Searching for the biggest-best classical music

[chrisssj2]

This will be my great searching topic for great classical music

Allow me to give a little background.
Since a few years I dont remember exactly when.
I begin experiencing something in my spiritual awakening.
I began to be more and more attracted to classical music, albeit I always have had strong affinity with it, just not explored much.

So at same point I began feeling Abnormal Shivers all across my body legs, arms, head, spine.
But mostly in the back of my head and spine. It feels like someone is pouring warm water over my head and my entire body.
My body feels LITERALLY full of light.

And since then I can also controll it, even when not listening music when feeling empowered thought, or just expressing without thought even.

When I listen to classical music I can feel archetype's of emotions/expressions.
And even "Sad" songs I don't feel sad, but I feel immense love.

Examples of music I listen:

Can can - Offenbach
Oveture Solenne 1812 OP 49 - TCHAIKOSKY
Camille Saint-Saëns - Danse Macabre
Beethoven - Symphony no. 7 - 2nd movement
Antonio Lucio Vivaldi - Le Quattro Stagioni (Op. 8, RV 269) - La Primavera
Edvard Hagerup Grieg - Peer Gynt Suite No. 1 (Op. 46) - Morgenstemning
Ludwig van Beethoven - Symphony No. 9 (Op. 125)
Carl Orff - Carmina Burana - O Fortuna
Bedrich Smetana - Má Vlast - Vltava
-Aida - Marcia Trionfale                             Verdi
Le Quattro Stagioni (Op. 8, RV 293) - l'Autunno      Vivaldi
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky - The Nutcracker (Op. 71) - Waltz Of The Flowers - –©–µ–ª–?—É–O—á–?–?
Joaquv?n Rodrigo Vidre - Concierto De Aranjuez - Adagio
- C'era Una Volta Il West (Once Upon A Time In The West) Ennio Morricone
, Jr. - An Der Schv?nen Blauen Donau (Op. 314)       Johann Strauss
SYMPHONT NO.6 IN _F_ (PASTORAL) ALLEGRO MA NON TROPPO BEETHOVEN
SYMPHONIC POEN FROM _MY FATHERLAND_                  SMETANA
SYMPHONY NO.9 IN E MINOR _FROM THE NEW WORLD_ LARGO DVORAK
DE L'AUBE A MIDI SUR _LA MER FROM THE SEA_           DEBUSSY
SCENE OF THE SWAN FROM SWAN LAKE BALLER SUITE OP.20 TCHAIKOSKY
THE BLUE DANUBE WALTZ 4                             Strauss
HEROIC' POLONAISE IN A FLAT OP.53                   Chopin
THE SUMMER FROM _THE FOUR SEASONS_ -                vivaldi
VOICE OF THE SPRING -                               strauss
THE SPRING FROM _THE FOUR SEASONS_ -                vivaldi
PIANO CONCERTO NO.1 IN B FLAT MINOR OP23 -          TCHAIKOSKY
MORNING-(FROM PEER GYNT SUITE NO.1)                 GRIEG
AIDA - TRIUMPHAL MARCH                              VERDI
OVERTURE SOLENNELLE 1812 OP.49                      TCHAIKOSKY


I listen to alot of andre rieu which uses several existing plays dont know the names
As I dont really remember any title or author, I remember music by its sound.
I like the bombastic music that feels epic. or the music that feels incredibly soft.
Or the cheerfull music. Or just a creative mix of things.

Ussually I dont prefer opera with it, I do like Choirs more.
And well sometimes the occasional sing through it. but ussually not.

By the way it doesnt have to be classical perse,
for example I LOVE
Pirates of the Carribean
Lord of the rings
Braveheart
King arthur
Gladiator

Soundtracks
Or rapheal disappearing into you.. is AMAZING. Music with emotions <3 and not the bland musics, but exciting or touching soft etc.

The reason why I ask is because I know there is more awesome classical music.
And sometimes I hear tunes in commercials or movies whatever and I KNOW the tune, but never the name.
As I don't care for names.

So please recommend me great pieces I may have missed thank you. I will be extremely gratefull!!

[EigenUser]

Glad to see Debussy's "La Mer" on your list! Here are some you might like from my three favorite composers (not my favorites from them, though I do love them all). Report back!

1. "Concerto for Orchestra": V. Finale by Bela Bartok (1942)
http://www.youtube.com/v/PU5Ydw7kh3U

2. "Introduction and Allegro for Harp, Flute, Clarinet, and String Quartet" by Maurice Ravel (1905)
http://www.youtube.com/v/5s6suaIQVzI

3. "Lontano" by Gyorgy Ligeti (1967) -- maybe I'm going out on a limb, here  . No melody, but no need for one. Give it a fair chance.
http://www.youtube.com/v/l2OQbA3r78M

Oh, and welcome to GMG!

[jochanaan]

Try some Bach.  Brandenburg Concertos, Cantatas, chamber music, organ music--it can all evoke those agreeable shivers.

[Cato]

Greetings Chris S. J. 2 !

For a spiritual awakening, or re-awakening, you must try the symphonies of Bruckner, and Mahler!

All kinds of possibilities for you:

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[Daverz]

It sounds to me like you have a good foothold from which to expand from.  You can't go wrong with more music from the composers you've already listed.

[North Star]

Some more suggestions:

Mozart: Piano Concertos, late Symphonies
Haydn: String Quartets
Schumann: Kinderszenen, Carnaval
Janáček: On the Overgrown Path, In the mist
Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition (piano original and the Ravel orchestration), Khovanshchina intro & interlude, St. John's Night on the Bare Mountain
Tchaikovsky's & Dvorak's symphonic poems / overtures.

[Moonfish]

It sounds to me like you have a good foothold from which to expand from.  You can't go wrong with more music from the composers you've already listed.

+1
I completely agree with Dave's post. In particular in the light of that our appreciation of music is so subjective. A composition that is "thrilling" to one listener may be one that another listener does not care about at all. One has to find a path that is agreeable to one's own ears (which will also change over time) so it is quite difficult to recommend the "best" music. The lists will be completely varied depending on who is writing it.  Dave's advice in expanding on the works of the composers you are already listening to makes a lot of sense. You will branch off to new works and composers as you keep exploring.  Reading the threads in GMS can be very helpful.
Btw - it is a good idea to keep track of the names of works and composers otherwise it can be quite difficult to find what you are looking for.... You are also likely to take a fancy for certain ensembles or artists which will lead you into new paths of music. Enjoy the journey!

[EigenUser]

If you are interested, I have a little section here on GMG where I am writing about pieces (mostly 20th-century) with several audio samples. Kind of like a musical tour guide (not that I'm qualified to be one  ): http://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php/topic,22986.0.html

[Mirror Image]

If there's one piece of classical you've got to hear right now, then it has to be Stravinsky's Le sacre du printemps. This is a groundbreaking work full of exoticism, primitivism, savagery, but it's just plain ol' fun to listen to. Give a whirl, you won't be sorry!

http://www.youtube.com/v/aGFRwKQqbk4

[listener]

Using on-line radio can be useful.  There is usually a playlist on the websites so it will not matter if you miss the opening or close... and it's free!    example http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3 and http://www.worldconcerthall.com/
I think you're ready for JANACEK: Sinfonietta and LUTOSLAWSKI: Concerto for Orchestra

[Jay F]

Using on-line radio can be useful.  There is usually a playlist on the websites so it will not matter if you miss the opening or close... and it's free!    example http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3 and http://www.worldconcerthall.com/
I think you're ready for JANACEK: Sinfonietta and LUTOSLAWSKI: Concerto for Orchestra

Listener - Where is the train station in your avatar?

[Jay F]

My "biggest-best" is Mahler. Symphonies No. 2, 3, and 8 are especially big, with 2 and 3 being especially best.

My favorite No. 2: [asin]B000001G96[/asin]

I don't have a recommendation for No. 3. You could buy the one that's in Sony's box set by Bernstein, but there might be a better-sounding one out there that I have never heard. [asin]B005SJIP1E[/asin]

Same goes for No. 8. My favorite version is by Sinopoli, but someone might know of one that now surpasses it, if only in sound quality. As I write this, you can get a nice copy for $5.99 on amazon. [asin]B00000E533[/asin]

[Ken B]

It sounds to me like you have a good foothold from which to expand from.  You can't go wrong with more music from the composers you've already listed.

Yes, seriously. Don't concentrate on one composer or one piece.
There are a lot of anthology boxes of discs very cheap these days if you want to buy something and explore. Here is one

[asin]B007C7FCMA[/asin]

Or

[asin]B007C7FFC2[/asin]

This label has several good boxes like this.

Or youtube or internet radio: search for composers you have heard and liked.

[listener]

Listener - Where is the train station in your avatar?

Medicine Hat. AB   Dec.1983  No passenger service on that line for the past 20+ years.

[Jay F]

Medicine Hat. AB   Dec.1983  No passenger service on that line for the past 20+ years.

It's a nice picture. Thanks.

[Moonfish]

Yes, seriously. Don't concentrate on one composer or one piece.
There are a lot of anthology boxes of discs very cheap these days if you want to buy something and explore. Here is one

[asin]B007C7FCMA[/asin]

Or

[asin]B007C7FFC2[/asin]

This label has several good boxes like this.

Or youtube or internet radio: search for composers you have heard and liked.

Great suggestions on sets to explore Ken!!!!   The Naxos sets cover a huge range of music!   

[Ken B]

Explore Stockhausen's LICHT, a cycle of 7 operas, one for each day of the week, it took the composer 25 years to write, and is about 29 hours of music .. scored for solo voices, solo instruments, solo dancers, choirs, orchestras, ballet & mimes, electronic & concrete music. It is the single largest & most ambitious undertaking by a composer in the history of music.

Edition 30 (Donnerstag/Thursday)
Edition 34 (Samstag/Saturday)
Edition 36 (Montag.Monday)
Edition 40 (Dienstag/Tuesday)
Edition 50 (Freitag/Friday)
Editions 66,51,52,53,54,55 (Mittwoch/Wednesday)
Editions 58,67,68,69,73,74 (Sonntag/Sunday)

http://www.stockhausencds.com/

Snicker. Did you read the post?
And most ambitious? Skriabin thought performing one of his pieces would destroy the world and bring about the end of time. Stockhausen's only ambition is to make a listener long for that to happen.

[Moonfish]

Snicker. Did you read the post?
And most ambitious? Skriabin thought performing one of his pieces would destroy the world and bring about the end of time. Stockhausen's only ambition is to make a listener long for that to happen.

[jochanaan]

Snicker. Did you read the post?
And most ambitious? Skriabin thought performing one of his pieces would destroy the world and bring about the end of time. Stockhausen's only ambition is to make a listener long for that to happen.

But Scriabin never completed that piece...

[Moonfish]

But Scriabin never completed that piece...

He is still composing it on the other side of time...