Introduce me to some Chamber music?

[kwitel]

Due to the advice given to me by many classical loving head-fiers, I think my next step is trying some chamber style classical.
Reason being, the big orchestra pieces dont seem to be doing it for me; I find most of these too "big" and "bombastic" sounding and sometimes too dramtic. I am looking for less instruments (I think); preferably very warm, melodic and emotional music. I dont mind a bit of a darker feel as well...

Suggestions?

 

[mbhaub]

Ok, here's a sampling. At this time don't worry about having the "greatest" version. Just enjoy the music.

1) Schubert Octet
2) Brahms Piano Quartet in g minor
3) Borodin String Quartet no. 2
4) Shostakovich any string quartet
5) Franz Schmidt piano quintet in g minor

 

[scytheavatar]

You could start off with some chamber music from Schubert, which tends to be more accessible than the stuff from Beethoven. I recommend these 2:

Amazon.com: Schubert: Trout Quintet, Death and the Maiden / Amadeus Quartet: Franz Schubert, Norbert Brainin, Emil Grigoryevich Gilels, Martin Lovett, Peter Schidlof, Rainer Zepperitz, Amadeus Quartet: Music

Amazon.com: Schubert: The String Quartets: Franz Schubert, Melos Quartett Stuttgart: Music

And while you are at it, you might want to pick up some piano music. I recommend this:

Amazon.com: Ivan Moravec Plays (Box Set): Ludwig van Beethoven, Frederic Chopin, Claude Debussy, Cesar Franck, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Maurice Ravel, Ivan Moravec: Music

 

[aristos_achaion]

If you're looking for emotion, try some early Baroque, especially someone like Monteverdi...completely different style of music from the late Baroque (Bach, Handel), and a radically different sort of emotionality from the Romantic. Plus, almost everything from that timeperiod would be considered small-scale by modern standards...definitely, definitely not big or bombastic.

I highly recommend Emmanuel Haim's recording of Monteverdi's l'Orfeo...it's probably my favorite recording of anything from any period.

Rinaldo Alessandrini's recordings of Monteverdi's Madrigals, especially his recording of Book 8, are absolute classics, and I highly recommend them as well.

 

[EnOYiN]

Tin Hat Trio - The Sad Machinery of Spring. A very nice jazzy/ classical album. I really like it myself. (obviously)

Beethoven's late string quartets. I love these pieces. Especially No. 14 in C Sharp Minor. Check it out some time.

 

[FinnishFlash]

There are many excellent recommendations above. I would like to add a couple of my personal favorites:

Brahms: Clarinet Quintet - if there is a "very warm, melodic and emotional" piece of music, then this is it!

Brahms: Clarinet Trio: a bit darker and more rugged than the quintet, but very, very beautiful.

Mozart: Clarinet Quintet: IMHO, perhaps both the greatest piece of chamber music ever written and one of Mozart's greatest instrumental works. Very melodic (although not very openly emotional) and very accessible for a chamber music newbie.

In addition to those, I second scytheavatar's recommendation for Schubert's "Death and the Maiden" quartet, and would like to add his great String Quintet for good measure.

Disclaimer: I am not a clarinet player and have never been involved in a close personal relationship with one...those lucky bastards just happen to have two of the greatest chamber music works ever (the Brahms and Mozart quintets) written for their instrument...

 

[doping panda]

Quote:

Originally Posted by FinnishFlash /img/forum/go_quote.gif There are many excellent recommendations above. I would like to add a couple of my personal favorites: Brahms: Clarinet Quintet - if there is a "very warm, melodic and emotional" piece of music, then this is it! Brahms: Clarinet Trio: a bit darker and more rugged than the quintet, but very, very beautiful. Mozart: Clarinet Quintet: IMHO, perhaps both the greatest piece of chamber music ever written and one of Mozart's greatest instrumental works. Very melodic (although not very openly emotional) and very accessible for a chamber music newbie. In addition to those, I second scytheavatar's recommendation for Schubert's "Death and the Maiden" quartet, and would like to add his great String Quintet for good measure. Disclaimer: I am not a clarinet player and have never been involved in a close personal relationship with one...those lucky bastards just happen to have two of the greatest chamber music works ever (the Brahms and Mozart quintets) written for their instrument...

Completely agree on all counts. The Clarinet Quintets are on another level when it comes to chamber music - I was actually going to post to recommend them since no one did the last time I checked this thread. Every time I listen to those two works I have the sudden desire to pick up a clarinet. The Brahms Clarinet Trio, "Death and the Maiden" and the Schubert String Quintet are all great as well. I'd also recommend the Taneyev Piano Trio and Quintet. I recommend the Pletnev recording, but it's the only one to which I've listened. Oh yes, the Taneyev may not be your cup of tea the first time through. I feel that the Quintet especially is exceptional, but you may have to struggle with it a bit before loving it. There's plenty of emotion, but it's not melodramatic nor is it as immediate as some of the more famous chamber works.

Taneyev: Piano Quintet and Piano Trio

 

[stokitw]

Janacek String Quartet No.1 & 2
Very SEXY..
The recording is somewhat warm

Or you can get any other performance, these two works are very lovable.

 

[kodreaming]

Haydn Piano Trios
Boccherini String Quartet

 

[Joannha98]

Thanks for sharing all the lists and the links. They're very helpful. Since I want to download this kind of music.

 

[kanix]

second Schubert string quartet

 

[Skorpitarius]

Arnold Schoenberg

"Verklarkte Nacht" especially !