Gotta ask, I can't be the only person on this forum that listens somewhat regularly. Of course this sort of cements my position as a pretentious ass, but if you do listen, got a favorite composer, ensemble type, piece, anything?
Classical music, anyone?
- Thread starter papajohn56
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I've started listening to it a bit on the way to and from work. Aside from the classical cliches like the 1812 Overture or Tchaikovsky's Romeo & Juliet I don't know enough about it yet to have favorites. Haven't really gelled to Wagner yet.
Feel free to throw out some suggestions.
Feel free to throw out some suggestions.
Mozart's 40th is one of my all time favorites. Got turned on to classical from an episode of the Smurfs way back when I was little and since then I tought myself a little piano and clasical guitar.
Though I rarely just stop and listen anymore
Though I rarely just stop and listen anymore
iTunes > Radio > Classical
I have this playing whenever I have work to get done.
I usually listen to Venice Radio station.
If you're looking for some pretty smooth stuff, check out Olafur Arnalds.
http://vimeo.com/groups/17525/videos/6284199
I have this playing whenever I have work to get done.
I usually listen to Venice Radio station.
If you're looking for some pretty smooth stuff, check out Olafur Arnalds.
http://vimeo.com/groups/17525/videos/6284199
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sPxr539mts]YouTube - Evgeny Kissin plays Liszt-Liebestraume no.3 "O lieb" in As[/ame]
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zkKxIoBJBM]YouTube - Richard Wagner Lohengrin Prelude[/ame]
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zkKxIoBJBM]YouTube - Richard Wagner Lohengrin Prelude[/ame]
The only thing I listen to these days is classical. At the moment, I have Chopin piano concertos in my car. I'm sure I look like an idiot, sitting at red lights, running my fingers along my steering wheel in perfect time.
It's beautiful music. Timeless.
It's beautiful music. Timeless.
I was in an orchestra for 4 years, 2nd horn, tough to pick a favorite. I don't like string chamber ensemble music. Just the way it's written is anticlimactic. I have to separate my favorites by generation.
You want some powerful modern classical? Listen to these:
Symphony no. 10 mvt #2 by Dmitri Shostakovich. This just makes me want to cockpunch someone, seriously. This was "get crunk music" before crunk existed.
The Pines of Rome by Ottorino Respighi. The brass in the 4th movement is unbelievable, and the fact that he wrote it for extra brass to be in the balcony to be one of the first true "surround sound" experiences.
Medea's Dance of Vengeance by Samuel Barber. This is one of the most pissed off pieces of music you will ever hear, but so powerful.
The Planets Suite by Gustav Holst. One for each (except Pluto!). Mars and Jupiter have reached pops-level status, but all are worth a listen. Mars has that pulsating 5/4 tempo, warlike feel, in drastic contrast to Jupiter's happy themes and beautiful chorale.
As for the Romantic era..
Symphony no. 5 by Tchaikovsky. Did you know he used this symphony to come out of the closet? Yeah, using music to admit you're gay. I'm biased though, it has one of the best horn solos of all time in a major piece, and it's like an emotional rollercoaster for 50 minutes. Glenn Miller of the big band era used the melody of the horn solo in one of his jazzy pieces, as well. I performed this symphony this past April.
Requiem Mass by Giuseppe Verdi. Oh God yes. Listen to this on full blast on some good speakers. This is how I want my funeral to be. This piece was actually written for the funeral of Gioacchino Rossini, the man who composed the William Tell Overture.
You want some powerful modern classical? Listen to these:
Symphony no. 10 mvt #2 by Dmitri Shostakovich. This just makes me want to cockpunch someone, seriously. This was "get crunk music" before crunk existed.
The Pines of Rome by Ottorino Respighi. The brass in the 4th movement is unbelievable, and the fact that he wrote it for extra brass to be in the balcony to be one of the first true "surround sound" experiences.
Medea's Dance of Vengeance by Samuel Barber. This is one of the most pissed off pieces of music you will ever hear, but so powerful.
The Planets Suite by Gustav Holst. One for each (except Pluto!). Mars and Jupiter have reached pops-level status, but all are worth a listen. Mars has that pulsating 5/4 tempo, warlike feel, in drastic contrast to Jupiter's happy themes and beautiful chorale.
As for the Romantic era..
Symphony no. 5 by Tchaikovsky. Did you know he used this symphony to come out of the closet? Yeah, using music to admit you're gay. I'm biased though, it has one of the best horn solos of all time in a major piece, and it's like an emotional rollercoaster for 50 minutes. Glenn Miller of the big band era used the melody of the horn solo in one of his jazzy pieces, as well. I performed this symphony this past April.
Requiem Mass by Giuseppe Verdi. Oh God yes. Listen to this on full blast on some good speakers. This is how I want my funeral to be. This piece was actually written for the funeral of Gioacchino Rossini, the man who composed the William Tell Overture.
Vivaldi and Bach. I like a lot of other ones but these work well in the foreground or background.
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZbJOE9zNjw]YouTube - Gustavo Dudamel / SBYOV Shostakovich Symphony 10 II. Allegro[/ame]
Shosta sym 10 mvt 2.
Shosta sym 10 mvt 2.
Mostly Chopin (Nocturnes) right now, and some Antonio Vivaldi
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-BFvHPGK4I"]YouTube - Vivaldi - Invierno - 1 Allegro Non Molto[/ame]
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-BFvHPGK4I"]YouTube - Vivaldi - Invierno - 1 Allegro Non Molto[/ame]
Im must admit that at times I also like to listen to a bit of beethoven or perhaps some bach. although too much of it and I tend to go mad..
