Help me build a starter kit for my students.

[DavidRoss]

Like Karl, I thought the Brandenburgs, Mozart 40/41, the Rite of Spring, and some Beethoven would be appropriate, but would suggest Kleiber's famed 5 & 7 disc.  The Sibelius/Tchaikovsky VCs are a good idea, though I'd probably take Repin.  But the more I thought about this, the more I wondered if it wouldn't be better to offer a list of several works and advise them to pick 5, say one from each of several broad categories, i.e. Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Modern, and Contemporary?  Within each offer a selection of representative works by leading composers encompassing symphonies, concertos, chamber ensembles, vocal music, and solo instrumentals...?  Think about classroom activities as students discuss their choices and responses....

[(poco) Sforzando]

Hell, three years ago I couldn't stomach Mozart and Shostakovich. This year, I attended a BBC Prom that featured Messiaen. That's progress.

Hell, I still can't stomach Messiaen. 

[karlhenning]

Hell, I still can't stomach Messiaen. 

I just loaded the Quatuor onto the fauxPod this weekend . . . .

[(poco) Sforzando]

I just loaded the Quatuor onto the fauxPod this weekend . . . .

That one is okay by me. But my standard joke with the Vingt Regards is that Dix would do, or Cinq, or even Deux. And I tried getting through St. Francis once; you'd need the patience of a saint . . . .

[Mark]

And I tried getting through St. Francis once; you'd need the patience of a saint . . . .

I wondered if it wouldn't be better to offer a list of several works and advise them to pick 5, say one from each of several broad categories, i.e. Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Modern, and Contemporary?  Within each offer a selection of representative works by leading composers encompassing symphonies, concertos, chamber ensembles, vocal music, and solo instrumentals...?  Think about classroom activities as students discuss their choices and responses....

I like this idea a lot. But on what basis would the kids be able to make their choices? And what if they chose stuff which inadvertently switched them off to classical music?

Just musing ...

[Lethevich]

IMO a piano concerto might be preferable to a violin concerto due to the adding of a whole new instrument to familiarise with...

The Four Seasons, Mussorgsky and Carmina seem too logical to not include. In addition to those, perhaps:

I second this, with a special focus on the 7th, as even by their age they have probably heard the first movement of the 5th enough for some to find it annoying - I was in this boat during my high school music classes.

This recording may be a bit old, but it sounds good, and has the benefit of not being coupled with the relatively similar Schumann concerto (the Rach is a nice contrast IMO). It could also be used as an example of the worth of older recordings. I didn't even consider historical recordings as an option when I was a kid, they flew completely under my radar. As a result, I had heard a lot of uninspired modern performances of new discoveries before I even know that the music could sound much better...

[Mark]

Yes, Lethe. The Grieg is a must. Its opening is so well known, and its slow movement so gorgeous. Drop the Brahms First, and go with the Grieg (my personal favourite is the obscure but, IMO, deeply moving version with Cecile Ousset, Neville Marriner and the LSO on EMI Red Line).

[Bogey]

Or, instead of them nailing 5 or 6 pieces, possibly go to a "soundtrack" format, like Immortal Beloved and Amadeus.  These discs have some "decent" performances and give a nice overview of these two composers.  Throw in the Bradenburgs mentioned and some Romantic (possibly some Copland to push up your timeline further), and you're good.

[Philoctetes]

This is some kind of music school, right? 

Since they are 12 year olds it's important to have them hooked. I think these works appeal to children:

Grieg: Peer Gynt (Naxos 8.570236)
Mussorsgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition/"A Night on the Bare Mountain" (Naxos 8.571052)
Chopin: Piano Concertos (Naxos 8.554540)
Vivaldi: Four Seasons (Naxos 8.571071)
Orff: Carmina Burana (Naxos 8.570033)

They are all Naxos for low price and availability. The quality should be good.

I'd go with this list except I'd suggest Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto over Chopin's.

[prémont]

I just loaded the Quatuor onto the fauxPod this weekend . . . .

Good to be early, the end of time may turn up unexpectedly.

[prémont]

I'd go with this list except I'd suggest Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto over Chopin's.

So would I, and I would also suggest a more seasoned recording of the Vivaldi.

[Opus106]

Brahms - Hungarian Dances, for one. I'm actually listening to Abbado conduct the VPO via an internet stream right now.

[Szykneij]

I've worked closely with young people for over 20 years, and even after getting to know a specific group of kids very well, I still can't predict for sure what they'll go for. Just like a random bunch of adults at the workplace or in the supermarket at any given time, opinions and preferences are going to vary drastically.

A couple of years ago, I was lucky to win a case of music sampler CDs on ebay. Each CD was the same and contained short pieces representative of a set of recordings  called "Classical Surroundings". Specific information regarding the compostions and opus numbers was lacking, and I'm not inclined to take the time to look them all up, but the playlist was as follows:

Badinerie / Bach
Rondo:Allegro / Beethoven
Intermezzo, Allegretto Un Poco Agiato / Brahms
Allegro / Danzi
Sicilienne / Faure
Romance / Glinka
Allegro Moderato / Haydn
Serenade / Haydn
Adagio / Sinding
Vivace / Telemann
Duex Preludes Romantiques #2 / Tournier

I gave one CD to each of about 60 high school students as part of a listening assignment and the kids had to pick their three favorites for discussion. Out of the total 180 responses, all of the pieces showed up as someone's favorite and the distribution of choices was remarkably even. The only clear favorites in order of preference were the Faure, Bach and Glinka.

I realize this project and age group was different from what you're going to do with your students, Hornteacher, but I think it emphasizes that variety is the key to finding what resonates with your classes (which must be rather well-off as you mentioned not to flinch at spending $75 for their first set of CDs).   

[karlhenning]

Most enlightening, Tony!

[DavidRoss]

...I wondered if it wouldn't be better to offer a list of several works and advise them to pick 5, say one from each of several broad categories, i.e. Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Modern, and Contemporary?  Within each offer a selection of representative works by leading composers encompassing symphonies, concertos, chamber ensembles, vocal music, and solo instrumentals...?  Think about classroom activities as students discuss their choices and responses....

I like this idea a lot. But on what basis would the kids be able to make their choices? And what if they chose stuff which inadvertently switched them off to classical music?

(1) Make choices based on preliminary discussion about the characteristics of different eras and genres, accompanied by sound samples.
(2) Who knows what choices will inspire which kids (see Tony's post, above)?  If the kids have a say in making their choices, then they have a stake in them, which might improve their willingness to explore and enjoy the music.

[johnQpublic]

Grieg: Peer Gynt (Naxos 8.570236)
Mussorsgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition/"A Night on the Bare Mountain" (Naxos 8.571052)
Chopin: Piano Concertos (Naxos 8.554540)
Vivaldi: Four Seasons (Naxos 8.571071)
Orff: Carmina Burana (Naxos 8.570033)

I'd:

(1) Keep Grieg (although you could sub the Piano Concerto for PG)
(2) Keep the Moussorgsky, especially if the sonics are good
(3) Ditch the Chopin. It'd be a snore for too many. I recommend Tchaikovsky (either Sym#4, R&J, PC#1)
(4) Ditch any Baroque and go with Stravinsky Firebird Suite
(5) Keep the Orff.

[johnQpublic]

I'd agree James if they were a little older. 

[DavidRoss]

Whether it sounds like a good idea or not, it's contradicted by experience.  James might not have responded to Bach as a teen (I'm not sure he digs Bach even today), but many do.  Read Tony's post.  Read the threads here and at CMG about how members got interested in classical music.  If you know any kids into classical, ask them what turned them on--odds are you'll get nearly as many answers as there are kids.

The point is to introduce kids to classical music, not to infect them with our biases.

BTW, as a teenager I dug Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Mahler, Stravinsky, AND Stockhausen.  Of course, I had the benefit of exposure to all. 

[Szykneij]

i think the key is to not give them a history lesson, but to actually make the kids like the music on a visceral level, where they think it's 'hip' or 'cool'...

Nope, 'hip' or 'cool' won't do it. 'Sick', 'nasty', or 'g' might. 

[drogulus]

     I'd go with at least some 20th century stuff, starting with Stravinsky. 12-year olds won't have any preconceptions so they might just prefer it to older stuff. I also like Tony's idea of presenting parts or movements instead of massive works. Let them get a variety of different kinds of music to choose from. If you can find a Naxos sampler that fulfills both of these criteria that one would be ideal.

     Like this one, just as an example:

     

     1. Barber - Cello Concerto II: Andante sostenuto; 2. Macdowell - Suite No. 2: In Wartime; 3. Gossec - Grand Messe des Morts: Requiem; 4. Sousa - March: Power and Glory; 5. Rubbra - Tenebrae Motets: Seniores Populi; 6. Rachmanino - Symphony No. 2: II; 7. Mendelssohn - Symphony No. 2: II Allegro; 8. Vaughan Williams - Phantasy Quintet: Scherzo; 9. Spohr - Sonata concertante: Adagio; 10. Scriabin - Sonata concertante: Adagio; 11. Krommer - Partita in C major: IV Rondo; 12. Haydn - Concerto in C, Hob VII: III Allegro molto; 13. Alfven - Symphony No. 2: IV Adagio; 14. Handel - Concerto Grosso, Op. 3, No. 6: II Allegro; 15. Hofmann - Flute Concerto in G: III Vivace; 16. Handel - Ode for St Cecilia's Day; 17. Weiss - Lute Sonata No. 38 in C major: Presto; 18. Webern - Passacaglia (excerpt);