How to get started in classical music?

[Sanddancer]

This is something that comes up quite a lot and it always interests me since I'm in the same boat. I was familiar with a fair bit of the more popular stuff and spent a long while listening to Classic FM pretty much exclusively on the commute in the car everyday. I stopped for a while though and seem to find it a bit difficult to get back into it.

It's not just the volume of the music that's out there that's daunting, it's the complexity of it and the depth of people's analysis of the music. It's one of those situations where I can listen to it and enjoy it, but I get the feeling that I'm missing out on so much of it and I'd only be able to appreciate it "properly" after years of study. Kinda like getting hammered on a Friday night with the finest, 40 year old single malt - you may be having fun, but you're missing the point. Reading the Mahler's symphonies and Shostakovich threads makes my head hurt!

What I'd love is some kind of classical music noob group. Run in the same way that book clubs are. Someone knowledgable could have a stickied thread giving this month's piece, an accessible and easily attainable recording of a piece of music. Notified a month in advance everyone would have time to order, buy, beg, borrow or steal (not really steal!) a copy. Then everyone could litsen, analyse and then have a thread dedicated to that piece with the noobs giving their impressions, what they liked, what they thought, their take on it. The experienced folks would come in with the history of the piece, its signifigance, which parts to look out for, what the composer is trying to achieve, which parts are due to the composer, the conductor and the orchestra, pointing out all those things that would be missed by someone just thinking of V for Vendatta as they listen to the 1812 or whatever.

I think it'd be a great way for a community of new classical listeners to learn and a good way of promoting debate and discourse.

 

[vcoheda]

do a search, here and on google. you will find plenty of good info.

 

[scompton]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sanddancer /img/forum/go_quote.gif It's not just the volume of the music that's out there that's daunting, it's the complexity of it and the depth of people's analysis of the music. It's one of those situations where I can listen to it and enjoy it, but I get the feeling that I'm missing out on so much of it and I'd only be able to appreciate it "properly" after years of study. Kinda like getting hammered on a Friday night with the finest, 40 year old single malt - you may be having fun, but you're missing the point. Reading the Mahler's symphonies and Shostakovich threads makes my head hurt!

Don't be put off by people who know more than you do. I think most of the heavy participators in those threads have multiple copies of the same piece to compare and contrast. From some of the comments, I think many of them are classical musicians, maybe not professional, but serious amateurs either now or in the past. I know I've seen at least one post suggesting reading along with the score while listening to notice changes made in the arrangement. That's way over my head. You don't need to over analyze classical music to enjoy it. Just let the sound wash over you. Have you ever read a book review that over analyzed a book? That doesn't stop you from reading does it? Same goes for movies and other genres of music.

Don't worry about getting the absolute best, or definitive, version of a piece. Even inexpensive labels with obscure performers have some beautiful music. As I posted before, the library is a great place to

 

[bigshot]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sanddancer /img/forum/go_quote.gif It's not just the volume of the music that's out there that's daunting, it's the complexity of it and the depth of people's analysis of the music.

Listening to music is only half of it... It's just as important to think about what you're listening to. Classical music is definately not background music. You need to do a little research, but that pays off in spades, because classical music has depth that many other types of music don't have.

I've spent a few decades seriously devouring all types of music, and I never regretted the time I've put into learning about it. The best place to learn is from other music lovers. You have to be receptive to what they share with you though. If you decide on your own tight focus of interest and don't pay attention to what knowledgeable people are offering to you, you'll miss a lot.

The best way to approach it is to just ask. People who know about music love to talk about it. (Of course people who don't know jack-diddly love to talk on the internet too, but that's a different subject...)

See ya
Steve

 

[scompton]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigshot /img/forum/go_quote.gif Listening to music is only half of it... It's just as important to think about what you're listening to. Classical music is definately not background music. You need to do a little research, but that pays off in spades, because classical music has depth that many other types of music don't have.

I use it as background music all the time, and I'm sure I'm not alone. The classical radio station here in DC that changed formats a few months ago (curse you Clearchannel) used to advertise itself as the station to listen to at work. You don't need to know music theory or understand a piece to enjoy listening to it. This is what's intimidating to the OP. It's like saying you need to understand cord changes to appreciate rock. Since I don't know what cord changes are, I may not have gotten that right.

. Actually, you may need to know music theory to get some 20th century music. And I'm sure you can appreciate even pop classical more if you do.

That said, it definitely rewards sitting down and listening without distractions. But to me that applies to all music.

 

[MCC]

I'm a major fan of Bloch's Concerto Grosso.

 

[Febs]

Quote:

Originally Posted by scompton /img/forum/go_quote.gif It's like saying you need to understand cord changes to appreciate rock. Since I don't know what cord changes are, I may not have gotten that right. .

"Cord changes" are things that people around here spend to much money on. "Chord changes" are the heart of jazz and rock and roll.

 

[scompton]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Febs /img/forum/go_quote.gif "Cord changes" are things that people around here spend to much money on. "Chord changes" are the heart of jazz and rock and roll.

I did say I didn't know what they are

 

[bigshot]

Quote:

Originally Posted by scompton /img/forum/go_quote.gif I use it as background music all the time, and I'm sure I'm not alone.

You get out of it what you put into it. Classical music was composed to be carefully listened to and thought about. Using it as background music is like using Rembrant paintings as wallpaper in your house. It might be "nice", but you really aren't appreciating it for what it is.

See ya
Steve

 

[Stephen_Ri]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigshot /img/forum/go_quote.gif You get out of it what you put into it. Classical music was composed to be carefully listened to and thought about. Using it as background music is like using Rembrant paintings as wallpaper in your house. It might be "nice", but you really aren't appreciating it for what it is.

I agree. Most people never "get" classical music, because they don't know how to listen to it; if you want background music, a lot of Indian classical music was written with that in mind (and it is consequently much more satisfying in this function). Or maybe John Cage. But not the vast majority of European-tradition classical music. BTW, I too highly encourage the potential listener to check their local library; radio can be hard to fucus upon at times, since it offers less control to the listener, and is usually not the best rout for the audiophile anyway.

 

[scompton]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stephen_Ri /img/forum/go_quote.gif BTW, I too highly encourage the potential listener to check their local library; radio can be hard to fucus upon at times, since it offers less control to the listener, and is usually not the best rout for the audiophile anyway.

My library has a great collection, but most CDs are too beat up to be considered audiophile. I mostly use it to figure out what I like before I buy it.

 

[scompton]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigshot /img/forum/go_quote.gif You get out of it what you put into it. Classical music was composed to be carefully listened to and thought about. Using it as background music is like using Rembrant paintings as wallpaper in your house. It might be "nice", but you really aren't appreciating it for what it is. See ya Steve

From what I've read, most classical music, at least in the classical and romantic periods, was written as the pop music of the day. Mozart's serenades were written specifically as background music to be played during dinners. I doubt people sat around analyzing Schubert's lieder. Most chamber music was written to be played by families. Admittedly, some music was specifically written for musicians and analysis, most notably Bach's Well Tempered Clavier and Art of the Fugue. Even those can be enjoyed without analysis, I listen to both frequently and I've never analyzed music. I know people who analyze to death jazz and rock. I had a roommate who could go on for hours about a few scenes in a movie. Do you think that you have to analyze jazz, rock, and movies to enjoy them?

I get most classical music. Would I enjoy it more if I knew music theory? Maybe. I think that for some of the 20th century music that I find unlistenable, I'd understand what the composer was doing, but I'd still find it unlistenalbe. I might appreciate more some of the radical things Beethoven did, but I couldn't like listening to the music more than I do now.

I feel that a lot of people don't get classical music because they are intimidated by people who say that you have to listen carefully, analyze and understand every nuance. They don't believe they have the knowledge or ability to do it, so they don't bother listening at all.

 

[eyeteeth]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spareribs /img/forum/go_quote.gif Personally, I kinda don't like "essential's" lists. Just take it with a grain of salt. Basically, there are 4 kinds of classical music. You have : *Baroque *The classical period of the 1700s *The romantic era of the 1800s * 20th century music. They also come in forms of chamber music too I know this is just a rough generalization but it's basically how it's broken down. Find out what period you like best and concentrate on it perhaps. For me, I tend to prefer baroque and 20 century works the best and that's what I concentrate on most but I have to admit that I also enjoy the other categories as well often enough Perhaps you can take this route as a way to organize your venture into this huge genre. Also reviews of CDs at Amazon.com can be helpful to some degree.

I'm a classical newbie and I've been happy proceeding chronologically. Proceeding without any hurry that is. One item I saw of interest to a beginner, but did not get, is The NPR Listener's Encyclopedia of Classical Music (Paperback). What is notable about this is "a companion website has free audio links to over 500 pieces mentioned in the book."

I've never liked greatest hits for anything but they can be useful for someone who has not yet found preferences and classical can seem vast. If a greatest hits is not too small it can be ok. I bought the $18 six CD set Best Bach 100, which BTW has good SQ, and it succeeded in launching me into having a shortage of pocket change with the chasing down of various Pinnock, Roussett, Fisch, etc.

 

[bigshot]

Quote:

Originally Posted by scompton /img/forum/go_quote.gif Do you think that you have to analyze jazz, rock, and movies to enjoy them?

Not necessarily if all you want to do is enjoy it. But if you want to understand it, you have to turn your brain on.

Music is a language. You become more fluent by listening and thinking about what you hear.

See ya
Steve

 

[Steve999]

WETA 90.9 in DC just switched to all-classical.

Quote:

Originally Posted by scompton /img/forum/go_quote.gif The classical radio station here in DC that changed formats a few months ago (curse you Clearchannel) used to advertise itself as the station to listen to at work.