Right, dipping my toes in with my first topic start here.
I'm a complete newby when it comes to classical music, I recognise lots of pieces but can't name them, just like many people I guess.
However, I'm trying to remedy that and I came across this, a solo violin piece and I was blown away by the performance. I've since listened to lots of Hillary Hahn's music and watched her concerts online, she is terrific.
I find it a bit intimidating that there is several hundreds of years of music to catch up on in the classical or "Western Art" music genre, but hey, you have to start somewhere.
The Classical Music Thread
If you're really starting from nowhere with "classical" music - which for the terms of this thread I would guess you really mean "orchestral and chamber music pre 20th century" then some starting points would be the Brandenburg Concertos, the Four Seasons, any Mozart opera (but if you narrowed it down, the Marriage of Figaro, and The Magic Flute), Tristan and Isolde, Carmen, and the Rite of Spring. As a starting point. Work out what you like or dislike from there and the move into expanding your horizons from there. Even then I'm covering 400+ years in an incredibly broad brushstroke, but it gives a starting point to move on. In reality, there's an incredibly broad array of music styles and philosophies, especially post 17th century that it would take a lifetime to fully understand
Saint wrote: Fri Oct 23, 2020 10:05 pm If you're really starting from nowhere with "classical" music - which for the terms of this thread I would guess you really mean "orchestral and chamber music pre 20th century" then some starting points would be the Brandenburg Concertos, the Four Seasons, any Mozart opera (but if you narrowed it down, the Marriage of Figaro, and The Magic Flute), Tristan and Isolde, Carmen, and the Rite of Spring. As a starting point. Work out what you like or dislike from there and the move into expanding your horizons from there. Even then I'm covering 400+ years in an incredibly broad brushstroke, but it gives a starting point to move on. In reality, there's an incredibly broad array of music styles and philosophies, especially post 17th century that it would take a lifetime to fully understand
Yes, that is why I find it intimidating.
I do know and love Stravinsky's Rite of Spring, I know a little of Bach, Mozart and Beethoven, Schubert songs and Chopin preludes. I know the "big famous stuff" like Four season and The Planets
I recently fell in love with Nicola Benedetti's Shostakovich: Violin Concerto No.1, there is a passage in the second movement (is it that?) that tears your heart out
Great thread.
Yeah, think it’s clear that John Williams is a big holst fan.
Listening to Jupiter (the full piece, not just the ‘vow to thee my country’ or ‘’World in union’ bit and I can hear the optimistic boat going out to sea Parts of jaws. Plus I deduct some raiders and superman in Jupiter too.
I’d always recommend Holst’s planet suite as a good start - I just love it.
May favourite piece at the mo, and has been for a couple of years now is Elgar’s cello concerto. Gorgeous piece written about World War I.
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tabascoboy
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A vast amount from which to suggest, one here not so well known maybe, a very quiet and melodic symphony
Okay, here’s a few things
Poulenc Double Piano Concerto. I think it’s magnificent, here’s the first movement. Changes mood so many times, and in particular the feel at around 5:40 is ethereal
Shostakovich Piano Concerto number 2, second movement. To me, this is one of the most beautiful things evert written. Played the violin for this in my youth orchestra when I was a teenager.
3rd part of James MacMillan’s Seven Last Words from the Cross. This means a lot to me as we sung the whole thing with MacMillan conducting it last year as part of his 60th birthday celebrations, it’s one of the performances I’m most proud of (this isn’t us, but our one is on radio 3 every now and again). The whole work is a mix of harsh dissonance interspersed with moments of stunning beauty. MacMillan is the only composer I know of who manages to mix Scottish idioms into classical music as well. It can be a hard listen, but it’s worth it
Now I’ll jump back a few hundred years. When I am laid to rest from Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas. Emma Kirby singing. Gorgeous.
I could do this all night.
Poulenc Double Piano Concerto. I think it’s magnificent, here’s the first movement. Changes mood so many times, and in particular the feel at around 5:40 is ethereal
Shostakovich Piano Concerto number 2, second movement. To me, this is one of the most beautiful things evert written. Played the violin for this in my youth orchestra when I was a teenager.
3rd part of James MacMillan’s Seven Last Words from the Cross. This means a lot to me as we sung the whole thing with MacMillan conducting it last year as part of his 60th birthday celebrations, it’s one of the performances I’m most proud of (this isn’t us, but our one is on radio 3 every now and again). The whole work is a mix of harsh dissonance interspersed with moments of stunning beauty. MacMillan is the only composer I know of who manages to mix Scottish idioms into classical music as well. It can be a hard listen, but it’s worth it
Now I’ll jump back a few hundred years. When I am laid to rest from Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas. Emma Kirby singing. Gorgeous.
I could do this all night.
And are there two g’s in Bugger Off?
Fangle wrote: Sat Oct 24, 2020 7:25 pm For plain lovely music, nothing beats Max Bruch’s violin concertos.
I have been listening to Nicola Benedetti's recording of Bruch's Scottish Fantasy, I love it. It's an easy way in for me as I've been listening to Scottish traditional music my whole life.
I'm going to listen to everything posted on this thread.
Biffer I enjoyed the first vid, I'll go back to the others, likwise the Vaughan Williams tobascoboy.
A few years ago I had a thing where I'd buy anything on vinyl on the Deutsche Grammophon label from charity shops. That is where I came across Rachmaninoff for the first time. I remembered the film about the pianist who obsessed over the 3rd concerto.
There is a set of vids I watch from time to time, a solo piano arrangement on an instrument with extra keys.
Biffer I enjoyed the first vid, I'll go back to the others, likwise the Vaughan Williams tobascoboy.
A few years ago I had a thing where I'd buy anything on vinyl on the Deutsche Grammophon label from charity shops. That is where I came across Rachmaninoff for the first time. I remembered the film about the pianist who obsessed over the 3rd concerto.
There is a set of vids I watch from time to time, a solo piano arrangement on an instrument with extra keys.
Do you still play?Biffer wrote: Sat Oct 24, 2020 8:50 pm Shostakovich Piano Concerto number 2, second movement. To me, this is one of the most beautiful things evert written. Played the violin for this in my youth orchestra when I was a teenager.
I took up the violin ages ago, I've been playing for, oh, a good six or seven weeks now - my mate is a luthier and dealer so he sorted me out with a good fiddle
I've started ABRSM grade one but I really only want to play trad fiddle, which I'm doing in tandem.
The violin is 'kin hard, it's difficult to play in tune, I've been playing guitar for more years than I care to remember, you tune it and that's it, you have a wiggle room measured in centimetres to sound in tune due to the frets.
I don’t, I concentrate on singing now, mainly cos I’m better at that and get to sing with some exceptional musicians and conductors.Tichtheid wrote: Sat Oct 24, 2020 9:25 pmDo you still play?Biffer wrote: Sat Oct 24, 2020 8:50 pm Shostakovich Piano Concerto number 2, second movement. To me, this is one of the most beautiful things evert written. Played the violin for this in my youth orchestra when I was a teenager.
I took up the violin ages ago, I've been playing for, oh, a good six or seven weeks now - my mate is a luthier and dealer so he sorted me out with a good fiddle
I've started ABRSM grade one but I really only want to play trad fiddle, which I'm doing in tandem.
The violin is 'kin hard, it's difficult to play in tune, I've been playing guitar for more years than I care to remember, you tune it and that's it, you have a wiggle room measured in centimetres to sound in tune due to the frets.
And are there two g’s in Bugger Off?
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eldanielfire
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Great thread. I'm not classical expert but I adore some pieces:
In the vein of Epic:
Holst: Jupiter:
More Holst: Mars:
Pachelbel - Canon
Vaughan Williams - Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis
Rachmaninov - Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 2 in C Minor
Rossini - William Tell Overture
Pietro Mascagni - Silvano: Barcarola
In the vein of Epic:
Holst: Jupiter:
More Holst: Mars:
Pachelbel - Canon
Vaughan Williams - Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis
Rachmaninov - Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 2 in C Minor
Rossini - William Tell Overture
Pietro Mascagni - Silvano: Barcarola
Last edited by eldanielfire on Sat Oct 24, 2020 10:53 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Finlandia:
I learned violin at school and double bass, but didn't progress much, due to rugby, hockey, cricket and boozing.
Would love to pick up a violin now and see how much still remained. As both instruments are fretless, the muscle-memory of the positions is crucial.
I learned violin at school and double bass, but didn't progress much, due to rugby, hockey, cricket and boozing.
Would love to pick up a violin now and see how much still remained. As both instruments are fretless, the muscle-memory of the positions is crucial.
In my view there’s nothing wrong with trying a few compilations or playlists to explore what you may or may not like - in fact it’s an excellent way to stumble across stuff you have not heard of so far. Some compilations may sound a tad naff - for instance my first classical audiotape was “Beethoven’s Greatest Hits” but that led to a lifelong love of Ludwig Van B’s music.
I enjoy quite a lot of Italian opera especially Puccini and Verdi - that stems from the “Three Tenors” concert in Rome which I think was linked to the Italia 90 Football WC. I’m sure if modern streaming etc. had existed back then my tastes now would be even wider.
I enjoy quite a lot of Italian opera especially Puccini and Verdi - that stems from the “Three Tenors” concert in Rome which I think was linked to the Italia 90 Football WC. I’m sure if modern streaming etc. had existed back then my tastes now would be even wider.
To try to help a doofus like me begin to understand classical music, I went through these highly enjoyable lectures:
https://www.thegreatcourses.com/courses ... ition.html
https://www.thegreatcourses.com/courses ... ition.html
Just stumbled upon this gem, Marche Slave by Tchaikovsky. Around the 6:00 mark it has a distinct "Imperial March" sound.
Apparently was commissioned during the Serbo-Turkish war (1876-78) to benefit Serbian soldiers who the Russians of course supported.
Apparently was commissioned during the Serbo-Turkish war (1876-78) to benefit Serbian soldiers who the Russians of course supported.
I've watched a few of these masterclasses with Benjamin Zander, along with a few other things over the years, I love this guy, his passion for music as an expression of what it means to be human is just fantastic. The "students" aren't really students in these videos, they are postgraduates who are finding their way as professionals. What a treat to have this kind of tuition when you are at a level where you can adapt and immediately take on board what is being suggested.
Fantastic thread, thanks for starting Tichtheid.
I love opera without knowing anything about it but trying to learn more now. As mentioned above, I’ve been drawn to Verdi and Puccini lately but will lap up anything really.
With the more orchestral side I don’t really know where to start past the famous stuff. I tried starting with Classic FM... but it’s the same thing over and over so this thread is great.
I love opera without knowing anything about it but trying to learn more now. As mentioned above, I’ve been drawn to Verdi and Puccini lately but will lap up anything really.
With the more orchestral side I don’t really know where to start past the famous stuff. I tried starting with Classic FM... but it’s the same thing over and over so this thread is great.
All the money you made will never buy back your soul
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Line6 HXFX
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Anyone can play music already composed by other human beings.
Even 5 year old kids.
Just takes determination, discipline and commitment.
Typists develope this skill.
The really seriously clever bastards improvise and write their own stuff.
Even 5 year old kids.
Just takes determination, discipline and commitment.
Typists develope this skill.
The really seriously clever bastards improvise and write their own stuff.
Bruch’s Scottish Fantasy came up on a random playlist I was listening to. What a lovely piece of music.Tichtheid wrote: Sat Oct 24, 2020 8:59 pmFangle wrote: Sat Oct 24, 2020 7:25 pm For plain lovely music, nothing beats Max Bruch’s violin concertos.
I have been listening to Nicola Benedetti's recording of Bruch's Scottish Fantasy, I love it. It's an easy way in for me as I've been listening to Scottish traditional music my whole life.
I am envious of you. For some reason I’m not keen on opera and I know I’m missing a lot.Saint wrote: Fri Mar 19, 2021 8:58 pm Was working last weekend and just put the Sonos into random from everything on my NAS. Listened to the Marriage of Figaro for over an hour before I realised I wasn't working any more.
I'd forgotten just how easy it is to get lost in Mozart