Naim Audio Forum Archive

Posted on: 01 April 2013 by RaceTripper

Originally Posted 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

I have been listening to the Brandenburgs for decades, and my recent favorite is the one by Masaaki Suzuki and Bach Collegium Japan on BIS (along with the Orchestral Suites). I bought my copy as a 24/44 digital download from eClassical. This is a fantastic performance and very fun to hear. You'll understand the hunting horn lineage of the French Horn after hearing Brandenburg No. 1.

Posted on: 06 April 2013 by AntonD

Hi All

just an update. I now have most of the recommendations above ripped and starting to listen to them. So far all wonderful. I will now stop and digest these a little longer before seeking new purchases but have already made a list of 14 cd's going from above advice amd my own instinct.

My plasma is feeling really lonely as not switched on for days.

currently listening to Brahms Violin Concerto, Itzhak Perlman/Giulini

many thanks for the education trip so far

ATB, Anton

Posted on: 07 April 2013 by VladtheImpala

Originally Posted by AntonD:

Hi All

just an update. I now have most of the recommendations above ripped and starting to listen to them. So far all wonderful. I will now stop and digest these a little longer before seeking new purchases but have already made a list of 14 cd's going from above advice amd my own instinct.

My plasma is feeling really lonely as not switched on for days.

currently listening to Brahms Violin Concerto, Itzhak Perlman/Giulini

many thanks for the education trip so far

ATB, Anton

Enjoy! Please let us know how you get on - what you liked and didn't like.

Regards,

Vlad

Posted on: 07 April 2013 by kuma

Originally Posted by AntonD:

currently listening to Brahms Violin Concerto, Itzhak Perlman/Giulini

AntonD,

How are you getting on with it? I looked for Giulini/Perlman Op.77 today but I found this one instead.

Posted on: 25 April 2013 by AntonD

Originally Posted by kuma:

Originally Posted by AntonD:

currently listening to Brahms Violin Concerto, Itzhak Perlman/Giulini

AntonD,

How are you getting on with it? I looked for Giulini/Perlman Op.77 today but I found this one instead.

Hi kuma

really love this one. I am definitely a Symphony man, Violin concerto's also. Chamber music ok but not my favourite.

ATB, Anton

Posted on: 25 April 2013 by AntonD

Originally Posted by VladtheImpala:

Originally Posted by AntonD:

Hi All

just an update. I now have most of the recommendations above ripped and starting to listen to them. So far all wonderful. I will now stop and digest these a little longer before seeking new purchases but have already made a list of 14 cd's going from above advice amd my own instinct.

My plasma is feeling really lonely as not switched on for days.

currently listening to Brahms Violin Concerto, Itzhak Perlman/Giulini

many thanks for the education trip so far

ATB, Anton

Enjoy! Please let us know how you get on - what you liked and didn't like.

Regards,

Vlad

Hey Vlad

i am preferring the Symphonies, Violin concerto's and also the piano concerto's so far. Chamber ok but not my preference. Maybe need to listen more.

i haven't come across anything I dislike so far so all good thanks to all of you're recommendations.

currently listening to Dvorak Symphonies 7&8, 9 before that. I really like them.

ATB, Anton

Posted on: 25 April 2013 by VladtheImpala

Originally Posted by AntonD:

Originally Posted by VladtheImpala:

Originally Posted by AntonD:

Hi All

just an update. I now have most of the recommendations above ripped and starting to listen to them. So far all wonderful. I will now stop and digest these a little longer before seeking new purchases but have already made a list of 14 cd's going from above advice amd my own instinct.

My plasma is feeling really lonely as not switched on for days.

currently listening to Brahms Violin Concerto, Itzhak Perlman/Giulini

many thanks for the education trip so far

ATB, Anton

Enjoy! Please let us know how you get on - what you liked and didn't like.

Regards,

Vlad

Hey Vlad

i am preferring the Symphonies, Violin concerto's and also the piano concerto's so far. Chamber ok but not my preference. Maybe need to listen more.

i haven't come across anything I dislike so far so all good thanks to all of you're recommendations.

currently listening to Dvorak Symphonies 7&8, 9 before that. I really like them.

ATB, Anton

Hi Anton,

Thanks for the reply. One thing this forum is very good at is emptying your pockets! I've also got a stack of CD's to work through.

I must admit it's probably the other way round with me - I'm liking chamber more than larger scale works. This may have something to do with my longer-term goal of seeing what the fuss is about Wagner's Ring cycle!

Happy Listening,

Vlad

Posted on: 25 April 2013 by EJS

Originally Posted by VladtheImpala:

... This may have something to do with my longer-term goal of seeing what the fuss is about Wagner's Ring cycle!

Happy Listening,

Vlad

A worthy goal...

Posted on: 06 August 2013 by AntonD

Hi Vlad

i have ordered this so will receive in a few days. I listened to an example on utube and really liked it so cannot wait to hear it on my system in clarity.

ill let you know how I get on

Regards, Anton

Originally Posted 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: 06 August 2013 by AntonD

Hi RT

I now have this on order as I listened to an example on UTube. I liked it very much so thank you for the recommendation.

ATB, anton

Originally Posted 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: 06 August 2013 by RaceTripper

Originally Posted by AntonD:

Hi RT

I now have this on order as I listened to an example on UTube. I liked it very much so thank you for the recommendation.

ATB, anton

Nice. The Brahms Requiem sounds really nice on a good system.

I just happened to pick up a vinyl first edition on DGG of Karajan/Berliner's performance of the Requiem from 1964 (bundled with the symphonies and violin concerto). I am hoping to give it a listen in the next couple days.

Posted on: 08 August 2013 by migo

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

What kind of music do you listen to when not listening to classical?

Posted on: 08 August 2013 by AntonD

Hi there

All sorts. Funny because last 2 days total classical. I'm really new to this genre, I would say.

So, currently playing Ray LaMontagne and then I have Tracy Chapman and Diana Kral lined up. N stream makes it so easy to queue album after album

But also anything like Fun Loving Criminals, Chilli Peppers, Antonio Forcione, Electronica, the list continues...

How about you?

ATB, Anton

Originally Posted by migo:

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

What kind of music do you listen to when not listening to classical?

Posted on: 09 August 2013 by YanC

Originally Posted by PureReader:

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!)

?!?

I guess, one could argue that, what starts with Schoenberg, Berg (+ Webern), could be termed "contemporary" music so it's not really classical perhaps except in its instrumentation.

Still, folks like Stockhausen, Scelsi, Cage, Feldman, Wolff, Xenakis, Lachenmann, Nono, amongst many others, have redefined what we consider (classical) music, pretty much in the same way that Klee, Picasso, Miro, or Kandinsky redefined painting.

Since John Cage the field has been wide open.

So, for the OP I would suggest starting from the USA perhaps with 'The Burton workshop plays John Cage' or Feldman's late piano works, that are relatively easy on the ears, and then move eastwards to Europe and Japan.

Posted on: 10 August 2013 by AntonD

Originally Posted by YanC:

Originally Posted by PureReader:

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!)

?!?

I guess, one could argue that, what starts with Schoenberg, Berg (+ Webern), could be termed "contemporary" music so it's not really classical perhaps except in its instrumentation.

Still, folks like Stockhausen, Scelsi, Cage, Feldman, Wolff, Xenakis, Lachenmann, Nono, amongst many others, have redefined what we consider (classical) music, pretty much in the same way that Klee, Picasso, Miro, or Kandinsky redefined painting.

Since John Cage the field has been wide open.

So, for the OP I would suggest starting from the USA perhaps with 'The Burton workshop plays John Cage' or Feldman's late piano works, that are relatively easy on the ears, and then move eastwards to Europe and Japan.

Hi Jan

thanks for contributing here. I find this forum excellent as its people like you who can introduce us to artists we never would think of listening to. I will make an effort to look into your suggestions.

Anton

Posted on: 10 August 2013 by VladtheImpala

Originally Posted by AntonD:

Hi RT

I now have this on order as I listened to an example on UTube. I liked it very much so thank you for the recommendation.

ATB, anton

Originally Posted 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.

Sorry for the delay in replying - I've had no internet for four weeks! Glad to be of service!

I'm awaiting delivery of the Harmonia Mundi CD.

Regards,

Vlad

Posted on: 25 October 2013 by migo

These works are some of the standard works that listens and capture one attention easily.

J.S. Bach, Violin, concertos

Mozart symphony, no 40

Beethoven, 5th symphony

Brahms, 4th symphony

Ravel, Bolero

Stravinsky,Sacre du Printemps

Posted on: 26 October 2013 by woodcook

You have some great suggestions so far, however, I recommend tracking down a copy of the penguin guide to recorded classical music from the mid 1980’s. The later versions of the book I don't think as as good. This will give you a reasonable grounding in which performances (up to then) were highly rated, many of them are still some of the best to be had even today eg Jaqueline du Pre's Elgar cello concerto.

Posted on: 26 October 2013 by Graham Hull

Just work your way through this list of basic repertoire (it will take a while) using Spotify to listen to the pieces before buying any CDs.

http://www.classical.net/music/rep/

Don't get too hung up on performers at this stage, that comes later.

Posted on: 26 October 2013 by RaceTripper

Originally Posted by woodcook:

You have some great suggestions so far, however, I recommend tracking down a copy of the penguin guide to recorded classical music from the mid 1980’s. The later versions of the book I don't think as as good. This will give you a reasonable grounding in which performances (up to then) were highly rated, many of them are still some of the best to be had even today eg Jaqueline du Pre's Elgar cello concerto.

I have a Penguin Guide from the 80s. The problem with them is they only cover titles that were in print at the time they went to press. They often recommend recordings as the best choice when there may be far better performances available now, which were out of print at the time of the guide. This is especially true for vinyl where many recordings (of the 50s/60s etc) have been remastered/reissued or are readily available secondhand. For this reason, I mostly don't go to my copy anymore. It just doesn't have much relevance anymore.

Posted on: 27 October 2013 by Ebor

Originally Posted by woodcook:

You have some great suggestions so far, however, I recommend tracking down a copy of the penguin guide to recorded classical music from the mid 1980’s. The later versions of the book I don't think as as good.

I have a Penguin Guide from the 80s. The problem with them is they only cover titles that were in print at the time they went to press. They often recommend recordings as the best choice when there may be far better performances available now, which were out of print at the time of the guide. This is especially true for vinyl where many recordings (of the 50s/60s etc) have been remastered/reissued or are readily available secondhand. For this reason, I mostly don't go to my copy anymore. It just doesn't have much relevance anymore.

Whilst I would strongly recommend buying a copy of the Penguin Guide, I'm with RaceTripper on this one. I still regularly refer to my 2008 Penguin Guide, and I think having a recent(ish) edition really helps sift the versions - the vintage remastereds from the 80s early digitals right up to the 20-bit and beyond 2000s. With about 100 years of recordings reasonably widely available, finding a guide whose opinion you know you can trust is really important, but choosing a copy which omits some of the really fabulous recordings that have been done in the last 25 years or so would surely be short-sighted.

The only caveat I would have about the Penguin Guide is that they are rather childishly sniffy about the more avant-garde end of 20th century music - their comments on Cage's prepared piano music are patronising and unworthy, and their dismissal of Xenakis's music is simply embarrassing. Apart from that, though, I value their opinion and can't remember it aiming me towards a recording I haven't enjoyed.

Out of interest, does anyone use the Gramophone equivalent guide and prefer it?

Mark

Posted on: 27 October 2013 by peterBj

Brahms 4th Symphony

Moussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition

Edward Grieg Per Gynt Suite

Classical Music Help

Posted by: AntonD on 25 March 2013