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Ten CDs to Introduce New Listeners to Classical Music - Page 2

post #16 of 39
8/27/05 at 12:06am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by atomic
Do you all think chamber music is less "accessible" to people new to classical? Or do you think that there's simply more "famous" orchestral music that is easier for new listeners to appreciate?
I think people new to classical are used to classical music in Bugs Bunny cartoons and movie soundtracks. Chamber music is great, but for a first timer, it may seem kind of stripped down. I could do a list of ten CDs to introduce them to chamber music though!

See ya
Steve
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post #17 of 39
8/27/05 at 12:12am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by LFF
For The TRUE BEGINNERS (Padawans of Classical Music)
This is where I fit in when I got into classical music. Find someone who LOVES & ADORES classical music and hang out with them. Listen to thier collection, discuss the works, the eras, the sub-genres
That's always the best advice.

Two words no one has mentioned yet... PUBLIC LIBRARY. You
can find ALL of this and most pop CDs too at the library for FREE.
I mentioned this over at iPodLounge and suddenly there was a
rush of people checking out massive quantities of CDs from their
local libraries.

See ya
Steve

By the way, I've found Naxos to be better at the edges of classical repetoire than in the middle. There are better budget priced Beethoven Symphonies for instance on the majors than on Naxos.
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post #18 of 39
8/27/05 at 1:22am
Thanks for the recommendations. I've only really begun to seriously start collecting Classical music and have completely fallen in love with it thanks to threads like these here at Head Fi.
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post #19 of 39
8/27/05 at 2:51am
The first classical music I ever listened to (and instantly fell in love with) was the Brandenburg Concertos (J.S. Bach) and the overture to The Bartered Bride (Smetana).
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post #20 of 39
8/27/05 at 4:50am
Thread Starter 
With me it was Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition and Wagner's Fliegende Hollander overture.

One other recommendation for both new and seasoned classical music fans...

There has never been a better television series on classical music than Leonard Bernstein's Young People's Concerts. I got a set on DVD and they are amazingly eye opening- they aren't kid stuff. If your local library has the these, don't hesitate to check them out.

See ya
Steve
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post #21 of 39
2/2/11 at 9:37pm

GREAT thread. Very nice to see a thread that is simply informative. everyone here is just contributing without loads of argument or derailment.

 

Just my 2 cents:

 

Classical music is hard to get into. I'm not sure exactly why or how, but you need to really listen to it to get it right. In my opinion, most lyrically based music has direct implications. It is explicitly defined. There is one intended meaning. Classical music is different because the subjects and emotions are ENTIRELY subjective. 

 

Also, I like this song, from Fringe. Beautiful in my limited range of "Classical" music:

 

 

What music would be good for me?

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post #22 of 39
2/3/11 at 2:10pm
Quote:

What music would be good for me?

 

How about some late 19th early 20th century piano music : a selection of Debussy's piano works or maybe Rachmaninov Preludes?
 

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post #23 of 39
2/3/11 at 3:20pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by chrisjackson View Post

Quote:

What music would be good for me?

 

How about some late 19th early 20th century piano music : a selection of Debussy's piano works or maybe Rachmaninov Preludes?
 


I love Debussy's piano pieces. I find these the easiest classical pieces to get into.

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post #24 of 39
2/4/11 at 11:15pm

Here are a few of my favorite choral music selections.  There really is nothing quite like the rich texture of tight vocal harmony.   

 

From Chanticleer - (1) The Anniversary Album; (2) Evening Prayer: Purcell Anthems and Sacred Songs; (3) Wonderous Love

 

From the King's Singers - Annie Laurie - Folksongs of the British Isles

 

Bach Motets Rias Kammerchor (import - available on amazon)

 

From the LA Master Chorale - Lux Aeterna (by Morten Lauridson)  [more modern and slightly less accessible to beginning listeners but full of incredible close harmonies.]

 

Most anything from the Kings College Choir

 

-------

 

As an aside, for those looking for free classical music, AVRO is a 320kb/s internet radio station in the NL that I've been enjoying quite a bit.  (See: http://play.internet-radio-guide.net/classical-radio-online/en/1070/avro-light-classical-high-definition.html )

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post #25 of 39
2/4/11 at 11:32pm

Please excuse me if this isn't classical, but to my untrained ear Sun Kil Moon is very easy listening and somewhat classical.

 

 

Carly Comando is also really good.

 

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post #26 of 39
2/7/11 at 9:50am

Following quite a bit of classical listening over the weekend, here are a couple of additional superb recordings I would add to the list of must haves: 

 

Rachmaninov's Vespers - Choir of King's College, Cambridge

 

Handel: Coronation Anthems - The English Concert, Pinnock

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post #27 of 39
2/12/11 at 11:44am

this box set is a good intro to classical at a great price (25 CDs for $75). set includes 5 complete operas, 10 concerts and 2 recitals all live from the salzburg festival.

 

51HkKFG6a1L._SS400_.jpg

 

 

http://www.amazon.com/50-Years-Grosses-Festspielhaus-Salzburg/dp/B003R76Q4M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1297539737&sr=1-1

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post #28 of 39
6/29/11 at 1:10am

This should be good for beginners as well:

 

 

van_Cliburn_RCA_.jpg

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post #29 of 39
6/29/11 at 3:46am

Great list, Bigshot. Personally, I don't know those recordings, but that seems like a very sensible range of works; my one doubt would be the Ring Without Words because it seems to me that Wagner's music pretty much has to be understood in its dramatic context. I'd recommend a classical newbie to hold off completely on Wagner and maybe listen to some late Bruckner instead. I'd also like to see a Mahler 2 and Shostakovich 5: both great works for someone coming afresh to classical music.

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post #30 of 39
6/29/11 at 9:44am
Thread Starter 
Thanks.

I have more full Rings than fingers and toes, but parts like Rhine Journey, Forest Mumurs and Wotan's Farewell excerpt fine. That particular cd is worth it for Szell's spectacular conducting. He was a powerhouse when he wanted to be.
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