Easy listening classical titles for starter?
Posted by: caftan on 21 January 2011
Hi, i am very keen to learn more about classic pieces but not sure where to start. Please recommend. Thanks!
Posted on: 21 January 2011 by mikeeschman
Buy yourself a copy of "All You have to do is Listen" by Rob Kapilow, read it and listen to the musical examples on the web sight.
Posted on: 21 January 2011 by George Fredrik
If there was a working search engine I could send you to many very fine threads about how to start that would absorb you and give twenty perspectives on where and how to start with classical.
In the absense of being able to link to these splendid old posts, because Naim has seen fit to dumb down the forum to look pretty and be functionally useless ...
May I suggest that you look at getting a set of Bach's Brandenburg Concertos - Pinnock on DG Archive is a very fine central recommendation for these - , and perhaps the 21st Piano Concerto, KV 467 in C by Mozart. Geza Anda on DG made a spendid recording for a start. Easy listening for sure, but proves that easy listening can combine with the highest musical art. No dumbing down!
Also consider Haydn's Trumpet Concerto in E flat! If ever there was a compact masterpiece of a concerto this is it! Haakon Hardenburger [Swedish] made one of the best modern recordings of this with a handful of less famous but equally lovely Trumpet concertos on Philips.
None of these are "heavy" but are supreme masterpieces, which are very easy to enjoy from the first listen. And if you love them - and everyone I know has melted in their encounter, even heavy metalistas - you may consider a huge range from Haydn, Bach, Handel, Beethoven Schubert, and Mendelsohnn [for a few very fine examples] of music that is among the best artwork invented by humans, but not "difficult" to enjoy as starter in the field of the classics of music ...
ATB from George
In the absense of being able to link to these splendid old posts, because Naim has seen fit to dumb down the forum to look pretty and be functionally useless ...
May I suggest that you look at getting a set of Bach's Brandenburg Concertos - Pinnock on DG Archive is a very fine central recommendation for these - , and perhaps the 21st Piano Concerto, KV 467 in C by Mozart. Geza Anda on DG made a spendid recording for a start. Easy listening for sure, but proves that easy listening can combine with the highest musical art. No dumbing down!
Also consider Haydn's Trumpet Concerto in E flat! If ever there was a compact masterpiece of a concerto this is it! Haakon Hardenburger [Swedish] made one of the best modern recordings of this with a handful of less famous but equally lovely Trumpet concertos on Philips.
None of these are "heavy" but are supreme masterpieces, which are very easy to enjoy from the first listen. And if you love them - and everyone I know has melted in their encounter, even heavy metalistas - you may consider a huge range from Haydn, Bach, Handel, Beethoven Schubert, and Mendelsohnn [for a few very fine examples] of music that is among the best artwork invented by humans, but not "difficult" to enjoy as starter in the field of the classics of music ...
ATB from George
Posted on: 21 January 2011 by Frank Abela
- Rachmaninov's 2nd piano concerto (Earl Wild's interpretation on Chesky is lovely, or CBS Masterworks Gary Graffman with Leonard Bernstein conducting the New York Phil is fabulous if ropey-ish recording)
- Rimsky Korsakov - Scheherazade (preferably the Living Voice reissue)
- Dvorak - From the New World Symphony (the Decca Kertesz reissue is very fine)
- Saint Saens - Organ Symphony
- Grieg - 1st Piano Concerto
- 'Monteux Conducts Debussy & Ravel' - Decca reissue with beautiful Debussy and Ravel pieces recorded in 1961 and one of my favourites. Reissued by Alto originally, but now by Speakers Corner so I'm not sure if it's available on CD.
- The Power Of The Orchestra - Chesky label, immediately identifiable pieces
All these are very accessible in my view, though I'm sure George, with his finer tastes, will consider them 'pop'. 
Regards,
Frank.
All opinions are my own and do not reflect the opinion of any organisations I work for, except where this is stated explicitly.
Posted on: 21 January 2011 by George Fredrik
Dear Frank,
I love your selection of Rach Two, Schererzade [Beecham on EMI in a dimmer recording is more musically satisfying, IMO, smiley], the New World Symphony, Monteux's Ravel and Debussy, are all top spec recos!
Not quite my favourite spheres, but near my favvourites, and possibly easier for someone who may want a bigger sound in sublime art!
Best wishes to all, the OP, and Frank, and I am noit giving up on the request for a deecent "search engine!" Or satisfactory "quoting facilities!" What the forum looks like beyond a decent Font on a legible background does not matter to me ...
George
I love your selection of Rach Two, Schererzade [Beecham on EMI in a dimmer recording is more musically satisfying, IMO, smiley], the New World Symphony, Monteux's Ravel and Debussy, are all top spec recos!
Not quite my favourite spheres, but near my favvourites, and possibly easier for someone who may want a bigger sound in sublime art!
Best wishes to all, the OP, and Frank, and I am noit giving up on the request for a deecent "search engine!" Or satisfactory "quoting facilities!" What the forum looks like beyond a decent Font on a legible background does not matter to me ...
George
Posted on: 22 January 2011 by Florestan
caftan, I'm glad you have an interest in Classical and want to perhaps see what it is all about. I hope that in your journey down this road you find much that will grab you and intrigue you in your musical journey. I'd also like to encourage you to have much patience. Truthfully, do not expect to get a whole lot of it right off or maybe anything at all. Being overwhelmed and wondering where to start is natural and expected. In time though, I would bet though that you will find something that will grab you and inspire you in a new musical journey.
I wouldn't worry too much right now about particular musicians or recordings; that will come. For now, I would suggest that where to start might depend on your current knowledge and experiences. Classical music is big and broad in scope so for me, it would make sense to try and understand my likes and dislikes and focus then only on what grabs you personally.
I would break down your search based on time periods as well as genres. Time periods might range from 800 years ago to something in the last century. The music of the time largely gives you a feel of the culture, atmosphere, expectations, and limitations of the time in such aspects of art, literature, religion, politics etc. I think it helps to gain knowledge and understanding about the different periods throughout these times (ie Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Impressionistic, 21st century etc).
Then there are the different genres to understand. I always find it not very informative when someone says they like Classical music. It can also be misleading to say you like a certain composer because often the person is simply referring to a limited number of compositions or genres. For myself, I find that I may like only specific genres and the composers who were most prolific in these areas.
Some genres you might want to distinguish and understand the differences about are:
(Note: this can be to complicated to specifically categorize everything so I am really going to generalize and simplify in order to just present some basics).
- large(r) ensembles of players (orchestras etc)
- small(er) ensembles of players mostly known as chamber music (ie. a string quartet, duos, piano trio, quartet, quintet, sextets, etc)
- concertos (larger ensemble with a specific instrument having the spotlight)
- solo (a single instrument like a piano, violin, cello, lute, oboe etc)
- vocal (lieder or choral either large or small ensemble)
- opera, oratorios, cantatas etc.
As a word of encouragement, I'll say again to never give up. You may find that you may not relate to a certain composer or style or genre but keep listening and willing to take chances and experiment. I think once you understand generally what you like there will be no end to the joy you will find.
The other question only you know how to answer is what do you want out of this music and how you want to listen to music. In other words, some people find they strictly listen for pleasure and one recording of the typical popular hit classical is enough. Then, at the other extreme, you can jump in the deep end and get technically immersed in the details. You can analyze the music, the interpretation etc. You'd have to want to do this naturally (the music and your personality will pull you this way and it is a process that starts with nothing and decades later you build up to something.) Playing an instrument can also lead you in a way through some classical music as you will want to learn more about the music for your instrument and what you are also personally playing
As for where to start, I know this can be intimidating and seem hopeless at times. If you do some searches online looking for "how to build a classical music library" or "top 100 classical pieces" or something of the sort you'll get lots of ideas; maybe too many to be worthwhile but it is one way to start. Then, as I said above try to narrow your scope by understanding the different styles of music. Also, keep in mind that the usual top 100 lists are not always the best choices. The Led Zeppelin or Neil Young they play on commercial music is also often what I wouldn't necessary say is there best either. Same is true, for me anyway, of the most popular Bach, Beethoven or Brahms, for example.
If you would elaborate on some classical music that you might already know and enjoy I'd offer some more examples in particular you could look in to?
Happy Hunting'
Doug
I wouldn't worry too much right now about particular musicians or recordings; that will come. For now, I would suggest that where to start might depend on your current knowledge and experiences. Classical music is big and broad in scope so for me, it would make sense to try and understand my likes and dislikes and focus then only on what grabs you personally.
I would break down your search based on time periods as well as genres. Time periods might range from 800 years ago to something in the last century. The music of the time largely gives you a feel of the culture, atmosphere, expectations, and limitations of the time in such aspects of art, literature, religion, politics etc. I think it helps to gain knowledge and understanding about the different periods throughout these times (ie Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Impressionistic, 21st century etc).
Then there are the different genres to understand. I always find it not very informative when someone says they like Classical music. It can also be misleading to say you like a certain composer because often the person is simply referring to a limited number of compositions or genres. For myself, I find that I may like only specific genres and the composers who were most prolific in these areas.
Some genres you might want to distinguish and understand the differences about are:
(Note: this can be to complicated to specifically categorize everything so I am really going to generalize and simplify in order to just present some basics).
- large(r) ensembles of players (orchestras etc)
- small(er) ensembles of players mostly known as chamber music (ie. a string quartet, duos, piano trio, quartet, quintet, sextets, etc)
- concertos (larger ensemble with a specific instrument having the spotlight)
- solo (a single instrument like a piano, violin, cello, lute, oboe etc)
- vocal (lieder or choral either large or small ensemble)
- opera, oratorios, cantatas etc.
As a word of encouragement, I'll say again to never give up. You may find that you may not relate to a certain composer or style or genre but keep listening and willing to take chances and experiment. I think once you understand generally what you like there will be no end to the joy you will find.
The other question only you know how to answer is what do you want out of this music and how you want to listen to music. In other words, some people find they strictly listen for pleasure and one recording of the typical popular hit classical is enough. Then, at the other extreme, you can jump in the deep end and get technically immersed in the details. You can analyze the music, the interpretation etc. You'd have to want to do this naturally (the music and your personality will pull you this way and it is a process that starts with nothing and decades later you build up to something.) Playing an instrument can also lead you in a way through some classical music as you will want to learn more about the music for your instrument and what you are also personally playing
As for where to start, I know this can be intimidating and seem hopeless at times. If you do some searches online looking for "how to build a classical music library" or "top 100 classical pieces" or something of the sort you'll get lots of ideas; maybe too many to be worthwhile but it is one way to start. Then, as I said above try to narrow your scope by understanding the different styles of music. Also, keep in mind that the usual top 100 lists are not always the best choices. The Led Zeppelin or Neil Young they play on commercial music is also often what I wouldn't necessary say is there best either. Same is true, for me anyway, of the most popular Bach, Beethoven or Brahms, for example.
If you would elaborate on some classical music that you might already know and enjoy I'd offer some more examples in particular you could look in to?
Happy Hunting'
Doug
Posted on: 22 January 2011 by caftan
Hey guys, thanks for your time...greatly appreciated!