New to classical music...
 

I have very much a growing interest in classical music, but really have not heard much. As of now, I could not tell you a composer I really like, because I've never sat down with the conscious intent of realizing who I'm listening to, and taking into consideration how they do what they do. I have heard some Baroque music, and liked what I heard, but don't really know what separates the different sects of the genre. I've always been one for slow and emotionally powerful music; I like things that really tear at your heart and soul (I imagine most classical music does that in some form though). I guess what I'm looking for is some possible ways to go about starting my journey through classical music. What are some key composers I should check out (I've heard big names like Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, Tchaikovsky, Philip Glass, but don't really know much by any of them)? Any pieces in particular you feel I should listen to? Anything you feel would be a good suggestion, I'm all ears; I really love to listen, so anything you feel could be said, say it.

Thank you very much for any thoughts you may have.

The classical music I enjoy :

Chopin- Piano Concertos
Erik Satie- Piano Works
Vivaldi-The Four Seasons
Holst-The Planets

I am sure there are a few more on here with much better suggestions.

I would start with Composers in the Baroque period, see what you think and then go to Classical and Romance periods. There are a WEALTH of works from each that are all fantastic.

My favourite classical composer is Mozart. I personally think he is amazing and a musical genius. Give him a try :) If you're into emotionally powerful music like you said you should definitely look into some of his works.

I most definately will, thanks for the tip. Any works in particular you think I should check out?

Oh, I need to get in this:

Edgard Varese
Frank Zappa
Igor Stravinsky
Bela Bartok
John Cage
Ask me if you want suggestions from these great guys.

I'd love any suggestions you have. Though, I was unaware of Zappa composing classical music. I have his Freak Out! album, and know that he was definately a composer, but didn't know he branched out into classical music. I'd love to hear what he came up with.

Bartok: Concerto For Orchestra
Zappa: Yellow Shark, Everything is Healing Nicely
Cage: Litany for the Whale, Sonatas and Interludes (I think it's called)
Stravinsky: Rite of Spring, Firebird Suite, Petroushka

Mozart
Lacrimosa
Requiem
Piano Concerto No. 24 in C minor
K. 491
Symphony No. 40 in G minor
K. 550
Overture

but there are so, so many.

I always find that Modern Classical sounds much better than Baroque and Romantic era-type classical.


-just my opinion.

Don't get me wrong, I love modern classical. But I grew up learning classical piano so I more so enjoy classical, baroque, romantic, and renaissance stuff :)

get some requiem in you

Does anyone have a requiem link? I tried one off rapidshare but it didn't work for me.

I just downloaded The Yellow Shark and enjoyed it so much I'm definitely going to get into some more classical.

Good thread this. I know next to nothing about classical music, but I've been meaning to get started on it for years now (my Dad has a few tons of LPs back his place, so I've heard a good bit of it before), so it's good to know where I should be starting

You mentioned you like "slow and emotional pieces." You should check out Chopin's Nocturnes. They are all amazing romantic solo piano piano pieces that are definetly "slow and emotional."

For more solo piano I would start out with the Beethoven sonatas and Bach's Well Tempered Klavier.

I play the piano, so I love listening to piano works. But if you aren't into it you should check out Beethoven's symphonies and string quartets especially the late ones. I would say that his String Quartet in C# minor, Op. 131 is one of the most powerful pieces I know.

I guess that will get you started. If you like the Chopin a lot look into more composers from the Romantic period like Liszt, Shumann, Tchaikovsky. And If you like the Beethoven, look into Schubert and Mozart as well.

Thank you very much for the tips. That really seems to be exactly what I'm looking for. I think I'm going to start with Chopin's Nocturnes.

My mum introduced me to Tchaikovsky at a very young age and this was a great start. He has sublime melody and that may be off putting for some but to this very day I love that sweetness. Check out Swan Lake/Nutcracker as examples. But he is also powerful as the 1812 Overture shows.

There is just so much out there so good luck in discovering and listening to the brave new world of Classical music. You will not regret the adventure.

You're definetly going to like the Nocturnes. They're one of my favorite collection of piano works by any composer.

The best thing to do is to just start out listening to the big names and then find other composers from their respective periods of music and just keep expanding.

Vivaldi is'nt classic, is baroque.

South Indian Classical Music
 

Have you heard of our Indian Classical Music.It's amazing.Saint Thayagarajar,Muthuswamy Dheekshidhar and Shyama Sasthrigal are our great Carnatic Gurus.They have composed several krithis in different raagas with great devotion towards God.You people will surely enjoy it.

Rachmanioff and Saint-Saens are my favorites followed by Chopin.

I'm in the same boat as a few people in this thread. Ive wanted to get into classical for a long time but I felt I needed directions as for places to start.

Great thread. I shall be using some of the suggestions.

I am a Music Director in Chennai,India working for fusion albums.I have composed Thiruppugazh in fusion,the very first of it's kind.

I don't know much about classical music but I have really gotten into some of Debussy's work the past few weeks, in particular "claire de lune"

Thiruppugazh - Musical verses in praise of lord muruga in our language

Chopin is good! So is Bach and Mozart. By the way, listening to John Cage will improve your appreciation for music immensely! Enjoy! :)

Where can you get classical music for free? Blog searching is proving fruitless

I use torrents, and that's where I get the majority of my classical music.

I'd like to suggest a few:

Beethoven's "Pathetique"
Faure's Opus 50
Mahler's "Kindertotenlieder" (Songs on the Death of Children)

If you are into slow moving music check out anything by Gabriel faure. I love cello versions of his songs (my fav is Elegie Op. 24 done on cello)

check out nobuo uematsu. great modern classical composer. combined of Mozart & beethoven style :)

Check out the classical music for beginners link below, it may be just what you're looking for. It breaks the music down into the different periods and gives recommendations from each, which can be downloaded or bought from Amazon. Excellent little resource for starting a classical music collection.

Manny that is a pretty good observation. I never thought of that, but the bigger the name the better the music. It's true you should start off with big names like Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, his music is very beautiful, and he has a big name with many letters to it, and avoid small names like Carl Orff, and whatever you do, do not listen to Carmina Burana.

Hello blue,

Classical repertory is so huge ..
I personaly recommend you :

Bach's B minor mass
Mozart's C minor mass for 2 choirs and orchestra ( the kyrie is fantastic )
Ravel's piano concerto in G ( slow part )
Barber's "adagio"

emotion, emotion..

If you like Philip Glass, you should check out Max Richter.

I'm just listening to the Kyrie now, and it's honestly incredible. I loved the choir, and the overall power of the music was unreal. Thank you so much for the recommendation, I'll check out the to others very soon.

I actually have 24 Postcards in Full Colour. I gave it a listen once or twice and enjoyed it, though haven't sat down with it in a while; I should do that again. have any other recommendations for other works of his?

Chopin's a good place to start. For one, he's a cool bro. Secondly, I think some of his best pieces are 'Winter Wind" and "The Ocean". Romantic music is really dramatic and gives me cool chills sometimes. Haydn's a strange bro, he's got strange music; but it's all really good anyway. Handel's music is really soothing. I like his "The Water Music" collection;I have it on CD. If you like opera, you should check out the popular Mozart ones, like The Marriage or Figaro and The Magic Flute. Carmen(by Georges Bizet) is a really good opera too. Stuff that gets stuck in your head easily has got to be Fur Elise(Beethoven), The Four Seasons(Vivaldi), Canon in D(Pachelbel), and the little clip of a symphony, Ode to Joy(Mozart). You can even hear those some of songs playing when the ice cream truck comes rolling around.

...is not classical music!

Blue, I recommend listening to any J.S. Bach piece. To me, each piece has it's own relaxing qualities. It's great to listen to if you're feeling stressed!