# "classical" music I like but don't know it **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 1, 2012, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-i-like-but-dont-know-it/639504 "2012-11-01T00:32:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2012, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-i-like-but-dont-know-it/639504/1 "2012-11-01T00:32:10Z")
First; I recognize I’m using “Classical” music incorrectly. I mean any orchestral music at any artistic period (maybe say 1500 to 1950). I’m looking for names of more popular symphany pieces that I may have heard and probably thing is cool…but I just don’t know the name of. Can you suggest some names for me to look up and listen too? It should be fairly well known, otherwise I’ve probably not heard it and don’t know it. Things I recognize and like to listen too include: Bolero Mouret’s Rondeau Fanfare for the Common Man Wagner’s Valkerie I’m so ignorant, I don’t even know I’ve named them correctly. Can you suggest a few other names I’ve missed. I know theres one I think from Bach that is from a pipe organ (that seems to be associated with count dracula for some reason in my mind)…but I’m clueless on what its called. Oh; links of the tunes so I can listen to them would be good. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2012, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-i-like-but-dont-know-it/639504/2 "2012-11-01T00:53:45Z")
> [@Sigene](#): > > I know theres one I think from Bach that is from a pipe organ (that seems to be associated with count dracula for some reason in my mind)…but I’m clueless on what its called. [Toccata & Fugue in d minor](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FXoyr_FyFw) ---
**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2012, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-i-like-but-dont-know-it/639504/3 "2012-11-01T01:03:54Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > [Toccata & Fugue in d minor](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FXoyr_FyFw) Yep! thats the one! Thanks ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2012, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-i-like-but-dont-know-it/639504/4 "2012-11-01T01:14:08Z")
> [@Sigene](#): > > Can you suggest a few other names I’ve missed. [The Barber of Seville - Figaro’s Aria](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qHZkkgowdY) [Johann Strauss - Polka trisch-trasch](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGbtoMM9CQk) [Johann Strauss - The Blue Danube Waltz](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CTYymbbEL4) [Camille Saint-Saëns - Danse Macabre](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YyknBTm_YyM) [Mussorgsky - Night On Bald Mountain](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCEDfZgDPS8) ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2012, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-i-like-but-dont-know-it/639504/5 "2012-11-01T01:27:22Z")
I’m sure you’d recognize certain opera selections…[Habanera](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGFUKsv1epk&feature=related) and [Les Toreadores](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDsDi1OKxnE&feature=related) from _Carmen_, or the [Overture](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLdJz6WrMC0&feature=related) from _The Barber of Seville_, or or in the more general musical field, [Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z36aWM3jYT8) or [Hungarian Dance No. 5](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z36aWM3jYT8) or [Sabre Dance](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqg3l3r_DRI&feature=related). Forgot some _Peer Gynt_ amongst the [del]operas[/del] narrative music…[In The Hall Of The Mountain King](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrzM0ze2HkE&feature=related). ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2012, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-i-like-but-dont-know-it/639504/6 "2012-11-01T01:30:05Z")
[Gustav Holst - The Planets - Mars](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0bcRCCg01I) [Gustav Holst - The Planets - Jupiter](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUx3G6YHp7Y&feature=related) [Prokofiev’s ‘Troika’](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QsRDpsItq0) [Felix Mendelssohn : The Hebrides (Fingal’s Cave)](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3MiETaBSnc) [Vivaldi - The Four Seasons - Spring](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-dYNttdgl0) ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2012, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-i-like-but-dont-know-it/639504/7 "2012-11-01T01:39:17Z")
You might also know [Dance of the Knights](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBsKplb2E6Q&feature=related) (also known as Montagues and Capulets) from Prokofiev’s setting of _Romeo and Juliet_. Or Tchaikovsky’s [Love Theme from Romeo and Juliet](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upyQMC-ioKE). Or Tchaikovsky’s [Sleeping Beauty Waltz](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_oP2ltuNyk&feature=BFa&list=PL5211B8F4CA724566) (which Disney actually used as the basis for “Once Upon A Dream” from the film). ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2012, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-i-like-but-dont-know-it/639504/8 "2012-11-01T01:53:24Z")
[A medley of some you may recognise](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x95O3-WPqZs&feature=related) ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2012, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-i-like-but-dont-know-it/639504/9 "2012-11-01T02:09:16Z")
O Fortuna from Carmina Burana ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2012, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-i-like-but-dont-know-it/639504/10 "2012-11-01T02:14:05Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > [A medley of some you may recognise](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x95O3-WPqZs&feature=related) Thank you for that…I haven’t heard those in years. I had the cassette with all of them on it and it was my driving music years back when I was commuting an hour either way to work. Just listening to it now I still remembered the order of the selections… ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2012, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-i-like-but-dont-know-it/639504/11 "2012-11-01T02:17:27Z")
And some more medlys [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/0Q-bfIWfXTk/hqdefault.jpg "A Night At The Opera") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Q-bfIWfXTk) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/0NfiXRQUm30/hqdefault.jpg "Journey through the Classics (Part 2)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NfiXRQUm30) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/ODO_5c7Z3v4/hqdefault.jpg "Hooked on Baroque - Adagio") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODO_5c7Z3v4) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/iAnUeNKJKl4/hqdefault.jpg "Hooked on Baroque (Part 2)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAnUeNKJKl4) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/Y-OcGY0j7tQ/hqdefault.jpg "Hooked on America") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-OcGY0j7tQ) ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2012, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-i-like-but-dont-know-it/639504/12 "2012-11-01T15:17:51Z")
> [@Sigene](#): > > . . . any orchestral music at any artistic period (maybe say 1500 to 1950). Just curious: How did you pick those two dates? I’m thinking that most classical music that would be familiar to most people would be from around 1700 to maybe 1920. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2012, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-i-like-but-dont-know-it/639504/13 "2012-11-01T15:42:39Z")
Familiar classical works: Fifth and Ninth Symphonies, Beethoven Canon in D, Pachelbel (you hear it at weddings) The Four Seasons: Spring 1812 Overture, Tchaikovsky (live cannon fire) Messiah, Handel (includes Hallelujah Chorus) Moonlight Sonata and Für Elise, Beethoven New World Symphony, Antonin Dvorák Water Music, Handel ---
**Author:** ![Floater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dc4da7/32.png) [@Floater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Floater)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2012, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-i-like-but-dont-know-it/639504/14 "2012-11-01T16:13:18Z")
> [@Ellen\_Cherry](#): > > Messiah, Handel (includes Hallelujah Chorus) Not to mention “He shall lead his flock”. I just listened to the finale of _Götterdämmerung_ on the radio and I have to say that it is as beautiful as it can get. If you want something with a twist I can also recommend Amira Selim’s rendition of The Queen of the Night’s revenge aria from a project called Mozart in Egypt (here she is called Queen of the 1001 nights). ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2012, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-i-like-but-dont-know-it/639504/15 "2012-11-01T16:26:40Z")
You could also look at the [Classic FM Hall of Fame Top 300](http://halloffame2012.classicfm.co.uk/). ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2012, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-i-like-but-dont-know-it/639504/16 "2012-11-01T17:01:59Z")
Since most non-fans of classical learn them from movies or TV here’s a few connections: Wagner’s **Ride of the Valkyries - Apocalypse Now** Bach’s **Toccata & Fugue - Rollerball** (the 70s original) **Beethoven’s 9th Symphony** - the first \*\*Diehard \*\*film Ravel’s \*\*Bolero \*\*- **10** (the Dudley Moore / Bo Derek movie) Richard Strauss’ **Also Sprach Zarathustra** - **2001: A Space Odyssey** Carmina Burana’s **O Fortuna** - a lot of things, the first **Jackass: The Movie** semi-recently (also **Caligula** ) Aram Khachaturian’s **Sabre Dance** - 50s game show **plate-spinner music** Aaron Copland’s **Fanfare for the Common Man** - **The Olympics** And, for anybody who grew up in the 70s, [**this old guy’s commercial**](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIMFhPyNKDs) (available on 8-track!)… ---
**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2012, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-i-like-but-dont-know-it/639504/17 "2012-11-01T17:22:43Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > Just curious: How did you pick those two dates? I’m thinking that most classical music that would be familiar to most people would be from around 1700 to maybe 1920. Somewhat randomly. I think I knew there was cool stuff in the 1700’s (I actually own the Greatest hits of 1720) and also there was more recent stuff into about 1920; but I wanted to be more inclusive so that I didn’t miss something that I should be aware of. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2012, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-i-like-but-dont-know-it/639504/18 "2012-11-01T17:41:03Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > Just curious: How did you pick those two dates? I’m thinking that most classical music that would be familiar to most people would be from around 1700 to maybe 1920. Going up to 1950 is appropriate. Aaron Copland’s _Rodeo_ (part of which, of course, was used in the BEEF commercials) is from '42. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2012, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-i-like-but-dont-know-it/639504/19 "2012-11-01T18:50:15Z")
Others you may be familiar with without knowing it (that I haven’t seen mentioned yet so far): [Bach: Brandenburg Concertos](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNXaJKdr7yk&feature=player_detailpage#t=7s) [Mozart: Eine Kleine Nachtmusik](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QHzI5HmXl4) [Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8J8urC_8Jw) [Rinsky-Korsakov: Flight of the Bumblebee](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYAJopwEYv8) [Prokofiev: Peter and the Wolf](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qe4yTxbOTi4) [Handel: Royal Fireworks Music](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1heHf8e_fP4) [Satie: Trois Gymnopedies](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7DBoiyBoJ8) [Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto](http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=oNEPrCzF40Y#t=45s) [J. S. Bach: Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J56RFMWharE) ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2012, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-i-like-but-dont-know-it/639504/20 "2012-11-01T20:13:33Z")
> [@Lute Skywatcher](#): > > Going up to 1950 is appropriate. Aaron Copland’s _Rodeo_ (part of which, of course, was used in the BEEF commercials) is from '42. And one of the pieces the OP actually mentioned, “Fanfare for the Common Man,” is from about the same time. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-i-like-but-dont-know-it/639504.md?page=2)