What classical music should I start listening to?
January 21st, 2012
Question by : What classical music should I start listening to?
I really find classical music as the most soothing and beautiful music out there. I like Baroque music in particular, especially pieces like Pachelbel’s Canon in D minor and Bach’s Air for strings. I guess I also have a thing for string pieces, like Andre Rieu. If you have any suggestions as to good composers, I’d appreciate it. Thanks.
Best answer:
Answer by J.P.
handel, bach, purcell, pergolesi, telemann
go to the library, get some cd’s, figure out what you like, get more cd’s
Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!
OOOooo I love this question, wish I could ask somebody 15 years ago. Ok, the finest classical label is Deutche Grammophon. Recently they issued 56 CDs in a box, and later on they issued 55 CDs in another box to celebrate 111 years of the company. What these 111 CDs represent is GREAT music, not only great, but the best of the best classical company. Maybe not exactly, but very close!
By the way, you will find two different versions of the Canon in each box. The first one has unbelievable Canon, trust I listened to as many Canon’s versions as I could. This one is the best.
The space saving that they render is mostly appreciated. Those 2 boxes are truly a dream came true!!
Now these CDs could be pricy, but this is a lifetime mini-library that you can enjoy for decades. I assure you that the selection is superb of these CDs. DG chose it’s best CDs and improved the sound’s quality. Since you’re buying them in “bulk”, the price is of course much less than buying them separately. Since you’re starting with classical music, this is a good start. The second box is available. You may get the first box only in digital format or otherwise it could be expensive. Here are their links to amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/111-Years-Deutsche-Grammophon-Anthology/dp/B002DZX95I/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1309992249&sr=8-4
http://www.amazon.com/111-Collectors-2/dp/B003TJY0W8/ref=pd_sim_m_1
Start out with more well known composers to see who you like best, and look for composers in that period. I’m personally prefer Romantic-Modern music over most Classical, though I do like Beethoven and Bach.
Baroque:
Bach
Handel
Vivaldi
Scarlatti
Classical:
Mozart
Haydn
Clementi
Beethoven
Romantic:
Chopin
Liszt
Schumann
Berlioz
Rimsky-Korsakov
Rachmaninov
Modern:
Mahler
Debussy
Ravel
Prokofiev
Scriabin
Prokofiev, Scriabin, Webern, Schoenberg
I’m not a huge fan of Baroque. I’m probably going to end up trying to convert you, but I’ll try.
Here are some composers to look up.
Baroque Composers
Very classy. Very refined. It’s all about technique.
J.S. Bach, Vivaldi, Telemann, Handel, Purcell, Scarlatti, Couperin, Corelli, Pachelbel
Blah. I don’t know very many.
Classical Composers
These guys are learning to chill. Still very refined, but more open to emotion.
Haydn, Mozart, C.P.E. Bach, Clementi, Schubert, Beethoven
Hurghh I don’t know very many of these, either. I’m such a teenager.
Romantic Composers
More lovely. More… musical. More emotional.
Mendelssohn, Chopin, Schumann, Liszt, Bruckner, Strauss, Brahms (aaahh!!), Grieg, Sibelius, Vaughan Williams, Rachmaninov
Contemporary
These guys are kind of weird. But people love them. I am one of those people.
Debussy, Prokofiev, Scriabin, Ravel, Poulenc (early 20th century)
Kapustin, John Adams, Steve Reich, David Lang (now)
Here are my favorite pieces at the moment.
Brahms: Symphony 4-1
FALL IN LOVE WITH THIS GUY. You don’t have an option.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCaaPaQx5zg
Prokofiev: Symphony 5-3
Prokofiev is very scary. In a beautiful way.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSXB15AogTM
Poulenc: Improvisation 15
Eeee this puts something tangible in my chest, and it stays with me. Lalalalala.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WqBJIz8khM
Faure: Barcarolle 9
The least loved of Faure’s Barcarolles… le sigh. This is gorgeous.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8KvCua6A8s
Debussy: Prelude 5 Book 1
You’re falling, and then you’re flying. Stunning.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKWXAR22B-Y
Satie: Trois Morceaux en forme de poire
Powerful and bold and quiet and sad.
The rest of the suite is on this girl’s channel.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHGzxOCavig
Adams: Grand Pianola Music, Part II – On the Dominant Divide
My current obsession. Join my cult.
Oh, jeez. It’s always so exciting, recommending pieces to someone. I’m a nerd.
i like Prokofiev, Scriabin,maybe you will like them .
Bach’s Violin Concertos, Brahms Violin Concertos, Korngold’s Violin Concertos,Grieg’s Violin Concerto’s.I agree with the poster that said Deutche Grammophon is a great label. Prokofiev and Tchaikovsky is good. I like anything that is by these two. Robert Wagner. Faure, Camile Saint Saens. Sarasate, Scharwenka, Shostakovich, Weber. There are many others of course.
You have a wonderful voyage of discovery ahead of you – especially of you adventure beyond trite, simplistic pieces such as the Canon in D. These three books (all available cheaply on Amazon) will guide you as to where to start.
1) ‘The NPR Guide to Building a Classical CD Collection’ by Ted Libbey. It has good info on the 350 most renowned classical works.
2) ‘The Rough Guide to Classical Music’ (various contributors)
3) ‘Classical Music for Dummies’ by David Pogue and Scott Speck