Hello!

[AdamFromWashington]

Hello, everyone

I've loved Classical Music for a (very relative) long time, but haven't had anywhere to talk about it. So I hope to find that here; a place to discuss great music, with people who enjoy it just as much as I do.

My favorite Music is mostly Late Romantic, 20th Century, and Contemporary Classical. I especially love Nordic Music, like Grieg, Sibelius, Nielsen, Rautavaara, etc. But I've been trying to listen to more Beethoven, recently, who I've sadly neglected. Any help in that regard would be greatly appreciated. He's such a towering figure, I'm afraid of approaching his music! The same can be said for Bach, I'm afraid. They're very scary.... 

Anyway, I'll just finish by saying that I look forward to any discussions, debate, and advice I can get here. I'm sure I'll have a great time! 

[Karl Henning]

Be welcome, Adam! I'm a clarinetist, so I've loved Nielsen's music since before it was cool ; )

[TheGSMoeller]

Greetings and welcome! 

And don't be afraid of Beethoven, he won't bite. I've been listening to classical music for 20 years and just now getting around to Brahms pieces that don't begin with Symphony. Your exploration will never end, that's the beauty of this art.

[bhodges]

Hi Adam, and welcome. Lots of people here enjoy the composers you mentioned (a Nielsen fan here, too), and as far as Bach and Beethoven, nothing to be afraid of - unless it's "fear of too much enjoyment." 

For Beethoven, you could do a lot worse than the classic recording below of the 5th and 7th Symphonies. In any case, enjoy yourself here.

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--Bruce

[mc ukrneal]

Welcome and enjoy. Beethoven is a pushover compared to some 20th century guys and many of them are extensions of what Beethoven started, so I'll bet you know more than you think. I think one of the easiest pieces to approach is the 6th symphony as it is more impressionistic in nature and can be enjoyed with minimal understanding (it is titled pastoral and for good reason). I also enjoy the sonatas - here I would recommend the Barenboim DVDs that inlcude some masterclasses, which should help you as well. There will be a lot of information to help understand what you are hearing (some of the best masterclasses I have seen too). Some (all?) of them are on youtube if you want to check them out.

I like the idea of getting some of Bernstein conducting, like the 3rd, where there is also a track of him discussing the piece (on Sony). These types of discs may help break you in so to speak.

[Opus106]

It's just weird seeing pointers to Beethoven's music.

But I'm most certainly not holding that against you, Adam. Welcome aboard.

[AdamFromWashington]

Thank you, all. And thanks for the help with Beethoven. I'm pretty well acquainted with his Symphonies, already, having Karajan's recording, and having heard Kleiber's 5th and 7th. It's mostly everything else I'm unfamiliar with. I've started by listening to Gilel's recordings of the Sonatas lately, and all of Beethoven's Concertos. Hmm, maybe you're all right, I might know more than I thought! Still, I appreciate all these helpful answers. Does anyone have recommendations for Beethoven's String Quartets, Violin Sonatas, and other works that I'm surely unfamiliar with?

Now, as for Bach, I really am lost. Besides his Violin Concertos, and Goldberg Variations (I've heard Gould's) I know nothing. I really need some serious help, there. I feel like I'm missing out on something very important the longer I'm not listening to Bach! 

Again, thanks for all your help, everyone. I greatly appreciate it. 
Oh, and these smiley faces are very fun to use.... 

[AdamFromWashington]

Be welcome, Adam! I'm a clarinetist, so I've loved Nielsen's music since before it was cool ; )

Great! Yes, Nielsen's music for the Clarinet is amazing, especially his Clarinet Concerto and Wind Quintet. Fully the equal of Mozart's, in my opinion. 

[Brahmsian]

Does anyone have recommendations for Beethoven's String Quartets, Violin Sonatas, and other works that I'm surely unfamiliar with?

Now, as for Bach, I really am lost. Besides his Violin Concertos, and Goldberg Variations (I've heard Gould's) I know nothing. I really need some serious help, there. I feel like I'm missing out on something very important the longer I'm not listening to Bach! 

Hi Adam,

Welcome aboard this terrific site! 

There are many threads specifically dedicated in the 'Great Recordings and Review' sub-forum, for Beethoven's String Quartets, Violin Sonatas, and for some of Bach's specific works.

I've fly off a few recommendations for Beethoven's String Quartets:  Try the Quartetto Italiano, Vegh or Takacs.  There are many, many more great recordings, but that's just my short list.

For the Beethoven Violin Sontas, I highly recommend Kremer/Argerich on DG.

For Bach, you must get the Cello Suites (Historical - Pablo Casals), but I really love Maurice Gendron!!!  And the Sonatas and Partitas for solo violin, I have Ilya Kaler on Naxos, but it's the only set I have, so I have no comparative to say that it's recommended.

Enjoy the journey, because it will never end! 

[North Star]

Hello, and welcome, Adam!

Faust & Melnikov are superb in the VS's - HIP-influenced playing on modern instruments in superb sound.
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As for the symphonies, I really like Immerseel's set - the small (compared to modern 'big bands') HIP orchestra sounds quite a bit different, and it works very well in the symphonies. You might as well go for a complete set, as all of the symphonies are essential listening.
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As for Bach, you could continue with the solo violin and cello (Queyras) music, concertos, organ & harpsichord works, cantatas, or motets.
Try Passacaglia & Fugue in C minor

[Mirror Image]

Welcome aboard! I'm not a great fan of Beethoven, but even I have come around to several of his works. I particularly enjoy the late SQs, but I don't make it a habit of listening to Beethoven, because I really don't care much about his music regardless of how important and influential it may be. I prefer to spend my listening time in the 20th Century. This is the era all of my favorite composers came from with the exception of Bruckner who was firmly a Romantic composer, but one that pushed the envelope and helped, along with Mahler and Liszt, to lay a foundation for the music that followed. I see you have mentioned you have a preference for Nordic composers. Nothing wrong with that!

Hope to see you in some of the discussions sometime down the line.

[flyffdzd]

My favorite Music is mostly Late Romantic, 20th Century, and Contemporary Classical.

[AdamFromWashington]

Welcome aboard! I'm not a great fan of Beethoven, but even I have come around to several of his works. I particularly enjoy the late SQs, but I don't make it a habit of listening to Beethoven, because I really don't care much about his music regardless of how important and influential it may be. I prefer to spend my listening time in the 20th Century. This is the era all of my favorite composers came from with the exception of Bruckner who was firmly a Romantic composer, but one that pushed the envelope and helped, along with Mahler and Liszt, to lay a foundation for the music that followed. I see you have mentioned you have a preference for Nordic composers. Nothing wrong with that!

Hope to see you in some of the discussions sometime down the line.

Thanks a lot! And as you feel about Beethoven, I feel about Mozart. I respect him, but not much of his music has really grabbed my attention. I do enjoy his Clarinet Concerto, and later Symphonies, though. Most of my favorite composers are actually on your "Listening to" list. Especially Bartok, Shostakovich, and Stravinsky. And I've really enjoyed what I've heard from Britten, namely his Violin Concerto, and Cello Symphony. And I've started listening to Mahler recently, starting with Shipway's 5th, and possibly some of Mahler's lieder. The 20th Century is definitely my favorite period. I think we'll get along very well. 

[Karl Henning]

For Bach . . . have you dug into the suites for cello solo? —

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. . . the suites & partitias for violin solo? —

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And on those lines, there is sort of a specific project where Christoph Poppen and the Hilliard Ensemble (taking their cue from a musicological speculation) interweave chorales with the several movements of the d minor violin Partita. I saw them perform this in Boston, and it was deliciously haunting:

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[Lisztianwagner]

Welcome to the forum, I hope you'll have a nice time here.
I love the Late Romantic and the 20th Century music too, so I think we can get on well. About Beethoven's music, I strongly recommend Ashkenazy's set of the Piano Sonatas, the Piano Trios with Ashkenazy/Perlman/Harrell, and the Karajan Symphony Cycle '63 as well as Bernstein's recording for the 9th Symphony.

Ilaria

[Karl Henning]

Daniel appears uncharacteristically distracted, Adam, so on his behalf I shall say:

I hope you like Mahler! ; )

[AdamFromWashington]

Welcome to the forum, I hope you'll have a nice time here.
I love the Late Romantic and the 20th Century music too, so I think we can get on well. About Beethoven's music, I strongly recommend Ashkenazy's set of the Piano Sonatas, the Piano Trios with Ashkenazy/Perlman/Harrell, and the Karajan Symphony Cycle '63 as well as Bernstein's recording for the 9th Symphony.

Ilaria

Thank you. I actually have Karajan's '63 Cycle, and they're all really great performances. Glad to know we're on the same page. I'll definitely look into your other recommendations.

[Mirror Image]

Thanks a lot! And as you feel about Beethoven, I feel about Mozart. I respect him, but not much of his music has really grabbed my attention. I do enjoy his Clarinet Concerto, and later Symphonies, though. Most of my favorite composers are actually on your "Listening to" list. Especially Bartok, Shostakovich, and Stravinsky. And I've really enjoyed what I've heard from Britten, namely his Violin Concerto, and Cello Symphony. And I've started listening to Mahler recently, starting with Shipway's 5th, and possibly some of Mahler's lieder. The 20th Century is definitely my favorite period. I think we'll get along very well. 

Well this is certainly great to hear! The 20th Century is my favorite of period of music too. Yes, we'll get along very well.

[AdamFromWashington]

Hello, and welcome, Adam!

Faust & Melnikov are superb in the VS's - HIP-influenced playing on modern instruments in superb sound.
[asin]B0027YUK98[/asin]

As for the symphonies, I really like Immerseel's set - the small (compared to modern 'big bands') HIP orchestra sounds quite a bit different, and it works very well in the symphonies. You might as well go for a complete set, as all of the symphonies are essential listening.
[asin]B0014WSWTY[/asin]

As for Bach, you could continue with the solo violin and cello (Queyras) music, concertos, organ & harpsichord works, cantatas, or motets.
Try Passacaglia & Fugue in C minor

Wonderful! On your recommendation I've been listening to Immerseel's Beethoven on Spotify. It's exceptionally impressive. I've heard orchestral sounds I'd never realized were ever there, listening mostly to Karajan's Cycle. I love Karajan's interpretation, but in being so gargantuan a few details do get blotted out. Being 16 my funds are very, hmm, limited, so I normally don't buy CD's unless I really love the music. I listen online the rest of the time. When I get the funds I'll move investing in Immerseel's set to the top of my list, which is saying a lot for me. I'll have to look into those Sonatas, too. I've lately been enjoying chamber music more and more. I love the paired down textures and sounds, and the enjoyment, and wittiness, and emotion, that a small tightly knit ensemble can bring to a piece. So, thank you very much for your suggestions, they've helped me a lot.

[Hollywood]

Hi there Adam. Greetings from Beethoven's Vienna. Welcome to the forum.