I am new here

[Doulton]

Greetings, everyone.

I found this forum because I am trying to learn more about classical music access on the internet.  I have tried some internet classical stations and my computer does not have the media players for many of them.  Nonetheless, I have discovered more than a few nice stations which I can listen to.

I am also interested in recommendations for pay-for-service.  I have heard of Naxos, Last, Rdio, and quite a few others but I wonder if anyone has more specialized information.

I am...well, to put it bluntly, elderly so I am not really going to be able to follow elaborate instructions about downloads.  I have a silly old woman's vanity that I do not have an app and will not get an app and know not what an app is (as you might imagine, I am writing on a desktop computer).

I also like literature and am interested in your opinions about good music magazines or journals.  I am fond of  "American Record Guide," as an example.  I like Italian opera, romantic cello music, and nationalist composers such as Sibelius, Borodin, Smetana, etc.  I have never been able to get along well with Schoenberg, Webern, or Ives. 

So---your intrepid young people:  help me find some easy Internet based radio stations.  Recommend some books while you are at it.

Thank you very much.

Natalie

[Dungeon Master]

Welcome to our little corner of the Internet.

Might I recommend a radio station from where I live (Australia) - ABC Classic FM. http://www.abc.net.au/classic/

It has a very easy Internet streaming site - click on the Listen Live link. No download or apps required.

[mc ukrneal]

Welcome!

Afraid I don't know much about radio stations or streaming services, though you did miss a popular one called Spotify. There are a few here who use or have used several, so hopefully they will chime in. Sorry not to be helpful, but I wanted to welcome you anyway.

On the other hand, I have long been an avid reader - fantasy/sci-fi from youth, then classics and modern classics (mostly on a train commute I had for a few years - two hours a day gives you time to read some good stuff). We have some threads here on books, including Shakespeare and what we are currently reading. You may enjoy those as well (they are in the Diner). My most recent is Nebula and Hugo Award winner Ann Leckie (Ancillary Justice is the book). It's has an original take about a computer (simplifying here - far more complicated) that takes over a human body. But there are some interesting themes and the writing is pretty good, though a bit too descriptive at times. Still, I am enjoying it so far.

[Brahmsian]

A warm welcome to the forum, Natalie! 

Cheers,
Ray

[bhodges]

Natalie, welcome to GMG. As far as Internet radio and streaming services, Rob's Australian suggestion is a good one. You might also try medici.tv, a huge site with archived classical music concerts. Only a portion of the content is free, but for that, all you need is a username and password, and the audio and video quality are both excellent.

As far a books on classical music go, Michael Steinberg has written some helpful books such as The Symphony: A Listener's Guide (below), and companion books, The Concerto and Choral Masterworks.

[asin]0195126653[/asin]

--Bruce

[Karl Henning]

Welcome, Natalie!

[aligreto]

You are very welcome to GMG Natalie 

[Hollywood]

Hi Natalie. Greetings from a SoCal elderly gal living in Vienna, Austria. Whereabouts are you in the USA? Welcome to the forum. 

[Scion7]

Welcome and don't let any of us blowhards push you away.   :-)

[Doulton]

Thank you everyone! I appreciate the recommendations. 
I live in Ohio, but I grew up on the east coast with easy proximity to NYC.  I miss that. My mid-sized city is losing its classical audience.

[Daverz]

For a traditional classical radio station, I like KUSC.

http://www.classicalkusc.org/stream/listen.html

Often when just about any recording is discussed, someone will come along and say "It's on Spotify."  Maybe someone who uses it can speak to how to set it up. 

I use the Jay-Z's Tidal lossless streaming service, but I would not recommend it to a classical newbie, as it's quite frustrating to find specific things on it.

Of course, there's tons of stuff on Youtube.  I've just never got into the habit and don't care for the low fidelity.

[Doulton]

The Australian station is delightful and the Bruch Concerto for clarinet and viola are on KUSC, so I am a very happy camper. Thank you.

[Hollywood]

For a traditional classical radio station, I like KUSC.

http://www.classicalkusc.org/stream/listen.html

OMG! KUSC is still on the air? I love KUSC and have been listening to it since I was in the 4th grade back in the mid 1960s. Thank you for posting their on line radio website. Since living here in Austria for 22 years now, I haven't heard anything about KUSC.

I just clicked onto KUSC and they were playing Beethoven's "Name Day Overture" which is one of my favorite Beethoven works. Here in Austria the "Name Day" of a person is actually a day when you remember and celebrate the saint who the person is named after. For example, my name day is celebrated on 30 Nov. which is for St. Andrew. What is really interesting is that today (15 Nov.) is the name day for St. Leopold here in Austria. Now St. Leopold, his given name was Leopold von Babenberg III, just happens to be my 26 times great grandfather.  http://www.officeholidays.com/countries/austria/st_leopolds_day.php