Classical Music

[Det_Nosnip]

Hello. :) I figured that, since the number of classical music fans on this board is probably rather minimal, and this part of the forum so musically diverse, that we may as well have a thread dedicated to classical music. That, of course, is the "layman's term" for all of the various historical periods, including Baroque, Romantic, classical, neo-classical, etc. So.....talk about classical music! Talk about/recommend your favorite artists, discuss the differences between styles/periods, even talk about your favorite modern symphonies. I know that the number of classical music fans on this board are small, but I also know that you're out there!!

I just picked up Bizet's "Carmen" piece on CD from my school's library, should be a fun listen. :) Last week's obsession was Carl Orff; "Carmina Burana" is a fantastic piece of music! I was drawn to it by the "O, Fortuna" number, which actually appears on a Therion album (Therion is a classically orientated/symphonic metal band that uses choirs and soloists in place of a single vocalist). Very powerful music, I can definetly see how Orff influenced bands like Therion.

[PianoDan]

Ah, we had a classical music thread last year sometime, but it died away.:(

Classical (all the eras contained within the general genre "classical") is my preferred genre of music. I love it! It covers every emotion.

I own Bizet's "Carmen", I'll have to have a good listen tomorrow, as I don't know it too well. Carl Orff is alright, I enjoyed him when I was lent his CD a while back

At the moment I'm into a couple of records I bought recently, one including Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto in D minor and his Concerto for Violin, Piano, and Strings, also in D minor (written at ages 13 and 14 respectively); the other including his two Concertos for Two Pianos, the first in E, the second in Ab (written at 14 and 15 respectively). They are quite brilliant! So "Mendolssohnian". I'm not sure they're quite as good as the E minor Violin Concerto just yet - certainly not as well known, anyway - but they're still growing on me.

[manuscriptreplica]

Has anyone got any links to classical mp3's? It's a bitch to try and find them on kazaa :(

[PianoDan]

Has anyone got any links to classical mp3's? It's a bitch to try and find them on kazaa :(
Here you go:http://www.classicalarchives.com/

Avoid the MIDI files, they sound aweful.

Have a field day. :thumb:

[manuscriptreplica]

Thanks man. Steve Waugh :thumb:

[Det_Nosnip]

Yeah....so far Bizet is a bit dense and *really* long, so it was kinda hard to follow. I'm more a fan of the more compact, shorter symphony style than the huge, epic operas really. Operas seem to be more story driven, with lapses and musical interludes occuring every once and a while but prolonged vocal passages more the norm...which can get kind of boring. The opening sequence to "Carmen" was cool as hell, though, as well as the famous theme.

[Zappa]

I'm very ignorant, considering where I should be. Some of my favorites are:

Igor Stravinsky
Aaron Copland
Edgard Varese
Maurice Ravel
Bela Bartok
Peter Tchaikovsky
Witold Lutoslawski
Richard Wagner
Claude Debussy

[Det_Nosnip]

Rock....Tchaikovsky is actually a favorite of mine as well. His "March Slav" piece is absolutely brilliant IMO, very cool use of exotic melodies and nice emotional control. I've heard alot about Debussy...he's supposed to be a "lighter," more pleasant type of guy compared to the likes of Wagner, etc right? What you recommend by him?

Stravinsky is mentioned often as a big influence upon guys like Malsteem, etc, but I haven't heard much from him, either...yet. School Music Library = :cool: .

[ZEROthirtythree]

Gustav Mahler!!!!

EDIT: And as for Studio Era conductors, I would say Robert Smith, who wrote "The Inferno" (Not the guy from The Cure)

[Silvermedalmafia]

Tchaicovski (sp?) is amazing. I hadn't listened to him in a few months or so, and the other day at school I started humming the music to "The Nutcracker".


Does anyone else have Glenn Gould's recordings of the Goldberg Variations (bach)? I have it and everytime I listen to it it blows me away.

[Ned]

I'm sorry, but a single thread devoted to the entire field is utterly absurd. Consider the time frame alone: (Western European) classical music spans two millennia, whereas as rock and roll--the various SUBDIVISIONS of which get their own FORUMS here--has existed for a mere five decades (a moot point for PianoDan, of course, whose interest in classical music seems entirely absorbed by the middle five decades of the nineteenth-century).

[free_Aria]

I'm sorry, but a single thread devoted to the entire field is utterly absurd. Consider the time frame alone: (Western European) classical music spans two millennia, whereas as rock and roll--the various SUBDIVISIONS of which get their own FORUMS here--has existed for a mere five decades (a moot point for PianoDan, of course, whose interest in classical music seems entirely absorbed by the middle five decades of the nineteenth-century).

Seemed to be working fine before your post.

[clown_phobia]

Yngwie Malmsteen did a really good version of Beethoven's fifth symphony. You should check it out :thumb:

[free_Aria]

No, he totally butchered it.

[Det_Nosnip]

I'm sorry, but a single thread devoted to the entire field is utterly absurd. Consider the time frame alone: (Western European) classical music spans two millennia, whereas as rock and roll--the various SUBDIVISIONS of which get their own FORUMS here--has existed for a mere five decades (a moot point for PianoDan, of course, whose interest in classical music seems entirely absorbed by the middle five decades of the nineteenth-century).

Ok. Create a few million threads for each individual period of music, and see how fast they sail off of the first page. :rolleyes:

This would be more appropriate for an entire FORUM dedicated to classical music, but this is not...this is an off-shoot of MXTABS.NET. So, get off of your high horse, stop being pretentious, and talk about whichever artist from that whole 2 millennia that you feel about talking to. Or, HELL...if it really makes you happy, then you can go ahead and ONLY talk about composers from the "classical" era (maybe you could get away with neo-classical as well). Frankly, I don't care. ;)

[free_Aria]

What is everyone's thoughts on Concerto De Aranjuez by Rodrigo?.

I have encountered many people that think it is one of the greatest concertos of any instrument and it was been voted right up there in a lot of polls I have seen. I personally don't think that the guitar works well with the large orchestra.

[Iai]

I only know the Miles Davis version from Sketches Of Spain (providing it's the same piece). Which I love, though I imagine it's pretty different to Rodrigo's version.

(a moot point for PianoDan, of course, whose interest in classical music seems entirely absorbed by the middle five decades of the nineteenth-century).

That was the best period!!

Anyway, I don't like much Classical music (Classical meaning, 1750-1820, or thereabouts). I adore the music of the Romantic era, though. And my appreciation of Baroque music has shot up recently, also.

[PianoDan]

On ABC Classic FM at the moment is a countdown of the top 100 Classical Piano pieces, as voted for in a large listener/reader survey.

http://www.abc.net.au/classic/classic100/countdown.htm

There's some beautiful music in that list! I'm expecting to see some more Chopin and at least two, possibly four Beethoven Sonatas to come in the top 21 (at the time of posting, the list went down to No. 22). I would have voted for Chopin's Ballade in G minor, which I'm really hoping to at least see in the top 21, but I suspect something like the Moonlight, Pathetique, or Appassionata Sonata might be No. 1; or Claire de Lune; or maybe Mozart's K331.

Also, three years ago there was a similar countdown of any classical music (classical - genre - not period).

http://www.abc.net.au/classic/classic100/previous.htm

The list had a few surprises, and some obvious classics right up there. I was surprised to see what was No. 1, in fact.

Thought this would make an interesting discussion point!

[Arnstein]

I love Bernard Herrmann and Hanns Eisler + many more! :P

[Det_Nosnip]

BOOP!

(as if anyone cares) I recently read in an old interview with Christofer Johnsson, the musical mastermind behind "Therion," in which he discussed his favorite classical composers. Aside from a few obvious ones (Wagner, Orff), he also mentioned a particular liking for Tchaicowsky's "March Slav" piece, which was pleasantly surprising for me, because the piece has always been a favorite of mine despite being relatively unknown compared to his more popular pieces...I think I stumbled upon it by accident. Yay, Christoffer! :cool:

[PianoDan]

BOOP!

(as if anyone cares) I recently read in an old interview with Christofer Johnsson, the musical mastermind behind "Therion," in which he discussed his favorite classical composers. Aside from a few obvious ones (Wagner, Orff), he also mentioned a particular liking for Tchaicowsky's "March Slav" piece, which was pleasantly surprising for me, because the piece has always been a favorite of mine despite being relatively unknown compared to his more popular pieces...I think I stumbled upon it by accident. Yay, Christoffer! :cool:
I don't think I've heard Tchaikovsky's "March Slav" piece, but I like almost all of Tchaikovsky's music. What is "Therion"? I don't think I've heard of them outside this thread.

[Iai]

Therion are a metal band with a pronounced influence from symphonic music.

[PianoDan]

Therion are a metal band with a pronounced influence from symphonic music.
Sounds interesting, though I'm not a big fan of metal.

[Det_Nosnip]

Or a symphonic band with a pronounced influence from metal. :lol: They really straddle the lines at times.

For the record, "Therion" is a Greek word (supposed to have accents and whatnot on it), that translates to "Beast." Rock. :)

[Zappa]

"March Slav" is a very famous piece.

[D'Angelo]

Do you guys like Enya?

[Sever Child]

not bad

[Phunphone]

My favourite classical composer would be Tschaikovsky... However, I mostly dig modern stuff, so Olivier Messiaen would be up there too.

It is a repetition, but, Kaaija Saariaho. You've got the check her music out... it's so weirded out, emotional and clear. I'm listening to her right now.

And I'm not in the mood of writing everybody I know, however, I recommend Webern too. That guy has NOTHİNG unnecessary, his music is just pure simplicity. Beautiful.

[PianoDan]

Do you guys like Enya?
I do like Enya, but she's not classical.

[Ollie The Drumming Legend]

My favourite is definietly Tchaicokski. At the moment im learning Romance in F Minor for my grade 8 exam, it sounds so good and is so fun to play. I just love the expression and things in it. Does anyone know of anything similar i could play/hear to expand my music?

[DonMancini]

Hmm well most of you seem to like Tchaikovsky, and I agree :p He's definitely one of my favorites. 1812 overture is brilliant, powerful, you name it.. one of my favorite classical pieces!

I also like Gustav Holst, although noone seems to have mentioned him yet :p His planets are great.

Also, Franz Liszt is a genius, a virtuoso.. his piano songs are pure orgasm (namely Hungarian Rhapsody #5, which I'll never EVER be able to play :p )

There's also Strauss and his variouis waltzes that makes me go crazy.

There are many more, just a tentative list :p

So who here thinks Mozart is overrated?

[Permanent Solution]

So who here thinks Mozart is overrated?
Well, he did write symphonies at the age you were learning to write :p

I like his stuff well enough, but he's not the best imo.

[PDWAB]

Mozart is great.

Something people here should check out is Georges Enescu's Romanian Rhapsody, it's badass.

[ZEROthirtythree]

So who here thinks Mozart is overrated?

not me

And this thread reminds me that I need to find a classical music radio station for my car. (I have no CD player in it)

[PianoDan]

Hmm well most of you seem to like Tchaikovsky, and I agree :p He's definitely one of my favorites. 1812 overture is brilliant, powerful, you name it.. one of my favorite classical pieces!
Indeed, I agree. My favourite Tchaikovsky works, though, are his equally (or perhaps even more) famous Piano Concerto in Bb minor, and his Violin Concerto in D. I saw the Violin Concerto performed (by a 20 year old) in a small theatre where I was right up close and could see everything... it was breathtaking...

I also like Gustav Holst, although noone seems to have mentioned him yet :p His planets are great.
I've not heard any of his stuff, so I'll keep my ear pealed for him.

Franz Liszt is a genius, a virtuoso.. his piano songs are pure orgasm (namely Hungarian Rhapsody #5, which I'll never EVER be able to play :p )
Liszt was a genius, and is still considered by some as perhaps the greatest pianist of all time. Personally, I'm not as big a fan of some of his compositions as of some other composers, but certainly he was a great composer as well. Liebestraum is one of my favourite pieces.

I've not heard Hungarian Rhapsody No. 5 before, but it is an AMusA level piece here in Australia, meaning it would probably be hard but still playable. Do you mean it or No. 2, in C# minor? No. 2 is the famous one that goes for more than 10 minutes and is impossibly hard for any normal human being to play.

There's also Strauss and his variouis waltzes that makes me go crazy.
Strauss is fantastic as well!

So who here thinks Mozart is overrated?
Mozart is anything but over-rated. He epitomised the term "genius". By the age of 10 he'd written three or so symphonies and an opera. He once went to a concert, and the score of one of the pieces performed (I'm not sure if it were a symphony or what) was not being released (for some reason). So, Mozart remembered it and wrote it down, entirely, when he got home. It is said he would carry on conversations while writing music. He wrote over 200 hours of music and lived only until his mid-30s. Mozart, Beethoven, and J. S. Bach are seen as the "Big Three" in classical music, and rightly so. All three though had different aspects to their genius, and neither Beethoven nor Bach had all the aspects that Mozart had.

I can understand how someone might not like his stuff - it's all got a particular, "Mozarty" style about it which is very light, easy-listening, background type music. It might not always bring the same emotions out for some people who tend to like the more Romantic-era type composers like Tchaikovsky and Strauss and Liszt and so on. Mozart was one who churned out music as quickly as possible, unlike Beethoven, who wrote and re-wrote and re-wrote until it was perfect, so perhaps Mozart might seem to be a bit "samey" after a while. All this I can understand, and when I was learning my third Mozart Sonata within a year or so I would have readily agreed. Now, though, I see Mozart as a pure, unparalleled genius who never was and never will be matched, and who wrote some of the most beautiful music in history.

[Iai]

I don't like Mozart.

Don't hate him, just don't like him.

This is why.

"it's all got a particular, "Mozarty" style about it which is very light, easy-listening, background type music. It might not always bring the same emotions out for some people who tend to like the more Romantic-era type composers like Tchaikovsky and Strauss and Liszt and so on. Mozart was one who churned out music as quickly as possible, unlike Beethoven, who wrote and re-wrote and re-wrote until it was perfect, so perhaps Mozart might seem to be a bit "samey" after a while."

[DonMancini]

Fun fact: Beethoven heard his 5th symphony in a dream, and wrote down what he remembered. He said his dream version was much grander and better though :p

(source: Humanities teacher)

And I'm not too crazy about mozart for the reasons you said PianoDan, although I don't deny his exceptional gift and talent.

(PS: I want a steinway :()

[PianoDan]

Fun fact: Beethoven heard his 5th symphony in a dream, and wrote down what he remembered. He said his dream version was much grander and better though :p
Wow. I'd never heard that before.

And I'm not too crazy about mozart for the reasons you said PianoDan, although I don't deny his exceptional gift and talent.
And fair enough, he's not to everyone's taste.

(PS: I want a steinway :()
Me too.:(

[ThePianoSonata]

Hello.

I prefer Baroque music, composers like Robert De Visee and Johann Sebastien Bach. I love the lute music that was written by those composers.

At the moment, however, I am listening to the andante con moto part of Beethoven's 5th Symphony.

[PianoDan]

Hello.

I prefer Baroque music, composers like Robert De Visee and Johann Sebastien Bach. I love the lute music that was written by those composers.
Hello. I love Baroque music as well. I've never actually heard of De Visee... what is he like? I'm not sure that I'm such a fan of lute music, and I usually steer clear of much harpsichord and organ music, but I love orchestral Baroque works such as Bach's Brandenburg Concertos and Handel's Fireworks and Water Music Suites.

At the moment, however, I am listening to the andante con moto part of Beethoven's 5th Symphony.
Terrific. :thumb:

[FillInTheBlankHere___]

I play predominantly baroque on violin. I've started working on some Handel, and my current impression is that I much much prefer Vivaldi. :P I also saw Pinchas Zukerman playing Lark Ascending Thursday. :)

[DonMancini]

Who wrote the miracle symphony again? Was it Handel? It's bugging me, I can't remember.

It was called that because at the end of the symphony the entire crowd moved forwards towards the stage because they loved it so much, and as they did so the giant chandelier fell on the seats where they were sitting only moments earlier.

[PianoDan]

Joseph Haydn's Symphony No. 96 in D major is the "Miracle". (I didn't know that, I looked up "Miracle Symphony" in a Yahoo! search.)

[DonMancini]

Joseph Haydn's Symphony No. 96 in D major is the "Miracle". (I didn't know that, I looked up "Miracle Symphony" in a Yahoo! search.)
Ahh thank you, it's been itching me :p

[JonM]

I have a really great recording of Franz Liszt's "Consolation N.3," and it's beautiful, but it's the only piece of his I have. Does anyone have any recommendations for particular recordings or at least compositions? I'd really like to delve into his work.

[ThePianoSonata]

Hello. I love Baroque music as well. I've never actually heard of De Visee... what is he like? I'm not sure that I'm such a fan of lute music, and I usually steer clear of much harpsichord and organ music, but I love orchestral Baroque works such as Bach's Brandenburg Concertos and Handel's Fireworks and Water Music Suites.

Well, the only music I've heard composed by Robert De Visee is written for the lute. I don't exactly know what you mean when you ask what he is like. I tabbed out his Minuet in D on Powertab, and there are some other pieces on there too. The one I am currently trying to master on guitar is his Bouree from his Lute Suite in D minor. Yes, I also love Bach's Brandenburg Concertos and Handel's Fireworks and Water Music Suites. In fact, I was listening to some movements of each just yesterday!

Terrific. :thumb:

It was. See, I am a little new to the world of Classical music (and, when I say Classical, I mean Baroque, Romantic, etc. as well). Although I have listened to it everyday, and play it on guitar, I had not sat down and listened to a whole CD of mine that had Classical music until yesterday.

I listened to "Bach's Greatest Hits" and Beethoven's 5th and 7th Symphonies. It was quite good!

[Det_Nosnip]

I picked up a compilation of Bernstein Mahler Symphonies including 8, 9, and 10 from my library today on CD, looking forward to checking that out. Apparently, the 9th was written very close to his death (although, HOW close could it be if there was a 10th? :confused: ), and it is supposed to represent the stages of life or something like that. Sounds cool. :)

Anyways, what type of compositions do you guys prefer? Sonatas, Symphonies, Operas, Conciertos, etc? So far, Symphonies have struck me the most...I really like the dramatic and emotional impact that you get from an all out orchestral arrangement, but I also like the fact that symphonies tend to be a bit more...compact, maybe? Compared to, say, Operas. Operas are certainly dramatic, but the problem for me is that they're also so story driven, which makes them difficult to follow when you're just listening to a CD and the lyrics are in another language.

IMO well designed choir/operatic singing is some of the most emotional stuff you'll ever hear, but I prefer it to be within more of a musical context, such as a symphonic arrangement, than a lyrical/story context as in an opera.

[ThePianoSonata]

Favorite style of composition... hmm, probably the Fugue. Or a Bouree.

[PianoDan]

I picked up a compilation of Bernstein Mahler Symphonies including 8, 9, and 10 from my library today on CD, looking forward to checking that out. Apparently, the 9th was written very close to his death (although, HOW close could it be if there was a 10th? :confused: ), and it is supposed to represent the stages of life or something like that. Sounds cool. :)
I have a friend singing in the Melbourne Chorale, which is doing, with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, the Mahler 3. I'll listen to it on ABC radio. Other than that I've only heard his 5th symphony, as it's the only one I've got. I'm not the biggest fan but I haven't heard it too much. Maybe I need to listen to it a bit more.

Anyways, what type of compositions do you guys prefer? Sonatas, Symphonies, Operas, Conciertos, etc? So far, Symphonies have struck me the most...I really like the dramatic and emotional impact that you get from an all out orchestral arrangement, but I also like the fact that symphonies tend to be a bit more...compact, maybe? Compared to, say, Operas. Operas are certainly dramatic, but the problem for me is that they're also so story driven, which makes them difficult to follow when you're just listening to a CD and the lyrics are in another language.
Ditto about the Operas. I actually went to see an Operetta, which was sung in English and was highly enjoyable. I liked it. The voice can grate on me a bit but I love the music, usually, and if I can follow the story then it's really good.

My favourite type of composition, if I had to choose only one, would have to be the Concerto. As much as I love Symphonies, Piano Sonatas, and so on, I love Concertos (I think the plural of concerto is concerti, but anyway). The way the solo instrument interacts with the orchestra, yet both have equally important parts (or at least, that's the case in most of the classical and later concerti). My main love is for the piano, so Piano Concertos are naturally my favourite type of Concerto. So much brilliant, beautiful piano music, yet backed up by such wonderful orchestral stuff as well... just magnificent. I love certain Violin Concertos and other Concertos as well. I guess it's for the virtuosic solo playing.

My favourite Concertos.... are hard to pick. Impossible to pick. If I had to single one out it would probably be Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto in Bb minor... possibly because I saw it performed live and it was something else... but to list all my other favourite Concertos would take a long time.

Same goes for Symphonies, there are just too many good ones to choose from. I guess Beethoven's 6th, Mozart's 40th, and Mendelssohn's 4th "Italian" would definitely be three of my most favourites. Does anyone else have a particular favourite Symphony/Concerto/Etc. that they can choose above most others for any reason?

[ThePianoSonata]

Well, I couldn't exactly tell you all the reasons why I like it, but my favorite Symphony is Beethoven's Symphony No. 7 in A Major.

His Symphony No. 5 in C Minor falls a little flat during the 2nd movement, but No. 7 keeps me engaged throughout.

[PianoDan]

I almost agree with you. I don't find the 5th falls flat, but I agree mostly about the 7th. I was lucky enough to see the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra do this live last year in my home town, and have loved it ever since. The second Allegretto movement is perhaps one of my very favourite single movements from any symphony by any composer, certainly among the slower, middle movements. It's almost enough by itself to make the 7th my favourite Beethoven Symphony. I do find though the third movement tends to let me down a bit. I don't dislike it, it just seems a little dull compared to the first two, which are amazing.

[PianoDan]

Last couple of days, I've been listening to Tchaikovsky's 4th and 6th (Pathetique) Symphonies in F minor and B minor. I had never been into Tchaikovsky's symphonies so much, but have always loved his Ballets and Piano and Violin Concertos. I for some reason remembered not having liked his symphonies, but I don't know why, because I've loved them the last couple of days. Next week I'll be listening to these two and the 5th.

My friend is having her first performance with the Melbourne Chorale tonight, who together with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra are performing Mahler's 3rd Symphony. Unfortunately I remember not being too fussed over Mahler either from what I've heard, but maybe when I listen on the radio tonight I'll enjoy it.

[appreciate_it]

Does anybody know the best Orchestra in the world? People say the San Fran? i think it's an interesting topic.

[PianoDan]

Does anybody know the best Orchestra in the world? People say the San Fran? i think it's an interesting topic.
I hear people talk about London, Chicago, and Berlin a lot. I really don't know. I like the Melbourne cos I live near it and it comes to Echuca.

[dahlgren]

People always tell me that I have a quite strange taste of music. When I listen to music, it´s mainly metal. But I do play the violin, piano and the guitar, so it´s quite varied.

My favourite thing to play is Telemann and Mozart. Telemanns fantasies are great things to play fo a solo-violin. When I´m in the symphony orchestra I like Mozart (number 29 A-major) and Haydn.

I do write some as well, so in the future I might put something up in the Audio Arena.

http://www.lysator.liu.se/~tuben/scores/
This site is made by a Swedish man named Johan Tufvesson that puts up classical notes on the internet. Very nice work by some of the biggest composers.

[Dave de Sylvia]

He once went to a concert, and the score of one of the pieces performed (I'm not sure if it were a symphony or what) was not being released (for some reason). So, Mozart remembered it and wrote it down, entirely, when he got home.

It was a piece written solely for the Pope's ears, I believe. Mozart was present in some capacity, performing with the choir I think, and after he'd left wrote the entire piece down.

[PianoDan]

It was a piece written solely for the Pope's ears, I believe. Mozart was present in some capacity, performing with the choir I think, and after he'd left wrote the entire piece down.
Well there you go. I'd never heard that. Interesting.

[PianoDan]

People always tell me that I have a quite strange taste of music. When I listen to music, it´s mainly metal. But I do play the violin, piano and the guitar, so it´s quite varied.

My favourite thing to play is Telemann and Mozart. Telemanns fantasies are great things to play fo a solo-violin. When I´m in the symphony orchestra I like Mozart (number 29 A-major) and Haydn.

I do write some as well, so in the future I might put something up in the Audio Arena.

http://www.lysator.liu.se/~tuben/scores/
This site is made by a Swedish man named Johan Tufvesson that puts up classical notes on the internet. Very nice work by some of the biggest composers.
Thanks for the site. :thumb:

How much piano do you play? Is violin your primary instrument? I love Mozart and I quite like Telemann as well. I don't think I have Mozart's 29th Symphony in A. I'll check. No, I don't have that one.

Currently I'm listening to Symphony No. 4 in F minor by Tchaikovsky. It's quite good. Very good in fact. It's very romantic, very emotional and powerful.

[Iai]

I just got Holst's The Planets, as performed by the London Symphony Orchestra. Not quite as good as I'd been led to believe, but still pretty good.

[PianoDan]

I just got Holst's The Planets, as performed by the London Symphony Orchestra. Not quite as good as I'd been led to believe, but still pretty good.
Holst is someone I've heard none of. I must keep my eye out for him, especially the Planets that I've heard so much about.

[PianoDan]

Someone whose name I haven't seen mentioned yet in discussions of classical music is Cesar Franck, the Belgian born 19th century (1822-1890) composer, pianist, and organist. Apparently Franz Liszt compared his organ improvisation to J.S. Bach.

I just listened to his "Symphonic Variations" for piano and orchestra. It was very interesting, as is his Symphony in D minor - a very romantic symphony, but very good.

Though not a massive fan of the organ, I also quite enjoyed his "Piece Heroique" for organ.

This CD I have of his is as much as I know about him, but I quite like him.

[sink sink]

I don't know a lot about classical, but I listen to the classical radio station around here (one is 24 hours a day, and PBS plays classical in the evening.) I've been listening to the 1st movement of Tchaikovsky's Serenade in C Major and it makes my little heart melt. I'll be looking at this thread and try to download some of what you guys suggest.

Oh, and does anyone have any opinions on the French horn? One of my high school band's instuctors said it is "God's instrument," and certainly think it is one of them. ;)

[Det_Nosnip]

I just got Holst's The Planets, as performed by the London Symphony Orchestra. Not quite as good as I'd been led to believe, but still pretty good.

Mars kicks total ***, but the rest of it is pretty standard IMO.

[Walrus Gumboot]

Does anyne know Pachelbel's Canon? Probably. I was wondering if there is anything else by that composer out there

[PianoDan]

I don't know a lot about classical, but I listen to the classical radio station around here (one is 24 hours a day, and PBS plays classical in the evening.) I've been listening to the 1st movement of Tchaikovsky's Serenade in C Major and it makes my little heart melt. I'll be looking at this thread and try to download some of what you guys suggest.
Yes, Serenade in C is beautiful indeed. I know what you mean about the first movement too. You've got me into it now.:)

Oh, and does anyone have any opinions on the French horn? One of my high school band's instuctors said it is "God's instrument," and certainly think it is one of them. ;)
I have no real opinion on French horn but I would certainly not say it's "God's instrument" - that's the piano. I read somewhere (I think it was actually the 1984 Guiness Book of Records) that the French Horn is considered the most difficult musical instrument to play. (Just for the record I think it was the ukelele that was considered the easiest.)

Does anyne know Pachelbel's Canon? Probably. I was wondering if there is anything else by that composer out there
If there's one piece of music that everybody knows it's Pachelbel's Canon in D. I did a brief and thoroughless search on the internet and found nothing to suggest he wrote anything other than his Canon in D. In my Music Dictionary, I read this:

...His comps. influenced Bach. Works incl. Hexachordum Apollinis (1699), 6 sets of airs and variations for hpd.; 78 chorale preludes (1693), incl. Ein' feste Burg, Nun komm der Heiden Heiland, Vom Himmel hoch, etc.; Aria Sebaldina, variations in F minor for hpd.; Canon and Gigue in D for 3 vns. and continuo; Chaconne and 13 variations for hpd., etc. His church music, for long disregarded, has been highly revalued, particularly his sacred concertos and his 13 settings of the Magnificat.
That's as much information as I can find on him right now. It's not all that useful really, but at least we know that he did right a fair bit of other stuff which is probably going around somewhere or other out there.

[Dave de Sylvia]

Though it's obviously a far more modern piece, I'd like to give a mention to Penderecki's Threnody For The Victims Of Hiroshima.

[Iai]

And, to a lesser extent, the rest of his Anaklasis album.

Xenakis's Metastatis is also worthy of at least one hearing.

Edit: I'm a moron. The album is not called Anaklasis - that's one of his pieces. It's called Matrix 5.

[the2stranger]

does any one oboe music?
I have a cd with al sorts of pieces from a lot of (unknown) composers for oboe and string arragements

very soothing to the ear :)

[TheBlackAcidChildren]

does any one oboe music?
I have a cd with al sorts of pieces from a lot of (unknown) composers for oboe and string arragements

very soothing to the ear :)
Last year our composition task for A-level music was to compose a piece for an oboe quartet - oboe, violin, viola, cello (not four oboes, as some people seem to conclude). I did a 5/4 jazz piece :lol: it went down quite well. I also composed another piece for reed trio - oboe, bassoon and clarinet. As for actual composers, I can't recommend any - we listened to a few to get us started on the composition but I can't remember who they were.

My main love, of all the styles of classical music, has to be church music. I love masses, especially Palestrina's Missa Papae Marcelli. I also really enjoy Mozart's "Requiem" mass and recently bought Vaughan-Williams' Mass in G minor. The harmonic progression at the end of the Agnus Dei is superb, it brings a smile to my face every time I hear it.

I could talk more but my parents are about to shut down the internet connection for the night :rolleyes:

[PianoDan]

Well I just got back from Bendigo, where I attended a concert by the Cologne New Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra from Germany. There were six musicians (I think there were three violins, a viola, a cello, and one double bass) plus an oboeist. They played a number of pieces (I can't remember all of them) which included the following:

Vivaldi - Concerto Amoroso, and "Summer" from Four Seasons.

Mozart's Salzburg Symphony No. 2. Mozart's Chamber Music is unparalleled and this is a great little Symphony.

Concerto for Oboe and Orchestra in D Minor (not sure of the composer - my parents brought home the program but I don't know where they put it).

J. S. Bach - Concerto for Violin, Oboe and Orchestra in D Minor.

Tchaikovski - Nocturne for Violincello and Orchestra. It was a minor-key piece that was just heart-wrenching.

A beautiful number by a composer with an Italian-sounding name that I just can't think of - the piece was Adagio for Violin and Orchestra. Gorgeous piece.

Pachelbel – Canon in D. They played this as an encore, which was great, because they'd advertised to play it and at the end of the program they hadn't done it. A friend of mine came almost specifically for this piece and was very disappointed when they walked off having not played it - but they came back on and did it so beautifully. Tears were welling in my eyes.

They then had two more encores after that, both violin duets, both very virtuosic. I'm not sure who the composers were but one of them sounded not unlike Paganini - just to give an idea of what it sounded like anyway.

It was a fantastic evening, almost dampened - by the fact that it was played in a Catholic Church and the "stage" was ground level, the pews just as any normal church, perfectly parallel going all the way back down the narrow corridor (I don't know church terminology). We could barely see a thing at first, but luckily found a spot to the side where we could see quite well. Another slight drawback was the poor acoustics which made it sound slightly muffled. But this was indeed a very slight drawback and really didn't matter.

So to the2stranger: I now can say that I have seen oboe music live and definitely like it. The Bach Concerto and the other one were both lovely pieces. I'll try and find the name of the other piece tomorrow.

It was indeed the loveliest night I've had in a long time.:)

[I Like Bass]

Hey everyone tell me if this sounds cool to you -

I was listening to Moonlight Sonata and i noticed a part in the song which was almost identical to a part in Metallicas "the call or ktulu' . i was amazed at how cool it sounded too. Has anyone else heard anything like this in any other cases? if so please share.

[Iai]

Plenty of rock songs have taken inspiration and even stolen phrases from the more famous Beethoven pieces. Bright Eye's Road To Joy is the most obvious, recent example. But John Lennon once wrote a song based entirely unpon inverted versions of the chords from Moonlight Sonata. I forget which one.

Edit: Not to mention, most metal ballads take their cues from Romantic music. The two forms have more in common than you might imagine.

[Dave de Sylvia]

The main riff in Muse's Plug-In Baby is largely inspired by Bach's Taccota En Fugue in D Minor, very similar.

[PianoDan]

I've also been told that on the Hullabaloo soundtrack, one of Muse's songs from Origin of Symmetry (I can't remember which) has some of Rachmaninov's 2nd Piano Concerto worked in there. On the same soundtrack, he works in Rach's Prelude in C#minor.

It's very common to have classical themes in rock music.

I have the programme from the Chamber Orchestra the other night (for those who read my previous post) -

the other Oboe Concerto was by Alessandro Marcello;

They didn't do "Concerto Amoroso" by Vivaldi, rather Sinfonia No. 3 in G major;

And the Adagio for Violin and Orchestra was written by T. Albinoni - and I'm dying to get a copy of it somewhere, it was just beautiful.

[dahlgren]

Thanks for the site. :thumb:

How much piano do you play? Is violin your primary instrument? I love Mozart and I quite like Telemann as well. I don't think I have Mozart's 29th Symphony in A. I'll check. No, I don't have that one.

Currently I'm listening to Symphony No. 4 in F minor by Tchaikovsky. It's quite good. Very good in fact. It's very romantic, very emotional and powerful.

My primary instrument is violin, I´ve got a scolarship and I play the first vilolin in a symphony orchestra here in Sweden. As well, I play some solo violin and a play some chamber music with my trio.

I've never taken any piano-lessons, But my mother played the piano when she was young, so we have a lot of notes at home. So I learned to play the piano by myself. It takes some time, but right now I'm playing Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata.

Do you play the piano? Because in that case, If you would like to, I would really appreciate some response on the piano sonatas I'm writing on right now.

[PianoDan]

My primary instrument is violin, I´ve got a scolarship and I play the first vilolin in a symphony orchestra here in Sweden. As well, I play some solo violin and a play some chamber music with my trio.

I've never taken any piano-lessons, But my mother played the piano when she was young, so we have a lot of notes at home. So I learned to play the piano by myself. It takes some time, but right now I'm playing Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata.
Nice, and nice. I love seeing the violin played well.

Do you play the piano? Because in that case, If you would like to, I would really appreciate some response on the piano sonatas I'm writing on right now.
I do play the piano and would be very interested to see your work.

[dahlgren]

I do play the piano and would be very interested to see your work.

I'm very thankful for that. They are not finished yet, but I will contact you when they are.

[PianoDan]

Having heard much about it, mainly from this forum actually, I am finally hearing Holst's "Planets" for the first time. Well actually, only Jupiter. It's on a friend's CD which is a compilation of single movements from different pieces by different composers... but anyway, it sounds quite good. I would like to hear the rest of the Planets.

Also on this same CD is "Also Sprach Zarathustra Op. 30" by Richard Strauss. It's a very very famous piece of music that I'm sure we all know from somewhere, but I had no idea what it was called or who wrote it. I would not have guessed Strauss that's for sure.

I'm very thankful for that. They are not finished yet, but I will contact you when they are.
Surely. I look forward to it.

[what]

http://s42.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1LEO5C4C5VRJH2DKJ7K9DWQLZV

You people should listen to this, it's an orchestra of Russian folk instruments playing Sibelius' Valse Triste... owns every other symphonic orchestra I've heard playing this.

[Det_Nosnip]

I've been hooked on Bach's "Art of the Fugue" lately. I'm not especially partial to the Harpsichord as an instrument, but the music is great! Counterpoints are one of my favorite musical concepts...when well done, they evoke alot of emotion for me. It's a shame that all of that brilliance was done on such a...tame instrument. It'd be interesting to hear those same ideas applied to a full orchestra...can anyone think of any famous Bach Symphonys?

[agcolonialman]

Would ANY BODY have a score or piccolo/flute sheet music for ANY of J.P.Sousa's Marches?. Im trying to get as many as possible. THanx :thumb:

[agcolonialman]

Would ANY BODY have a score or piccolo/flute sheet music for ANY of J.P.Sousa's Marches?. Im trying to get as many as possible. THanx :thumb:Would anyone hav the sheet music or score?

[PianoDan]

I've been hooked on Bach's "Art of the Fugue" lately. I'm not especially partial to the Harpsichord as an instrument, but the music is great! Counterpoints are one of my favorite musical concepts...when well done, they evoke alot of emotion for me. It's a shame that all of that brilliance was done on such a...tame instrument. It'd be interesting to hear those same ideas applied to a full orchestra...can anyone think of any famous Bach Symphonys?
The Brandenburg Concertos.

[PianoDan]

Would anyone hav the sheet music or score?
the only thing I can suggest trying would be going to http://www.sheetmusicarchive.net. If that doesn't work, then ask at your local music store, and if they don't have it ask if they can order it in. That's what you do when you want sheet music.

[PianoDan]

*bump*

So I've been really into chamber music lately. The other day I listened to Haydn's "Emperor" quartet and it's absolutely gorgeous. I've also listened to Schubert's "Trout" and "Death and the Maiden" piano quintets, two more absolute beauties.

There's so much really nice chamber music written - Schubert tended to be really good at it. Mozart was obviously a genius at it. I think I posted about this previously but I recently saw a Chamber Orchestra from Germany perform. They performed one of Mozart's "Salzburg" Symphonies (his first I believe), plus a couple of oboe concertos (one by J. S. Bach), and one of the classics and one of my favourites, Palchalbel's Canon in D.

[PianoDan]

I'm bumping this thread because it's got a lot more interesting stuff in it than the thread "classical" thread made today.

For anyone who's getting into classical music, I highly recommend The Classical Music Archives (http://www.classicalarchives.com/). It has live recordings from all major composers and most other composers of classical, baroque, romantic, and impressionist music, as well as some 20th Century music. It also has hundreds more midi recordings, which aren't good to listen to, but give you the idea of how a piece sounds.

It's a great site and well worth bookmarking. You can only play five pieces a day unless you register, but even that's a fair listen each day.

[Reaganista]

Vesti la Guibba is one of my favorite songs ever.

[EightMilesHigh]

Stravinsky's The Rite Of Spring is one of my favorites.

[what]

that thing is just crazy... and phenomenal, his Firebird suite is also great

[PianoDan]

Stravinsky's The Rite Of Spring is one of my favorites.
Stravinsky is one composer I've heard mentioned lots but not heard much of. He's now on my high priority list of artists to listen to.

Vesti la Guibba is one of my favorite songs ever.
Who wrote Vesti la Guibba?

[Grant]

Upload some Stravinsky.

[Ad Absurdum]

Upload some Stravinsky.

The Rite of Spring
http://s38.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1IRNRFSRK27HP2OXNAOF9CBA5C

[Samuel]

What's up? I never realized we had this going, very cool.

Anyway, I enjoy the "Classical" stuff that I listen too a lot, but I am certainly not very well versed in the different eras. Some favourites of mine include Stravinsky, Schoenberg, Liszt, Handel, and Vivaldi.

I was wondering if anyone could point me in the direction of some stuff that I should check out, or even better, some sort of list of "must have" peices/recordings? I'm going into a Bachelors of Music program for Jazz Guitar next Fall, and I would like to be able to keep up with my peers in the non-Jazz performance areas, or at least be able to wing it. And, of course, I love the stuff.

[rockinbass17]

Has anyone here ever heard Domenico Dragonetti? I recently performed one of his pieces- Concerto in A Major- for my double bass NYSSMA solo. He writes some insane bass parts.
Anyway, does anyone know anything else from him? He's hard to find.

[rockinbass17]

*Bump* Okay, this is a good thread to have around, I want to save it from being forgotton. Come on, show classical some love!

I'm listening to Beethoven's 6th "Pastoral" Sympohony right now. I personally think it's his best, better than even the 5th and the 9th, any opinions?

[Neon Dub]

Steve Reich anyone?

[Mazeppa]

So, at the moment on Radio 3's website Beethoven's symphonies No 6, 7, 8 and 9 are available for free download.

Link (http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/beethoven/downloads.shtml)

Just if anyone's interested.

[Grant]

bump.

[Delay Pedal Boy]

Steve Reich anyone?
Another fan of contemporary classical! :thumb: Pachebel's been called the first one hit wonder. Can someone upload some LaMonte Young in a week from now, as I will be away soon? Thanks.

[camelfarmer]

I like classical alot.

Ive got this collection with like 30 cd's. Need to start listening to it again. I normally dload my music, classical isnt easy to dload.

[camelfarmer]

I like classical alot.

Ive got this collection with like 30 cd's. Need to start listening to it again. I normally dload my music, classical isnt easy to dload.

[Mazeppa]

I've downloaded quite a bit of classical music but I like to buy the cds, which isn't a problem because classical cds are often pretty cheap.

[rockinbass17]

My father has TONS of classical CD's lying around. I'm constantly finding new stuff to listen to. It's great. I just found a CD with alot of Chopin's Polonaises on it and it's really good stuff.

[OnePartHarmony]

Canadian Brass is the way to go.

[Mazeppa]

My dad doesn't like classical at all really, but my mum does. Too bad she doesn't have a big collection of classical :-/

[PianoDan]

My father has TONS of classical CD's lying around. I'm constantly finding new stuff to listen to. It's great. I just found a CD with alot of Chopin's Polonaises on it and it's really good stuff.
Chopin's Polonnaises are marvellous. I sadly only have two or three of them on CD! Anything by Chopin is pure gold.

I haven't counted them but I've got well over 100 classical CDs.

[rockinbass17]

I'm listening to Polonaise in A right now.
I'm big on piano music. Chopin, Rachmaninov, Lizst (Scherzo is amazing), even Scott Joplin. I want to hear some other piano composers, though.

[Det_Nosnip]

The Brandenburg Concertos.

Cool, awesome! Thanks for responding to that one, I'll check 'em out.

[OnePartHarmony]

I'm listening to Polonaise in A right now.
I'm big on piano music. Chopin, Rachmaninov, Lizst (Scherzo is amazing), even Scott Joplin. I want to hear some other piano composers, though.

Aye. I've been listening to Moonlight Sonata and all that jazz for days now. I listen to Rhapsody in Blue just for the piano fills sometimes.

[PianoDan]

I'm listening to Polonaise in A right now.
I'm big on piano music. Chopin, Rachmaninov, Lizst (Scherzo is amazing), even Scott Joplin. I want to hear some other piano composers, though.
Can't leave out Mozart and Beethoven, particularly Beethoven. His 32 Sonatas are all amazing. I'm currently listening to the Waldstein - my favourite of the 32, particularly the 3rd movement.....

But don't forget Debussy, if you're into more modern/impressionist piano stuff as well.

I'm listening to Beethoven's 6th "Pastoral" Sympohony right now. I personally think it's his best, better than even the 5th and the 9th, any opinions?
Yep - I agree completely. Well not quite, the 7th has got to be very close. I can't decide between the 6th and the 7th. The second movement (Allegretto, the slow one) of the 7th is my favourite movement of any symphony.

For me, 6 = 7 > 5 > 9 > 3 > 8 > 4 > 1 = 2

[Amit]

Hm.

I'm looking for more pieces by Rimsky Korsakov. I have absolutely loved Scheherezade since I was a child, but I really can't find anything else by him. Any recommendations?

[That_Dude]

The Clockwork Soundtrack is impresive. The person who did that was Wendy (formally Walter) Carlos.

[Mazeppa]

Hm.

I'm looking for more pieces by Rimsky Korsakov. I have absolutely loved Scheherezade since I was a child, but I really can't find anything else by him. Any recommendations?
Here you go, an upload. It's a very short bit of music, but it's great.

Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov: Flight of the Bumble Bee ( http://rapidshare.de/files/4280467/The_Flight_of_the_Bumble_Bee.mp3.html)

[Delicate Genius]

I tend to be a fan of composers from the romantic period and later.

Chopin is probably my favorite composer; almost all of his acknowledged works I like. Liszt I also really like, although he can get dull at times (while some of them are good, I'd hate to sit through a full rotation of his Hungarian Rhapsodies). I like Alkan's etudes quite a bit, too. Rachmaninov is probably my favorite after Chopin (possibly after Liszt, but I doubt it). I like a lot of his solo piano works and the third piano concerto (not the last movement, though; cool theme and stuff, but it's boring, in my opinion).

Prokofiev is really cool, although I admittedly really only know his piano sonatas and Toccata Op. 11 (the latter of which is a monster). Stravinsky is cool from what I've heard. Shostakovich is probably my favorite non-romantic composer; he's very contrapuntal with a romantic kind of framework; I like that. Also, Rzewski is pretty cool as far as contemporary composers go ("Winnsboro Cotton Mill Blues").

Stuff outside of this time frame I like are Bach, Scarlatti, and Beethoven. I don't find Bach very fun to listen to, though; but his work is genius and I really enjoy playing it. Scarlatti is fun to listen to, as is Beethoven (I hate playing Beethoven, though). I was never a big Mozart fan, although I can see the value of his music. He's fun to play, though, but I don't get a whole lot out of his music even when I'm playing it.

EDIT: And guys, if you can't find good classical CDs or something, just go to the **** library. I used to go there every week and just pick out three CDs, then rip them when I get home. I got several CDs worth of MP3s out of it.

[Mazeppa]

Classical CDs are pretty easy to find in my experience.

[Grant]

For ages now, my favourite composer has been Igor Stravinsky. There's something about The Firebird that's just...evil. Still, the man was a genius and probably the best composer of the 20th century.

[Mazeppa]

I haven't listened to much music by Igor Stravinsky, I'll have to check out The Firebird sometime as I've heard so much about it.

[Amit]

Here you go, an upload. It's a very short bit of music, but it's great.

Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov: Flight of the Bumble Bee ( http://rapidshare.de/files/4280467/The_Flight_of_the_Bumble_Bee.mp3.html)

:lol:

Everyone's heard that. I'm looking for actual music.

I'm asking for something like Scheherezade...Beautiful, enchanting, romantic, epic, subtle, <insert adjective>.

[charolastra]

arg. im super digging Mozart's O Fortuna.........

:p

[rockinbass17]

I just got the new music from my orchestra- the Overture to Marriage of Figaro and Shubert's 8th (Unfinished). I'm not a big fan of opera, but the overture is a very good peice of work. Pretty hard bass parts. And the Unfinished Symphony is quite good as well.

[PianoDan]

Chopin is probably my favorite composer; almost all of his acknowledged works I like. Liszt I also really like, although he can get dull at times (while some of them are good, I'd hate to sit through a full rotation of his Hungarian Rhapsodies). I like Alkan's etudes quite a bit, too. Rachmaninov is probably my favorite after Chopin (possibly after Liszt, but I doubt it). I like a lot of his solo piano works and the third piano concerto (not the last movement, though; cool theme and stuff, but it's boring, in my opinion).

Prokofiev is really cool, although I admittedly really only know his piano sonatas and Toccata Op. 11 (the latter of which is a monster). Stravinsky is cool from what I've heard. Shostakovich is probably my favorite non-romantic composer; he's very contrapuntal with a romantic kind of framework; I like that. Also, Rzewski is pretty cool as far as contemporary composers go ("Winnsboro Cotton Mill Blues").
Not hugely into Liszt myself, excepting a few notable works. Anything, anything by Chopin is geninus; Rachmaninov is good as well but I prefer Chopin.

What I've heard of Prokofiev sounds okay, though a tad modern for my liking; but I've been extending into more modern stuff lately. Stravinsky and Shostakovich are, unfortunately, not two composers I know a lot about.

Stuff outside of this time frame I like are Bach, Scarlatti, and Beethoven. I don't find Bach very fun to listen to, though; but his work is genius and I really enjoy playing it. Scarlatti is fun to listen to, as is Beethoven (I hate playing Beethoven, though). I was never a big Mozart fan, although I can see the value of his music. He's fun to play, though, but I don't get a whole lot out of his music even when I'm playing it.
I used to be very much like that. Anything pre-Beethoven wasn't my thing, so much. But Mozart is now one of my favourites - his music is so relaxing, so good to unwind to - both for studying with, and for playing. I have been highly stressed recently but sitting down to a Mozart Sonata is like nothing else for relieving some tension. Bach has also grown on me recently; his music is more than just pure genius. The Brandenburg Concertos are beautiful. Handel has some great stuff. Vivaldi's seasons are brilliant. I'm in a Baroque phase at the moment. It was never my favourite but there's a beauty there so different to the Romantics that you'll discover if you listen to it enough.

My favourite classical work at the moment is Albinoni's Adagio in G minor - the most beautiful piece.... it's just amazing.

[Delicate Genius]

Not hugely into Liszt myself, excepting a few notable works. Anything, anything by Chopin is geninus; Rachmaninov is good as well but I prefer Chopin.


Yeah, Liszt is largely fluff. Like, I love "Mazeppa" and everything, but there's this one chromatic run that's completely unnecessary. Liszt tended to make his work difficult whether he could do it with tact or not. This results in many pieces with beautiful virtuosic textures, but it also frequently results in obvious fluff. Still, though, excellent composer.

I agree about Chopin. Unlike Liszt, he was no fluff (but also unlike Liszt, he didn't seem as capable of creating impressive long works). Every note in his etudes counts completely.


What I've heard of Prokofiev sounds okay, though a tad modern for my liking; but I've been extending into more modern stuff lately. Stravinsky and Shostakovich are, unfortunately, not two composers I know a lot about.


If you haven't already, check out the Toccata by Prokofiev that I mentioned. That site www.classiccat.com or whatever it's called has a free recording of Martha Argerich performing it (agreed to be the best performance of it by everyone I've talked to). It's more straight-up chromatic than a lot of his other stuff, which might make it appeal to your romantic side. Even then though, it's still a little 'modern,' I hated it at first, but after about three listens it stayed my favorite piece for months.


I used to be very much like that. Anything pre-Beethoven wasn't my thing, so much. But Mozart is now one of my favourites - his music is so relaxing, so good to unwind to - both for studying with, and for playing. I have been highly stressed recently but sitting down to a Mozart Sonata is like nothing else for relieving some tension. Bach has also grown on me recently; his music is more than just pure genius. The Brandenburg Concertos are beautiful. Handel has some great stuff. Vivaldi's seasons are brilliant. I'm in a Baroque phase at the moment. It was never my favourite but there's a beauty there so different to the Romantics that you'll discover if you listen to it enough.


My problem is that it just sounds so samey. That's the thing, though; Bach wasn't particularly innovative harmonically, he just took structure to a completely new level. So you kinda expect his stuff to sound samey harmonically, but have this really genius structures (which they do). This is why I have a hard time listening to him, because I'm not to the point of just hearing these big structures yet, all I hear are the samey harmonies. Playing the pieces, though, forces me to see the structure, so that's where I get most of my appreciation. I mainly just need to listen more, though, and develop an ear that can detect purely structure.

Mozart sounds extremely samey to me, too, except I appreciate his sense of structure less, as I enjoy linear compositions more than (non-linear?) more chordal compositions. It's not until Beethoven that everything stops sounding the same to me.

[rockinbass17]

Is that the Toccata ELP covered? Just curious.

[bronluvsguitar]

anyone know any realitavly easy songs to play on a classical?

[rockinbass17]

On a classical? On a classical what? Guitar?

[Zappa]

For ages now, my favourite composer has been Igor Stravinsky. There's something about The Firebird that's just...evil. Still, the man was a genius and probably the best composer of the 20th century.

I'm personally most infatuated with his Petrushka.

[trev913]

Aye... I acquired the Classical Masterpieces collection, 16 CDs, I believe it was. Very incredibly encompassing of classical music. CDs devoted to Beethoven, Brahms, Bach, Liszt, Vivaldi, and others. I've got it all on my mp3 player and listened to Vivaldi's "Four Seasons", as well as the Mozart CD last week while doing my AP Psych.

[CabbageStabbage]

I like classical alot.

Ive got this collection with like 30 cd's. Need to start listening to it again. I normally dload my music, classical isnt easy to dload.

I have 2 collections of 25 cd's. They're pretty good. Mostly classical and romantic composers, some bach, some 20th century composers.

Classical music is annoying to download on p2p if it's not entire albums. Too many numbers.

I've been listening to random Russian composers. Rimsky-korsakoff, prokofiev, mussorgsky, some pieces by borodin and katchaturian.

[deArmondM88]

anyone play neo-classic guitar?

[Delicate Genius]

Is that the Toccata ELP covered? Just curious.

ELP? I dunno. I doubt it, though. Probably the Toccata from BWV 565 by Bach.

[PianoDan]

I have 2 collections of 25 cd's. They're pretty good. Mostly classical and romantic composers, some bach, some 20th century composers.

Classical music is annoying to download on p2p if it's not entire albums. Too many numbers.

I've been listening to random Russian composers. Rimsky-korsakoff, prokofiev, mussorgsky, some pieces by borodin and katchaturian.
Khatchaturian was Armenian. Cool guy though.

[brensten32]

I listen to Violin stuff mostly but some piano, cell and other stuff as well.
My favorite artists are Bond (British string quartet. You should check them out!), Vanessa Mae, Yo Yo Ma, and lot of Chopin, Beethoven, Bach, Pachebel's pieces.

Bond and Vanessa Mae are both classical but has little bit of tecno/rock mix in them and that's what makes it great. Everytime I listen to them, it gives me goosebumps...

[ConcertoAm]

I have a question... whats the name of that song that they usaully play when they show a scary looking mansion in a cartoon, and/or movie?
I'm pretty sure that it's a classical song, because I've heard it on a classical radio station once.

Please. Help me. It's been bugging me for days.. weeks even.

[Mazeppa]

I have a question... whats the name of that song that they usaully play when they show a scary looking mansion in a cartoon, and/or movie?
I'm pretty sure that it's a classical song, because I've heard it on a classical radio station once.

Please. Help me. It's been bugging me for days.. weeks even.
Is it played on an organ?

[ConcertoAm]

I think so, I could be wrong though.

[Grant]

I'm personally most infatuated with his Petrushka.

Yeah, Petrushka is a great piece of music. His ballets, I think, are his best work. The Rite of Spring, The Firebird and Petrushka being my favourite of his compositions.

[Mazeppa]

I think so, I could be wrong though.
I'm thinking that it might be the Toccata and Fugue in D Minor by Johann Sebastian Bach, check that out.

[ConcertoAm]

I'm thinking that it might be the Toccata and Fugue in D Minor by Johann Sebastian Bach, check that out.

Thats it! Thank you very much metal guitar.

[PianoDan]

I listen to Violin stuff mostly but some piano, cell and other stuff as well.
My favorite artists are Bond (British string quartet. You should check them out!), Vanessa Mae, Yo Yo Ma, and lot of Chopin, Beethoven, Bach, Pachebel's pieces.

Bond and Vanessa Mae are both classical but has little bit of tecno/rock mix in them and that's what makes it great. Everytime I listen to them, it gives me goosebumps...
Bond is okay, not my favourite, but a nice novelty for something different. They had the theme song for the Athens Olympics here on Channel 7.

If you like Violin stuff, check out anything by Paganini. http://www.classicalarchives.com/live/p.html#PAGANINI

Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto in E minor is my favourite violin concerto; Tchaikovsky's isn't too far behind.

[Mazeppa]

Thats it! Thank you very much metal guitar.
No problem :)

NP:Mozart-Turkish March

[brensten32]

Bond is okay, not my favourite, but a nice novelty for something different. They had the theme song for the Athens Olympics here on Channel 7.

If you like Violin stuff, check out anything by Paganini. http://www.classicalarchives.com/live/p.html#PAGANINI

Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto in E minor is my favourite violin concerto; Tchaikovsky's isn't too far behind.

They are also great. I especially like Paganini as well.

Also, Yo Yo Ma's Prelude Cello Suite No.1 is a great, and I mean a really great song. Everyone must download this song and listen to it. Some of you guys might remember it from the movie, Pianist, when the blonde Polish lady plays the cello.

[PianoDan]

They are also great. I especially like Paganini as well.

Also, Yo Yo Ma's Prelude Cello Suite No.1 is a great, and I mean a really great song. Everyone must download this song and listen to it. Some of you guys might remember it from the movie, Pianist, when the blonde Polish lady plays the cello.
Great movie but I just can't recall it right now.....!:(

Dvorak has quite a nice cello concerto.

[brensten32]

Great movie but I just can't recall it right now.....!:(

Dvorak has quite a nice cello concerto.
Yeah, The Pianist is one of my favorite movie.

And I will check Dvorak out.

[KSas]

And I will check Dvorak out.
Hahaha, you will "check Dvorak out". THat would take years.

[KSas]

They are also great. I especially like Paganini as well.

Also, Yo Yo Ma's Prelude Cello Suite No.1 is a great, and I mean a really great song. Everyone must download this song and listen to it. Some of you guys might remember it from the movie, Pianist, when the blonde Polish lady plays the cello.
Yo Yo Ma wrote a piece? Haha, he's quite an arrogant musician is he not?

[Special Brew]

Hello, I am pretty much new to classical music. I've been taking classical guitar lessons for a few months, because I think learning the style is a challenge. But I've never really sat down and listened to much classical. I know a few Bach songs I like, and the famous Pachelbel's 'Canon in D'. I have heard random parts and things of other composers, and I've seen plenty of classical guitarists perform. What do you guys suggest I should start on? Are there any albums I should buy/download to help me get introduced? I know many composers didn't have records back when they were alive, but I'm sure people have put their works together on CDs somewhere. Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.

[Mazeppa]

John Williams is good for classical guitar, I have a cd by him which is very good.

His website. (http://www.johnwilliamsguitar.com/)

[Special Brew]

Thank you, I will check him out. I am looking for classical guitarists and composers. I want to learn the history and everything about this music.

[Special Brew]

Also, could someone explain to me what exactly boroque is? I couldn't find much information using Google that I actually understood.

[CabbageStabbage]

Also, could someone explain to me what exactly boroque is? I couldn't find much information using Google that I actually understood.

Baroque music is the style of music that preceded Classical music. Anything from J. S. Bach and earlier, after Renaissance music, is baroque.

[Special Brew]

Baroque music is the style of music that preceded Classical music. Anything from J. S. Bach and earlier, after Renaissance music, is baroque.
Thank you. I guess I am drawn more towards baroque music than I am to classical then. So perhaps I could get some baroque composer suggestions?

[even if they were canadian]

Ah yes, the classical music archives. You have no idea how excited I was about that site before I realized that you have to pay to listen to anything of any quality. :(

I've been listening to almost exclusively classical/baroque (I have no idea which one I'm actually listening to, but whatever) lately. It's weird. I went from only listening to metal/alternative, to only listening to classical. I haven't touched my other music in more than a month. I don't know what it is. I'm just so draw into the music. I no longer want to listen to anything else. It just does nothing for me.

I've been going on a very small collection. I have Mozart's clarinet concerto, clarinet quintet, and oboe quartet. I also have Dvorak's new world symphony, and serenade for strings in E major. Then there is a mix CD with 10 famous songs by various composers. I'm not sure what else to get. I'm thinking about getting one of those collections with 10+ CDs. Can't go wrong there. :cool:

[CabbageStabbage]

Thank you. I guess I am drawn more towards baroque music than I am to classical then. So perhaps I could get some baroque composer suggestions?

I don't really know much about Baroque composers, but some of the most famous ones are Vivaldi, Handel, and J.S. Bach. J.S. Bach's sons are usually considered to be classical composers.

[rockinbass17]

Handel wrote some really pretty pieces. Water Music is his most popular, but a lot of otehr stuff he's done is quite beautiful as well. I learned Sarabande for piano, and while it is very simple, is the prettiest piece I know.

[Delay Pedal Boy]

Orff's O Fortuna. Not Mozart.

[Mazeppa]

Orff's O Fortuna. Not Mozart.
It's very often mislabled on file sharing programs.

[Special Brew]

http://www.musicianforums.com/forums/showthread.php?p=9499578#post9499578

^ I made a thread in the guitar forum that I hope will become the official place to talk about classical guitar. If anyone is interested in this style/genre, help me out with some information and try to keep the thread alive. I will be updating it with information provided by the posters so that it can become a very helpful place for those interested in classical guitar.

[Pierre Trudeau]

Slavonic Dances (Dvorak, of course) represent :smoke: :chug:

pathetique sonata? panzerkampfwagon, more like it :cool:

[PianoDan]

Also, could someone explain to me what exactly boroque is? I couldn't find much information using Google that I actually understood.
Paganini has some classical guitar pieces if you want some older stuff. He lived late 1700s early 1800s, I believe. There are others from around that time but I'm not into classical guitar so I don't really know.

The Baroque Period:

(Fr.) Bizarre. Term applied to the ornate architecture of Ger. and Austria during the 17th and 18th cents. and borrowed to describe comparable mus. developments from about 1600 to the deaths of Bach and Handel in 1750 and 1759 respectively. It was a period in which harmonic complexity grew alongside emphasis on contrast. So, in opera, interest was transferred from recit. to aria, and in church mus. the contrasts of solo vv., ch., and orch. were developed to a high d egree. In instr. mus. the period saw the emergence of the sonata, the suite, and particularly the concerto grosso, as in the mus. of Corelli, Vivaldi, Handel, and Bach. Most baroque mus. uses basso continuo. By 'baroque organ'is meant the 18th-cent. type of instr., more brilliant in tone and flexible than its 19th-cent. counterpart. Note that 18th-cent. writers used 'baroque' in a pejorative sense to mean 'coarse' or 'old-fashioned in taste'.

I guess the harmonic complexity/emphasis on contrast is the important thing to note as far as music's development is concerned.

[rockinbass17]

It is amazing how the complexity in music arose from little medevil ballods and harps to great orchestras. I wonder what spurred the musical advancement?

[ATM]

I just got an album of a 22 piece orchestra covering Aphex Twin songs. It's very, very cool.

[Special Brew]

Thanks for the suggestions. I have been using Soulseek for a long time now, but I can't find any specific classical music on it. Of course there is a lot of Bach variants as well as other famous composers. Is there any other program or method of getting music that I should use? I would buy albums, but I'm poor and can only afford so many a month. I use Soulseek to try out an artists sound before I buy anything. If I can't hear any of these composers, I guess I will have to start ordering random collections off of Amazon.

[TheBlackAcidChildren]

Thanks for the suggestions. I have been using Soulseek for a long time now, but I can't find any specific classical music on it. Of course there is a lot of Bach variants as well as other famous composers. Is there any other program or method of getting music that I should use? I would buy albums, but I'm poor and can only afford so many a month. I use Soulseek to try out an artists sound before I buy anything. If I can't hear any of these composers, I guess I will have to start ordering random collections off of Amazon.

Listen to the radio. I dunno if you live in England, but if you do just listen to classic FM or BBC Radio 3 lots - they play classical/jazz stuff. Either that or go to somewhere like Tower Records or HMV's websites and listen to the sound clips. They may be only 30 seconds long but it's enough most of the time.

EDIT: Just looked at your profile and you live in Kentucky. That doesn't help, but there must be some kinda classical radio station or something. If not, listen online. Internet radio players are dead useful.


In other news, I went out yesterday and bought Karl Jenkins' Songs Of Sanctuary suite, and his Requiem Mass. They're both very good, and highly recommended.

[the2stranger]

does anyone know the name of the piece at hand?

hxxp://s4.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2ZFWFP7QU7GUB2Q0YH03RI6MYO

[rockinbass17]

It's Bach, I know that much.

[CabbageStabbage]

does anyone know the name of the piece at hand?

hxxp://s4.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2ZFWFP7QU7GUB2Q0YH03RI6MYO

It's the Fugue part of Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D Minor :thumb:
If anyone wants that song I can probably upload it.

For whoever asked for a good program to download classical music, use Bittorrent, since you can download whole albums. Or just go to the library, borrow whatever CDs you want, and rip them to your computer.

[Special Brew]

does anyone know the name of the piece at hand?

hxxp://s4.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2ZFWFP7QU7GUB2Q0YH03RI6MYO
I forget the name of it, but I know Ulver also uses it for a section of the "It Is Not Sound" video, and it is on Fantasia. I will find the name for you.

EDIT: Beaten lol

It's the Fugue part of Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D Minor :thumb:
If anyone wants that song I can probably upload it.

For whoever asked for a good program to download classical music, use Bittorrent, since you can download whole albums. Or just go to the library, borrow whatever CDs you want, and rip them to your computer.
Thanks. Where could I get Bittorrent?

[CabbageStabbage]

Thanks. Where could I get Bittorrent?

Here. (http://www.bittorrent.com/) Google for explanations on how to use it.

I don't use it often, because I have tons of CDs at home.

[KSas]

Baroque music is the style of music that preceded Classical music. Anything from J. S. Bach and earlier, after Renaissance music, is baroque.
Bach is the only composer whom an era was based off of. Starts when he's born, ends when he died.

[KSas]

You guys are file sharing classical music! That's awful. If there's any type of music that doesn't get a lot of sales, it's classical music. If there's any type of music where the performers have more talent but have less money than pop musicians, it's classical music. Plus, you could be downloading a version done by a youth orchestra for all you know. Do yourself a favor, and go to your local record store, go online. Get yourself some legit recordings done by proper orchestras.

Berlin is thought to be the best, just so you know. But Chicago has the best brass section, in my opinion. Joe Alessi is a beast though. You can never argue against the NY Philharmonic.

[Special Brew]

But you see, I live over an hour away from a decent record store and I rarely travel that way. I am wanting to try out some composers to see if I even enjoy their style before I go buy records.

And thank you CabbageStabbage :)

[KSas]

Listen to the radio.

You're a classical guitarist? Listen to Yepes.

[CabbageStabbage]

Bach is the only composer whom an era was based off of. Starts when he's born, ends when he died.

Bach was born in 1685, died 1750. Baroque music started around 1600. Bach's style is late baroque.

Downloading music is a very good way to get into music. Especially a world as large as classical music.

[Special Brew]

I just now saw http://www.classicalarchives.com on the front page, and I love it.

[Mazeppa]

You guys are file sharing classical music! That's awful.
No it isn't. If I hadn't been able to download music first to check it out, I doubt I would be listening to classical music at all and I wouldn't have bought any of the classical CDs I own.

[PianoDan]

Bach is the only composer whom an era was based off of. Starts when he's born, ends when he died.
No, the Baroque Era is never dated around 1685-1750, which is when Bach lived. It is sometimes said to have finished in 1759 with the death of Handel, but it certainly goes back to the early 1600s. I did post about it a few posts ago, see that if you want to know...

[CabbageStabbage]

So, I found Carl Orff's Carmina Burana amongst my CDs. I just love epic songs.

[the2stranger]

It's the Fugue part of Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D Minor :thumb:
If anyone wants that song I can probably upload it.

For whoever asked for a good program to download classical music, use Bittorrent, since you can download whole albums. Or just go to the library, borrow whatever CDs you want, and rip them to your computer.

yes please, I would love it if you uplaoded it ( if it's still allowed to upload? :confused: )
otherwise I will have a look for it on p2p

thanks a lot for this :D

[Special Brew]

I downloaded BitTorrent, what sites should I be using to browse files? I can't really figure it out, and Google hasn't helped too much. I guess I could just copy albums from the library, but I am looking more for classical guitar/solo piano stuff.

[Meatshield]

Ok, since this is a classical music thread thought i could ask this here...i'm looking for some classical/baroque music to listen to, but i'm looking for something in particular. It has to have a grim, doomy, either depressive or evil kinda feeling to it. Any recommendations?

[Mazeppa]

Check out some funeral marches or funeral music, they often have a very dark feel to them.

[CarvinShredder]

I downloaded BitTorrent, what sites should I be using to browse files? I can't really figure it out, and Google hasn't helped too much. I guess I could just copy albums from the library, but I am looking more for classical guitar/solo piano stuff.

I use http://www.kerrazy-torrents.net/

[Mardy]

Ok, since this is a classical music thread thought i could ask this here...i'm looking for some classical/baroque music to listen to, but i'm looking for something in particular. It has to have a grim, doomy, either depressive or evil kinda feeling to it. Any recommendations?

Jón Leifs' "Dettifoss" is like standing on a cliff and looking down in Hell.
Krzysztof Penderecki's "Threnody for the Victims of Hiroshime" is pure pain and creepiness.

Depressive: Ludwig van Beethoven's "String Quartet No. 14 in C sharp minor, Op. 131: Adagio quasi un poco andante (6th movement)" is very sad, but short. You may know it from Band of Brothers.
Johannes Brahms: Piano Quartet Nr. 3 in C-minor Op.60 Allegro Non Troppo (1st movement)

[Lydisk]

mozarts requiem is ace.

[LF96]

^^ Requiem is my favourite classical piece.

Also, I fell in love with Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite today (again). :)

[rockinbass17]

I honestly hate the Nutcracker. I think it's because I've had to play it 100000000000 times in orchestras and the bass part is very boring. And the music doesn't do anything for me. I could see why someone would really appreciate it, though.

[CabbageStabbage]

Listening to some Debussy right now. Prelude a l'Apres-midi d'une faune is great. I love the flute part.

[LF96]

I honestly hate the Nutcracker. I think it's because I've had to play it 100000000000 times in orchestras and the bass part is very boring. And the music doesn't do anything for me. I could see why someone would really appreciate it, though.
I can understand that, but I haven't listened that much to it yet, and I'm not planning on listening to it that much. I variate a lot in listening music, so I don't grow tired of albums fast. :)

[rockinbass17]

^ Yea, I usually don't grow tired of classical songs, just the Nutcracker in particular because I've had to endure all those boring practices. Tchaikovsky is a wonderful composer, though. I love most of his other works.

[ConcertoAm]

I need some help... I'de like to play Eliot Fisk' version of Paganini's 5th caprice but I can't find any sheet music for it. :upset:
Does anyone know if it was ever published? If so where could I buy it?

Thanks.

[Lydisk]

:D grieg!

[rockinbass17]

I need some help... I'de like to play Eliot Fisk' version of Paganini's 5th caprice but I can't find any sheet music for it. :upset:
Does anyone know if it was ever published? If so where could I buy it?

Thanks.

Try Sheetmusic.com. It's an okay site, you may find it there.
My order of Claire de Lune just came in today :D . Such an awsome song, and now I can finally learn it!

[Mazeppa]

I just got home from a performance of Rutter's Requiem at St Paul's cathedral, it was wonderful.

[belzedar]

well, i didn't have the time/patience to read EVERYthing on this thread, so maybe this was already covered, but... where can you get these classical pieces arranged for guitar? i've seen several books that use excerpts from classical music to teach different techniques (i have on on fingerpicking, for example), but is there anywhere to get a full score arranged for guitar?

[SeasonOfTheMad]

So, I found Carl Orff's Carmina Burana amongst my CDs. I just love epic songs.

Speaking of epic songs, I've been listening to Mozart's Requiem lately, and its awesome. I've gained a lot of respect for him recently, first I heard symphony 25 which was sweet, then no 40 which was even better, then i got the Requiem which is amazing. Does he have any other songs that rock out like the two symphonies, or epic and awesome like the requiem? Recommend me some, Mozart fans.

[Mazeppa]

Speaking of epic songs, I've been listening to Mozart's Requiem lately, and its awesome. I've gained a lot of respect for him recently, first I heard symphony 25 which was sweet, then no 40 which was even better, then i got the Requiem which is amazing. Does he have any other songs that rock out like the two symphonies, or epic and awesome like the requiem? Recommend me some, Mozart fans.
Mozart's last three symphonies, 39, 40 and 41 are all brilliant so if you liked 40 check out those other two. Other music by Mozart that I really enjoy are his piano sonatas so have a listen to some of them aswell.

[LF96]

Mozart's last three symphonies, 39, 40 and 41 are all brilliant so if you liked 40 check out those other two.
I played 41 on timpani two years ago. Definitely one of Mozart's better symphonies (and that means a lot).

Right now I play Beethoven's 7th symphonie, and I must say I really like the 2nd part. Very sombre. After that one I'm gonna have to play the 3rd (a.k.a. Eroica) which is his hardest on timpani (I thought).

[rockinbass17]

Timpani's awsome. I love watching them being played- it's the coolest classical instrument. (Besides upright bass, of course).

[ariaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa]

You guys are file sharing classical music! That's awful. If there's any type of music that doesn't get a lot of sales, it's classical music. If there's any type of music where the performers have more talent but have less money than pop musicians, it's classical music. Plus, you could be downloading a version done by a youth orchestra for all you know. Do yourself a favor, and go to your local record store, go online. Get yourself some legit recordings done by proper orchestras.

Berlin is thought to be the best, just so you know. But Chicago has the best brass section, in my opinion. Joe Alessi is a beast though. You can never argue against the NY Philharmonic.

i strongly agree with this post

classical cds are normally less than half the price of other cds anyway



hi everyone im ben classical music is my life (well not the classical period, i find it extremely boring at this point in my life)

i study classical guitar at conservatory level and am just finishing my first year

i have a lot of favourite composers

scarlatti, weiss, bach, debussy, ravel, chopin, albeniz , granados, schoenberg, wagner, berg, walton, berkeley, sculthorpe

my favourites are Debussy and Leo Brouwer who some of you may not have heard of hes a contemporary composer who writes mainly for guitar

[Lydisk]

speaking of requiems...anyone heard Gabriel Faure (sp?)'s requiem....im liking it.
especially the "Agnus Dei" part.

[Diatonic Dissonance™]

Hey Ben, and hey everyone else :wave:.

My name's Gavin and I am a classical pianist.

I've always loved piano (inaugurally it was blues piano, then jazz piano) solo music, but just recently I have gotten into the classical composers. In doing so, I have also developped a love towards all classical music.

I love the more sombre, "evil" sounding ones (with diminished tonality, etc) and they're my favourite to play.

What can I say? I just love music. I could rant and rave about how much I love it and why, but I'm sure I'd just creep you all out.

Some of my favourite pianists include:

Frederic Chopin, Franz Liszt, Vladimir Horowitz, Mozart, Beethoven, Bach, Gershwin, Prokofiev, Scriabin, Schubert and more modern composers like Richard Clayderman.

[ariaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa]

gavon wot is ur favourite piano muzak

mine is the debussy preludes book 1 and 2

i love it all so much it takes me to another world

[Diatonic Dissonance™]

I've got a few favourites at the moment, but if I had to pick one it would definitely be Franz Liszt's "Hungarian Rhapsody Number 2 In C# Minor". Others include:

-Chopin's "Fantasie Impromptu"
-Chopin's Etudes Op 10/No 12 (Cm) and Op 25/No 12 (Cm)
-Beethoven's "Adagio Sostenuto (aka Moonlight Sonata)"
-Chopin's "Nocturne In G Minor Op 37/No 1"

All and any of these I will be more than willing to send to you through Yahoo if you're interested.

[Mazeppa]

I'm listening to Franz Liszt's "Hungarian Rhapsody Number 2 In C# Minor" right now. Liszt is a recent discovery for me.

[ariaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa]

nah i kno them all they r all prety typical favourits

thanks ne way


metal gtar sup

[Diatonic Dissonance™]

I'm listening to Franz Liszt's "Hungarian Rhapsody Number 2 In C# Minor" right now. Liszt is a recent discovery for me.
Good man, :thumb:

EDIT: Not a problem, Ben. Just holla if there's anything you want.

[ConcertoAm]

Try Sheetmusic.com. It's an okay site, you may find it there.
My order of Claire de Lune just came in today :D . Such an awsome song, and now I can finally learn it!

I tryed that site already, it didn't have it. I'll have to check some music stores I guess.

Thanks anyway. :)

[Voodoo Rabbit]

Hello,

I don't frequent this part of the forum much, but was hoping for a little help.
Sorry is my descriptions are a bit vague.

Well,

I heard a peice of Music recently (I THINK it may have been in the Impressionistic time period), and was told it was supposed to be -

-The Devil playing his violin, playing at a chapel where himself and a 'Grey Lady' would meet (She would play the organ).
If it helps, the peice starts off with an untuned violin playing something.

(Sorry for my lack of descriptive skills!)

Finally, If anyone knows where I could find the piano sheet music for the Thomas Newman song in 'American Beauty', I would really appreciate the information. (Should be in the 'Piano/Keyboard' section of the forums, but might be classed as 'Classical'*).


Thank-you for any help...

[Grey Incision]

I need help, it's not quite classical, but it's an orchestral peice. It is called 'Drill of Death', i do not know the composer:( that's what i need to find out. It has keyboards and piano with different brass sections and a strings section. I'm not sure what sort of percussion instruments they were using, but there was percussion. The peice sounded very Chaotic and evil, hence the name, 'Drill of Death'. Any help would be really grateful:) Sorry if this is not considered classical.:(

[ConcertoAm]

I need help, it's not quite classical, but it's an orchestral peice. It is called 'Drill of Death', i do not know the composer:( that's what i need to find out. It has keyboards and piano with different brass sections and a strings section. I'm not sure what sort of percussion instruments they were using, but there was percussion. The peice sounded very Chaotic and evil, hence the name, 'Drill of Death'. Any help would be really grateful:) Sorry if this is not considered classical.:(

I did a search on google and came up with this... http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0000015HD/qid=1128151594/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/104-7546672-6124756?v=glance&s=music

Go down to the track 'Drill of Death' an listen too it... I'm not sure if thats it though.

[blue powder]

Good day to you all fellow classical enthusiast!! :)
Im from the Philippines and wishes you all the best from our country!!
I love classical music....and also wanted to share
a neo-orchestral track to you all!!....with the guitar as its main instrument..
anyways, hope you enjoy this track..!!

was mainly influenced by adventure, final fantasy series and neo-orchestral concepts!!

asia minor saga (http://www.soundclick.com/util/getplayer.m3u?id=2306325&q=hi/)

[Mazeppa]

For some reason I can't click that link :confused:

[Manticore Guy]

For some reason I can't click that link :confused:

123 same with me.

NP: ELP- Tarkus Medley: Eruption/Stones of Years/Iconoclast/Mass/Manticore/Batt
, which is not exactly classical music but they were a band influenced by classical music. They also happen to be amazing so yea...
:cool:

[blue powder]

oops!!>...sorry guys....

here it is

asia minor saga (http://www.soundclick.com/util/getplayer.m3u?id=2306325&q=hi/)

[Ned]

No, the Baroque Era is never dated around 1685-1750, which is when Bach lived. It is sometimes said to have finished in 1759 with the death of Handel, but it certainly goes back to the early 1600s. I did post about it a few posts ago, see that if you want to know...

In very round numbers, 1600-1750. By the end of his life J. S. Bach was generally considered to be writing in an antiquated style, which perhaps makes 1759 fairly dubious. C. P. E. Bach was more famous in his day than J. S. Bach ever was in his, and for quite some time when you said "Bach" people took you to mean C. P. E. Bach. Handel and J. S. Bach were born the same year (like Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe.)

[Ned]

I don't really know much about Baroque composers, but some of the most famous ones are Vivaldi, Handel, and J.S. Bach. J.S. Bach's sons are usually considered to be classical composers.

Of the big four late Baroque composers you're missing the great Jean-Philippe Rameau who was also active as a music theorist, arguably the most significant music theorist ever to have lived.

[rbv]

Any really good spanish influenced composers I could get into?

[Ned]

Paganini has some classical guitar pieces if you want some older stuff. He lived late 1700s early 1800s, I believe. There are others from around that time but I'm not into classical guitar so I don't really know.

The Baroque Period:



I guess the harmonic complexity/emphasis on contrast is the important thing to note as far as music's development is concerned.

I beg to differ strongly. The most important things to note (so to speak) are the solidification of the major-minor system (replacing the modal system) and what I call "strong tonality" (usually rendered simply as tonality in contradistinction to modality). Strong tonality hinges on strong chord progression as eventually codified by the great Jean-Philippe Rameau. Classical music was a reaction to what were then perceived as Baroque music's excesses of CONTRAPUNTAL (not "harmonic") complexity and aesthetic expressionism. The theory work of Rameau put classical music on sure harmonic footing, facilitating its streamlining.

[Grey Incision]

I did a search on google and came up with this... http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0000015HD/qid=1128151594/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/104-7546672-6124756?v=glance&s=music

Go down to the track 'Drill of Death' an listen too it... I'm not sure if thats it though.

YES! that's it:D thank you so much, i just need to find out where i can download the full track from now:(

[CabbageStabbage]

Any really good spanish influenced composers I could get into?

Heitor Villa-Lobos is cool. He was Brazillian.
Fernando Sor as well. I believe he was Spanish.
Some of Maurice Ravel's music sounds almost Spanish.

[Ned]

Some of Maurice Ravel's music sounds almost Spanish.

No! Really? "Bolero" sounds ("almost") Spanish? It's a fascination, a fixation even, Ravel shared with Debussy and a number of other French composers.

[Ned]

what is everyones favourite debussy peice

Anybody see the Beethoven "Pearls Before Swine" strip? Beethoven is attempting to compose "Fur Elise", and he is frustrated.

Beethoven: Oh, **** it. Why bother? I give up.
Beethoven's friend: You cannot say that Beethoven! Your music is beloved by all.
Beethoven: Maybe now it is, but it will soon be forgotten.
Friend: No, Beethoven, your music will be remembered. Two centuries from now it will still be heard.
Beethoven: Well, maybe by an elete, but I want to write music for the common man. I want to embrace the teeming millions.
Friend: You will, Beethoven! You will!
Beethoven: Okay, okay. Back to work.

Two centuries later:

Da-da-da-da-da-da-da.
"Hey, dude, your cellphone's ringing."
Rat: ****ing cellphones!

[Viv.H]

I'm very ignorant, considering where I should be. Some of my favorites are:

Igor Stravinsky
Aaron Copland
Edgard Varese
Maurice Ravel
Bela Bartok
Peter Tchaikovsky
Witold Lutoslawski
Richard Wagner
Claude Debussy
yea, i like bartok's Romanian Folk Dance... its 3rd movement is beautiful :thumb:

[Diatonic Dissonance™]

Anybody see the Beethoven "Pearls Before Swine" strip? Beethoven is attempting to compose "Fur Elise", and he is frustrated.

Beethoven: Oh, **** it. Why bother? I give up.
Beethoven's friend: You cannot say that Beethoven! Your music is beloved by all.
Beethoven: Maybe now it is, but it will soon be forgotten.
Friend: No, Beethoven, your music will be remembered. Two centuries from now it will still be heard.
Beethoven: Well, maybe by an elete, but I want to write music for the common man. I want to embrace the teeming millions.
Friend: You will, Beethoven! You will!
Beethoven: Okay, okay. Back to work.

Two centuries later:

Da-da-da-da-da-da-da.
"Hey, dude, your cellphone's ringing."
Rat: ****ing cellphones!
:lol:

So true.

[LF96]

Dvorak's 9th Symphony (a.k.a. Symphony Of The New World) is niceness, especially the last part, bombastic and stuff.

[rockinbass17]

I've re-discovered "Finlandia" by Sibelius. I played it with an orchestra last year. The bass part is very upfront, and the piece as a whole is very well written.

[ety the yeti]

I'm not totally sure if this fits in, but has anyone played or heard any of Francis McBeth's pieces? He writes predominately for wind bands, and with my school not really having any string players (one bass, and like 3 violins) band is the only real opportunity for pseudo-classical stuffs. anyways, I think his best pieces are "Masque" and "Scaramouche"

[what]

what is everyones favourite debussy peice

claire de lune definentely

nuages too

[what]

Dvorak's 9th Symphony (a.k.a. Symphony Of The New World) is niceness, especially the last part, bombastic and stuff.

you should hear it played by Yama****a on a classical guitar :amaze:

:lol:

So true.

hey um... you play piano right? if i send you my "composition for piano" would you play it? or even record it?

maybe i can try and do something for you then...

[PianoDan]

*bump*

I noticed Mozart's Requiem mentioned a few times, back a page. I've recently been introduced to it properly.

Last week I saw Beethoven's 9th in concert. Great stuff, though the soprano was sharp. There was also a work by Charlies Ives, "Central Park in the Dark", and some music from the opera "Mer de Glace" by Australian Richard Meale.

Then on Friday I saw Handel's Messiah. My friend was in the Chorale. They had a countertenor instead of an alto, and even though he had a nice voice and everything, I just find it a bit strange to listen to and would prefer seeing a woman sing the alto part.

[lateralus778]

First Post. I know it.

Anyway, Gustav Holst is one of my favorite composers.
Obviously, my favorite part of "The Planets" is the opening;
Mars, bringer of war. Are there other works that have the
same "power"? I've never heard such a massive sounding
orchestra. That may be a problem. It doesnt even have to be
by Holst. See, I've been into metal for the past few years, but
there are only so many ways that metal can show emotion.
It gets extremely boring after a while. Then I began to listen
to Classical. Even anger is conveyed so much better than metal
could possibly try. But all rambling aside, my question still stands.

[Roses_and_Ribbons]

I beg to differ strongly. The most important things to note (so to speak) are the solidification of the major-minor system (replacing the modal system) and what I call "strong tonality" (usually rendered simply as tonality in contradistinction to modality). Strong tonality hinges on strong chord progression as eventually codified by the great Jean-Philippe Rameau. Classical music was a reaction to what were then perceived as Baroque music's excesses of CONTRAPUNTAL (not "harmonic") complexity and aesthetic expressionism. The theory work of Rameau put classical music on sure harmonic footing, facilitating its streamlining.


Are you getting that from a book? Man you sound like the Dean at my uni.

A translation for the common people:

"Nah. The important thing was to set out the major and minor keys to use instead of modes. And Rameau used chord progressions to use get the tonality right and help set out the major and minor tonalities. Classical music was a reaction to Baroque's contrapuntal music which was hard and written because it was based more on the theory behind how to write it rather than what it sounded like. Rameau started the ball rolling."

[Mazeppa]

Well done, your translation made less sense.

[FillInTheBlankHere___]

First Post. I know it.

Anyway, Gustav Holst is one of my favorite composers.
Obviously, my favorite part of "The Planets" is the opening;
Mars, bringer of war. Are there other works that have the
same "power"? I've never heard such a massive sounding
orchestra. That may be a problem. It doesnt even have to be
by Holst. See, I've been into metal for the past few years, but
there are only so many ways that metal can show emotion.
It gets extremely boring after a while. Then I began to listen
to Classical. Even anger is conveyed so much better than metal
could possibly try. But all rambling aside, my question still stands.

You'd probably be best off looking into the late Romantic and twentieth century composers. Listen to Carl Orff's Carmina Burana, and specifically O Fortuna. If you listen to a lot of metal, I think you'd get a kick out of some of the more dissonant twentieth century compositions like Stravinsky's The Rites of Spring (heck, its premiere started a riot!). For more 'powerful' composers, check out Beethoven (later period), Wagner (if you're feeling up to opera), Shostakovich, or Mahler.

[Roses_and_Ribbons]

Well done, your translation made less sense.


Thanks! :p


I'm sorry if the post seemed rude. I didn't mean it to be. It's just that I had students who'd read a paragraph like that in a book and have no idea what it means. I'm forever having to simplify stuff like that for students and I'm surprised anyone actually speaks like that. The only person I know who does is the Dean at uni.

[Mazeppa]

Thanks! :p


I'm sorry if the post seemed rude. I didn't mean it to be. It's just that I had students who'd read a paragraph like that in a book and have no idea what it means. I'm forever having to simplify stuff like that for students and I'm surprised anyone actually speaks like that. The only person I know who does is the Dean at uni.
That's ok, it's just Ned's post made perfect sense to me.

[Hardhat]

Dying Fetus are curently working on a new CD!

[lateralus778]

Dying Fetus are curently working on a new CD!

I hope it's better than Stop at nothing, i heard "one shot, one kill" and it's possibly the most annoying track on the earth. I have to wait until i hear what my firends have to say before i buy this "new" one. By the way, Nile is by far the best death metal band IMO; I'm seeing them with Decapitated and Hypocrisy on the 26th :thumb:
But, doesnt this belong in the metal forum? hmm, maybe you were seeing if it would upset anyone...

[aria4]

Thanks! :p


I'm sorry if the post seemed rude. I didn't mean it to be. It's just that I had students who'd read a paragraph like that in a book and have no idea what it means. I'm forever having to simplify stuff like that for students and I'm surprised anyone actually speaks like that. The only person I know who does is the Dean at uni.


hey wtf chaz is such a cool guy :p

[Roses_and_Ribbons]

hey wtf chaz is such a cool guy :p

Oh don't get me wrong, Charlie's a nice person and all that, but he does go on a bit. I had him teach me for Rhythm in the 20th Century.

[sunlee]

I'm very ignorant, considering where I should be. Some of my favorites are:

Igor Stravinsky
Aaron Copland
Edgard Varese
Maurice Ravel
Bela Bartok
Peter Tchaikovsky
Witold Lutoslawski
Richard Wagner
Claude Debussy

Hi All!
I am new to the forum but I agree with Zappa about being ignorant. The more pieces I listen to, the more I realize how little I have heard. Current favorite is Mahler but love Tchaikovsky as well as Bach (especially the fugues) and thoroughly enjoy most classical as well as film music, old rock and roll etc. :wave:

[White]

I'm interested in expanding my classical music listening but I'm not sure where to go. I've listened to a lot Bach and Mozart and although they are good, I would prefer something less mechanical. For example, I think Schubert's eight symphony is fantastic. Does anyone have any suggestions?

[hatebreeder]

Romantic period classical, Beethoven was the first but he still might be a little mechanical sounding scince he was the first to come out of the baroque, try Strauss, Mendelssohn, Chopin's piano sonatas are great if you like solo stuff too, Tchaikovsky, Isaac Albeniz.

[FillInTheBlankHere___]

Romantic period classical, Beethoven was the first but he still might be a little mechanical sounding scince he was the first to come out of the baroque, try Strauss, Mendelssohn, Chopin's piano sonatas are great if you like solo stuff too, Tchaikovsky, Isaac Albeniz.

Are you dense? Beethoven had absolutely nothing to do with the Baroque period, he was a transitional composer between the Classical and Romantic eras.

[hatebreeder]

I dont know but if I listen to a song like moonlight sonata, then something like bachs grave in A minor, similarities are obvious.

[what]

Are you dense? Beethoven had absolutely nothing to do with the Baroque period, he was a transitional composer between the Classical and Romantic eras.

um... dood no... Beethoven even studied with Bach for a bit... he was a transitional composer between the Baroque and Classical periods.

[what]

I dont know but if I listen to a song like moonlight sonata, then something like bachs grave in A minor, similarities are obvious.


a sonata is not a song

[hatebreeder]

Well I meant the first movment or section of it.

[Lydisk]

oh my goodness the Rachmanninov piano concertos are amazing.so beautiful yet powerful.

[LF96]

you should hear it played by Yama****a on a classical guitar :amaze:
Wew, I completely missed this post. Assuming it's Yamashita, I'm gonna have a search for this version.