you like pieces by Vivaldi and Bach? Thats Baroque music. How about Beethoven? Thats Classic period. Smetana and Chopin are from the Romantic period, my personal favorite. Youtube these composers and sample some of their work and you should have a good grasp on what interests you. Happy listening!

 

[Ceri]

Film soundtracks that include classical pieces are a great place to start - now we have the internet it's easy to track down the pieces' names, rather than squinting at fast rolling credits at the end.

I trained as a singer, have been immersed in the baroque repertoire for most of my life, and it can be as deadly an addiction as DE shaving as you seek out ever more obscure composers, and historically correct performances. Fortunately most people aren't quite as sad as me

 

[blary54]

Goto your library and get some classical CD's...

Everyone likes Beethoven.

 

[luvmysuper]

Almost anything by Giuseppe Verdi is a good listen.

There are no rules, just sample some music, and if you like a piece, read up on who wrote it, what he wrote it about and when.

 

[bythbook]

If you have a classical radio station nearby - or if you are comfortable streaming radio - listen for awhile. The standard repertoire will likely be emphasized, but that's a good place to start, to get a sample of different styles, artists, composers.

Here's a plug for my local station: wmht-FM... and a link: WMHT-FM

the station is very heavy on standard repertoire, but it's usually listenable.

And you can check out the playlist when you hear something you like, read up on the composer, genre, artist, etc....

WHAT FUN!!!!!

Good luck with this!

(and be sure to listen to 20th century music; be sure to listen to guitar - LOTS AND LOTS OF CLASSICAL GUITAR!)

 

[KarthVader]

If you have a classical radio station nearby - or if you are comfortable streaming radio - listen for awhile. The standard repertoire will likely be emphasized, but that's a good place to start, to get a sample of different styles, artists, composers...

This!!!! Just listening to this and noting some music and composers you like will get you started. Also, Pandora radio is very helpful. Also, be mindful of some modern composers and musicians (Holsinger and David Garrett come to mind).

Good luck on your classical music discovery!

 

[LinuxMintyFresh]

This!!!! Just listening to this and noting some music and composers you like will get you started. Also, Pandora radio is very helpful. Also, be mindful of some modern composers and musicians (Holsinger and David Garrett come to mind).

Good luck on your classical music discovery!

Pandora (or Slacker Radio) is the way to go. Once you find a composer whose style you thoroughly enjoy you can find others with similar styles and continue to broaden your horizons from there.

 

[SalvadorMontenegro]

Guys, thanks so much! I think I will start with the radio and then check out other stuff, as well.

As far as what I'm interested in, I don't know! That's pretty much the point. I can name Beethoven and Bach and Mozart and a few other folks, but what they've composed, I do not know. I do know some cinema composers - John Williams, Ennio Morricone, Hans Zimmer, James Horner, etc. That's what made me want to learn more. I've always loved listening to film soundtracks. Ever since I was a kid listening to cassettes of the original Star Wars trilogy or watching the Night on Bald Mountain sequence from Walt Disney's Fantasia.

Thanks!

 

[Luc]

Try to go on http://www.allmusic.com/

From there, you can listen to a free 30 seconds sample of the music on most songs. When I'm looking for a song but I'm not sure which is which, that's what I do.

Who to look for? My taste in classic comes and goes but when I want to listen to classical music I go for those guys:

Beethoven
Mozart
Bach
Chopin
Verdi
Tchaikovsky

I didn't go much into modern or other composers but I should.

 

[demaro]

My 3 favorites are:
Bach
Beethoven
Vivaldi

 

[Uncle Erik]

Congrats on deciding to take a look at classical - it is underappreciated but one of the most challenging and rewarding genres.

Go pick up a copy of "NPR's Curious Listener's Guide to Classical." It will give you enough background and recommendations for an excellent jumping-off point. Also, the recommendation to listen to a station is excellent. My local station is KUSC 91.5. I think they stream, so give it a listen. No commercials.

Don't overlook 20th century music, either. If I had to pick one to recommend, it would be Arvo Part's "Alina." That might be the most beautiful recording I own.

If you can excuse my audiophile geekery, you might want to consider a SACD player if classical hooks you. The Sony SCD-CE595 is affordable and delivers great sound for around $100. SACD has 64 times the resolution of CD and classical recordings are plentiful and cheap. The RCA Living Stereo series is superb and about $10 per SACD. You can also find a ton of bargain SACDs at Berkshire Record Outlet.

Happy listening and I hope you come to love classical!

 

[LinuxMintyFresh]

Might I suggest listening to some Felix Mendelssohn, and Bach's Unaccompanied Cello Suites (performed by Yo Yo Ma if you can find it).

 

[raisindot]

I do know some cinema composers - John Williams, Ennio Morricone, Hans Zimmer, James Horner, etc. That's what made me want to learn more. I've always loved listening to film soundtracks. Ever since I was a kid listening to cassettes of the original Star Wars trilogy or watching the Night on Bald Mountain sequence from Walt Disney's Fantasia.

If this is the kind of music you're used, I'd recommend seeking out composers from the "romantic" which had its origins in some of the later symphonies of Mozart, really got off the ground wtih Beethoven, and became the basic style for most of the 19th century composers. To keep is easy for you, I'd start with these, which represent music you've probably heard before:

Mozart: Symphony #40, #41, and Einer Kleiner Nachtmusic
Beethoven: Symphony #5, Symphone #7, Symphony #9 (then Symphony #3)
Mendelsson: Violin Concerto, "Romeo and Juliet" Overture
Schubert: Unfinished Symphony
Brahms: Symphony #4, Violin Concerto
Tschiakovsky(sp.) Piano Concerto #1
Verdi: Collection of his opera overtures
Wagner: Collection of his opera overtures
Bizet: The "Carmen" Suite
Vivaldi: The Four Seasons (not romantic, but very accessible)
Bach: Brandenberg Concertos 2,3, 6
Dvorak: New World Symphony
Sibelius: Finlandia
Grieg: Peer Gynt Suite, Piano Concerto #1

These are sort of the "greatest hits" of classical and are very mainstream. From there, you can move on to other works by these artists or explore different composers.

For a good mainstream streaming classical web state, I'd recommend www.wgbh.org, which has a good mix of standard and nonstandard repetoire.

Jeff in Boston

 

[beginish]

If you have satellite radio, check out the Symphony Hall and Pops channels. Lots of mainstream stuff, but plenty of the more obscure things as well.

 

[patrisVII]

Classical pieces have one thing in common - they are long.

This does not sit well with folks used to the folk-song frame work of just a few minutes, and yet symphinic pieces were composed with the intent of being listened to all the way through in one sitting.

The best remedy for this short attention span is to understand the construction of most major symphonic works. Once you understand this, you can follow the flow of the music in a symphony or concerto and appreciate the various parts, which might sound random, confusing or tedious otherwise (please note that parts, or even all, of some orchestral pieces are random, confusing and tedious, but by understanding the construction of these forms, you can sift the wheat from the chaff a little better.)

Wikipedia is as good a place as any to start:

the sonata - the basic building block of western orchestral music

the symphony - the most common macro form of orchestral music

the concerto - a slightly more compact form (Dvorak Cello concerto in B minor is just delicious)

Enjoy

 

[W_B_K]

+1 on the radio. Even if you don't have a local Classical station there are plenty that stream over the internet for free.

There were/are many fine composers but Mozart is my favorite by far. If you sit there, close your eyes and really listen to the music, it is truly amazing. That man was a gift from God to us. The music he made at such a young age is astounding.

 

[raisindot]

....(please note that parts, or even all, of some orchestral pieces are random, confusing and tedious)

Now, now, now! Remember that the OP said he LIKED John Williams!



Jeff in Boston

 

[sodajerk]

If this is the kind of music you're used, I'd recommend seeking out composers from the "romantic" which had its origins in some of the later symphonies of Mozart, really got off the ground wtih Beethoven, and became the basic style for most of the 19th century composers. To keep is easy for you, I'd start with these, which represent music you've probably heard before:

Mozart: Symphony #40, #41, and Einer Kleiner Nachtmusic
Beethoven: Symphony #5, Symphone #7, Symphony #9 (then Symphony #3)
Mendelsson: Violin Concerto, "Romeo and Juliet" Overture
Schubert: Unfinished Symphony
Brahms: Symphony #4, Violin Concerto
Tschiakovsky(sp.) Piano Concerto #1
Verdi: Collection of his opera overtures
Wagner: Collection of his opera overtures
Bizet: The "Carmen" Suite
Vivaldi: The Four Seasons (not romantic, but very accessible)
Bach: Brandenberg Concertos 2,3, 6
Dvorak: New World Symphony
Sibelius: Finlandia
Grieg: Peer Gynt Suite, Piano Concerto #1

These are sort of the "greatest hits" of classical and are very mainstream. From there, you can move on to other works by these artists or explore different composers.

For a good mainstream streaming classical web state, I'd recommend www.wgbh.org, which has a good mix of standard and nonstandard repetoire.

Jeff in Boston

+1

Good beginner list to which I would add Mozart's Symphony No. 30.

 

[pz93c]

Love Classical.

The problem is, I know a lot of tunes, just not the titles or who wrote them.

There is a CD set out called Classical Power. It is from Time Life. Kind of a 5 CD greatest hits from numerous composers. Maybe that's up your alley.

raisindot- Hey now. John Williams rocks.