NationStates Jolt Archive

okay, so I've been kinda addicted to classical music as of late. I know there are many "cultured" people stalking around there forums, and it has been a while since this topic has come up. So what is your favorite classical music? We are going with the wider definition of "classical", meaning baroque, classical, romantic, 20th century, and contemporary symphonic.

Personally, Beethoven is by far my favorite. Esp. the 5th symphony.

Other favorites include Holst - Mars/Jupiter, and Gorecki's 3rd symphony, esp. movement 2. Few songs move me to tears, but this movement always does.
brandenburg concertos are amazing, as is Stravinsky's The Firebird.

So what are your favorite classical pieces?
Basically, discuss anything and everything "classical"

Led Zeppelin!!!

Oh, wait...

Beethoven has been a favorite for a while, you know how you're into a guy for so long that you kind of forget how cool they are? That.

I like contemporary works a great deal. Pretty much the bulk of what I listen to. And most of that is through the Kronos Quartet. Just about anything they do is cool, but my favorite is Night Prayers.

I like Steve Reich so much I stole from him for my final composition in composition class, I did loops. The bari sax had a two bar repeated phrase, the tenor a three, the third alto four, second alto five, first six so that the music would line up differently as the instruments moved through their repeated phrases, which created a unique modulation. I got an A on the project, so that was cool.

Z Parkins is the last contemporary composer I've been listening to. I've been kind of neglecting that part of my like because the music is too subtle to listen to while driving and that's where I'm doing most of my listening these days. When I get something portable to listen to music again I'll probably go back.

Bach Cello Suites. Hindemith Viola Concertos. Brahms; any and all.

I despise most modern stuff (Stravinski is dull, Serialists are obnoxious, and the Post-Modern unmusic of today is pretentious and unmelodic), but Hansen 2 (Romantic) is great, in a move music-like sense.

Bach Cello Suites. Hindemith Viola Concertos. Brahms; any and all.

I despise most modern stuff (Stravinski is dull, Serialists are obnoxious, and the Post-Modern unmusic of today is pretentious and unmelodic), but Hansen 2 (Romantic) is great, in a move music-like sense.

Ah crap, the Bach Cello Suites. Just Bach in general but that particularly kicks ass. The last bit I'm going to respectfully disagree (here, in person I'm calling you crazy among other things...)

My fave era used to be Baroque...until I was shown the miracle of Beethoven. He has converted me, and now I'm a classical and romantic lover. As far as my favourite composers go, they are:
1: Ludwig van Beethoven
2: Josef Haydn
3: Johann Sebastian Bach
4: Tchaikovsky (can't remember his first name lol)
5: Karl Jenkins (modern composer who wrote Palladio...which was used as the music in De Beers ad)
6: Howard Shore (Lord of the Rings music still makes me weep)
7: Klaus Badelt (Pirates of the Carribean music)
8: Samuel Barber (Adagio for strings... need i say more?)
9: Veracini
10: Saint-Saens
---------
About 30: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Why so low? Mozart's music just doesn't do much for me...sure I like his 40th Symphony, but his music is not dramatic enough for me to put him in the top 25. Mozart never did anything like Beethoven, where he'd defy the public and write stuff that was considered extreme and awful, but today is considered beautiful. Mozart wrote for the masses.

I have not heard Gorecki's 3rd Symphony...I must have a listen. (Well i probably have but don't remember the name.)

Beethoven has been a favorite for a while, you know how you're into a guy for so long that you kind of forget how cool they are? That.Yeah, thats me. Actually, my parents just came in to yell at me because I have Beethoven's 5th, mvt 2 blasting "too loud", as if there was such a thing

Bach Cello Suites. Hindemith Viola Concertos. Brahms; any and all.

I despise most modern stuff (Stravinski is dull, Serialists are obnoxious, and the Post-Modern unmusic of today is pretentious and unmelodic), but Hansen 2 (Romantic) is great, in a move music-like sense.hmm...Stravinsky, dull? You leave me puzzled here. Personally, I adore the firebird, and Rite of Spring is quite wonderful.
Much of modern music, I have to agree with you. I enjoy some, but hardly a favorite. What I do enjoy about it is it is so different that it gives future composers that much more to work with. For example, there is a sharp return to being melodic, but they have the new system that Schoenburg developed that they can play with. It will ultimatly lead to much more intense music.

I have not heard Gorecki's 3rd Symphony...I must have a listen. (Well i probably have but don't remember the name.)

from what I've heard from others, Gorecki isn't widely known...this might just be the people I've talked to, but he might really just be an unknown guy.
Górecki's most popular piece is his Third Symphony, subtitled Symphony of Sorrowful Songs (Symfonia pieśni żałosnych). Slow and contemplative, the three movements are composed for orchestra and solo soprano. The words of the first movement are from a 15th century lament; the words of the second from a teenage girl, Helena Błażusiak, written on the wall of a Gestapo prison cell in Zakopane to invoke the protections of the Virgin Mary; the third movement is a folk song.

Oh...well call me sexist or whatever...but i'm not much into sopranos...they just seem to annoy me, but Basses, Tenors and Altos... (mainly basses) are cool. lol

Ah crap, the Bach Cello Suites. Just Bach in general but that particularly kicks ass. The last bit I'm going to respectfully disagree (here, in person I'm calling you crazy among other things...)

Oh, I am. I'm a Classisist in a Modernist world.

I've never really made a connection with Modern music. Most of the early modernist stuff I just can't find beauty in. The most recent stuff... Just annoys me. I can't find music in it at all.

I had what for many musicians would be a wonderful experience. I got to see the Seattle Chamber Players live. I couldn't find a thing inspiring about the music they played. The musicians were skilled, but the music just hurt my head.

And I normally listen to early Hardcore Punk to round things out. I should have nothing to complain about! :p

I love the first movement of the Second cello suite. It's one of my favorite peices.

Beethoven's 9th

But in the immortal words of The Lovin' Spoonfull

"The doctor said give him jug band music, it seems to make him feel just fine"

My three favourite composers, in no particular order, are....

Dmitri Shostakovich - the man who wrote the soundtrack to the great totalitarian tragedies of the 20th century.

Sergei Taneyev - late 19th century - early 20th century Russian (student of Tchaikovsky, teacher of Scriabin and Rachmaninov) who was an anachronistic master of counterpoint.

J.S. Bach - Because he's Bach, dammit.

From which you may infer that

A) I like complicated tortured Russians (Shostakovich and Taneyev)

B) I like counterpoint (Bach and Taneyev)

C) I might well be particularly fond of complicated tortured Russians who were obsessed with counterpoint

My three favourite composers, in no particular order, are....

Dmitri Shostakovich - the man who wrote the soundtrack to the great totalitarian tragedies of the 20th century.

Sergei Taneyev - late 19th century - early 20th century Russian (student of Tchaikovsky, teacher of Scriabin and Rachmaninov) who was an anachronistic master of counterpoint.

J.S. Bach - Because he's Bach, dammit.

From which you may infer that

A) I like complicated tortured Russians (Shostakovich and Taneyev)

B) I like counterpoint (Bach and Taneyev)

C) I might well be particularly fond of complicated tortured Russians who were obsessed with counterpoint
Just a guess, but you're good at math, aren't you?

anyway, if you like Shostakovich, I suggest reading Europe Central by William T Vollmann. He wrote that book based off of many pieces by Shostakovich.

Mozart's eine kleine nachtmusik

Music just for the sake of music at a time when music was commissioned by churches and royalty. Need I say more?

Oh, I am. I'm a Classisist in a Modernist world.

I've never really made a connection with Modern music. Most of the early modernist stuff I just can't find beauty in. The most recent stuff... Just annoys me. I can't find music in it at all.

I had what for many musicians would be a wonderful experience. I got to see the Seattle Chamber Players live. I couldn't find a thing inspiring about the music they played. The musicians were skilled, but the music just hurt my head.

And I normally listen to early Hardcore Punk to round things out. I should have nothing to complain about! :p

I love the first movement of the Second cello suite. It's one of my favorite peices.
I love that grind, that dissonance, that push. I like considered music outside the tempered scale. But I don't listen to punk music, so I gotta get it somewhere...

Beethoven's 9th


Best ride in the park.

I love that grind, that dissonance, that push. I like considered music outside the tempered scale. But I don't listen to punk music, so I gotta get it somewhere...

Thats me. If for no other reason, I like it because it is new and different. And "unpretty" and be beautiful in its own right.

Actually, Schoenburg was introduced to me by a teacher saying "If your parents complain about your music, just play this"

Thats me. If for no other reason, I like it because it is new and different. And "unpretty" and be beautiful in its own right.

Actually, Schoenburg was introduced to me by a teacher saying "If your parents complain about your music, just play this"

I always play Dark Angel Suite performed by Kronos Quartet. To some people it's like 3 minutes of fingers on a chalkboard. I love it.

Just a guess, but you're good at math, aren't you?

anyway, if you like Shostakovich, I suggest reading Europe Central by William T Vollmann. He wrote that book based off of many pieces by Shostakovich.

Alas, no. Not really. I play around with percentages and averages a lot in my RL job (I'm an archaeologist), but beyond that I can't claim I'm particularly good at or interested in math.

And to reduce Bach's and Taneyev's use of counterpoint to a merely mathematical equation (which I'm not for a second suggesting you were intending to) does rather miss the humanity and emotion of both composers' work.

Interestingly enough, my wife - who is Russian - usually can't stand listening to Shostakovich (jazz suites excepted). It's not that she doesn't acknowledge him as a great composer, just that she thinks he's too good at what he does. I have to listen to the 8th and 10th symphonies (my favourites) when she's out.

I always play Dark Angel Suite performed by Kronos Quartet. To some people it's like 3 minutes of fingers on a chalkboard. I love it.

I'll need to get some Kronos Quartet. I've heard great and aweful things about them...that usually means I'll love it.

iirc, there is a piece where a man walks out to a piano, and doesn't play a single note for however long the piece is. If I paid to see it live, I would be pissed, but as far as performance art and classical art go, it is brilliant.

I'd say my favorite song of classical music is Winter by Vivaldi; all three movements are great.

Alas, no. Not really. I play around with percentages and averages a lot in my RL job (I'm an archaeologist), but beyond that I can't claim I'm particularly good at or interested in math.

And to reduce Bach's and Taneyev's use of counterpoint to a merely mathematical equation (which I'm not for a second suggesting you were intending to) does rather miss the humanity and emotion of both composers' work.haha...my main reason for asking is that every math-minded person I've met adores Bach and Baroque in general.

Interestingly enough, my wife - who is Russian - usually can't stand listening to Shostakovich (jazz suites excepted). It's not that she doesn't acknowledge him as a great composer, just that she thinks he's too good at what he does. I have to listen to the 8th and 10th symphonies (my favourites) when she's out.wonderful symphonies, and I really suggest Europe Central...I think you'd like it as much as I did. It is kinda like taking his symphonies and putting them into writing.

Ahh knew i'd forgotten someone in my top 10 list...Vivaldi...swap him for Vercini

I'll need to get some Kronos Quartet. I've heard great and aweful things about them...that usually means I'll love it.

iirc, there is a piece where a man walks out to a piano, and doesn't play a single note for however long the piece is. If I paid to see it live, I would be pissed, but as far as performance art and classical art go, it is brilliant.
That's 4'33" by John Cage.

The idea is that for that period of time the anticipation of music is music. If audience and performer agree that during a certain period a performance will happen, in this case, four minutes and thirty three seconds, then whatever happens in that time period is the performance. The shuffle of seats, the creak of the building, the changing of the pianists hands, the rustle of the page turner (there is a page turner).

When people get pissed about that piece they don't take into account that it really is only something you can do once. Once you've made that point you have to move on. Now and then someone 'performs it,' of even more ridiculously records it (swear to god, I have a 'recording' of Frank Zappa doing it...fucking ridiculous), but that sort of misses the point.

That's 4'33" by John Cage.

The idea is that for that period of time the anticipation of music is music. If audience and performer agree that during a certain period a performance will happen, in this case, four minutes and thirty three seconds, then whatever happens in that time period is the performance. The shuffle of seats, the creak of the building, the changing of the pianists hands, the rustle of the page turner (there is a page turner).

When people get pissed about that piece they don't take into account that it really is only something you can do once. Once you've made that point you have to move on. Now and then someone 'performs it,' of even more ridiculously records it (swear to god, I have a 'recording' of Frank Zappa doing it...fucking ridiculous), but that sort of misses the point.
*ahem* CToaN, this might be awkward, but I love you.

I've been trying to figure out what that piece was for a week or so now. I saw a video of it a while ago, and it was great. However, had I paid $70 to see a concert, I would be angry to just have silence.

I'm also of a school of thought that says more music happens in the pauses and rests than in the notes.

I also love a lot of the Trans Siberian Orchestra's (http://www.trans-siberian.com/multimedia/index.shtml) electric takes on classic pieces. If you havent listened to them give a listen, you might enjoy it too.

Mad Russian (http://wm.wmg.com/epromo/site-label/lava-label/trans-siberian-orchestra/christmas-eve-and-other-stories-bonus-track/madrussiansxmas-wma-full.wma)

Wizards in Winter (http://wm.atlrec.com/tso/thelostchristmaseve/wizardsinwinter-wma-full.wma)

Wish Lizst (http://wm.atlrec.com/tso/thelostchristmaseve/wishtliszt-wma-full.wma)

Beethoven 5th requiem (http://mfile.akamai.com/9139/rm/stream.wmg.com/atlrec/Trans-Siberian_Orchestra/beethoven/requiem-rm-30.rm)

Forgot a couple...

Hoffmeister's Viola Suite

And Rebecca Clarke's Morpheus

Wonderful Viola solos (which, of course, the world needs more of). :)

*ahem* CToaN, this might be awkward, but I love you.

I've been trying to figure out what that piece was for a week or so now. I saw a video of it a while ago, and it was great. However, had I paid $70 to see a concert, I would be angry to just have silence.

I'm also of a school of thought that says more music happens in the pauses and rests than in the notes.

Ours is a forbidden love.

When I first attempted a music degree it was at a school that was very focused on contemporary music and I, at the time, was like KSP. But over time I began to understand what was going on and now I can't get enough. Which would be great, except after I got my AA I switched majors...ah well...

My two absolute favourite pieces are "Night on Bald Mountain" and "Pictures at an Exhibition" by Modest Mussorgsky.

I'm also very partial to Tchaikovsky, Chopin, Mozart, Beethoven, Bach and Verdi.

Ours is a forbidden love.

That's the best kind.*nods*
My two absolute favourite pieces are "Night on Bald Mountain" and "Pictures at an Exhibition" by Modest Mussorgsky.

I'm also very partial to Tchaikovsky, Chopin, Mozart, Beethoven, Bach and Verdi.

you had me with Mussorgsky. Chopin just tops it all off.

Was it Chopin that woud improvise on themes given to him by his audience, or was that someone else?

Was it Chopin that woud improvise on themes given to him by his audience, or was that someone else?

I've never heard that, and now I must know...

I've never heard that, and now I must know...

A bit of research suggests that he did improvise, but there's no information on him taking themes from audiences.

That's the best kind.*nods*


you had me with Mussorgsky. Chopin just tops it all off.

I have to admit I have a weakness for Russian composers, I'm just now listening to the Firebird by Stravinsky. Beautiful.

A bit of research suggests that he did improvise, but there's no information on him taking themes from audiences.

The improvising I knew, the other I hadn't heard of. Kind of sounds like a Mozart thing, but I don't like Mozart so I don't know a lot of details.

And yes, Mozart was a genius. Sometimes that can be a bad thing is all.

The improvising I knew, the other I hadn't heard of. Kind of sounds like a Mozart thing, but I don't like Mozart so I don't know a lot of details.

And yes, Mozart was a genius. Sometimes that can be a bad thing is all.

He can be rather... Bland.

It's not so much that his music itself was the problem, but that all of our common referance on the music that came after him depends on him.

And his choral music was amazing. The viola parts in his quartets resemble begining etudes, but the Requiem is enough for me to forgive him his tresspasses. ;)

i want to get listening to some Wagner :)
currently i occasionally give Bach a listen

i want to get listening to some Wagner :)
currently i occasionally give Bach a listen

May I also suggest Mahler and Richard Strauss? Once you get really into all three try looking at thier music as a conversation between the three of them. It will make you a total bore at parties, but it's pretty cool.

May I also suggest Mahler and Richard Strauss? Once you get really into all three try looking at thier music as a conversation between the three of them. It will make you a total bore at parties, but it's pretty cool.

lol, suggestions noted :) (and thanks)
i want to listen to more the 'darker' (or in rock terms, 'heavier') side of classical music. the nicey-nicey bits of say mozart bore me :(

He can be rather... Bland.

It's not so much that his music itself was the problem, but that all of our common referance on the music that came after him depends on him.

And his choral music was amazing. The viola parts in his quartets resemble begining etudes, but the Requiem is enough for me to forgive him his tresspasses. ;)

It's the Requiem that makes me frustrated with him. It is beautiful, and shows that he can write something incredible when he cares. But otherwise he has a virtuisos command of the sensibilities of music to the point where it's almost as if a mathmatician was a composer. He was more of a proof of concept than anything else. 'Yep, all these rules work.'

That he could produce something like the Requim when he cared make everything else frustrating.

As a cellist, my heart will always be with the six Bach suits, especially numbers two and six, the former being the "purest human expression of loss" (Matt Heimowitz's words), the latter being a bit like sunshine combined with ecstacy, but also with Z. Kodaly's solo sonata from his opus no.8. It's fairly obscure outside the realm of the professional solo celloist, but it's truly beautiful and elegant, the third movement in particular being the sort of music that absolutely chills my soul.

The latter half of the 19th century saw another favorite, Gustav Mahler, whose first symphony I will always call his best (and somehow, his last symphony, his worst?). Stravinsky, I think, will go down in history as the person who saved classical music, and the person most responsible for the conceptual integration of music into the Modernist tradition, particularly as seen in his two seminal works, the Rite of Spring, and the Firebird.

Schoenberg, while certainly an intellectual curiosity, has never, ever been a listening favorite of mine.

Older stuff, Beethoven of course, the fifth, the sixth, and the ninth being favorite symphonies. His string quartets, though, I feel are sorely underappreciated and underdistributed, and anyone who is interested should certainly invest in the Emerson Quartet's recordings of the late Beethoven quartets, if not all of them. Beethoven's late quartets are something of a musical anomaly in that their style is brilliantly complex in ways completely unique throughout the whole body of Beethoven's work.

A more contemporary composer, Elliot Carter, I believe shows great promise. I had the pleasure of hearing the Boston Symphony Orchestra play a violin/piano concerto of his (though I can't for the life of me remember the names of the soloists) and it was truly moving and very chilling.

Benjamin Britten is another fantastic 20th-century composer, whose solo cello music is brilliant and, better yet, not derivative of Kodaly's work, unlike the works of certain other cello music composers.

The Four Seasons, of course. Offra Harnoy's recording of the Dvorak cello concerto, also great.

Contemporary popular groups like Apocalyptica and the Kronos Quartet, I believe, are owed an enormous debt of gratitude for the work they have done in recreating interest in four-string music, the Kronos group in particular because they so seamlessly and frequently switch between the accessible and the avant garde. I'm sure their name has come up frequently in this threat. Apocalyptica I mention mainly because anyone who is able to both headbang and play the cello at the same time deserves as much recognition as a jolt.co.uk board will allow them.

Gorecki, a sleeper hit, Shostakovich certainly a favorite.

As for the Bach 6 suites, in descending order, these are my favorite recordings:
Mstislav Rostipovich
Jaap ter Linden
Yo-Yo Ma
Pablo Casals
Maurice Gendron

and as for the Kodaly sonata, I would recommend these recordings, in this order:
Sun-Won Yang
Janos Starker (the best, but Yang's is more... accessible)
Matt Heimowitz
Yo-Yo Ma
Colin Carr

After that, I would have to add in other favorites like Scheherezade, the West Side Story Symphonic Dances (Berstein), the Katcheturian Masquerade Waltz, Kabalevski's second cello concerto, the Haydn cello concertos, the Beethoven triple, the Bach double for violins (D-minor), the Appallachian Waltz CD is an excellent work of relaxation music (Yo-Yo Ma, Edgar Meyer, Mark O'Connor).

Never was that big a fan of big-brass things like Wagner, or the Planets, at least from a listener's point of view (artistically, the Ring Cycle is a milestone, but it's also 16 hours long...).

Hope I could help.

AIM- ChrisRay6000

As a cellist, <snip a big ass detailed lesson
If you're a chick, do not tell me. I will stalk you.

lol, suggestions noted :) (and thanks)
i want to listen to more the 'darker' (or in rock terms, 'heavier') side of classical music. the nicey-nicey bits of say mozart bore me :(

look for Symphony Fantastic by Hector Berliotz. The last couple movements are certainly heavy.

It's the Requiem that makes me frustrated with him. It is beautiful, and shows that he can write something incredible when he cares. But otherwise he has a virtuisos command of the sensibilities of music to the point where it's almost as if a mathmatician was a composer. He was more of a proof of concept than anything else. 'Yep, all these rules work.'

That he could produce something like the Requim when he cared make everything else frustrating.

It's only fair to point out that the Requiem is a very foward looking peice. It breaks all the rules for it's time, and sounds more like late Beethoven than like anything being produced at the same time.

Don Giovani is much less robotic than other Mozart as well.

It's only fair to point out that the Requiem is a very foward looking peice. It breaks all the rules for it's time, and sounds more like late Beethoven than like anything being produced at the same time.

Don Giovani is much less robotic than other Mozart as well.

That's what I'm saying-when he actually gave a shit he made art, not an equation with meter, he pushed the music. That he could do it so well makes it frustrating that he did it so infrequently.

After that, I would have to add in other favorites like Scheherezade, the West Side Story Symphonic Dances (Berstein), the Katcheturian Masquerade Waltz, Kabalevski's second cello concerto, the Haydn cello concertos, the Beethoven triple, the Bach double for violins (D-minor), the Appallachian Waltz CD is an excellent work of relaxation music (Yo-Yo Ma, Edgar Meyer, Mark O'Connor).


I got to play those dances a few weeks ago. It was an amazing experience. The Duples in the first dance with all of the strings were just so much fun to play! The viola solo at the start of Somewhere is amazing as well (although I was sitting in the back, so I didn't get to play it).

Uh. Beethovens fifth playng full throttle is an experience, Schuberts "Unvollendete" is a regal, Bach's is the mother of all music. But there are others:
Bartok, Grieg, Honegger (ever heard his 231?), Khatchaturian, Liszt, Mahler, Marin Marais, Debussy, Rameau (Air pour les esclaves africains in Les indes galantes anyone?), Ravel (The Waltz. Best satire ever!), Satie, de Falla, oh, and that's only the beginning...

I'd cite three specially:
The "light" work of Schostakowitsch, his ballets or the jazz suites (Jazz with a 100-strong orchestra, now that's a big band :cool: ). Unbelievable, such light hearted, lucky music, if you know his symphonies...

Enrique Granados, the danzas españolas. I have them played by Alicia de Larrocha, a pure delight.

Arvo Pärt. His tintinnabuli-style music. Tabula rasa or Alina for example. Never heard anyone get so much out of a single sound.

*Running of to get my Ipod*

Interestingly enough, my wife - who is Russian - usually can't stand listening to Shostakovich (jazz suites excepted). It's not that she doesn't acknowledge him as a great composer, just that she thinks he's too good at what he does. I have to listen to the 8th and 10th symphonies (my favourites) when she's out.

My favourites are 4, 8 & 13. I also love the piano quintet and trio and the preludes and fugues.

Arvo Pärt. His tintinnabuli-style music. Tabula rasa or Alina for example. Never heard anyone get so much out of a single sound.


Part takes some adjustment to listen to. I wasn't all that into minimalists when I first heard him and so I started listening thinking, "Okay, this is going to get going soon." and waiting and waiting and then the piece ends and I'm all, "...the hell?" But the more I understood minimalism the more I dug what he was doing.

My favorite minimalist piece is Amen by Gorecki. Six some minutes, one word. Pretty intense.

I forgot one piece, that is absolutely ... eh ... absolute :D

Organ2/ASLSP (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/As_Slow_As_Possible), by John Cage. I heard part of it at Halberstadt; it's the only piece of music where every note is introduced with a special press release. :eek:

Edit: Next note change will be July 5th 2008.

My favorites include Beethoven (especially the 3rd and 9th symphonies), Wagner (downloading his Ring cycle now), and some stuff by the Mighty Handfull (Rimsky-Korsakov, Borodin, etc.) Bach and Mozart are also pretty good, though not my favorites. I've been meaning to listen to more Shostakovich and Mahler, but I hear they're good as well. I never really got into the avant garde composers, though I've heard a few atonalist works I thought were cool. Minimalism bores me, though; what I've heard sounds like the drum track of a rap song scored for orchestra.

Mostly the D&D Nerd's library for me. Wagner, Grieg, Mussorgsky, Holst.

Lately though it's been all about Glass, and symphonic rock albums like "Them and Us" and "Kashmir", which are symphonic treatments of Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin respectively.

I've always loved Wagner's "Ride of the Valkyries", and "Also Sprach Zarathustra" by R Strauss. Other than that, I'm partial to Bach (especially his flute pieces. Probably because I'm a flautist :P) and Vivaldi. Oh and Chopin (currently listening to Prelude in Em, op.28 no.4). And Elgar, Tchaikovsky, Schubert...*wanders off mumbling composers names...*

Anything by Elgar.:D Brilliant.

I have to admit I have a weakness for Russian composers, I'm just now listening to the Firebird by Stravinsky. Beautiful.

No one understands the timpani quite as well as a bunch of angry russians.

With firebird...never blast it while you are driving. You know where there is that loud brass hit? Yeah...it makes you think someone just rammed you.

My two absolute favourite pieces are "Night on Bald Mountain" and "Pictures at an Exhibition" by Modest Mussorgsky.


Though eventually some insufferable pedant's going to point out that the versions of Иванова ночь на лысой горе [St. John's Night on the Bare Mountain - aka 'Night on Bald Mountain'] most people are familiar with are either Rimsky-Korsakov's heavily edited version or Stowkowski's revision from Fantasia (itself based on the Rimsky-Korsakov version), while the best-known version of Карти́нки с вы́ставки [Little Pictures at an Exhibition] is Ravel's orchestration rather than the original piano suite.

It's something of an irony that Mussorgsky is best known for two pieces of music that have been substantially altered by someone else.

At least these days you can get Mussorgsky's original version of Борис Годунов [Boris Gudonov] on CD fairly easily (I have the Kirov's 5 disc set with _both_ of his original versions) rather than having to rely on Rimsky-Korsakov's 'cleaned-up' version.

Oh, hang on.... guess that insufferable pedant was me....

okay, so I've been kinda addicted to classical music as of late. I know there are many "cultured" people stalking around there forums, and it has been a while since this topic has come up. So what is your favorite classical music? We are going with the wider definition of "classical", meaning baroque, classical, romantic, 20th century, and contemporary symphonic.

Personally, Beethoven is by far my favorite. Esp. the 5th symphony.

Other favorites include Holst - Mars/Jupiter, and Gorecki's 3rd symphony, esp. movement 2. Few songs move me to tears, but this movement always does.
brandenburg concertos are amazing, as is Stravinsky's The Firebird.

So what are your favorite classical pieces?
Basically, discuss anything and everything "classical"

Igor Stravinsky is great, especially the Rite of Spring and the Firebird Suite.

Shostakovich is also a really good composer. I like his 4th Symphony the best.

Also listen to 4'33" by Charles Ives. It will confuse you so much that you'll cry.

So what are your favorite classical pieces?
Basically, discuss anything and everything "classical"
I really like them all.

My favs tho is Pacabel's Cannon in D.

Igor Stravinsky is great, especially the Rite of Spring and the Firebird Suite.

Shostakovich is also a really good composer. I like his 4th Symphony the best.

Also listen to 4'33" by Charles Ives. It will confuse you so much that you'll cry.

hmm...seems that we have a bit of contention over who 4'33" is by...lets check wiki...


comes up as John Cage.

I just loaded up "Holidays In The Sun" by the Sex Pistols when I noticed this thread.

How interesting.

I especially enjoy Beethoven (esp. 5th symphony, sonatas [esp. Moonlight, 1st and 3rd movements]), Chopin (easily the nocturnes more than anything else), Wagner (Der Ring des Nibelungen and Der Fliegende Hollander are genius), Bach (esp. the cello suites) and Stravinsky.

I especially enjoy Beethoven (esp. 5th symphony, sonatas [esp. Moonlight, 1st and 3rd movements]), Chopin (easily the nocturnes more than anything else), Wagner (Der Ring des Nibelungen and Der Fliegende Hollander are genius), Bach (esp. the cello suites) and Stravinsky.

Dvorak's 9th Symphony, Saint-Saens - Danse Macabre, Tchaikovski - almost anything, Halvorsen - Entry March of the Boyars, Grieg - almost anything, Vivaldi, Mahler, Sibelius - actually the list is never ending. The list of composers/musicians I don't like is much shorter - Bach, Brahms, Debussy, Chopin.

hmm...seems that we have a bit of contention over who 4'33" is by...lets check wiki...


comes up as John Cage.

Which is - as you already know - quite correct.

Obviously when United Chicken Kleptos wrote

Also listen to 4'33" by Charles Ives. It will confuse you so much that you'll cry.

It confused him so much, he confused John Cage with the composer of 'Three Places in New England'.

I tend to gravitate more towards the stuff with more fanfarish horns and bombastic sweeping passages. add in a few ominous toned
pieces and you have me in a nutshell.

Thusly, I like....

Copland
Tchaikovsky
Stravinsky
Wagner
Berlioz
Bartok
some Beethoven
Holst
some Penderecki

Hey! A classical singer, here. I generally like Puccini and all the boring ones like that, but my favourite song has got to be 'The Nightengale Enslaved by the Rose' by Rimsky-Korsakov. It's such an exotic and sensual song. If only I were good enough to be worthy of it. For now, I'll stick to my Se Tu M'amis and Caro Mio Bens like all the other newbies.

Hey! A classical singer, here. I generally like Puccini and all the boring ones like that, but my favourite song has got to be 'The Nightengale Enslaved by the Rose' by Rimsky-Korsakov. It's such an exotic and sensual song. If only I were good enough to be worthy of it. For now, I'll stick to my Se Tu M'amis and Caro Mio Bens like all the other newbies.

I thought Rimsky-Korsakov was a Russain arms manufacturer . . . DK?

It's ok, I don't listen regularly, but it is one of the few "Relaxing" types of music.

I thought Rimsky-Korsakov was a Russain arms manufacturer . . . DK?

He was a late Romantic composer known for "Flight of the Bumblebee".

He was a late Romantic composer known for "Flight of the Bumblebee".

People always attribute that to Chopin or Beethoven for some reason - it kind of gets on my nerves.

Which is - as you already know - quite correct.

Obviously when United Chicken Kleptos wrote



It confused him so much, he confused John Cage with the composer of 'Three Places in New England'.

DAMN! Every other part of me said John Cage! I knew I should have gone with my foot... and I play in an orchestra. Crap, being a musician makes you dumb.

some Penderecki

Capriccio is the coolest f*cking thing I've ever heard.

DAMN! Every other part of me said John Cage! I knew I should have gone with my foot... and I play in an orchestra. Crap, being a musician makes you dumb.

Only if you're a drummer.


If your a trumpetier, you just get instant cool and sex appeal points

Only if you're a drummer.


If your a trumpetier, you just get instant cool and sex appeal points

I play french horn. But I met a girl today who instantly became dead sexy when she said she plays trumpet. Is that unusual?

I play french horn. But I met a girl today who instantly became dead sexy when she said she plays trumpet. Is that unusual?

nah. Trumpets are just sexy like that.:cool:

nah. Trumpets are just sexy like that.:cool:

My neighbor plays trumpet. Damn, once I starting thinking about it, he's going to be dead sexy too... Whyyy meeee?

Bach and Tchkovsky (most likely mispelled :P) come out on top for me, but I like most Classical music.

People always attribute that to Chopin or Beethoven for some reason - it kind of gets on my nerves.

Yeah. Especially on filesharing programs, it seems, classical pieces get misattributed a lot. I've seen "Mozart - Pachelbel's Canon in D" more times than I can count.