Ten Composers.......one piece each.

[jhar26]

This one:



I actually recommend the entire Rodrigo orchestral series on Naxos. There are ten volumes in all. They are all excellent.

Thanks.

[Mirror Image]

Thanks.

My pleasure.

[vandermolen]

Tchaikovsky: Pathetique Symphony
Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade
Bruckner: Symphony No 4
Beethoven: Symphony No 7
Rachmaninov: The Bells
Vaughan Williams: Symphony No 5
Sibelius: Tapiola
Copland: Symphony No 3
Bax: Tintagel
Hilding Rosenberg: Symphony 3

[Tapio Dmitriyevich]

Sibelius - Tapiola
Mahler - Sym. #2
Pettersson - Sym. #6
Elgar - Cello concerto
RVW - Tallis phantasia
Dvorak - Wood dove
Braga Santos - Sym. #4
Atterberg - Sym #3
Fauré - Requiem
Gade - Ossian overture
Bruckner - Sym #5

I admit I cannot count

[Brian]

Sibelius - Tapiola

"A great introduction for a beginner"?? You're cruel. 

[Daverz]

Sibelius - Tapiola
Mahler - Sym. #2
Pettersson - Sym. #6
Elgar - Cello concerto
RVW - Tallis phantasia
Dvorak - Wood dove
Braga Santos - Sym. #4
Atterberg - Sym #3
Fauré - Requiem
Gade - Ossian overture
Bruckner - Sym #5

I admit I cannot count

Nice list.  Not sure I can agree with the Bruckner 5, though.  I think that one takes time and familiarity with Bruckner to appreciate.  I'd actually argue for the 1889 version of 3.  It's mature sounding Bruckner in its revised form, while being relatively short.

[Daverz]

Stravinsky: Petrouchka
Bartok: Piano Concerto 3
Brahms: Violin Concerto
Haydn: Op. 76, No. 3 "Emperor"
Mendelssohn: Midsummer Night's Dream Overture
Elgar: Enigma Variations
Mussorgsky: Pictures
Rachmaninoff: Symphonic Dances
Prokofiev: Lt. Kije
Rimsky-Korsakov: Capriccio Espagnol

Not a balanced list, but that's hard with only 10 slots.

[Teresa]

Stravinsky: Petrouchka
Bartok: Piano Concerto 3
Brahms: Violin Concerto
Haydn: Op. 76, No. 3 "Emperor"
Mendelssohn: Midsummer Night's Dream Overture
Elgar: Enigma Variations
Mussorgsky: Pictures
Rachmaninoff: Symphonic Dances
Prokofiev: Lt. Kije
Rimsky-Korsakov: Capriccio Espagnol

Not a balanced list, but that's hard with only 10 slots.

Great list!  Lots of easy to enjoy melodic music for first time listeners there.   

[Daverz]

Great list!  Lots of easy to enjoy melodic music for first time listeners there.   

Damn, I should have put some Xenakis on there.

[Mirror Image]

I've got a new list (in no particular order):

1. Bax: Spring Fire
2. Martinu: Piano Concerto No. 4 "Incantation"
3. Nielsen: Symphony No. 2 "The Inextinguishable"
4. Piston: Symphony No. 2
5. R. Strauss: Ein Heldenleben
6. Dvorak: Cello Concerto
7. Vaughan Williams: Concerto for Two Pianos
8. Poulenc: Concerto for Two Pianos
9. Szymanowski: Symphony No. 4 "Sinfonia concertante"
10. Ireland: Piano Concerto

[Sid]

1. Lutoslawski - Little Suite (orchestra)
2. Josquin des Prez - Motet "Inviolata, integra et casta es, Maria" (choir a capella)
3. Handel - Zadok the Priest (choir & orchestra)
4. Brahms - Tragic Overture
5. Boulez - Anthemes 2 (violin & electronics)
6. Carter - Mosaic (Harp & chamber ensemble)
7. Whitacre - Lux aurumque (choir a capella)
8. Kats-Chernin - Piano Concerto No. 2
9. Lauridsen - Chansons des Roses (choir & piano)
10. Schubert - Notturno (Piano Trio)

[Tsaraslondon]

1. Lutoslawski - Little Suite (orchestra)
2. Josquin des Prez - Motet "Inviolata, integra et casta es, Maria" (choir a capella)
3. Handel - Zadok the Priest (choir & orchestra)
4. Brahms - Tragic Overture
5. Boulez - Anthemes 2 (violin & electronics)
6. Carter - Mosaic (Harp & chamber ensemble)
7. Whitacre - Lux aurumque (choir a capella)
8. Kats-Chernin - Piano Concerto No. 2
9. Lauridsen - Chansons des Roses (choir & piano)
10. Schubert - Notturno (Piano Trio)

For a newcomer to classical music?

[Sid]

For a newcomer to classical music?

Well if the said newcomer is basically flexible, then these pieces should fit the bill. All of them are shorter than 25-30 minutes (the Josquin is less than 3 minutes!). I'd encourage any newcomer to branch out & not be afraid to explore all eras of classical, and all genres.

[Mirror Image]

Well if the said newcomer is basically flexible, then these pieces should fit the bill. All of them are shorter than 25-30 minutes (the Josquin is less than 3 minutes!). I'd encourage any newcomer to branch out & not be afraid to explore all eras of classical, and all genres.

Sometimes, Sid, that is easier said than done.

[Mirror Image]

Bach, opening Chorus of the Saint-John Passion
Mozart, the Terzettino from Cosi Fan Tutte ("Soave sia il Vento")
Beethoven, 12th String Quartet, op 127
Schubert, last piano sonata, D960
Brahms, Alto Rhapsody
Schumann, Quintet for piano and Strings
Mahler, Symphony #7
Debussy, la Cathedrale Engloutie
Schoenberg, Orchesterstucke op 16
Boulez, Notations for Orchestra

10! Didn't think that could be done. It can't

You really think that Schoenberg and Boulez would be great starters for a classical newbie?

[Mirror Image]

If college students can be introduced to Einstein and Joyce, they can be introduced to Schoenberg.
A serious student of music is goint to want to penetrate them, there is no point in waiting too long to take the plunge.

High standards = High Civilisation

Well I shouldn't be talking, because my "plunge" into classical music was Bartok, Ravel, Copland, and Ives.

[Sid]

Good list, but I'd say that one of Mahler's lighter symphonies, eg. No. 4, would be better for a newbie. I agree that people new to classical should explore right across the spectrum - from medieval music to today, from all around the world, from a capella, to chamber, solo piano, organ, chamber, opera highlights, electro-acoustic, etc.  People often forget that classical music is made up of much much more than just the famous orchestral works.

[Mirror Image]

People often forget that classical music is made up of much much more than just the famous orchestral works.

That's right it's also made up of the lesser-known orchestral works.

[Tapio Dmitriyevich]

No Bruckner for the first few years!

After only knowing Beethoven 5 - I started with Bruckner. Worked.

[TheGSMoeller]

Dowland: Lachrimae
Tallis: Spem in alium
Rameau: Les Cyclops
Biber: The Rosary Sonatas
Haydn: Symphony #80
Berlioz: Requiem
Strauss: duett Concertino for clarinet & bassoon
Prokofiev: Symphony #7
Glass: Koyaanisqatsi
Lang: The Little Match Girl Passion




In chronological order,