I am a 63 year old novice

[Camphy]

Welcome!

[Mahlerian]

I have numerous recording by Jordi Savall and was completely mesmerized last week when I saw he and Hesperion XXI...

Seeing the Messiah, also at Carnegie Hall, with a choir of over 200 last month also blew me away.
(although I do prefer shorter offerings)

Those do sound quite fine.  Keep listening and discovering new things, and don't feel self-conscious about coming to this music later in life.

[eljr]

Permit me to suggest, for Vivaldi, Fabio Bondi & Europa Galante:

https://www.youtube.com/v/5bDIvmgyE0M

This was spectacular!

[Rinaldo]

Philip Glass is by far.

after that, I seem to favor Baroque and ancient sounds.  Bach and Handel from the Baroque.

Nice to have another Glass aficionado here. Hearing Music in 12 parts live was one of the highlights of my musical life so far. I'm also a big fan of the 'portrait trilogy'.

As for baroque, I'd recommend Purcell, William Lawes and Zelenka if you haven't checked them already. Savall did some great recordings of the first two.

Welcome and have fun!

[Karl Henning]

This was spectacular!

Very glad you enjoyed it!

[Jay F]

So I am a 63 year old novice!

So at this point I have about 500 classical albums.

Which is it? Both statements cannot be true. 

[ComposerOfAvantGarde]

Philip Glass is by far.

after that, I seem to favor Baroque and ancient sounds.  Bach and Handel from the Baroque.

Many of the 20th and 21st century composers I also enjoy.

Glass is good. I really his earlier works for the Philip Glass Ensemble

[North Star]

Welcome to GMG!

Allow me to second Rinaldo's recommendations..

https://www.youtube.com/v/RCL2CWQaH4A

And add one or two:

https://www.youtube.com/v/7vdgZAJVnes

https://www.youtube.com/v/e6tJWY2Vaz4

[Mirror Image]

Philip Glass is by far.

after that, I seem to favor Baroque and ancient sounds.  Bach and Handel from the Baroque.

Many of the 20th and 21st century composers I also enjoy.

May I suggest Stravinsky's Apollo for your listening pleasure:

https://www.youtube.com/v/TX3CwVRg7EE

[Pat B]

Welcome to GMG! From what you said I would not call you a novice, not that such terminology really matters.

This place can be tremendously informative. It can also overwhelm you with recommendations. My advice: take them slowly and with a grain of salt.

Also, a heads-up: your favorite composer is a rather polarizing figure.

[Hollywood]

My grandfather was from Austria although he died when my dad was 10 so I know little of him except that he was a musician. 

I literally want to learn about the music of Austria first and foremost.

Why? Because a year or so ago I looked at a list of composers and were they were from and generally speaking found, as a group, this countries contributions.

Second, at 63, heritage becomes important.

I even looked at Expedia last month toying with the idea of travel to Vienna.

I look forward to your tutelage.

The list of Austrian composers is quite impressive to say the least. One of the reasons why I love Austria is for this reason as well as how many famous composers from other countries decided to make Vienna their home.

My love for the music of Beethoven, Mozart, Haydn, Schubert and the Strauss dynasty is especially strong and started about the age of 9. Since then my dream was to live in Vienna or at least to visit one day. Well that dream came true and I have been living here now for about 23 years. Just being able to stroll the streets and see some of the actual houses where Beethoven, Mozart, etc. lived, is wonderful. Vienna is a beautiful city architecturally and full of history and is worth a visit.

So your grandfather was Austrian. It's unfortunate that he passed away when your father was 10 so you weren't able to ever meet him. When I finally started to work on my family tree a few years ago I discovered that I too had Austrian ancestors which include the Habsburgs and Babenbergs. I feel that this too is part of the reason why I have been so drawn to Austria since my childhood.

[vandermolen]

I'm slightly younger than you - off the top of my head here are a few recommendations.

Vaughan Williams: Symphony 5

Copland: Symphony 3

Gorecki: Symphony 3 'Sorrowful Songs'

Hope you find something you like and welcome to this forum.

[eljr]

Welcome to GMG! From what you said I would not call you a novice, not that such terminology really matters.

This place can be tremendously informative. It can also overwhelm you with recommendations. My advice: take them slowly and with a grain of salt.

Also, a heads-up: your favorite composer is a rather polarizing figure.

Yes, I am trying to learn and understand as I trudge along.

and yes, I understand Mr Glass is atypical in a very conservative and opinionated environment.

As I am more likely to stray into the avant garde than the romantic period, I have felt the disapproval already on other boards.

To this end, I am taking an online course, How To Listen To and Understand Great Music. It's difficult because I must, in essence, lean a new language.

For decades classical was classical to me. I now insist on understanding the period a piece is from and how it evolved and then morphed. It really can give a newbie a headache.   

[eljr]

I'm slightly younger than you - off the top of my head here are a few recommendations.

Vaughan Williams: Symphony 5

Copland: Symphony 3

Gorecki: Symphony 3 'Sorrowful Songs'

Hope you find something you like and welcome to this forum.

Thanks, I will seek the Copeland and Vaughan Williams you recommend. Gorecki 3 I have listened to extensively. A favorite of mine as it is to much of the world.

[eljr]

Welcome to GMG!

Allow me to second Rinaldo's recommendations..

https://www.youtube.com/v/RCL2CWQaH4A

all excellent! but what can you tell me of this, Jan Dismas Zelenka: Missa Votiva in E minor - Václav Luks?

Part and Monteverdi I am familiar with.

[eljr]

May I suggest Stravinsky's Apollo for your listening pleasure:

https://www.youtube.com/v/TX3CwVRg7EE

I have little doubt Stravinsky will be one of my favorite composers in time. I have yet to hear any of his works that do not rouse me.

Just so many avenues to follow right now, and the day, oh so short.

[North Star]

all excellent! but what can you tell me of this, Jan Dismas Zelenka: Missa Votiva in E minor - Václav Luks?

Part and Monteverdi I am familiar with.

Zelenka (1679-1745) was a double bass player in the court orchestra in Dresden, and later the official church composer. The Missa votiva (1739) was, according to Zelenka, composed after a vow he made to God while ill, that if he'd recover, he'd compose this grand mass. Zelenka wasn't very popular in Dresden, and the work fell into obscurity after being played once. What to say of the music, then? Zelenka's counterpoint is just as developed as Bach's, and he has as unique a voice as any Baroque composer. The Missa votiva is one of the great masterpieces of the era, as far as I'm concerned.

[eljr]

Zelenka (1679-1745) was a double bass player in the court orchestra in Dresden, and later the official church composer. The Missa votiva (1739) was, according to Zelenka, composed after a vow he made to God while ill, that if he'd recover, he'd compose this grand mass. Zelenka wasn't very popular in Dresden, and the work fell into obscurity after being played once. What to say of the music, then? Zelenka's counterpoint is just as developed as Bach's, and he has as unique a voice as any Baroque composer. The Missa votiva is one of the great masterpieces of the era, as far as I'm concerned.

Very interesting, much appreciated. 

[Mirror Image]

I have little doubt Stravinsky will be one of my favorite composers in time. I have yet to hear any of his works that do not rouse me.

Just so many avenues to follow right now, and the day, oh so short.

So very true, eljr. Just take a minute to breathe and take in what you've heard. I've only been listening to classical music seriously for seven years and I'm still discovering new composers or pieces all the time. As to whether any of it actually sticks in my mind, well...that's a different story for another thread.

[aligreto]

Yes, I am trying to learn and understand as I trudge along.

and yes, I understand Mr Glass is atypical in a very conservative and opinionated environment.

As I am more likely to stray into the avant garde than the romantic period, I have felt the disapproval already on other boards.

To this end, I am taking an online course, How To Listen To and Understand Great Music. It's difficult because I must, in essence, lean a new language.

For decades classical was classical to me. I now insist on understanding the period a piece is from and how it evolved and then morphed. It really can give a newbie a headache. 

That reads like you are doing fine to me