Instrumentals and classical music

[RizzoTheRat]

I've started wearing headphones in the office when it's noisy, but find music with lyrics a bit distracting.

I know very little about classical music, but have long been of the opinion that Adagio for Strings is one of the finest pieces of music ever written. William Orbit's "Pieces in a modern Style" is a good kind of crossover, and I like some modern stuff played on alternative instruments, like 2Cellos and The Piano Guys.

So any recommendations of must listen instrumentals or classical pieces, or albums/artists or spotify/youtube playlists I should be giving a go?

[vaud]

Sleep by max richter (and much of his other work)

symphony 3 by Gorecki

Ludovico Einaudi

As you like pieces in a modern style, reverse engineer and listen to the originals and see what Spotify recommends.

[TownIdiot]

Spotify is excellent for finding new artists in a similar style to stuff you like.

There should be an artist radio and that will play a mix from the choses artists genre. If something particularly interesting comes up then you can investigate further.

Also there is much less talking on Radio 3 than the likes of classic FM

[RizzoTheRat]

Ricter's Dream 1 is a slow starter so far, not bad for my purpose of some background music but not really that engaging. I will persevere.

Spotify recommendations based on things I already know is my main approach (although currently on YouTube Music as I can't remember my Spotify password ) Film scores is my other go to for finding good classical stuff.

[jesusbuiltmycar]

I used to listen ti NIN Ghosts i-iv all instrumental and quite mellow, Trent Reznor described Ghosts as "a soundtrack for daydreams,"

[Super Sonic]

Sibelius' violin concerto
Holst's 'Jupiter'
Or you could listen to R3, then switch to classical fm when they play opera, then switch back when the adverts come on.
Also, if you like instrumental music, try Autechre's first three albums, Incunabula, Amber and Tri Repeta.

Edited by Super Sonic on Tuesday 29th October 10:33

Edited by Super Sonic on Tuesday 29th October 10:36

[vaud]

Also try searching on bing.

"i like William Orbits adagio for strings - what else might I like?"

[RizzoTheRat]

I didn't realise anyone ever used Bing to search for anything other than "how do I change my default search engine to Google"


I'm more a Mars fan than Jupiter, but quite liking Sibelius's Violin Concerto so far.

[Super Sonic]

If you like the Sibelius you may like this.
Brahms Concerto pour Violin.
Or look for violin concertos from other composers.

[SO27]

Moby's Long Ambients is worth a go

[cherryowen]

Some favourites of mine:-

Ralph Vaughan-Williams : Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis
Ralph Vaughan-Williams : Five Variants on Divaes & Lazarus
Chopin : Piano Concerto No.1
Chopin : Berceuse
Chopin : Noctune No.1 Opus 9
Chopin : Ballade No.1
Mussorgsky : Pictures at an Exhibition
Mozart : Piano Concerto no.21
Beethoven : The Coriolan Overture
Bruckner : Symphony no.9 (2nd movement)
Debussy : La Prelude de l'apres Midi d'un Faune
Beethoven : Piano concerto no.5
Neilsen : Helios Overture Opus 17

There's a couple of hours for you or thereabouts, OP!

[Nemophilist]

I enjoy a similar style to what’s previous mentioned and have also recently been listening to The Goldberg Variations by Bach

[king arthur]

vaud said:

Ludovico Einaudi

If you watched a lot of Top Gear when it was Clarkson Hammond and May, they used to use his music a lot especially when in Italy. Actually that's probably how I became aware of him.

[Riley Blue]

I'm not ashamed to admit that this has me in tears every time I listen to it so I'll just post the link:

https://youtu.be/OPhkZW_jwc0

It's Jacqueline du Pre and Daniel Barenboim with Elgar's Cello Concerto.

[vaud]

Riley Blue said:

I'm not ashamed to admit that this has me in tears every time I listen to it so I'll just post the link:

https://youtu.be/OPhkZW_jwc0

It's Jacqueline du Pre and Daniel Barenboim with Elgar's Cello Concerto.

It’s a stunning piece with a complex story.

[Stealthracer]

I hate both singes and singing, and find most rock and all pop 'music' utter bilge, so every radio I possess is tuned permanently to Classic FM (only switched off for opera), and woe betide anyone who tampers with it.

Difficult to recommend any modern artist who is predominantly instrumental as so few even feature it at all. Young people these days don't seem to know it even exists, and people of my age think it begins and ends with the Shadows (boring).

[Super Sonic]

Stealthracer said:

I hate both singes and singing, and find most rock and all pop 'music' utter bilge, so every radio I possess is tuned permanently to Classic FM (only switched off for opera), and woe betide anyone who tampers with it.

Difficult to recommend any modern artist who is predominantly instrumental as so few even feature it at all. Young people these days don't seem to know it even exists, and people of my age think it begins and ends with the Shadows (boring).

Lol I listen to R3 but also can't stand opera. As for modern instrumental see my Autechre YouTube link above.

[Stealthracer]

Super Sonic said:

... see my Autechre YouTube link above.

I did, not for me I'm afraid. The rhythm box really put me off.

This is more to my taste:


My own attempts also appear online:

[Hoofy]

Carbon Based Lifeforms? Too "trancey" for you? Search for their Stochastic album.

Or just search on YT for "ambient" or "dark ambient".

[Kuwahara]

Nemophilist said:

I enjoy a similar style to what’s previous mentioned and have also recently been listening to The Goldberg Variations by Bach

Amazing piece….