Recommend me some classical...

[Asterix]

BritishRacinGrin said:

Gustav Holst's 'planets', Mars and Jupiter especially.

I was going to post this.

'Mars' is heavy metal.

[Liszt]

kowalski655 said:

1 piece guarenteed to relax me(usually I doze off ) is Allegri - Miserere
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36Y_ztEW1NE
]

One of my favourites.

[vournikas]

2volvos said:

Thoroughly agree on the Vaughan Williams recommends so far. The Tallis Fantasia is sublime and Lark Ascending obviously comes top of many polls of everyone's favourite.

However, I'd like to suggest his Pastoral Symphony as something that migh fit the relaxing bill.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v228NtwOvTI

We all paint our own pictures and images while listening to music and personally, I see a Battle of Britain station at first light and a Spitfire in flight in the first movement.

I must admit, I do enjoy Beethoven's 6th. It's almost as if - for once - he actually enjoyed writing something for the pleasure of others rather than himself IYSWIM.

In my other post, I mentioned Hildegard of Bingen. R3 earlier played a new recording of one of her pieces by Arianna Savall. This is the nearest version of it I can find; very nice indeed, especially if you like the Miserere by Allegri :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZa95OgwCEU

[Simes205]

2volvos said:

Thoroughly agree on the Vaughan Williams recommends so far. The Tallis Fantasia is sublime and Lark Ascending obviously comes top of many polls of everyone's favourite.

However, I'd like to suggest his Pastoral Symphony as something that migh fit the relaxing bill.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v228NtwOvTI

We all paint our own pictures and images while listening to music and personally, I see a Battle of Britain station at first light and a Spitfire in flight in the first movement.

The london symphony and Sea symphony By RVW are pretty good.

[2volvos]

Simes205 said:

The london symphony and Sea symphony By RVW are pretty good.

Yes they are indeed! Try out his string quartets as well.

For the ultimate in relaxation classics though try out Bach's solo cello suites.

[K12beano]

Gabriel Fauré: Pavane; Dolly.

Georges Bizet: L'Arlésienne

Debussy: Bergamasque Suite

Chopin: "anything"!

[vournikas]

Having mentioned RVW's Thomas Tallis Fantasia on page 1, I should post up what - for me - is the best version I've ever heard :

Andrew Davis conducts the BBC Symphony Orchestra at Gloucester Cathedral

[Zad]

Some more Vivaldi: Music for the royal fireworks
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7vJ2UFbeXA

Some Beethoven:
All his piano concertos (1 - 5) but especially number 5 "The Emperor"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EcERd6E0ws

Symphony No. 3 "Eroica"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YObQ6bP0eDQ

A bit of Widor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzd-AdxqNn4

Good for mountain twisties, but watch your speed on the latter part of it!

[TheExcession]

GetCarter said:

If you like Vivaldi and Handel, then you'll like the Baroque stars

J S Bach is the daddy, but I'm really keen on Handel's - Concerto Grossi

Faves being:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3qogMsVkQU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xeqiNjIYKGQ

Maths and music meet.

Mr Bach was a bit good, here's another butchered about and buggered with version.

Ian Anderson Orchestral Jethro Tull - about 52 minutes in.

[speedysoprano]

Albinoni's Adagio is a good one if you like Baroque (which it seems that you do!)

Also, check out Purcell's opera Dido and Aeneas. All of it is beautiful, but Dido's Lament is utterly stunning.

My personal pick is Ravel's Piano Concerto in G Major - with jazz influences and one of the most beautiful slow movements you'll ever hear. Just a cracking piece! I'd recommend the Krystian Zimerman or Martha Argerich recordings. It's both relaxing and uplifting!

Don't know how you feel about opera (be nice, it's what I do! hehe) but I'd also suggest a CD of Mozart Opera highlights, and also Puccini or Verdi opera highlights. Fantastic tunes and the beauty and emotion of the human voice is difficult to resist.

I'll also put my hand up for Chopin - his music is pretty much universally beautiful and moving, as well as exciting. Also Debussy's Suite Bergamasque or both sets of Images for solo piano.

Beethoven's Symphonies are also fantastic - the 9th is incredible. I'm also a big fan of Mahler's 8th Symphony, although that's pretty full-on and takes some getting into, I'd say... well it did for me!

There's a HUGE world of wonderful music out there. I think the best thing to do is just explore, find composers that you like, listen to more of them and check out related/similar composers. There's endless variety.

[gizlaroc]

Why does everyone choose the old stuff?
Not knocking them, but so many more would get into classical with the more modern stuff imho.

These three tend to be easy to get into...


Ludovico Einaudi

Craig Armstrong

Karl Jenkins

[Asterix]

Here's a waltz by some unknown...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LGVGekPSzo

[GetCarter]

gizlaroc said:

Why does everyone choose the old stuff?
Not knocking them, but so many more would get into classical with the more modern stuff imho.

These three tend to be easy to get into...


Ludovico Einaudi

Craig Armstrong

Karl Jenkins

I mentioned Bach and Handel as the O/P mentioned Vivaldi. I too love Einaudi's work.

You may (or may not) be interested, but writing mostly orchestral music is my day job. When I have some down time in the studio with a bunch of string players (not often!) I get them to record some of my baroque stuff - just for the hell of it. Below a 60 second clip recorded with 12 strings in Angel Sudio 1.

http://SteveCarter.com/60Baroque.mp3

ETA I should point out this is sight reading / first take.

Edited by GetCarter on Tuesday 24th March 11:55

[kowalski655]

That is very good!

I think a lot of modern scores for films etc can be considered in the genre(I posted a Michael Nyman piece for a Peter Greenaway film earlier) and can be as good
I think a lot of people when thinking of "modern" classical still think of pieces that sound like the orchestra is being blown up

[Asterix]

kowalski655 said:

That is very good!

I think a lot of modern scores for films etc can be considered in the genre(I posted a Michael Nyman piece for a Peter Greenaway film earlier) and can be as good
I think a lot of people when thinking of "modern" classical still think of pieces that sound like the orchestra is being blown up

Indeed - 'Modern' piano work sounds like an enraged gorilla with a twitch hammering the hell out of the keyboard.

[Simes205]

At Music college we used to call it "squeaky gate" music.
Music is consistently pushing the boundaries.
Try this:

Karlheinz Stockhausen "Helicopter String Quartet"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13D1YY_BvWU

or - this is actually quite nice

Steve Reich w/ Pat Metheny - Electric Counterpoint (Fast Movement - Part 3)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4JVz5dsHpY

[Simes205]

GetCarter said:

gizlaroc said:

Why does everyone choose the old stuff?
Not knocking them, but so many more would get into classical with the more modern stuff imho.

These three tend to be easy to get into...


Ludovico Einaudi

Craig Armstrong

Karl Jenkins

I mentioned Bach and Handel as the O/P mentioned Vivaldi. I too love Einaudi's work.

You may (or may not) be interested, but writing mostly orchestral music is my day job. When I have some down time in the studio with a bunch of string players (not often!) I get them to record some of my baroque stuff - just for the hell of it. Below a 60 second clip recorded with 12 strings in Angel Sudio 1.

http://SteveCarter.com/60Baroque.mp3

ETA I should point out this is sight reading / first take.

Edited by GetCarter on Tuesday 24th March 11:55

Nice!
A bit more continuo please!!

[gizlaroc]

GetCarter said:

I mentioned Bach and Handel as the O/P mentioned Vivaldi. I too love Einaudi's work.

You may (or may not) be interested, but writing mostly orchestral music is my day job. When I have some down time in the studio with a bunch of string players (not often!) I get them to record some of my baroque stuff - just for the hell of it. Below a 60 second clip recorded with 12 strings in Angel Sudio 1.

http://SteveCarter.com/60Baroque.mp3

ETA I should point out this is sight reading / first take.

Nice!




The OP should have a go with https://calmradio.com, a great way to find out what you like.

I end up listening to the acoustic stuff most of the day.

[vournikas]

Asterix said:

Indeed - 'Modern' piano work sounds like an enraged gorilla with a twitch hammering the hell out of the keyboard.

I would offer these two as a counterpoint :-

L' airone by Fabrizio Paterlini

Metamorphosis #5 by Philip Glass

Much "modern" classical leaves me cold though, I must admit. Exceptions - for me - being Vaughan-Williams / Glass / Part / Rachmaninov / Elgar. I've heard a couple of pieces by Howard Skempton which were pretty agreeable as well.

Here's one

[brickwall]

Zad said:

A bit of Widor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzd-AdxqNn4

This is possibly my favourite piece to play, even if it does leave you thinking your right hand will never work again.

Some suggestions from me (I will not touch symphonies as there are plenty of good suggestions above).

Organ music:
- Anything by Bach, but if I had to pick one then the Passacaglia and Fugue in C Minor https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F51uHpH3yQk
- Vierne: Finale from Symphony no.1 ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xD2XJeRQOaw[/url])...)
- Boellmann Suite Gothique - the Toccata at the end is fun ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOyHci0j518)

Concertos:
- Saint-Saens Symphony no.3 'Organ' (It's half symphony, half organ-concerto. And it's marvellous.) ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWCZq33BrOo)
- Rachmaninoff 2. All the movements are fabulous, the 2nd is perhaps the most famous ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEGOihjqO9w)
- Bruch violin concerto 3rd movement ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JiIm-vNBpao)
- Grieg piano concerto ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nokqNHsNEPw)
- Saint-Saens piano concerto no.2, especially the 1st movement ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxi3E5wnHo8)
- For the true slush-factor, try John Rutter's 'Beatles' Piano concerto ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1vEKdJJZ5o&li...)

Choral music:
There is just so much. I can't link it all. Below are a few suggestions to get started on.

- Small, quiet pieces:
O Magnum Mysterium (Morten Lauridsen), Crucifixus (Lotti), If ye love me (Tallis), Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace (Wesley), and loads of John Rutter (in particular Open Thou Mine Eyes, The Lord Bless You and Keep You, and What Sweeter Music)

- Canticles (Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis settings):
Stanford in G, Howells Collegium Regale, Dyson in D

- The Requiems:
Mozart, Brahms, Faure, Verdi. They're all really good.

- The big pieces:
Dream of Gerontius (Elgar - listen to 'Praise to the Holiest'), St John and St Matthew Passions (Bach), Mass in B Minor (Bach), Magnificat (Bach), Messiah (Handel), Elijah (Mendelssohn)

- Big anthems:
I Was Glad and Blest Pair of Sirens (Parry), The Heavens are Telling (Haydn, from 'The Creation'), For Lo I Raise Up (Stanford), I Saw the Lord (Stainer), Greater Love Hath No Man (John Ireland), Zadok the Priest (Handel)

Lastly, I'd recommend the Rachmaninoff Piano Preludes, especially No.5 in G Minor, No.5 in G Major, No.2 in B Flat Major, No.12 in G Sharp Minor, and No.13 in D Flat Major (which, being the last one in the set, has a real sense of finality about it).