How to get started listening to classical

[Buckeye]

Big music fan here but have never listened to much classical.

Give me your suggestions for a Classical All Time Top Ten cds that would serve as a good all around intro to classical music listening.

Thanks.

 

[stonetoflesh]

I don't know if a "top ten CDs" would really be an appropriate list, since a single piece may be represented by 50 CDs by 50 performers. You may want to start by hitting a used CD store and finding some classical music compilations-- piano music, string quartets, orchestras, etc.-- and then looking for more material by composers whose tunes you dug on the compilations. NPR stations tend to have a lot of classical music with few commercials, so you could even just pop in a 90-minute tape and record a bunch of stuff that way. If you have a record player, you can get classical LPs for dirt cheap at thrift stores.
Any way you go about it, try to start broad and gradually narrow your focus....

 

[romaneagle13]

The Hooked on Classics CD's are great intros. They have a rock beat in the background blended with bits and pieces of classical themes from various pieces all mixed, for example a line from a Mozart opera aria may be followed by a theme from a Rachmaninov piano concerto which segues into the Ride of the Valkyries. It gives you a little beat and tiny part of certain classical compositions to get you hooked. Then you can go with something you like and check out the whole piece.

The "Mad about ___" collection by Sony is also good. They have discs that are usually dedicated to a specific composer, instrument or theme, like "Mad about Mozart", "Mad about Sopranos", "Mad about piano", "Mad about the Classics", etc. These discs usually feature famous pieces performed by well-known respected artists. I recommend them as a good starting ground. Amazon.com had a bunch of them for about $8 a piece, and can sometimes find them in stores even cheaper. Check out libraries too. There you can get stuff that you don't have to pay for--especially good if you get something you don't like.

 

[Mystman]

I started by listening to famous pieces of music: Beethoven's 5th/9th, Vivaldi's Four Seasons, Mozart's Requiem...

Once that's done, the internet is always helpful in finding pieces that sound like the thing you like.

 

[stonetoflesh]

They have a rock beat in the background blended with bits and pieces of classical themes from various pieces all mixed, for example a line from a Mozart opera aria may be followed by a theme from a Rachmaninov piano concerto which segues into the Ride of the Valkyries.

 

[Dewi Sant]

www.classicfm.com

This is a great all classical radio station that I listen to.
They play a large amount of music and variety.
And although they are England based their website enables them to broadcast all over the world and we do get a lot of requests from the States.

 

[pureredwhiteblu]

www.beethoven.com

It's a 24 hour classical internet station similiar to NPR but without the Politics

But, don't let the title mislead you, it not all Beethoven.

 

[Lake]

ahh yes^ try this one.Beethoven.com
you can also try the classical music on your Tv if you get direct full range.non stop classics with no DJ present.
Otherwise go buy some Beethoven on Cd or the Magic Flute by Mozart.Keep posting here and welcome. There's a game also for you to play that will help ya and it can be found @ Quaint Interactive.

 

[WhirlwindMonk]

I'm with you.

anyway...

I'd say just look around. There are the really famous (beethoven's 5th, ie), but anyone who exists in modern culture has heard those a thousand times. I'd say go for something a little less famous. One that I kind of like is Ein Heldenleben. I also enjoy a lot of the trumpet concertos that Wynton Marsalis has performed. Listening to classical music stations can help you find some stuff you like, and maybe pick up a cd of that composer.

 

[symphonyb]

catch the pbs classical music specials for some insight,see what you like.

 

[HawaiianTropicalDude]

Personally,I think it starts in childhood,it's a learning experience and to begin an appreciation in your 40's will take you time to understand and get the feel for it.There's so many different aspects of classical I can't give you one composer or one piece of work-That's narrowing it down.I've grown up on classics,trained in flute and musical education.I would like to ask you why the interest now,and what other music you listen to? have you thought about taking up violin or piano? Sometimes that spurs attention in classical and that would be awesome if you are.

 

[heidegger]

If you don't play any instrument, but wants easy listening ones to begin with, you can try getting some baroques. Especially Pachelbel's Canon in D.

 

[openup4christ]

I got started by going to bethovens 9th symphony... I was hook

 

[jochanaan]

I got started by going to bethovens 9th symphony... I was hook

That's a great place to start! But where do you go from there?

The pieces that hooked me were J.S. Bach's Brandenburg Concertos.

 

[agyevesam]

I suggest going to a Barnes & Noble or Border's and listen to different stuff, you'll find something you like!!

 

[purekat]

Bond...it's classical with a pop twist.

 

[Dikki]

For myself, I found it hard to begin with classical music. I think I understand the difficulties you find on your way. If you're not playing an instrument yourself, it can be hard to appreciate some of the more intricate parts of music.

As for myself, I used to go to the library to get classical albums. Of course I taped them (you know, with tape, not with cd) and kept on listening to it. I would like to tell you it came to me quick, but it didn't: it took years and years of finding out. A few hints though:

1. Go to a good record shop and ask for advice. Ask if you can listen and buy what you like or think will like.

2. Ask friends for advice. There are a lot of people out there that know good music. How did you find out about all that other music you lsiten to?

3. If you found something good, ask yourself why: did you admire the work, the instruments it is played on, or the musician? The answer should point you in the next direction.

4. Find obvious works on samplers.

5. If you're more experienced, be careful to select good performances. Usually it is better to have a good performed but not so interesting work than a bad performance of a well known work. Classical music is about performers, less about the composers and works.

6. Finally: be patient. Like all good things: it takes time and discipline.

Something like that.

 

[Borealis]

Big music fan here but have never listened to much classical.

Give me your suggestions for a Classical All Time Top Ten cds that would serve as a good all around intro to classical music listening.

Thanks.

I'm coming in late, obviously, but here's my suggested list. I'm just listing composers and pieces, not albums, since there are gazillions of options. For inexpensive, though, I recommend you check out the Naxos label; the quality is good and you can't really beat the prices.

Mozart's Eine Kleine Nachtmusik. Everyone knows this one; unless you've lived in solitary confinement your entire life, you've heard parts of this. Now listen to the whole thing.

Beethoven's 3rd Symphony. Most people would say the 9th, but it's pretty heavy for a beginner. The 3rd is quite powerful but not nearly as lengthy; you'll usually find it on a disc with one other symphony.

Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique. The precursor to the modern mantra of 'sex, drugs and rock & roll,' Berlioz wrote this while hopped up on opium for a good chunk of it. Powerful yet disturbing at times, it runs an emotional gamut.

Bach's Brandenburg Concertos. This would be a two-CD choice, since he wrote six of them; 3 to a CD. He wrote these as a gift for a nobleman whom he hoped would sponsor him; the story goes that the Count of Brandenburg didn't even read through them, much less have them performed. What a knob.

Chopin's Waltzes. Being a pianist myself, I have to include some of this genius' work. Most of Chopin's music is short, but you can find discs of his waltzes easily enough.

Holst's The Planets. I'm not much for 20th century classical music, but this is a terrific work. Very emotional and evocative.

Prokofiev's Peter & the Wolf. Yes, it's a kid's story, but it's a great introduction to the world of classical music. All the characters are represented by different instruments. If you're feeling twisted, try to find a copy of 'Weird Al' Yankovic's version.

Wagner's Die Walkure. I have to include an opera here. And while it's part two of a four-opera set, but I chose this one for its familiarity to anyone who grew up watching Saturday morning cartoons. 'Kill da Wabbit.' 'Nuff said.

Handel's Messiah. An oratorio (opera without stage movements) with the added bonus of being in English. And everyone is familiar with the Hallelujah Chorus.

Orff's Carmina Burana. Better known to us today as the music from the movie 'Excalibur,' there's some powerful stuff in here.

 

[triplejay]

Great list, Borealis!

Classical lover here! Some of the first classical music I listened to that got me "hooked" were:

Pachelbel's "Canon" in D major
Mozart Symphony #41 "Jupiter"
Handel's "Water Music and Music for the Royal Fireworks"
Handel's "Messiah"

And they're still my all-time favorites!

I think someone mentioned that people probably know more classical music than they think because of all the ways it is used as background music.

I've got to get the CD set of Bach's Brandenburg Concertos. Not sure I've heard all of them!

tj

 

[Dikki]

To name a few:

1st cello suite, Bach.

5th piano concerto, Beethoven.

Norma, Bellini (Italian opera. I like Wagner, but I think he's a little difficult to begin with).


Elegiac piano trios, Rachmaninoff.

The lark ascending, Vaughan Williams.

Concerto for violin, Tchaikovsky.

3rd part of the 9th symphny, Dvorak.

(I think) 3rd part of the 3rd symphony, Saint Saëns (Organ Symphony).

Concerto d'Aranjuez, Rodrigo (concert for guitar).


Parts of Peer Gynt, Grieg.

Enigma Variations, Elgar.

Difficult but can be rewarding: Verklärte Nacht, Schönberg.

Requiem, Fauré.

Stringquartett in D major "Der Tod und das Mädchen", Schubert.

Requiem, Mozart.

Pictures at an Exhibition, Mussorgsky.