help me get started with classical music - Page 2

Can I suggest the Sixteen with Harry Christophers version instead? JEG's conducting drags for me.

 

As you've started with Bach, maybe for vocal you could sample either St Matthew's or St John's passions. The Mass in B Minor (esp. Christophers/Sixteen, for me) is a glorious Bach Vocal omnibus, but definitiely hard to take in a single sitting (and a massive demand on the choral forces)
 

I think someone already said it, but I'll say it again: check the library in your town. Mine has a ton of classical available, and it seems like I'm one of the few people who ever check them out. You can then start to form opinions based on what you liked or didn't like.

Don't know what works for you but I started my classical journey listening to romantic pieces, especially violin concertos. Tchaikovsky and Brahms's violin concertos, as well as Beethoven's 7th were the ones that really got me into classical. I wasn't really a Bach guy at the beginning.

 

Try listening to pieces from the different eras. Different eras each have their distinctive styles so see which one is your cup of tea first. Then explore on from there.

I think it is good to find a genre within classical and explore that for a while maybe?

 

The actual word "classical" encompasses such a vast area.

 

I'm very keen on impressionists such as Debussy, Ravel and others. In fact I'm a huge fan of Maurice Ravel's compositions. But I also spend a lot of time listening to the nationalists such as Bartok. At present I'm exploring the works of George Enescu, who is somewhat expressionist and somewhat nationalist :)

 

Personally I don't tend to recommend "flagship" works to people who are getting into classical such as those massive well known symphonies such as those by, say, Beethoven. They are absolutely fabulous of course, I love them and have them, but I think their very flagship-ness makes it hard to get your head around them at first.

 

There are lots of differing opinions in classical music of course. I notice someone mentioned Furtwangler the conductor. I confess I am not one for Furtwangler at all, I find his performances of Beethoven and Mahler symphonies to be very uninteresting personally, however that is in no way to suggest that the other person's view is not valid, it is just my way of seeing things!

 

There are many superb works listed already in the thread. I did see this:

 

Bartok - Conerto For Orchestra & Music For Strings, Celesta & Percussion as performed by Seiji Ozawa & the Saito kinen orchestra on Philips

 

I love the Concerto for Orchestra by Bartok and that is a superb version. Another piece by Bartok is the Miraculous Mandarin Suite. Bartok of course is 20th century and I think you might find it is easy to strike up a relationship with his work.

 

The Miraculous Mandarin Suite starts with an impressionist sequence of a busy street. There is so much in that short "scene", so much about modern life. You might find the work quite captivating.

 

 

Take a listen to the soundtrack to the movie "Amadeus."  It is wonderful.  You get a great snapshot into Mozart's whole career.
 

OK, try to get pass the title. This is a well written guide to learning classical music. If you buy it used be certain it has the accompanying CD.

 

Find a copy of the "NPR Curious Listener's Guide to Classical Music." It will help you get your feet wet and has solid recommendations for building a library. You should also stream a classical station. My local favorite is KUSC 91.5 in LA. IIRC, they stream, and they're commercial-free. Give it a listen and start picking up whatever catches your ear.

And congrats on getting into classical - you'll find years of great listening since the body of work is massive. The subgenres are hugely varied, and most work holds up to multiple listens. It might be the most satisfying genre of all since you can spend a lifetime exploring everything.

If you don't have a turntable, maybe think about getting one. Classical on vinyl is easily found and almost always inexpensive. The collectors aren't quite as rabid as jazz and rock collectors are. A SACD player might be a good investment, too, since probably 80% of the format is classical. The extra resolution really pays off with classical recordings, which tend to be excellent. I don't think the Loudness War ever took hold in classical.