Recommend me some classical music

[ViolentPanda]

Messaien, Xanakis for frightening and bewildering yourself

Or Wolfgang Rihm. He's good at "bewildering".

 

[fredfelt]

Try Jacques Loussier and his jazzy interpretation of Bach's stuff. Or Even Bach - you'll already know loads of his stuff

 

[kyser_soze]

jazzy interpretation of Bach's stuff

 

[danny la rouge]

(((((Good taste)))))

btw, anyone who doesn't like Bach is a moran, and should be cut out of your life forthwith.

 

[fredfelt]

That's what I thought until I heard it.

Google Play Bach aux Champs Elysées torrent

 

[Bakunin]

Pachelbel - Canon in D Major.

 

[El Jefe]

Arvo Part, Ligeti, Taverner, Gavin Bryars

 

[Iam]

(((((Good taste)))))

btw, anyone who doesn't like Bach is a moran, and should be cut out of your life forthwith.

 

[danny la rouge]

Is that George Best? Didn't he like Bach?

 

[quimcunx]

Pachelbel - Canon in D Major.

apparently anything good enough to have become popular is too 'vanilla' for this thread.

 

[ohmyliver]

Britten's War Requiem is very good,
Eric Satie is also very good
I'd also recomend Shostacovich...

BUT

It isn't just the composer, its the orchester/conductor that matters as much... I'd go into a big record shop and go for their classical section with a few composer names that you're interested in and listen to the various versions, before buying. Especailly with the more minimal works there can be a huge difference in quality

 

[Brainaddict]

apparently anything good enough to have become popular is too 'vanilla' for this thread.

But I didn't ask what music you like - I asked what music I might like. This thread is all about me

 

[quimcunx]

This thread is all about me

*pats brainaddict on the head*


Yes, dear.

 

[isvicthere?]

Bach and Mozart are my favourites.

 

[bluestreak]

camille saint seans - the carnival of animals and danse macabre.

carl orff - camina buruna (sp?)

a decent version of puccini's turandot.

all glorious.

 

[Iam]

Is that George Best? Didn't he like Bach?

Nah, it's ummm... Kevin Moran.

 

[Dirty Martini]

Chopin Piano Concerto No. 2. Dramatic, romantic and heartstopping.

 

[danny la rouge]

Nah, it's ummm... Kevin Moran.

Ah.

I was making reference to this well-known photo:

 

[Iam]

I knew that. I was making a joke of my usual attrocious standard... Sorry.

 

[turing test]

I like Stravinsky and Mussorgsky (Pictures at an Exhibition).

If you want something a bit modern try Philip Glass.

Bach has some well known organ peices.

 

[gentlegreen]

How about Holt's 'The Planets'?

Surely can't go wrong there.

The Planets sadly gets overdone to death on Classic FM, but it was my "Dark Side of the Moon", before I got diverted elsewhere.

I was almost exclusively into "English" music back then .. if you're into wild places, you may find Bax's "Tintagel", or Britten's "Sea Interludes" to hit the spot ... if you want to go more Impressionistic, I seem to remember the appropriately french Debussy's "La Mer" captivating me more than once - and there's Walton's "Facade" for English quirkiness ... and not to forget Delius,

I find full-on "classical" and "romantic" music a bit too much - like Australian Cabernet Sauvignon ... quite enjoyed a bit of Baroque - some of which probably explains how I took to Orbital later .... which reminds me to add Organ music to the mix ... Messaien brings that up to the present day again ...

 

[Mrs Magpie]

For sheer exuberance and talent you can't beat this orchestra of young people from the slums of Venezuela.
Here they are playing all sorts of classical stuff
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZbJOE9zNjw
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=xlAaiBNCYU4
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=6lz6kfixu8w

I'm also fond of these pieces of music.

Henri Mulet
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=_2bN-l7tbqA

Telemann
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Bw3qf9_XnAQ

Schubert
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=VdhRYMY6IEc

Chopin
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=8hOKcdZJJFU

Charpentier
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=AC8zNWfPoT8

This is mad but wonderful
Conlon Nancarrow
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=jyRCdyNb3Eo

 

[idioteque]

I love Chopin's Nocturnes at the moment, definitely worth a listen, truly beautiful.

 

[TheHoodedClaw]

I have been assured by several people who like classical music that what Classic FM plays is the lowest common denominator stuff, equivalent to the Razorlights of this world, and that much more interesting classical stuff exists. This may not be true, but I live in hope

Classic FM does play a lot of good music though. It's the fucking terrible presenters, adverts and complete inability to play a whole work if it's longer than 10 minutes that ruin it. However, there's a lot to be said for popular compilations if you are trying to figure out what you might like - there was a huge torrent floating around a few years ago (and it likely still will be) of a series of releases called "In classical mood". It's a Readers Digest or Time-Life or something set of 40 CDs that covers a lot of bases - a good way to figure out what is worth exploring further.

Radio 3 can be quite intimidating - I found it so certainly, but listening to "Through the night" is a good way in. It's all on listen again, and the website has all the details of past and upcoming broadcasts

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006tmq9

 

[AverageJoe]

Listen to some Rossini - you'll hear it and go "Oh I know this one!". he did William tell, Thieving Magpie and Barber of Seville (Figaroooooooooooo!!!.

William Tell - http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=5D5SDGjRidY&feature=related (the big you'll know is at 2.30, so stick it out)

Barber of Seville - http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=1dyiEwkT19s

Thieving Magpie - http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=A8pN5jTyO4E&feature=related (again, the really well known bit is at 2.40 onwards)

You might also like Fingals Cave by Mendhelsson.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=a3MiETaBSnc

 

[Fictionist]

The solution is very simple. Buy or download some 'Best Of' type collections as this will allow you to listen to a reasonably broad range of composers - and wherever possible try and access compilations which have been put together by major labels.

Listen to them and it will soon become clear what you like and what you don't like - and from there you can progress to explore the works of composers who really excite and interest you emotionally.

Rely on your own judgement, go with whatever 'works' for you, and welcome to a world of music that will engage and touch you in ways you can't possibly imagine.

 

[Johnny Canuck3]

I'm always thinking I should give it more of a go because I sometimes hear something I like but don't know what it is. But the radio plays shit classical and I don't have any classical-listening friends whose recommendations I trust.

So, before you recommend anything I feel I should give you some background: I've mostly listened to non-chart indie with some pop indie, and also like a bit of drum'n'bass. I know I don't like lots of classical music because it falls into one of the following categories: twee, pretty, overtly religious, melodramatic, bombastic, or overly intellectual/tuneless.

Hopefully that still leaves some I could like. Any suggestions?

I'd suggest you start with Dvorak's New World Symphony, and maybe The Moldau, by Smetana. Once that gets you juiced up, maybe go for Sacre du Printemps, by Stravinsky.

 

[gentlegreen]

Live365 has quite a few "classical" stations - well anything from early Norman polyphony to dubstep in fact - type a composer's name in the search box ... it's cost me a fortune in CDs over the years.

 

[Cloo]

I recommend Shostakovich. I think he may have a reputation for being challenging, but I think a lot of his music is very accessible - it's tremendously exciting and powerful. It can seem bombastic, but it's never gratuitously so, and the bombast is often part of a political comment in the music.

I'd also suggest hearing live - sadly, just missed the proms, but there are plenty of good concerts all year round at the Barbican and South Bank, or the Wigmore Hall for chamber music (smaller ensembles). Chamber music can be a way in if you don't want things that seem melodramatic - it's quite intense, so you may have to be quite into it, but watching and listening to a string quartet play together is always a fascinating experience musically and psychologically, IMHO.

 

[EastEnder]

Mozart's Requiem - go and hear it live in somewhere with a bit of atmosphere.

I think you're a couple of hundred years too late to see Mozart live....