# Classical Music Recommendations **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 27, 2002, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-recommendations/111002 "2002-05-27T14:20:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Forbin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5e9695/32.png) [@Forbin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Forbin)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2002, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-recommendations/111002/1 "2002-05-27T14:20:38Z")
Not exactly a classical music recommendation, but a guy like you might enjoy “Johny and the Dead Airs”. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Qwertyasdfg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/ecc23a/32.png) [@Qwertyasdfg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qwertyasdfg)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2002, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-recommendations/111002/2 "2002-05-27T15:42:47Z")
Hmm, where’d my OP go? Well, the question was, can people recommend me some good classical music (musicians and songs.) Just one note, let’s not split hairs over what is technically classical music (versus baroque [sp?], Romance etc.) Maybe “orchestral” would be a better word, but solos are good too. ---
**Author:** ![Qwertyasdfg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/ecc23a/32.png) [@Qwertyasdfg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qwertyasdfg)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2002, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-recommendations/111002/3 "2002-05-27T15:45:21Z")
Oh yeah, one other question that I had included in my OP: A friend of mine has a cell phone (Nokia) which he’s set to ring on “fuga” which plays a song I think I’ve heard before. If anyone could tell/guess the name of this song it’d be appreciated. ---
**Author:** ![hawthorne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@hawthorne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawthorne)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2002, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-recommendations/111002/4 "2002-05-27T15:54:47Z")
A guess on “fuga”: J.S. Bach’s _Art of the Fugue_. If you like solo stuff, you could do a lot worse IMHO than Bach’s unaccompanied 'cello partitas. As for something orchestral and a lot more modern, investigate Copeland. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2002, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-recommendations/111002/5 "2002-05-27T16:31:11Z")
Songs? You want orchestral songs? Gustav Mahler’s song cycle _Des Knaben Wunderhorn_ is nice; I’m particularly fond of “Des Antonius von Padua Fischpredigt” (“Anthony of Padua’s Sermon to the Fishes”), which was later used as the theme for the third movement of the Second Symphony. “Lod des hohen Verstands” (“In Praise of Great Intellect”) is a cheerful little number with great horn parts that mocks music critics. ---
**Author:** ![Jabba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b5e925/32.png) [@Jabba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jabba)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2002, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-recommendations/111002/6 "2002-05-27T19:10:33Z")
The “fuga” is the fugue from J S Bach’s _Toccatta and Fugue in D minor_ ( at least it is on my Nokia 'phone). Some recommendations: Firstly, “the big three” J S Bach: Is most famous for his fugues. I have the above-mentioned one on a disc of Bach organ music performed by Simon Preston and it’s very good. There are also _Das Wohltemperierte Clavier [The Well-Tempered Clavier]_ and _The Art of the Fugue_ ( mentioned by **hawthorne** ). These two ( especially the latter) are formidable works, though. Glenn Gould specialised in Bach’s keyboard works: his recording of the _Goldberg Variations_ is particularly good. I would follow **hawthorne** in recommending the solo 'cello music. You might also enjoy his choral music: The _Chritmas Oratorio_, the _St John Passion_ and the _St Matthew Passion_ are well worth investigating. W A Mozart: To start with, I would suggest investigating the symphonies, the piano concertos, the chamber music and the operas. Naxos do good, cheap recordings of the symphonies and the concertos; there are also excellent recordings of the concertos performed by Mitsuko Uchida. Mozart’s string quartets are justly celebrated and I would also suggest the Clarinet Quintet. For the operas, try _The Marriage of Figaro_. His Requiem is also very popular ( though it’s never really done it for me). L van Beethoven: There were two forms Beethoven took especially seriously and he transformed them both: the symphony and the string quartet. All 9 of his symphonies are worth hearing, but the 3rd, the 5th, the 6th and the 9th are particularly good. There is a superb recording of the late quartets by the Tokyo Quartet. If you like choral music, try also his _Missa Solemnis_. If you are interested in something a bit more recent, the twentieth century has its own “big three”: Igor Stravinsky: try _The Rite of Spring_ Arnold Schoenberg: a personal favourite of mine, though many people hate him. I would recommend the _Gurrelieder_, a huge choral work, and _Verklärte Nacht_, either in the original string sextet version or the later string orchestra reworking. Bela Bartok: Start with his opera _Duke Bluebeard’s Castle_ and his formidable String Quartets. There is an excellent recording of these by the Tokyo Quartet. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2002, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-recommendations/111002/7 "2002-05-27T22:16:49Z")
Here are three results that turned up by searching for “classical” in the title of threads in Cafe Society: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=100096](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=100096) [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=98692](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=98692) [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=91540](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=91540) You may find older ones in IMHO or MPSIMS. I’ll plug one of my favorites yet again: Ravel’s ballet “Daphnis and Chloe”. It was written to include a wordless chorus, but it sometimes performed without it. Get a version with chorus if you can. Selections from the ballet have been compiled in 2 suites. The 2nd suite is a **must listen** , especially the dawn section at the very beginning and the bacchanal at the end. ---
**Author:** ![ThreeSarahBirds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/43a26b/32.png) [@ThreeSarahBirds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThreeSarahBirds)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2002, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-recommendations/111002/8 "2002-05-27T22:22:28Z")
When we are stoned we love Bela Bartok’s String Quartets. His number four must be a 4:20 classic. ---
**Author:** ![holnist\_army](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a5b964/32.png) [@holnist\_army](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/holnist_army)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2002, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-recommendations/111002/9 "2002-05-27T22:27:30Z")
anything john williams. eric whitacre’s “october” and as for solo stuff, nathan milstein is an amazing violinist. check him out. ---
**Author:** ![G.Nome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c89c15/32.png) [@G.Nome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/G.Nome)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2002, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-recommendations/111002/10 "2002-05-28T01:23:43Z")
Vivaldi - Concerto for 2 violins in a minor, Op.3. No. 8 – Larghetto e spiritoso Dvorak - Serenade for strings in E major, Op. 22 – Larghetto Hayden - Cello Concerto No. 1 in C Major – Adagio Albinoni - Concerto in G major: Andante Bach - Concerto for Two violins in D minor ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2002, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-recommendations/111002/11 "2002-05-28T02:58:44Z")
Check out **Carmina Burana** by Carl Orff. [sub][sup]It even has singing :)[/sup][/sub] ---
**Author:** ![K364](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k364/32/5_2.png) [@K364](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K364)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2002, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-recommendations/111002/12 "2002-05-28T05:18:31Z")
Just a slight “adjustment” to **Jabba’s** post… For the Mozart symphonies I would stay with #39, 40, 41 until you are a big fan. If you randomly pick a symphony you might get one of the many that are rather bland. Even Mr. M could write pedestrian music. (However the piano concertos are another story - except for the first few, they are all masterpieces) Don’t forget Beethoven’s Symphony #7. I would start with 5, 6 & 7 and leave 3 & 9 for later. However, the first symphony you should listen to is Dvorak’s #9 (Symphony From the New World). ---
**Author:** ![Jabba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b5e925/32.png) [@Jabba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jabba)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2002, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-recommendations/111002/13 "2002-05-28T13:03:49Z")
I would endorse **K364** ’s amendments to my posts. The later Mozart symphonies are much the best and Beethoven’s 3rd and 9th might be hard-going for listeners new to classical music. The 5th, with its famous first movement, is perhaps the most immediately accessible. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2002, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-recommendations/111002/14 "2002-05-28T13:23:08Z")
Big Subject. Might I suggest you pick up a copy of **Classical Music for Dummies**. The book comes with a tape or CD (or is available in that form), and gives you some good basic background info, along with short clips from major pieces (I realize that’s considered heresy, but if you’re unfamiliar with the music it’s a great help). For my part, I love Beethoven’s symphonies and overtures, especially as played by von Karajan and the Berlin Philharmonik. (Others on this board have recommended Toscanini and the RCA orchestra). ---
**Author:** ![tetsusaru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f14d63/32.png) [@tetsusaru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tetsusaru)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2002, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-recommendations/111002/15 "2002-05-28T14:03:47Z")
Liszt, Les Preludes. Neighbours playin`Limp Bizkit? Turn it up LOUD and show`em what real noise is all about. With a soundtrack like this, the Dalai Lama would have invaded Poland. Tchaikovsy`s Marche Slave will also do the business, as will Romeo and Juliet by Prokofiev. And when they`ve moved out and you want to kick back with a cool drink? Pretty much anything by Satie will do the job. BOM bom bom BOM, bom bom bom bom bom BOM! ---
**Author:** ![av8rmike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/edb3f5/32.png) [@av8rmike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/av8rmike)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2002, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-recommendations/111002/16 "2002-05-28T14:52:50Z")
Something no one here has mentioned yet: Listen to classical radio, if there’s a station in your area. The downside is you’re at the mercy of their playlists and selection, but if it’s a good station you can get a good idea of recordings that are out there. Regarding what **Jabba** has said, Stravinsky, Schoenberg and Bartok may be a little heavy for the novice listener. George Gershwin, though a little too “jazzy” for many classical listeners, is much more palatable. His “Rhapsody in Blue”, “An American in Paris”, and Piano Concerto in F are his most famous orchestral works. (I’m not counting the musicals and vocal works here) ---
**Author:** ![Qwertyasdfg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/ecc23a/32.png) [@Qwertyasdfg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qwertyasdfg)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2002, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-recommendations/111002/17 "2002-05-28T19:47:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by av8rmike \* > \*\*…Bartok may be a little heavy for the novice listener. \*\* I guess so. I just heard “string quartet” and it sounds like total rubbish (to my unsophisticated ear.) Or maybe one just has to be high (I don’t do drugs) as **ThreeSarahBirds** said. As for Copland, I really dig “Outdoor Overture” but can’t find any other stuff by him that I consider on par with that. (Not to say its bad, just not as good.) ---
**Author:** ![Jabba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b5e925/32.png) [@Jabba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jabba)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2002, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-recommendations/111002/18 "2002-05-29T00:07:33Z")
Just to show that I am always open to constructive criticism, I would acknowledge the validity of **av8rmike** ’s point. I continue to maintain that the composers I gave are the best the twentieth century has produced; no-one, however, should ever suggest that they are easy. ---
**Author:** ![5\_time\_champ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/278dde/32.png) [@5\_time\_champ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5_time_champ)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2002, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-recommendations/111002/19 "2002-05-29T00:14:12Z")
Coincidentally, St Louis’ classical station did their [Top 99](http://www.classic99.com/top99.htm) over the Memorial Day weekend. It is a good list to start with. Classical music snobs would probably say there is way too much “popular” classical music here. But most people would at least recognize most of the music if they heard it. I would have placed #27 **JS Bach’s** _Toccata & Fugue, in D Major_ first. I always get a chuckle at #61 _Air on a G-String_, the title sounds like theme music for a strip club. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2002, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-recommendations/111002/20 "2002-05-29T04:35:00Z")
Good idea about classical FM radio. If your Internet connection is fast enough, listen to one of their webcasts. Inquire at your local library about borrowing classical CDs. One of the threads I linked to contains a recommendation for the “Basic Repertoire” section at [http://www.classical.net/](http://www.classical.net/) . [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-music-recommendations/111002.md?page=2)