Classical Music Help

Posted by: AntonD on 25 March 2013

Hi Classical music fans 

since getting my nd5xs I have started listening to classical music. I am a complete novice here and started with Linn downloads as I can listen to tracks before I purchase. I am really getting into classical and from what I can fathom so far i prefer Symphonies, Violin concerto's. please be gentle with my ignorance here.

e.g. Prokofiev Violin Concerto, Beethoven Symphony 9, Mozart symphonies 38-41.

with the above examples in mind, can you please advise other artists, albums, etc... That I would like.

many, many thanks in advance.

ATB, Anton 

Posted on: 25 March 2013 by EJS
Originally Posted by AntonD:

Hi Classical music fans 

since getting my nd5xs I have started listening to classical music. I am a complete novice here and started with Linn downloads as I can listen to tracks before I purchase. I am really getting into classical and from what I can fathom so far i prefer Symphonies, Violin concerto's. please be gentle with my ignorance here.

e.g. Prokofiev Violin Concerto, Beethoven Symphony 9, Mozart symphonies 38-41.

with the above examples in mind, can you please advise other artists, albums, etc... That I would like.

many, many thanks in advance.

ATB, Anton 

Hi Anton,

 

There's an entire universe of music between Mozart's Prague symphony and the Prokofiev violin concertos (he wrote two). Among the million stars, let me recommend one: Brahms' violin concerto. Again, umpteen fantastic recordings to chose from, such as Ithzak Perlman with Giulini on EMI, or the recent Vadim Repin with Chailly on Deutsche Grammophon.

 

Cheers,

 

EJ

Posted on: 25 March 2013 by RaceTripper

Offhand a couple of suggestions...

 

Brahms: Symphonies 1-4 (try No. 1 with Fischer/Budapest on Channel Classics)

Mahler: 9 symphonies total, start with Nos. 1 and 2 (Fischer/Budapest on Channel Classics is great)

Dvorak: Symphonies 7, 8, 9 and Cello Concerto

Sibelius: Symphonies 2 and 5

Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto

Bruch: Violin Concerto

 

But there is a lot more to discover. Don't limit yourself. Lots of other kinds of works that are great: chamber, solo, opera, etc.

Posted on: 25 March 2013 by AntonD

Many thanks for your recommendations.

i also have some chamber, Corelli (I think this is chamber?) and I like this also. It's interesting how depends what mood I am in but I suppose that apply's to everything.

The choice is bewildering but I am looking forward to the journey. Again, many thanks and I will look these up.

ATB, Anton

Posted on: 25 March 2013 by RaceTripper
Originally Posted by AntonD:

Many thanks for your recommendations.

i also have some chamber, Corelli (I think this is chamber?) and I like this also. It's interesting how depends what mood I am in but I suppose that apply's to everything.

The choice is bewildering but I am looking forward to the journey. Again, many thanks and I will look these up.

ATB, Anton

Correlli did both chamber (e.g. Violin Sonatas Op. 5) and orchestral music (Concerti Grosso Op. 6). 

 

All the composer listed above also did chamber and other types of music. Brahms alone has a huge oeuvre of great chamber music. Schubert is another great composer of both symphonies and chamber music.

Posted on: 25 March 2013 by Chris G

Hi Anton, welcome to a wonderful journey. After endorsing the previous suggestions may I nominate:

Mozart symphonies 25 & 29, Tchaikovsky symphonies 4,5,6, violin concerto, piano concerto no.1; Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique, Rachmaninov Symphony no.2. There are many more. I wish you happy listening. Regards Chris

Posted on: 25 March 2013 by AntonD

This is great chaps.

I'm currently making a list as to what I already have so I don't duplicate yet but also appreciate there are numerous versions for each score.

This gives me an excellent direction to follow as I know the Naim forum members care pationately about their music.

i can't believe I have waited so long before starting the classical journey. I now understand it's success. 

ATB, Anton 

Posted on: 25 March 2013 by VladtheImpala

I'm in a similar position - lots of enthusiasm but little real in-depth knowledge!

 

Might I suggest Mozart's Violin concerto's 3 & 5? Relatively easy listening but both with sublime melodies in the second movements. I'm sure the cognoscenti can point you to a recording - I only have the rather obvious versions by Mutter (and x2 at that) and Arthur Grumiaux.

 

I realise this is outside of your original request, but try:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It will give you religion!

 

Regards,

Vlad

Posted on: 25 March 2013 by RaceTripper
Originally Posted by VladtheImpala:

I'm in a similar position - lots of enthusiasm but little real in-depth knowledge!

 

Might I suggest Mozart's Violin concerto's 3 & 5? Relatively easy listening but both with sublime melodies in the second movements. I'm sure the cognoscenti can point you to a recording - I only have the rather obvious versions by Mutter (and x2 at that) and Arthur Grumiaux.

 

I realise this is outside of your original request, but try:

 

It will give you religion!

 

Regards,

Vlad

If you like Herreweghe's Beethoven's "Missa" you should check out his Brahms' "Requiem" on Harmonia Mundi. That is amazing.

 

Posted on: 25 March 2013 by AntonD
Originally Posted by VladtheImpala:

I'm in a similar position - lots of enthusiasm but little real in-depth knowledge!

 

Might I suggest Mozart's Violin concerto's 3 & 5? Relatively easy listening but both with sublime melodies in the second movements. I'm sure the cognoscenti can point you to a recording - I only have the rather obvious versions by Mutter (and x2 at that) and Arthur Grumiaux.

 

I realise this is outside of your original request, but try:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It will give you religion!

 

Regards,

Vlad

Thank you Vlad. I appreciate all advice on this one. I see what you mean regarding religion if I can say this. I find it really uplifting when listening to this type of music. It really touches the soul!

Anton

Posted on: 25 March 2013 by kuma
Originally Posted by VladtheImpala:
Is this version better than his first one?
Posted on: 25 March 2013 by VladtheImpala
Originally Posted by kuma:
Originally Posted by VladtheImpala:
Is this version better than his first one?

Sorry , Kuma, I don't know the earlier version.

Vlad

Posted on: 26 March 2013 by PureReader
It's worth knowing that there are four basic periods in classical music.

Baroque (1600 - 1760)
     (Bach, Handel, Vivaldi, Telemann, Purcell, Corelli etc.)
Classical period (1730 - 1820)
     (Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven)
Romantic (1810 - 1910)
       (Schumann, Mendelssohn, Chopin, Brahms etc.)
Modern (1900 -)
       (Schoenberg, Berg - wrote "atonal" music, which is rather hard on the ears. Stravinsky, Prokofiev, Shostakovich - wrote so called "neoclassical" music, which easier on the ears and soul!)
(musicologists will complain that I missed out the earlier medieval and renaissance periods and the impressionist period which overlaps with late romantic and early modern. Debussy and Ravel are the most well known impressionist composers.)

There is one composer who was probably the single most influential classical composer of all time.
That's Johann Sebastian Bach of the baroque period.
So he's a must have.

Johann Sebastian Bach
Violin Concertos
(e.g. Violin Concerto in E, BWV 1042   Neville Marriner / Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields / Henryk Szeryng;
or Concerto for 2 violins, strings & continuo in D minor Neville Marriner / Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields / Henryk Szeryng) 

Flute Concertos, Brandenburg Concertos (there are six. All are brilliant. You could try No.2, F major, BWV 1047  ;   No.3, G major,  BWV 1048, and No.5, D major, BWV 1050)

Four of Bach's sons composed great music.
I would recommend any symphonic or chamber music by Johann Christian Bach or Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach

Other "must have" suggestions (IMO) of baroque and classical period music:

Handel
Harp Concerto in B flat major, Op.4/6 , Messiah, Water Music, also Violin Concertos and Trumpet Concertos

Mozart
Sinfonia Concertante for Violin, Viola and Orchestra in E-flat major, KV 364,
Concerto for Flute, Harp, and Orchestra in C major, KV 299

Vivaldi
Four Seasons, Violin Concertos (the slow movements are very nice)
Posted on: 26 March 2013 by AntonD
Originally Posted by PureReader:
It's worth knowing that there are four basic periods in classical music.

Baroque (1600 - 1760)
     (Bach, Handel, Vivaldi, Telemann, Purcell, Corelli etc.)
Classical period (1730 - 1820)
     (Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven)
Romantic (1810 - 1910)
       (Schumann, Mendelssohn, Chopin, Brahms etc.)
Modern (1900 -)
       (Schoenberg, Berg - wrote "atonal" music, which is rather hard on the ears. Stravinsky, Prokofiev, Shostakovich - wrote so called "neoclassical" music, which easier on the ears and soul!)
(musicologists will complain that I missed out the earlier medieval and renaissance periods and the impressionist period which overlaps with late romantic and early modern. Debussy and Ravel are the most well known impressionist composers.)

There is one composer who was probably the single most influential classical composer of all time.
That's Johann Sebastian Bach of the baroque period.
So he's a must have.

Johann Sebastian Bach
Violin Concertos
(e.g. Violin Concerto in E, BWV 1042   Neville Marriner / Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields / Henryk Szeryng;
or Concerto for 2 violins, strings & continuo in D minor Neville Marriner / Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields / Henryk Szeryng) 

Flute Concertos, Brandenburg Concertos (there are six. All are brilliant. You could try No.2, F major, BWV 1047  ;   No.3, G major,  BWV 1048, and No.5, D major, BWV 1050)

Four of Bach's sons composed great music.
I would recommend any symphonic or chamber music by Johann Christian Bach or Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach

Other "must have" suggestions (IMO) of baroque and classical period music:

Handel
Harp Concerto in B flat major, Op.4/6 , Messiah, Water Music, also Violin Concertos and Trumpet Concertos

Mozart
Sinfonia Concertante for Violin, Viola and Orchestra in E-flat major, KV 364,
Concerto for Flute, Harp, and Orchestra in C major, KV 299

Vivaldi
Four Seasons, Violin Concertos (the slow movements are very nice)

Many thanks. It's like being back in school. I'm grateful for all the information. I do find this subject very interesting. I will definitely look these up and add too the list.

ATB, Anton

Posted on: 26 March 2013 by EJS

Anton,

 

Welcome to the universe! It's easy to lose sight of the wood through the trees, so take your time. For example, I consider Bruckner's symphonies 5, 7, 8 and 9 'must haves' but I probably wouldn't recommend them to anybody just starting out... some things need time to sink in. For me, it was the same with Bach's music for keyboard, and the operas of Wagner and Strauss. Almost 25 years in, and I'm slowly getting a grip on Haydn.

 

EJ

Posted on: 26 March 2013 by Martin_C

Hi anton

 

i'm on the same journey but a little further in. I eased myself in with the following:

 

saint saens - 3rd (organ) symphony

holst - the planets

dvorak - 9th symphony (new world)

 

the other solution would be the recent box set from the Vienna philharmonic which has 50 CDs of symphonies!

Posted on: 26 March 2013 by RaceTripper
Originally Posted by PureReader:
It's worth knowing that there are four basic periods in classical music.

Baroque (1600 - 1760)
     (Bach, Handel, Vivaldi, Telemann, Purcell, Corelli etc.)
Classical period (1730 - 1820)
     (Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven)
Romantic (1810 - 1910)
       (Schumann, Mendelssohn, Chopin, Brahms etc.)
Modern (1900 -)
       (Schoenberg, Berg - wrote "atonal" music, which is rather hard on the ears. Stravinsky, Prokofiev, Shostakovich - wrote so called "neoclassical" music, which easier on the ears and soul!)
(musicologists will complain that I missed out the earlier medieval and renaissance periods and the impressionist period which overlaps with late romantic and early modern. Debussy and Ravel are the most well known impressionist composers.)

There is one composer who was probably the single most influential classical composer of all time.
That's Johann Sebastian Bach of the baroque period.
So he's a must have.

Johann Sebastian Bach
Violin Concertos
(e.g. Violin Concerto in E, BWV 1042   Neville Marriner / Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields / Henryk Szeryng;
or Concerto for 2 violins, strings & continuo in D minor Neville Marriner / Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields / Henryk Szeryng) 

Yes, seriously, if music for you starts at 1600 you are missing out on much great music, especially that from the Renaissance and early Baroque. Josquin, Palestrina, Monteverdi

I think it's rather sad that someone would pigeon-hole the music of earlier periods as something only musicologists care about? There is a lot of great music that came before Bach and to which he owes great debt. If music for you starts at 1600 you are missing out on much that is wonderful, especially that from the Renaissance and early Baroque. Dufay, Josquin, Palestrina, Byrd, Dowland, Monteverdi to name just a few. This is not music for mere academic curiosity. It stands up with the music of the common practice periods you mentioned.

 

I wouldn't be so dismissive of Berg, et al. either. They are hard on your poor ears maybe, but that is far from universally true. There is some great stuff composed by the modernists. Maybe it would be better to say you don't like it, rather than state it like a fact, or just not mention it and let the OP make up their own mind. I think it does a disservice to the OP to steer them away from something because you don't like it.

 

Sorry, but I think your dismissal of pre-Bach and the modernists is a bit too closed-minded for someone who is trying to learn and explore new avenues.

Posted on: 26 March 2013 by PureReader
Hi RaceTripper
It depends whether one wants to see the good intentions in something someone is trying to communicate, or if one wants to see possible loopholes, manipulative intentions or whatever. Of course I will accept that my way of expressing what I wanted to convey may not have been ideal. I'll keep that in mind for the future.

"I wouldn't be so dismissive of Berg, "  Well I missed an "IMHO" at the end of that sentence. Luckily I'm not the only one making suggestions, and I expect everybody will make suggestions according to their preferences and the OP will get great diverse suggestions of music from other periods. He will not be doomed to listen only to the music I enjoy. I would argue, though, that someone who is just starting into classical music will probably find it easier to digest Bach and Mozart than Berg.

"They are hard on your poor ears" How do you know my ears are poor? (Whereas I'm not sure what you mean by poor)

You could read the sentence "musicologists will complain...." as "musicologists will rightly complain...." or "pedantic musicologists will be stupid enough to complain...." or anything between. Actually what I meant to communicate, is that there is more to classical music than the four periods I mentioned. But the mentioned ones are probably the most commonly listened to and performed and matched with the OPs wish  "with the above examples in mind". I agree, at least renaissance should or could have been mention at the top. But for someone who humbly says he is a "complete novice" I thought the most simple overview possible would be best. Then I did mention other periods in a compressed way just so the OP is informed that there is more. I'm sorry if they way I expressed myself did not convey this intention.

I think your intuition could have told you that my intentions were not, as you seem to believe, to express that music starts 1600 for me or anybody else. And re-reading my comment, I have no reason to believe the OP would not think anything other than that, and that I was expressing my viewpoint. Maybe I'm wrong. If so I apologise to the OP. But as I said above I"ll try to improve they way I express myself.

"Renaissance and early Baroque. .... It stands up with the music of the common practice periods you mentioned."
Absolutely agree.
Posted on: 26 March 2013 by EJS
Originally Posted by RaceTripper:
Originally Posted by PureReader:
It's worth knowing that there are four basic periods in classical music.

Baroque (1600 - 1760)
     (Bach, Handel, Vivaldi, Telemann, Purcell, Corelli etc.)
Classical period (1730 - 1820)
     (Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven)
Romantic (1810 - 1910)
       (Schumann, Mendelssohn, Chopin, Brahms etc.)
Modern (1900 -)
       (Schoenberg, Berg - wrote "atonal" music, which is rather hard on the ears. Stravinsky, Prokofiev, Shostakovich - wrote so called "neoclassical" music, which easier on the ears and soul!)
(musicologists will complain that I missed out the earlier medieval and renaissance periods and the impressionist period which overlaps with late romantic and early modern. Debussy and Ravel are the most well known impressionist composers.)

There is one composer who was probably the single most influential classical composer of all time.
That's Johann Sebastian Bach of the baroque period.
So he's a must have.

Johann Sebastian Bach
Violin Concertos
(e.g. Violin Concerto in E, BWV 1042   Neville Marriner / Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields / Henryk Szeryng;
or Concerto for 2 violins, strings & continuo in D minor Neville Marriner / Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields / Henryk Szeryng) 

Yes, seriously, if music for you starts at 1600 you are missing out on much great music, especially that from the Renaissance and early Baroque. Josquin, Palestrina, Monteverdi

I think it's rather sad that someone would pigeon-hole the music of earlier periods as something only musicologists care about? There is a lot of great music that came before Bach and to which he owes great debt. If music for you starts at 1600 you are missing out on much that is wonderful, especially that from the Renaissance and early Baroque. Dufay, Josquin, Palestrina, Byrd, Dowland, Monteverdi to name just a few. This is not music for mere academic curiosity. It stands up with the music of the common practice periods you mentioned.

 

I wouldn't be so dismissive of Berg, et al. either. They are hard on your poor ears maybe, but that is far from universally true. There is some great stuff composed by the modernists. Maybe it would be better to say you don't like it, rather than state it like a fact, or just not mention it and let the OP make up their own mind. I think it does a disservice to the OP to steer them away from something because you don't like it.

 

Sorry, but I think your dismissal of pre-Bach and the modernists is a bit too closed-minded for someone who is trying to learn and explore new avenues.

PR didn't dismiss anything did he? Besides, a statement that the second viennese school and offspring sounds hard on the ear is pretty much an objective statement. There is beauty there, but you have to work for it. A composer, I believe Lutoslawski but it could have been Ligeti, once described it "you can admire my music, but it's hard to love my music."

 

EJ

Posted on: 26 March 2013 by Cbr600

Pure reader,

   your few simple paragraphs are a very welcome guide to assist people and attract them into the world of classical. well done

Posted on: 26 March 2013 by AntonD

I am truly grateful to all the advice posted here. The information provided has seriously driven me to investigate further and I am quite excited about the journey ahead.

I feel I know much more than even a few days ago.

i do have 1 complaint though, my bank balance!

i have had to stop myself hitting the "add to basket" so I can concentrate on the music I have/on its way and digest this for a while. Then I will continue the journey.

again, many thanks to all of you.

Anton

Posted on: 26 March 2013 by RaceTripper

Sorry to those that take offense to my response. I based it on what is actually written, and not what was meant/implied and qualified in subsequent posts.

 

I don't think it is useful to establish comfort zones in advance for people who want to dip their toes in the water. Thus, I think including the early and modernist composers equally essential if you are going to survey the whole picture. If you dislike something, then rather don't say anything about it to begin with, but don't create preconceived negative notions about it for someone trying to learn.

Posted on: 29 March 2013 by Olly

+ 1 for pure readers reply.

 

I didn't grow up with classical music in my family home and so my journey into classical music began with a few cheap LP's fairly haphazardly selected when I was at university - Beethoven's Pastoral, Mozart Horn Concerto's were a couple of them I recall.

 

It was with Britannia Music Club (which shut up shop in 2007) that I really grew my collection of classical recordings in the 90's.  

 

My technique was really to try lots of different forms by the big guns - Mozart, Beethoven et al and find out if I had a liking for Piano music, chamber music etc, etc.  And then try other composers in the forms that I enjoyed the most.  I wouldn't argue that it was a very efficient way of doing things and I've got quite a few recordings of things a collection "ought" to include that I don't really enjoy or play that much.  On the other had I've found some much loved pieces by deciding for instance that Boccherini looked as though he might be interesting and taking a punt.

 

The thing I didn't expect but found that I really enjoy is a lot of Baroque and Classical music than is grounded in or inspired by religious faith (I'm not a religious person).

 

So as it's Easter I'd encourage you to take a listen to one of the many fabulous settings of the Stabat Mater - I particularly like this one 

 

or Haydn's Seven Last Words of our Saviour on the Cross which has been recorded variously in orchestral, string quartet and vocal forms.

 

A million miles away from a Mozart Prague symphony but its possible to love them both.

 

Good luck.

 

Olly

 

 

Posted on: 29 March 2013 by Nich

I too have been widening my appreciation of classical music, and I guess because it's Easter baroque downloads (Bach) have been (?still are) on offer from e-classical. I really like the Easter Oratorio, but I was wondering - has it been recorded with English lyrics?? Or is it sacrilege even to ask such a thing?! 

Posted on: 29 March 2013 by brushwoodgreen
Like you I discovered classical music recently.

I saw the film a fictionalised film on Beethoven called Immortal Beloved where I heard the 9th symphony and that was it. Totally hooked.

Start with the most accessible stuff but still intoxicating:

Beethoven Piano Concerto 1-5 start with 5 and work backwards.

Beethoven Symphony 9, 5, 3, 6 and then the others.

Mozart Piano Concertos 2, 9, 15, 20 and others.

This would be a good place. Then you can move on to Chamber, Bach well tempered etc...

YouTube documentaries on Beethoven and Mozart are excellent.

Then follow up with a pilgrimage to Beethoven's flats and Mozart's in Vienna!


.
Posted on: 01 April 2013 by Agricola

As a starting point, but to live with for a lifetime, I suggest obtaining a recording of Bach's Six Brandenburg Concertos. There many  splendid recordings, new and old, but I'll suggest a couple of modern ones.

 

HM Linde [available as a deleted issue on Amazon], and The Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century [currently released] both on the Virgin label.

 

Farmer