New fan...Narrowing on what I like

[hornteacher]

FWIW, here's Feanor's 'core repertoire' hitlist from another thread.

This is rather a good list.  Where did it come from?

[Daverz]

when I heard some Mendelssohn chamber music at a local event, I decided to obtain some of his music

If you liked that chamber music, I would suggest Mendelsson's piano trios (2 of them) and the Octet. 

Also, here's a very nice disc of overtures by various composers:

http://www.amazon.com/Overtures-Rossini/dp/B00000DO52

[The new erato]

One advice; listen widely. You don't know what you like until you've heard it. Fortunately there is lot of inexpensive stuff available. Check quality (don't compromise on the artistic end, or your CDs end up being cheap as opposed to inexpensive) on sites like this, or subscribe to some magazine.

[Catison]

FWIW, here's Feanor's 'core repertoire' hitlist from another thread.

Pretty good list for what it is.

[c#minor]

And if you go the Naxos route, just take every recommendation and try it out. That's why i am doing and it has led me to some good CD's and away from ones that don't quite suit me.

[The new erato]

And if you go the Naxos route, just take every recommendation and try it out. That's why i am doing and it has led me to some good CD's and away from ones that don't quite suit me.

I would like to point out that Naxos isn't particularly cheap anymore and in most core repertoire you often can do better. They are chiefly to be lauded for their adventurous repertoire. Quality is good as well.

[longears]

FWIW, here's Feanor's 'core repertoire' hitlist from another thread.

Much too broad to be 'core,' in my book.  Let's not overwhelm a newbie with C.P.E. Bach, Boccherini, Donizetti, and the like.  Rothko Chapel, "core repertoire?"  Give me a break! 

[longears]

I would like to point out that Naxos isn't particularly cheap anymore and in most core repertoire you often can do better. They are chiefly to be lauded for their adventurous repertoire. Quality is good as well.

In fact, reissues of "classic" recordings from EMI, Universal, and Sony are often less costly these days!

[locrian]

One of the neat things about downloads is that you don't have to buy a whole album. You can choose inidividual works. Costs less and you get what you really want.

[longears]

One of the neat things about downloads is that you don't have to buy a whole album. You can choose inidividual works. Costs less and you get what you really want.

And one of the sad things about downloads is that you usually couldn't get the whole album even if you wanted to.  If I figure that on average redbook CD with lossless compression runs around 700kbps, then when I buy a 128kbps track I'm getting only 18% of the data on CD.

If I could buy downloads of the complete digital file at a substantial discount (no disc production costs, no packaging, less marketing, no middlemen) -- say $5 per album -- I would probably do it.  Or if I could get the crappy downloads they peddle these days for a couple of bucks to "try before you buy," I'd do that, too.  But to pay more for less--uh-uh!  That just doesn't add up to me. 

[locrian]

And one of the sad things about downloads is that you usually couldn't get the whole album even if you wanted to.  If I figure that on average redbook CD with lossless compression runs around 700kbps, then when I buy a 128kbps track I'm getting only 18% of the data on CD.

Oh, you didn't need all that extra data anyway.

[longears]

 

You know, they really should come up with some clever, catchy doublespeak term for those pathetically crippled download files, something equivalent to home video where they have the audacity to call a disc that shows only half of the movie "Full Screen."

[locrian]

Downloads are like Schnabel: You don't get all the data, but you get what you need.

[Mark]

This is rather a good list.  Where did it come from?

A member called Feanor posted it elsewhere on GMG. I grabbed it to see how my collection stacked up against someone else's idea of 'core repertoire'.

Much too broad to be 'core,' in my book.  Let's not overwhelm a newbie with C.P.E. Bach, Boccherini, Donizetti, and the like.  Rothko Chapel, "core repertoire?"  Give me a break! 

Hey, don't shoot the messenger.

[Mozart]

JC, this guy is a beginner and he knows more composers than I do.

[BachQ]

(especially Piano Sonata No. 17 in D minor. Op. 31, No 2 "Tempest".. I think it's absolutely wonderful.)

Damn! You have good taste ! .......  0:)

[Catison]

Much too broad to be 'core,' in my book.  Let's not overwhelm a newbie with C.P.E. Bach, Boccherini, Donizetti, and the like.  Rothko Chapel, "core repertoire?"  Give me a break! 

Yeah, Rothko is part of the core rep, I'd say.  Feldman is one of the most important composers in the 20th Century, and this piece is his most accessible.  Everyone should listen to it.

[Larry Rinkel]

Yeah, Rothko is part of the core rep, I'd say.  Feldman is one of the most important composers in the 20th Century, and this piece is his most accessible.  Everyone should listen to it.

It's not a bad list as these things go. No list will satisfy anybody. But I hope the omission of the Beethoven quartets was an oversight and not intentional.

[longears]

Yeah, Rothko is part of the core rep, I'd say.  Feldman is one of the most important composers in the 20th Century, and this piece is his most accessible.  Everyone should listen to it.

I guess we have differing ideas about what constitutes "core repertoire" (as well as about the importance of Feldman).  I would say the same about Pärt's Fratres, but wouldn't think to regard it as core repertoire.

It's not a bad list as these things go. No list will satisfy anybody. But I hope the omission of the Beethoven quartets was an oversight and not intentional.

Now that is core repertoire!  There are numerous other notable exclusions and peculiar inclusions that make it difficult to consider this as a list of anything other than one man's favorite pieces.

[Catison]

Now that is core repertoire!  There are numerous other notable exclusions and peculiar inclusions that make it difficult to consider this as a list of anything other than one man's favorite pieces.

Blah de blah de blah.  And so the argument about lists goes.  You try making a list of this type, and then I'd like to hear your opinion about others.

No list is perfect, and neither is this one, but it is much better than many I have seen.