Newbies' Blush List Dozen

Started by Rosalba, August 19, 2017, 07:27:22 AM

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Rosalba

As someone fairly new to classical music who can be easily embarrassed by my ignorance, I'm wondering whether any of you seasoned listeners could provide a list of a dozen classical pieces that everyone is 'expected' to know?

All help is gratefully received. Thank you.

Mahlerian

"l do not consider my music as atonal, but rather as non-tonal. I feel the unity of all keys. Atonal music by modern composers admits of no key at all, no feeling of any definite center." - Arnold Schoenberg

Karl Henning

#2
Delighted to help!

Mozart, Ave verum corpus, K.618

http://www.youtube.com/v/HXjn6srhAlY

JS Bach, Passacaglia & Fugue in c minor, BWV 582

http://www.youtube.com/v/HtFMxFQrKc4

Chopin, Prelude in e minor, Op.28 № 4

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

Beethoven, Symphony № 6 in F, Op.68, "Pastorale"

http://www.youtube.com/v/t2VY33VXnrQ

Vivaldi, Violin Concerto in E, "Spring" (from The Four Seasons)

http://www.youtube.com/v/RnwuF-MCRuo

Saint-Saëns, Danse macabre, Op.40

http://www.youtube.com/v/Qz7elksiFb4

Prokofiev, Symphony № 1 in D, Op.25, "Classical"

http://www.youtube.com/v/WLT55kPIFCo

Ives, The Unanswered Question

http://www.youtube.com/v/kkaOz48cq2g

Schubert, "Der Leiermann" (from Die Winterreise)

http://www.youtube.com/v/pze4NxCOjg0

Handel, Hornpipe (from Water Music)

http://www.youtube.com/v/6fa2wZEsRWM
Karl Henning, Ph.D.
Composer & Clarinetist
Boston MA
http://www.karlhenning.com/
[Matisse] was interested neither in fending off opposition,
nor in competing for the favor of wayward friends.
His only competition was with himself. — Françoise Gilot

Rosalba

Thank you, both - your replies are very helpful indeed.

Karl Henning

Let us know what you like, and what you like less . . . there are always more suggestions to be made  ;)
Karl Henning, Ph.D.
Composer & Clarinetist
Boston MA
http://www.karlhenning.com/
[Matisse] was interested neither in fending off opposition,
nor in competing for the favor of wayward friends.
His only competition was with himself. — Françoise Gilot

North Star

Mussorgsky - Pictures at an Exhibition (there are also numerous orchestrations, most famously the one by Ravel)
Below are two recordings of the work, by Mikhail Pletnev and Leif-Ove Andsnes.
https://www.youtube.com/v/kxg2R0Pqb3c
"Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it." - Confucius

My photographs on Flickr

Karl Henning

Karl Henning, Ph.D.
Composer & Clarinetist
Boston MA
http://www.karlhenning.com/
[Matisse] was interested neither in fending off opposition,
nor in competing for the favor of wayward friends.
His only competition was with himself. — Françoise Gilot

Mahlerian

I'm ashamed to have forgotten Pictures.  I did vacillate about adding The Four Seasons or not...figured there was plenty more without it.  Now I've revealed my bias and will shut up.

There's nothing wrong with getting to know the warhorses and the the popular hits, so I wish you happy listening, Rosalba.
"l do not consider my music as atonal, but rather as non-tonal. I feel the unity of all keys. Atonal music by modern composers admits of no key at all, no feeling of any definite center." - Arnold Schoenberg

Karl Henning

That all comes under 'expected to know,' I think.  That said, I did not post any music to which I am not perfectly happy to listen, myself.
Karl Henning, Ph.D.
Composer & Clarinetist
Boston MA
http://www.karlhenning.com/
[Matisse] was interested neither in fending off opposition,
nor in competing for the favor of wayward friends.
His only competition was with himself. — Françoise Gilot

Spineur

#9
Bach badinerie from orchestra suite no 2 2:20 of pure happiness

https://www.youtube.com/v/3jYxMlPm-_Y

Charles Gounod, Ave Maria

https://www.youtube.com/v/SMvldwLqe2U

North Star

I must say I wouldn't have thought of naming Passacaglia & Fugue in c minor, BWV 582 before Toccata & Fugue in d minor, BWV 565 - the former is clearly the (even) better piece, granted, but the latter is surely far more well-known.

Liszt: La campanella (Grandes études de Paganini, S. 141, No. 3)
https://www.youtube.com/v/-hCNkp97I30

Wagner - Ride of the Valkyries (an excerpt from the Ring cycle) [I resisted the temptation to post the Looney Tunes version..]
https://www.youtube.com/v/V92OBNsQgxU

And Sarasate's Fantasy is a handy way to hear the greatest hits from Bizet's Carmen.
https://www.youtube.com/v/iwo-vKPR4Lo
"Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it." - Confucius

My photographs on Flickr

Rosalba

#11
Quote from: k a rl h e nn i ng on August 19, 2017, 08:29:41 AM
Let us know what you like, and what you like less . . . there are always more suggestions to be made  ;)

I like the music of the eighteenth century - or anything with a strong or interesting rhythm.
Thanks for asking. And thanks again for your samples - I've started on them today, and so far, very nice indeed!

Rosalba

Quote from: Mahlerian on August 19, 2017, 08:38:18 AM
I'm ashamed to have forgotten Pictures.  I did vacillate about adding The Four Seasons or not...figured there was plenty more without it.  Now I've revealed my bias and will shut up.

There's nothing wrong with getting to know the warhorses and the the popular hits, so I wish you happy listening, Rosalba.

Thank you - I shall look up your suggestions, I know I shall enjoy myself.

Rosalba

Quote from: Spineur on August 19, 2017, 08:44:56 AM
Bach badinerie from orchestra suite no 2 2:20 of pure happiness

Thank you, Spineur.

Rosalba

Quote from: North Star on August 19, 2017, 08:58:27 AM
I must say I wouldn't have thought of naming Passacaglia & Fugue in c minor, BWV 582 before Toccata & Fugue in d minor, BWV 565 - the former is clearly the (even) better piece, granted, but the latter is surely far more well-known...

Thank you for your examples, North Star - I am looking forward to listening to them.

Rosalba

Quote from: α | ì Æ ñ on August 20, 2017, 12:34:17 AM
What about modernism? have you heard any of that?  8)

Not much. Bits and pieces - always pleased to try things, so please suggest any works that I should know. Thank you.

nodogen

Ah, Yorkshire, home of Northern Monk. Excellent!

Slightly more tangential suggestions:

As a seasoned ignoramus, I found the book Classical Music by Jan Swafford to be useful to "get my bearings."

Put Radio 3 on, just as background music (sacrilege!).

Nothing is required or expected. I admit I've got stuff by the likes of Bach, Beethoven and Mozart, but my very favourite music is often by composers I hadn't even heard a note of just a few years ago (or even heard of).

Enjoy the journey. 👍😃


Karl Henning

Quote from: nodogen on August 20, 2017, 01:17:51 AM
Ah, Yorkshire, home of Northern Monk. Excellent!

Slightly more tangential suggestions:

As a seasoned ignoramus, I found the book Classical Music by Jan Swafford to be useful to "get my bearings."

Put Radio 3 on, just as background music (sacrilege!).

Nothing is required or expected. I admit I've got stuff by the likes of Bach, Beethoven and Mozart, but my very favourite music is often by composers I hadn't even heard a note of just a few years ago (or even heard of).

Enjoy the journey. 👍😃



You're being given pearls here  8)

Truly, two keys to the wonder of classical music are:  the literature is mind-bogglingly rich (breadth and depth), and to enjoy it is purely elective.
Karl Henning, Ph.D.
Composer & Clarinetist
Boston MA
http://www.karlhenning.com/
[Matisse] was interested neither in fending off opposition,
nor in competing for the favor of wayward friends.
His only competition was with himself. — Françoise Gilot

Rosalba

Quote from: α | ì Æ ñ on August 20, 2017, 12:51:51 AM
Off the top of my head, these are essential works that haven't been mentioned yet:

Webern - Symphony op 21
Bartok - Music for Strings, Percussion & Celesta
Stravinsky - Agon
Varese - Ameriques
Stockhausen - Gruppen
Xenakis - Jonchaies
Ligeti - Atmospheres
Penderecki - Threnody for the Victims of Hiroshima


Hope you enjoy them, it provides a great contrast to many of the examples cited thus far too  8)

Thank you! I'm a methodical soul, so I'm working down the list, but I'm looking forward to listening to your suggestions, and appreciating the contrast.

Rosalba

Quote from: nodogen on August 20, 2017, 01:17:51 AM
Ah, Yorkshire, home of Northern Monk. Excellent!

Slightly more tangential suggestions:

As a seasoned ignoramus, I found the book Classical Music by Jan Swafford to be useful to "get my bearings."

Put Radio 3 on, just as background music (sacrilege!).

Nothing is required or expected. I admit I've got stuff by the likes of Bach, Beethoven and Mozart, but my very favourite music is often by composers I hadn't even heard a note of just a few years ago (or even heard of).

Enjoy the journey. 👍😃

Thank you - I've googled the Swafford book and it looks good. I will definitely read it.