Getting into classical
Posted by: MangoMonkey on 15 November 2013
Any recommendations on accessible classical music would be appreciated.
Ideally, my two year old should enjoy it too - he's rocking out to baby casparpants cover of the Beatles. He also likes Paul Simon 'a Graceland.
7 cds, $45.
A lot of great music has been written for string instruments. I find these compositions to be very accessible, and sufficiently varied in nature, so as to provide much pleasure indeed.
Look for string quartets by Haydn, string quintets by Mozart, string trios and quartets by Beethoven, string quartets by Schubert, Mendelssohn, Dvorak, Ravel, Debussy, and even Shostakovich and Bartok. Also listen to Schubert's Cello quintet, which in some peoples' minds may be the greatest of all chamber compositions.
Cheers,
BBM
And what about this ?
I don't think of it in a derogatory way at all. 6 CDs as an historical and commented way to learn about classical music (in the common sense), I find the proposition rather interesting.
And what about this ?
I don't think of it in a derogatory way at all. 6 CDs as an historical and commented way to learn about classical music (in the common sense), I find the proposition rather interesting.
To expensive for a 6 CD Box-Set.
$25 for 6 CDs plus the booklet ? You're pulling my leg, Shirley.
No.
This new Decca Sound set contains 54 CD for 127$USD.
The best deal can be had with these new large box sets many record labels are churning out currently.
Here's another.
You can get 50CDs worth of Karajan, Böhm and Rattle fix for very sensible 100$USD.
That's 2$USD/CD.
So you got Decca and major DG releases from the past covered. There are RCA and Columbia box set as well as Mercury.
Form there, you can narrow down to specific conductor/performer box sets.
Boutique approach where cherry picking current minor label releases is going to be more expensive.
Errr...
I understand, from a price ratio point of view. But if I were to start (almost) from scratch, trying to explore a musical genre I'm not certain to fully appreciate -- or even like --, would I choose to spend $100-more and get lost into 50 CDs ? I think not.
I thought we were talking about "getting into", not "drown in". But that's just me, as we know Mango is very keen to try many different things in a very short period of time.
(But thanks for the links anyway kuma, that might be of interest to me.)
The 50 cd set was intimidating indeed. It's like the few times someone gave me their entire mp3 collection. Always ended up deleting all the music - since it was way too much (and had way too much junk to wade through).
If you want youre 2yr old to enjoy as well get hold of a copy of Disney's Fantasia, the original (1940's production). It was one of my son and daughters favorate videos when they we little. A great way to introduce children to classical music and you will enjoy it too. My 2 called it the dinosaure video after their favorate piece.
Paul
He seems to be enjoying Haydn from the Colin Davis CD set. It was a 15 cd set, and not a 7 as I was expecting.
No meta data available for it though...
He seems to be enjoying Haydn from the Colin Davis CD set. It was a 15 cd set, and not a 7 as I was expecting.
No meta data available for it though...
Apparently he had a sobriquet, and it was "Papa Haydn".
The 50 cd set was intimidating indeed. It's like the few times someone gave me their entire mp3 collection. Always ended up deleting all the music - since it was way too much (and had way too much junk to wade through).
Like Baby Bears bed, highly recommended:
http://www.wwnorton.com/colleg...ninglab/welcome2.htm
I've the old Hardcover book (5th Ed?) + 8CD set, a really enjoyable experience, with the second by second, printed word narrative. Yes, this has unabashedly been one part of my music listening experience. I actually picked up the CD set separately from W.W.Norton HQ in NY city as they offered it at a cheaper price and it mattered.
If anywhere, then this forum will have the answer on their fingertips, ne'ertheless I bet most do not know, for instance, the original author of Black Magic Woman. No search engine for 24 please and those who already know are disqualified as is.
From Zawinul/Pastorius et al and Black Market, to Beethoven's 5th and possibly Sun Ra, it's all analysed threadbare for the laylistener.
The possibilities put forth by the www could be really interesting.
MM, another very accessible piece of classical music is Dvorak's "New World Symphony." (His symphony no. 9, which I believe he named "From the New World.") It's got all the classical elements of a full orchestra symphony, plus VERY catchy themes. It's been one my my favorites since college days.
I also highly recommend a few cello concertos -- notably the Boccherini and Haydn concertos. The Boccherini especially is very accessible. There are performances by Jacqueline Du Pre available on Amazon that I like.
OH and my dad has often said that what got HIM interested in classical music was being taken to see Fantasia when first released in 1940. He was 11 or 12 at the time. That's a good dvd to own.
It's like the few times someone gave me their entire mp3 collection. Always ended up deleting all the music - since it was way too much (and had way too much junk to wade through).
Not to mention illegal.