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The Ultimate Classical Music Essentials Thread

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A

Alucard

Banned
Inspired by the ludicrous Mozart thread, I thought we should pay tribute to some of the essential classical pieces that should be in every music lover's library. I will update the OP periodically as new suggestions come in. State the composer and the name of the piece. It would also be nice to date the composers and their works, along with the style. I'm pretty much a classical virgin myself but I haven't been impervious to its influence.

BACH, Johann Sebastian (March 31, 1685-July 28, 1750)
Toccata and Fugue in D Minor - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipzR9bhei_o
Aria con variazioni ("Goldberg Variations") - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gv94m_S3QDo

BALAKIREV, Mily (January 2, 1837-May 29, 1910)
Islamey - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bz_iA8TSDtI

BARBER, Samuel (March 9, 1910-January 23, 1981)
Adagio for Strings - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izQsgE0L450 (theme from Platoon)
Piano Sonata - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RyQbKEN87MU

BARTOK, Bela (March 25, 1881-September 26, 1945)
Suite for piano, Op. 14 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgBAsHdcINQ
Concerto for Orchestra - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9bI...90793A50&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=43

BEETHOVEN, Ludwig Van (December 17, 1770-March 26, 1827)
Moonlight Sonata - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQVeaIHWWck&feature=related
Moonlight Sonata Movement 3 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZaTzSWqXCU
Fur Elise - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQTTFUtMSvQ&feature=related
Ode to Joy - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wod-MudLNPA&feature=related
Symphony #5 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhcR1ZS2hVo&feature=related
Piano Sonata No. 30 in E major, Op. 109 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qe9Wp6Odp4
33 Variations on a Waltz by Diabelli, Op. 120 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_RMhv10y3o
Symphony No. 3 "Eroica" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFltqVS8d9I

CHOPIN, Frederic (March 1, 1810-October 17, 1849)
Waltz Op.69 No.2 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxG-kOTMgaA
Funeral March - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyFyAqLtHq8&feature=fvw
24 Preludes, Op. 28 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BK3xmiBwVSU
12 Etudes, Op. 10 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mk1JQk90UbY
12 Etudes, Op. 25 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WD0U8-rcRE
Ballade in F minor, Op. 54 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BktQ37kU6Q

DEBUSSY, Claude (August 22, 1862-March 25, 1918)
Claire De Lune - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvFH_6DNRCY
Preludes, Bk. I and II - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8ql...15904BC5&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=15
Children's Corner - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5zg9EXJgAI

LISZT, Franz (October 22, 1811-July 31, 1886)
La Campanella - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQULyGMhhWs
Sonata in B minor - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UFnqYT6DyU
Ballade No. 2 in B Minor - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lInJjcubZAI

MENDELSSOHN, Felix (February 3, 1809-November 4, 1847)
Variations Serieuses - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pq7BK6f4Q4

MOZART, Wolfgang Amadeus (January 27, 1756-December 5, 1791)
Requiem - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Gx-N-kdIXk&feature=related
Piano Concerto No. 21 (Andante) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df-eLzao63I
Concerto for piano and orchestra no. 9 in E-flat major "Jeunehomme" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFb7lJ38cXw
Rondo in A minor - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXYQrVI4ANA&feature=related

PACHELBEL, Johann (September 1, 1653-March 9, 1706)
Canon in D Major - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Af372EQLck

PROFOKIEV, Sergei (April 27, 1891-March 5, 1953)
Sonata No. 7 in B-flat major, Op. 83 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjAMzrww18g
Concerto for piano and orchestra no. 3, Op. 26 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FSOvIxfvcI

RAVEL, Maurice (March 7, 1875-December 28, 1937)
Gaspard de la nuit - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuDkH1OemZ8

SCHUBERT, Franz (January 31, 1797-November 19, 1828)
String Quintet in C Major - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNZjyNTx6vw&feature=related
String Quartet 14 'Death and the Maiden' - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoZJkkWX8Yw
Symphony 8 'unfinished' - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ySpn8E-dAE
Standchen - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2hlsVYEXqc
Der Erlkonig - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XP5RP6OEJI
Gretchen Am Spinnrade - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zF5DvvWQ77Y

SCHUMAN, Robert (September 13, 1819-May 20, 1896)
Fantasy in C major, Op. 17 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoLJpFmjb30&feature=fvw
Kreisleriana, Op. 16 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7TZkEB0SE8
Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 54 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZcuKyaBk2o

SCRIABIN, Alexander (January 6, 1872-April 27, 1915)
Etude in D-sharp minor, Op. 8, No. 12 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8ppcJxCRN8

STRAVINSKY, Igor (June 17, 1882-April 6, 1971)
The Rite of Spring - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgHMpYsv0_0
Trois mouvements de Petrouchka - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckv-i_mb8nQ

TCHAIKOVSKY, Piotr Ilyich (May 7, 1840 - November 6, 1893)
The Seasons - June (Barcorelle) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xLQW5rm92s
Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat minor, Op. 23 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RG83EmwJpo8

VIVALDI, Antonio (March 4, 1678-July 28, 1741)
Four Seasons (Winter) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGS6uSPGqvo
Four Seasons (Spring) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-dHxJNsxJc&feature=related
Four Seasons (Summer) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=go7wlUOC5dg&feature=related
Four Seasons (Autumn) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCEB4v3o-50&feature=related

WAGNER, Richard (May 22, 1813-February 13, 1883)
Flight of the Valkyries - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V92OBNsQgxU

Come on out, classical GAF! List the masters and their most essential or well-known works!
 
T

Tarazet

Member
Schumann: Fantasy in C major, Op. 17
Schumann: Kreisleriana, Op. 16
Schumann: Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 54
Liszt: Sonata in B minor
Liszt: Ballade No. 2 in B minor
Mendelssohn: Variations Serieuses
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 30 in E major, Op. 109
Beethoven: 33 Variations on a Waltz by Diabelli, Op. 120
Beethoven: Symphony No. 3 "Eroica"
Bartok: Suite for piano, Op. 14
Bartok: Concerto for Orchestra
Chopin: 24 Preludes, Op. 28
Chopin: 12 Etudes, Op. 10
Chopin: 12 Etudes, Op. 25
Chopin: Ballade in F minor, Op. 54
JS Bach: Aria con variazioni ("Goldberg Variations")
Mozart: Concerto for piano and orchestra no. 9 in E-flat major "Jeunehomme"
Mozart: Rondo in A minor
Ravel: Gaspard de la nuit
Debussy: Preludes, Bk. I and II
Debussy: Children's Corner
Prokofiev: Sonata No. 7 in B-flat major, Op. 83
Prokofiev: Concerto for piano and orchestra no. 3, Op. 26
Stravinsky: Trois mouvements de Petrouchka
Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat minor, Op. 23
Barber: Piano Sonata
Balakirev: Islamey
Scriabin: Etude in D-sharp minor, Op. 8, No. 12

If you get through all that, you will want more.
 
M

monkspider

Member
Berlioz - Symphonie Fantastique

Probably my favorite symphony at the moment, though it changes frequently.

Also:

Shostakovich's 7th Symphony "Leningrad"

The local orchestra is playing Tchaikovsky's 4th, I'm currently trying to get someone to go with me.
 
H

Hilbert

Deep into his 30th decade
monkspider said:
Berlioz - Symphonie Fantastique
Probably my favorite symphony at the moment, though it changes frequently.
Click to expand...

Damn you! I was writing a large entry on Berlioz! Oh well, I will keep going.
 
X

xelios

Universal Access can be found under System Preferences
So much beautiful music here. Apart from what's been mentioned I'm a big fan of Chopin's nocturnes.
 
T

thomaser

Member
Some of my favourites:

Bach

- Goldberg Variations. A must if you like the piano (or fortepiano, or harpsichord...) Glenn Gould's two recordings on piano are the best known, but I'm also partial to Andras Schiff.
- Cello Suites. So many great recordings. I have them with Rostropovich, Casals, Mørk, Fournier and Cohen, and I'll probably get one or two more. Not for everyone - two hours of nothing but a cello can be tiring at length, but you'll get used to it. And it is the most important work for cello, by far.
- Violin concertos. I especially like the one for two violins. Andrew Manze has a great recording of it on Harmonia Mundi. (Actually, everything Andrew Manze does is great.)
- Other stand-outs: partitas for solo violin (the chaconne from partita no.2!, Toccata and fugue in D minor for organ, harpsichord concertos (try to find an album called "Jacques Loussier Trio Plays Bach" (Teldec CD-83411), which has an AMAZING jazz-version of the D minor concerto (here they are in another concerto, the "Italian"), plus an equally incredible toccata and fugue in D minor). The large oratorios and cantatas are a bit too complex for me. Yet.

Mozart

- Piano Concerto No.20. I love all of his piano concertos in minor keys, but this tops them all. Very exciting, with a great opening, a nice slow movement and a fantastic, almost jazz-like final movement. My favourite recording is by Richter on DG, but I also have a version by the Jacques Loussier Trio that's ridiculously good.
- Everything he wrote for the clarinet. 2-3 concertos and a clarinet quintet.
- Much more, but he wrote so much that it's very difficult to pick out something.

Beethoven

- His symphonies, of course. My favourite is probably the seventh. Lots of energy, and of course the sinister andante-movement. Was lucky to see it performed by the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra early this year... they played the shit out of it! The sixth is also great, and the ninth (if you can find someone that plays it fast enough, it needs power!), and the fifth, and the third...
- Most of his piano sonatas. I don't know which are which of them, there are 32 in all, but I've listened through the whole set often enough. My favourite is probably the tempest-sonata, but I also like 31 and 32 very much. So many good recordings of these... pianists to look for are Richter, Pollini, Schiff, Hewitt, Jacobs... but there are many, many more.
- The violin concerto. Big and wonderful, guaranteed to put you in a good mood. There's an old recording by Jascha Heifetz on RCA Living Stereo that is just perfect.

Brahms

A difficult one, this. It took a long, long time before I started appreciating him, but now I like him so much that I have two complete collections of his works.
- Symphonies. The first is massive, gargantuan, like an avalanche. The fourth is probably the best. Karajan is a safe and great choice here.
- His two piano concertos. The first is like his first symphony, VERY big and huge and overpowering. It usually takes around 5 minutes before the piano even appears in the beginning! The second takes a while to get, but when you do, chances are good it will be your favourite piano concerto ever. The best recordings of these two might be the ones by Emil Gilels and the Berliner Philharmoniker conducted by Eugen Jochum.
- Most of his chamber works. Piano trios, string quartets/quintets/sextets, the piano quintet, the clarinet quintet and trio, the horn trio, the violin sonatas... they're all among the best chamber music ever written. Just pick anything, you can't miss. The piano quintet especially is indescribably good.
- The Hungarian Dances, either for orchestra or for piano. If you've played Donkey Konga, you already love number 5 ;-)

Schubert

- The two piano trios. The first is the most popular, but I like the second best. It's one of the most powerful compositions I know. If you've seen "Barry Lyndon", you'll know why. There's an incredibly good recording on Winter&Winter by an ensemble called La Gaia Scienza. Expensive, but oh, so worth it.
- The later string quartets. The two called "Rosamunde" and "Death and the Maiden" are absolute musts if you like your music dramatic, tuneful and heartfelt.
- The trout quintet. Not very Schubert-like, actually. He's usually brooding and intense with a terrible streak of darkness underneath, but this one is as happy as music can be.
- Songs. He wrote a lot of songs. Probably the most important song-writer ever. Try one of the cycles, like "Winterreise". Preferably sung by Fischer-Dieskau.

Dvorak

- The cello concerto. Everybody loves this. It's impossible not to. It's beautiful and brilliant, and you should hear it.
- The ninth and last symphony, "From the New World". One of the best symphonies ever, you'll love this too.
- The 12th string quartet, "The American". Wonderful melodies. His piano trios are great too.
- Stabat Mater. One of the saddest pieces of music I can think of. It's beautiful, though. You'd better balance it out with the third movement of his violin concerto, which is the happiest piece of music I can think of.

Grieg

- The piano concerto. One of the three most played piano concertos (the other two come later in this post). You've probably heard the opening many times, but have you heard the rest? It's essential if you like romantic music with great melodies. The best recording I've heard is with Sigurd Slaattebrekk and the Oslo PO on Simax, but it might be difficult to find.
- The first string quartet. Might be my favourite piece of music ever (no good videos of it on youtube, sadly). Not as tightly constructed as many other great string quartets, but it's positively bursting with energy and gorgeous melodies one after the other. It's fairly popular and played a lot, but I'm shocked that it isn't played much, much more often. The best recording is by the Vertavo Quartet on Simax.
- The Lyrical Pieces. Several sets of small piano-pieces. Delightful and very varied music, probably the best piano-miniatures ever written.

Tchaikovsky

- The fourth, fifth and sixth symphonies are all utterly amazing. You've got to hear these. Super-intense music, try to listen to the opening of the fourth, or THAT part in the first movement (you'll know which part) of the sixth without getting goosebumps in places you didn't know existed. The greatest recording is with the Leningrad PO conducted by Mravinsky on DG, but the Oslo PO conducted by Jansons on Chandos are a great alternative.
- The Nutcracker. A bit hit and miss, but when it hits it's really, really good. I love the little bit called "Dance of the Sugar-Plum Fairy" (or, as it's better known as, "Music A" in Tetris on the NES)
- His concertos, especially the first (one of those "three biggest" ones) and the superb violin concerto.

Debussy

- Most of his orchestral works. The Nocturnes for orchestra is my favourite, a great work in three parts with an amazing middle movement that's almost as intense as Mars from Holst's The Planets. La Mer and Prelude to a Faun's Afternoon are also great, as close as you can get to "magical" music if that makes any sense.
- His piano works. All of it. It's difficult to describe why, but the music is also kind of abstract and weird, so... anyway, you need all of this if you love the piano. Michelangeli and Austbø are two of the best interpreters.
- The string quartet. Another strange work, but so, so good. My favourite recording of it is on the same record as my favourite Grieg-quartet, by the Vertavo Quartet on Simax.

Shostakovich

- The 15 symphonies, most of them very worth a listen. The 5th and 7th might be the most popular. I also like the very dark 8th. Number two and three are the only ones you can safely give a miss. 13 and 14 are more like song cycles than symphonies, but are so good that I don't mind.
- The 15 string quartets. My favourite set of string quartets. The 8th is perhaps the best known, and it's with good reason since it's so gob-smackingly good. It's downright scary, actually. I've heard it live, and it was an experience I won't forget. Several great recordings, but try to find the one by the Borodin Quartet. If not, the St. Petersburg Quartet on Chandos.
- The second piano trio. Almost as scary as the 8th string quartet, and just as good. The Grieg Trio's recording on Simax is the best I've heard so far.

Prokofiev

- Piano concertos 2 and 3. These are funny - 2 is terribly dark and depressing, and 3 is supremely uplifting and energetic. Very strong opposites. And they're probably my two favourite piano concertos. If you want the third, find the fiery one with Martha Argerich. There's a cheap, excellent recording of the second on Naxos.
- Violin concertos, especially the first. Most like the second best, but I adore the first. It's so strange and whimsical.
- Piano sonatas, especially the "war sonatas" 6, 7 and 8. Pollini has the best 7th on a DG-album, and Richter has the best 8th, also on DG.
- The "Romeo and Juliet" ballet music. Really powerful music. I'll throw in a link to Tybalt's Death.

Aaand... I don't have time to list every composer I like, but here are a few additional musts:

- Messiaen's organ music. Seriously. And his utterly strange piano music.
- Holst's "The Planets". How could I not list this? It's insanely impressive. Turn up the volume and play it full blast on a great sound system - it deserves it. Jupiter is my favourite!
- Rimsky-Korsakov's "Scheherazade". The most instantly likeable orchestral work you'll ever hear. It's gorgeous. Try to find the recording by the Chicago SO conducted by Fritz Reiner on RCA Living Stereo.
- Mendelssohn's violin concerto. Simply a very, very good piece of music. Find the one paired with Beethoven's vc on RCA Living Stereo, played by Heifetz. His fourth symphony, the "Italian", always makes me happy.
- Orff's "Carmina Burana". Yeah, yeah, I know people are always trying to find excuses to hate either Orff or this work or both, but I love it, and so should you. Jochum on DG is the best recording.
- Stravinsky's ballet music. "The Rite of Spring", "Petrushka" and "The Firebird" are all essential. Try to hear the amazing piano version of Petrushka, by the way - Pollini has an excellent recording of it.
- Elgar's cello concerto. Almost as good as the one by Dvorak. This one has a recording that's scientifically proved to be much better than all contenders: the one played by Jacqueline Du Pré on EMI. A truly legendary recording, and you can find it for pretty cheap too, so there are no excuses.
- Vaughan Williams' "The Lark Ascending". Kind of a small violin concerto. Immensely pleasurable, makes you feel real good.
- Rachmaninov, his piano concertos. Especially the second (the third of the "three biggest" piano concertos) and the third, and of course the Paganini Rhapsody which is almost a piano concerto as well. Great, great music.
- Speaking of variations on that theme by Paganini, there are lots of them. A particularly good one is the one by Lutoslawski for two pianos.
- Janacek's two string quartets are incredible.
- The trumpet? Haydn's concerto is by far the best known, and with good reason.
- Mahler and Bruckner's symphonies. Not fair to group them together, but they're both so big and complex. Mahler's first is a good start. Literally. And Bruckner's unfinished ninth is a towering achievement.
- Sibelius deserves a top spot in this list, but there's no time. His violin concerto is one of the best. And the seven symphonies are all great, he's the master of the huge soundscape. Difficult to find a really striking video, but the 5th is the most popular. I like the 1st, the glorious 2nd and the 3rd best.
- Bartok is another favourite. The Concerto for Orchestra is amazing, and the Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta should send chills up the spine of most lovers of scary movies... The six string quartets are also great, but many find them too out there. I love the 4th with the pizzicato movement.
- Ravel's Bolero? Of course. But you don't know what he could do until you listen to his extraordinarystring quartet or his "Daphnis et Chloé" ballet music.
- Copland is just great. Appalachian Spring is so joyful and nice!
- Villa-Lobos made a LOT of music. He's perhaps not so well known outside Brazil, apart from a few select pieces. The best known is easily "Bachianas Brasileiras", especially part 5 which is scored for soprano and a number of cellos.
- Vivaldi. The Four Seasons is one of the biggest essentials there is. But he wrote a great deal of other great music too, like the flute concertos, here and here played by one of the best baroque ensembles, Il Giardino Armonico (their Four Seasons is the best out there, but not on Youtube). Sorry about their make-up, but they're really very good, don't you think?
- Schumann. One of the best composers for the piano. Try the super-popular piano concerto or perhaps Kreisleriana, Kinderszenen or the Symphonic Etudes for solo piano.
- Berlioz. Can't overlook the composer of the Symphonie Fantastique.
- Arvo Pärt. My favourite living composer. His "Fratres" is mesmerizing. If you click just one link here, let it be that one.
- Also consider: Handel, Britten, Ligeti, Schoenberg, Berg, Webern, Weber, Liszt, Chopin, Wagner, Richard Strauss, Ives, Nielsen...

Ok, I'll stop there. There's so much more, though. For example, right now I'm listening to the "Cain" oratorio by Alessandro Scarlatti. Later today, I'll listen to Prokofiev's "Romeo and Juliet" ballet music, and after that, if there's time I'll listen to Tubin's 3rd and 8th symphonies (Tubin is amazing, maybe even more depressing than Shostakovich!)
 
D

DieNgamers

Member
maaan, that's one huge post. Will go through some of that tomorrow! I'm here for Tschaikowsky again. Nutcracker is my favourite but I forgot to mention Swanlake!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S76CGGPqI3s
Majestic! I can't believe how melodic he was including delicious dynamics, tension and everything! You really get the feeling that emotion and melody came first while the orchestra was just there to serve that purpose.
 
S

Salazar

Member
Screw Youtube. Go out and buy Arthur Rubenstein's two cd recording of Chopin's Nocturnes. Commit to some physical media.
 
A

Alucard

Banned
Small update. Trying to add everything from post 8 by Tarazet.

You guys are awesome. I will definitely be picking up a classical CD or two in the near future. Since it's nearing Christmas, I'm thinking Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite would be a good bet. :) Stereotypical, yeah, but the music is still gorgeous.
 
A

Alucard

Banned
Which is the best version to get of The Nutcracker? This sounds excellent, though played at a quicker pace:

tchaikovsky-pyotr-ilyich-865-l.jpg


http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00000A1GL/?tag=neogaf0e-20

Most of the customer reviews proclaim it to be the best version. Thinking of getting it along with Swan Lake and Sleeping Beauty for around $40 altogether. G/f would likely at least enjoy The Nutcracker since we've seen it the past two years, but won't be putting up the cash to see it this year.
 
C

chase

Member
Just a handful that I don't think have been mentioned:

Bach's Brandenburg concertos.
Beethoven's late string quartets.
Bruckner Symphony 6
Mendelssohn's 4th symphony
Sibelius 7th symphony
 
J

J. M. Romeo

Banned
Speaking of Chopin, I've always been a huge fan of his waltz, opus 64 number 2.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WpDH5zbhIk

And also Tchaikovsky. I might be biased because he was pretty much the first classical composer I ever got into, but he could be writing his shit to score today's best movies and it will still sound relevant. He has a very unique and timeless flair to him.

Oh, and I fucking hate Vivaldi. With a passion. His four seasons specially. Every single time I listen to them, I get incredibly restless and want to get the fuck out of there. I don't even know why, but they have that effect on me.
 
B

BarrenMind

Member
Nice to see some of my favorites listed here. Smetana's Moldau will always be high on my list. It's incredible.

thomaser, thanks for the huge post. I'll be going through all of that for sure. I echo that Jupiter is my favorite of Holst's Planets series, and thanks for specifically linking to Debussy's "Arabesque No. 1", one of my favorite piano pieces. I actually prefer it to Claire de lune.

For violin fans, you absolutely can't miss Max Bruch's Violin Concerto No. 1 in G Minor.

In discussions like this, though it may stray from the topic to some people, I can never help but mention one of my favorite musical compositions of all time: Giovanni Palestrina's "Kyrie Eleison" from Missa Papae Marcelli (Pope Marcellus Mass).

This is the best version I can find online.. It's not quite as good as the MP3 I have, it does contain more power than any other youtube versions I've found but it is lacking a bit of tenor in some spots. Still, it's wonderful. If there's a God, this is what his Heaven will sound like.
 
H

Hilbert

Deep into his 30th decade
Alucard said:
Which is the best version to get of The Nutcracker? This sounds excellent, though played at a quicker pace:

tchaikovsky-pyotr-ilyich-865-l.jpg


http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00000A1GL/?tag=neogaf0e-20

Most of the customer reviews proclaim it to be the best version. Thinking of getting it along with Swan Lake and Sleeping Beauty for around $40 altogether. G/f would likely at least enjoy The Nutcracker since we've seen it the past two years, but won't be putting up the cash to see it this year.
Click to expand...


The nutcracker is good, but I have always preferred Swan Lake. I used to listen to it as a kid on a record, and I have some cheap version I bought for 2 bucks....anyone have any recommendations for a quality version of swan lake?

and to top it off, some videos:
Pas de Quatre Small Swans

Swan Lake finale

I go and see this ballet performed every time it is in Seattle. So good.

I would also recommend Tchaikovsky's Romeo and Juliet, Symphony 6, Violin Concerto, and of course March Slav. I will add links later, I am at work right now, and have to get back from break.
 
T

Tarazet

Member
I'll be uploading my last recital pretty soon, too. I played Beethoven's "Kreutzer" Sonata and a lot of Liszt and Chopin.
 
B

Borgnine

MBA in pussy licensing and rights management
I've been getting crazy into fugues for the last year or so, so here's some of the best. I was able to find all the Glen Gould organ versions on youtube, which I like the most.

J.S. Bach - The Art of the Fugue:
Contrapunctus 1, 2, & 3
Contrapunctus 4 & 5
Contrapunctus 6 (my favorite)
Contrapunctus 7 & 8
Contrapunctus 9

For those that don't know what's going on, the entire thing is based on 1 simple subject (heard in the first 4 bars of Contrapunctus 1) that gets inverted, augmented, diminished, etc as the piece goes on, gradually getting more and more complex.
 
A

Alucard

Banned
Updated the OP with all of Tarazet's postings.

Remember, trying to keep this to the essentials, so I'm taking it on good faith that's what people are posting!
 
S

speedpop

Has problems recognising girls
I think you should add some Brahms. I adore the heck out of his 1st Symphony - there are better quality versions out there, but you can't go past Karajan.
 
S

speedpop

Has problems recognising girls
Also don't forget the one and only Rachmaninov!

Piano Concerto No. 2

Again not the best quality out there on Youtube but Kissin is a great, if not eccentric, pianist who is not afraid to break the barriers and pour emotion into a composition.
 
X

xelios

Universal Access can be found under System Preferences
J. M. Romeo said:
Speaking of Chopin, I've always been a huge fan of his waltz, opus 64 number 2.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WpDH5zbhIk
Click to expand...

Yes it's beautiful (and quite popular), personally one of my favorite Chopin pieces as well. I enjoy his etudes more than most. There are some great high quality videos of Valentina Lisitsa playing them:

Chopin Etude Op 10 No. 4

Chopin Etude Op 25 No. 11

Chopin Etude Op 25 No. 12

@JoeMartin: On the topic of Gnossienne No. 1 Beautiful. When I was younger I played Shadowgate (NES) and couldn't help but notice one of the tracks from the lake area seemed to be heavily influenced by this piece (but then again I'm always finding these connections so maybe it's just coincidence).
 
Z

Zengar

Member
Rachmaninov 2nd Piano Concerto, 3rd Piano Concerto (Horowitz version), Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini, All of his preludes (most notable ones are no 4, no 5, no 6 op 23 and no 12 op 32), His piano sonatas and Moment musical in E minor

Damn, I'm addicted to Rachmaninov.

Edit: Btw some Scriabin pieces that I recommend:

Etude no 5, op 42
Etude op 2 no 1
Piano Concerto in F#m op20
Nocturne for the left hand
 
M

Masked Man

I said wow
thomaser said:
- Ravel's Bolero? Of course. But you don't know what he could do until you listen to his extraordinarystring quartet or his "Daphnis et Chloé" ballet music.
Click to expand...

Ugh, Bolero is crap. =/ I'm just going to come out and say it. And I mean that with no disrespect to Ravel--he's quite possibly my favorite composer. But, compared with his other works, Bolero is monotony at its worst. Thank you for mentioning "Daphnis et Chloé," though: the opening of Suite No. 2 is simply breathtaking. <333
 
H

Hilbert

Deep into his 30th decade
Alucard said:
Updated the OP with all of Tarazet's postings.

Remember, trying to keep this to the essentials, so I'm taking it on good faith that's what people are posting!
Click to expand...

What would make something essential? I have a large post ready about one of my favorite composers, but I don't know if I would call it essential. (I have played with the idea of making it its own thread, but these classical threads have a hard enough time living while covering everyone)
 
Chittagong

Chittagong

Gold Member
Time to resurrect this thread.

I'm wanting to put together a nice collection and playlist of classical music, but I have really no idea to start.

- My parents played me Bach, Brahms, Chopin, Vivaldi and Mozart as a small kid (0-4), and I'm very fond of that

- I don't really know much of classical music aside from the pointers in the first post

- When going to iTunes, I'm struggling to shop stuff since I don't know which orchestra I should get performing them or which collections are good.

Could GAF recommend me some good collections or orchestras?
 
A

Amir0x

Banned
oh man this thread is awesome. I've never heard a lot of this stuff. I love going to sleep with music like this.
 
D

deadbeef

Member
Chittagong said:
Time to resurrect this thread.

I'm wanting to put together a nice collection and playlist of classical music, but I have really no idea to start.

- My parents played me Bach, Brahms, Chopin, Vivaldi and Mozart as a small kid (0-4), and I'm very fond of that

- I don't really know much of classical music aside from the pointers in the first post

- When going to iTunes, I'm struggling to shop stuff since I don't know which orchestra I should get performing them or which collections are good.

Could GAF recommend me some good collections or orchestras?
Click to expand...
You can't go wrong with anything performed by the New York Philharmonic conducted by Leonard Bernstein.
 
J

JoeMartin

Member
Been listening to Bach's Unaccompanied Cello Suites (performed by Yo-Yo Ma, of course) nonstop for like the last month.

I'll precursor this by saying all of it is unequivocally awesome, but as I've been working my way through them with adequate listenings I've pretty much only been hitting for the first three pretty hard, and so far I'm partial to:

No.1 Allemande
No.1 Gigue
No.2 Menuett
No.3 Sarabande
No.3 Gigue

But seriously just put all 6 on straight playthrough and wade into a culturally-existential meltdown inducing foray of genius. No matter how many times I listen to any of them they never get less impressive.
 
D

DrForester

Kills Photobucket
Masked Man said:
Ugh, Bolero is crap. =/ I'm just going to come out and say it. And I mean that with no disrespect to Ravel--he's quite possibly my favorite composer. But, compared with his other works, Bolero is monotony at its worst. Thank you for mentioning "Daphnis et Chloé," though: the opening of Suite No. 2 is simply breathtaking. <333
Click to expand...


Agreed. Bolero just sounds like it's repeating itself and building up to something that never comes.
 
P

Puddles

Banned
Off the top of my head, the Beethoven listing needs the Pathetique Sonata. The Debussy listing needs Arabesque No 1.
 
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