# getting into Classical music, need some help! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 10, 2017, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-into-classical-music-need-some-help/788606 "2017-06-10T16:37:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Apocalypso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Apocalypso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apocalypso)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2017, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-into-classical-music-need-some-help/788606/1 "2017-06-10T16:37:24Z")
This was inspired by this thread: [What’s your favourite Beethoven Symphony, excluding the Fifth and Ninth?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=827877) Lord, how my tastes have changed. When I was a teen all I listened to was Black Sabbath, Metallica, Iron Maiden, AC/DC, and similar bands. I am about to hit 47 in less than a month (July 4, yes I am a firecracker!), and was reflecting on how I still like some of the stuff from my teen days, but my musical tastes have completely changed and expanded since then. [Tristeza](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXPiRxibcJA), [Nick Cave](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chF244LWWqg), [Glass Hammer](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olNrIYf2sV8), and [Tarja Turunen](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxod9jF9c-s), to name a few examples. But I have always liked classical music, and starting last year, began grabbing some cd’s if I saw them at the store. One I really liked was “The best of Beethoven”, 2 cd’s of Beethoven performed mostly by the Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra, with some songs by other orchestras. Most of the songs seem to start with the word “Allegro” (I have no idea what that means). But I love it, a lot more than the Mozart one (which I admittedly haven’t spent a huge amount of time listening to yet). So that’s the backstory. Here’s what I want some help with. I understand that a lot of the Beethoven cd’s are performed by specific orchestras, and some are mixes of different songs played by different groups. I want some recommendations on who to look for and where to look for it. Wally World doesn’t have too big of a Beethoven collection for some reason :dubious: And I don’t really know anyone else who listens to classical music, in fact when I play it in the car most people I drive past cover their ears, exactly the same as they did when I played Twisted Sister all those years ago. 😃 This was, as I said, inspired by the What’s your favourite Beethoven Symphony, excluding the Fifth and Ninth? thread. I don’t have any of those songs. I need them. I want to listen to them all and select my ‘favourite’ Beethoven Symphony too. What do I look for and where do I find this wonderful music? ---
**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:** [June 10, 2017, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-into-classical-music-need-some-help/788606/2 "2017-06-10T17:12:48Z")
Hmmm… “Classical” comprises hundreds of years, thousands of composers in different regions (mostly Europe), different forms and styles… it’s huge. But, to get started you probably need to learn only one thing: the periods of [The Common Practice Period](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_practice_period)and then take representative composers and works and see what you like. These periods are: [ul] [li]Baroque - Bach, Handel, Vivaldi[/li][li]Classical - Haydn, Mozart, early Beethoven[/li][li]Romantic - late Beethoven, Chopin, Schubert, Brahms, Dvorak, Tchaikovsky[/li][/ul] You seem to already be liking the big forms, so here is a work from each period: Bach - [Concert for two violins](https://youtu.be/leTVfMb2uME) Mozart - [Sinfonia Concertante for Violin and Viola](https://youtu.be/v0xypy7JCF4) Dvorak - [Symphony 9 (From The New World)](https://youtu.be/HClX2s8A9IE) ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2017, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-into-classical-music-need-some-help/788606/3 "2017-06-10T17:23:33Z")
If you want a primer on Beethoven, why don’t you check out the videos on YouTube and see which versions you prefer? Many different famous conductors have made recordings of pretty much all his works, and each one brings his own touch to them. (My personal favorite is Herbert von Karajan). While you’re there, check out other composers as well: Haendel, Bach, Mozart, and Haydn are all pre-Beethoven; Schumann, Tchaikovsky, Wagner, Mahler, and Bruckner are all post-Beethoven. Those are just a few samples; there are many more. Works by Italian composers, Dutch composers, English composers, you name it! ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2017, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-into-classical-music-need-some-help/788606/4 "2017-06-10T17:46:05Z")
Here’s one of my favorites. [Beethoven “Moonlight” Sonata op 27 # 2 Mov 3 Valentina Lisitsa](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zucBfXpCA6s) Though [the whole sonata](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OsOUcikyGRk) is pretty fun too. The last movement is fun to listen to by itself, but the first two movement do set up the themes that that last plays on, so it is useful to listen to if you haven’t heard it before. Then, since you used to like metal in the day,[this fusion](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6rBK0BqL2w) is probably one of my favorite things to listen to on the entire internets. ---
**Author:** ![ioioio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ioioio/32/316_2.png) [@ioioio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ioioio)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2017, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-into-classical-music-need-some-help/788606/5 "2017-06-10T17:48:26Z")
Try listening to a great classical station online, like KUSC. You’ll get a wide exposure. (Except on Saturday, which seems to be opera day on KUSC.) When you hear something you really like, follow up on that composer. Classical music is different from pop music in that it has _a lot_ of structure and depth. If a piece appeals to you, you’ll appreciate it more and more as you become familiar with it and realize its intricacies. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2017, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-into-classical-music-need-some-help/788606/6 "2017-06-10T17:48:48Z")
The Slovak Philharmonic did a version of my favorite piece of music ever, Grieg’s _Holberg Suite_. Three of the five movements are Allegro (well, one is Allegro vivace, one is Allegro con brio, and one is Allegretto, but nevermind-- they all mean “fast”). The _Holberg Suite_ was composed in 1885, but it was deliberately written in an older style. It’s not as famous as _Peer Gynt_, Grieg’s most famous work, and one which shows up in Looney Tunes fairly frequently, but IMO, it’s his best work. YouTube has the Slovak Philharmonic’s version, but the movements are posted separately. Since you love Allegro, listen to the last movement, “Rigaudon,” first. ---
**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:** [June 10, 2017, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-into-classical-music-need-some-help/788606/7 "2017-06-10T18:07:42Z")
I hate to say it, but you should probably pick up a basic guide to read, a “Classical Music for Dummies,” so to speak. If someone can link to an online version, please give out bud **Apocalypso** a hand, here. You should definitely stop referring to the music as “songs,” which will immediately peg you as a tyro. Learn what “sonata form” is, and that when an orchestra plays a sonata, they call it a “symphony.” When they play one with a solo instrument featured, they call it a “concerto.” Learn that “allegro” means fast, “presto” means faster. “Adagio” means slow, “largo” means slower. The orchestral piece that precedes an opera is an “overture” except in the case of Wagner, when it’s usually a “prelude.” It’s complicated – I’ve been listening seriously for over 40 years and still feel like a moron when I talk with REALLY serious listeners – but EXTREMELY satisfying and rewarding. Here’s a nice Mozart overture that will make your ears happy. James Levine conducting the NY Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. Slow and majestic alternating with fast and delightful. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/VMbW9cMTKD0/hqdefault.jpg "Die Zauberflöte, K.620, Overture J.Levine/MET") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMbW9cMTKD0) ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2017, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-into-classical-music-need-some-help/788606/8 "2017-06-10T18:08:39Z")
> [@ioioio](#): > > Try listening to a great classical station online, like KUSC. You’ll get a wide exposure. (Except on Saturday, which seems to be opera day on KUSC.) When you hear something you really like, follow up on that composer. > > Classical music is different from pop music in that it has _a lot_ of structure and depth. If a piece appeals to you, you’ll appreciate it more and more as you become familiar with it and realize its intricacies. This. By the second or third time I have listened to a piece of pop music, I can sing along with it and anticipate everything coming up. I can listen to something like [Rachmaninoff’s 3rd piano concerto](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRYSuGQfiqE) dozens of times, and still pick up something that I hadn’t noticed before. ---
**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:** [June 10, 2017, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-into-classical-music-need-some-help/788606/9 "2017-06-10T18:10:27Z")
> [@Apocalypso](#): > > One I really liked was “The best of Beethoven”, 2 cd’s of Beethoven performed mostly by the Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra, with some songs by other orchestras. Most of the songs seem to start with the word “Allegro” (I have no idea what that means). “Allegro” just means “fast.” And what you’re calling “songs” are almost certainly _movements_. A large-scale work of classical music, like a symphony, a concerto, a sonata, or a string quartet is usually made up of three or four (occasionally more or less) parts called “movements.” (So a movement is to a symphony _sort of_ as a song is to an album in a genre like album-oriented rock). The movements usually don’t have names of their own, but are identified by their tempo markings (like “Allegro”). > [@](#): > > Here’s what I want some help with. I understand that a lot of the Beethoven cd’s are performed by specific orchestras, and some are mixes of different songs played by different groups. I want some recommendations on who to look for and where to look for it. There are literally hundreds of different recordings of the really famous works (like Beethoven’s symphonies). You might not want to worry about the performers at all, and just explore pieces, composers, or types of music you like. Or, if there’s a recording you particularly like, you might want to look for other recordings by that same performer, orchestra, or conductor. > [@](#): > > I don’t have any of those songs. I need them. I want to listen to them all and select my ‘favourite’ Beethoven Symphony too. What do I look for and where do I find this wonderful music? You can find a lot of classical music available on YouTube (including all nine of Beethoven’s symphonies). If you don’t know ahead if time exactly what you want, that’s a good, cheap way to familiarize yourself with different pieces. If you then want to buy music to own, online sites like Amazon have a huge selection of both physical CDs and digital downloads. ---
**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:** [June 10, 2017, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-into-classical-music-need-some-help/788606/10 "2017-06-10T18:18:51Z")
And, I know we’ve had threads like this before. I was able to find [Essential Classical Music](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=467187) (which has links to some earlier threads, as well as some YouTube links) [I want to start listening to more classical music, but don’t know where to start](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=433796) [Classical music that rocks.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=146315) ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2017, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-into-classical-music-need-some-help/788606/11 "2017-06-10T19:17:37Z")
Lisen to what you like. Go to Y ouTube, choose things at random. If yo like them, try the suggested similar videos in the right-hand menu. ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2017, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-into-classical-music-need-some-help/788606/12 "2017-06-10T19:44:22Z")
I can not recommend the series by Great Courses “How to listen to and Understand Great Music” more highly. 99% chance that your local library has it on CD (maybe even DVD). It’s a perfect introduction to “Classical” sometimes called “serious” or “orchestral” music. All those names suck for various reasons, but there aren’t many better ones. Personally I think the exact recording you listen to can change your appreciation for a particular work quite a bit. For example, I adore Mozart’s symphony 40, but find that many performances are too fast and not quite staccato enough for my taste, particularly the final movement. But taste is particular so rather than recommending any particular recording, I will say, GO LISTEN! Listen to a bunch of versions. Start here: compare to here [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/0sGqkMU-mGQ/maxresdefault.jpg "Mozart: Symphony No. 40 / Rattle · Berliner Philharmoniker") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sGqkMU-mGQ) then here Interpretation is really the magic here. Same music, different interpretations giving very different feelings (the middle link is my favorite of the three.) If we are sticking with Symphonies and you want Beethoven, I recommend listening to the 3rd and 7th symphonies. But again, listen to a bunch of versions. Listen to Szell do the 3rd (my favorite) listen to Bernstein or an older classic or Karajan Youtube is your friend in this endeavor. Start by deciding what you like and then go explore. Edit: you got me going through old bookmarks from when I was starting to explore this music. I used to love this website > **[Classical Notes, Table of Contents, Peter Gutmann](http://www.classicalnotes.net/contents.html)** > > Classical record reviews and commentary by a passionate fan. Expanded, updated Goldmine columns.Career retrospectives and discographies of Toscanini, Furtwangler, Bernstein. Classical CD reviews. It has/had great reviews on specific recordings and was super approachable. This one too [http://www.classicalcdguide.com/](http://www.classicalcdguide.com/) Come back and post as you start to figure stuff out. ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2017, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-into-classical-music-need-some-help/788606/13 "2017-06-10T20:04:35Z")
Other thoughts, [this is the thread I started](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=433796) (10 years ago, cripes I’m old) on this subject when I got bit by the classical bug. It has some great suggestions by some really really smart posters…some of whom don’t post too much anymore. In that is a suggestion to check out BBC Discovering Music. > **[BBC Radio 3 - Discovering Music](https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006tn54)** > > Programme which examines a different piece of music each week While the whole archive isn’t available if you aren’t in the UK you can still listen to a bunch. ---
**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:** [June 10, 2017, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-into-classical-music-need-some-help/788606/14 "2017-06-10T21:55:06Z")
> [@Apocalypso](#): > > Lord, how my tastes have changed. When I was a teen all I listened to was Black Sabbath, Metallica, Iron Maiden, AC/DC, and similar bands. If memory serves, Heavy Metal music borrows liberally from Classical music. For a Youtube channel, try GustavAdolphusRex. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2017, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-into-classical-music-need-some-help/788606/15 "2017-06-10T22:10:56Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > A large-scale work of classical music, like a symphony, a concerto, a sonata, or a string quartet is usually made up of three or four (occasionally more or less) parts called “movements.” Umm, a string quartet is four string instrument players who play together, usually two violins, a viola, and a cello. A musical composition called a “quartet” is one that is written for four instruments. They often have three or four movements. Suites have five movements. ---
**Author:** ![ioioio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ioioio/32/316_2.png) [@ioioio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ioioio)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2017, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-into-classical-music-need-some-help/788606/16 "2017-06-10T22:50:52Z")
Let your discovery of classical music be a delight, not a chore. Don’t feel ignorant – we all do. It’s a huge subject, but can be enjoyed at many levels. What you might have to look forward to: there is a particular note in Beethoven’s Ninth that sends me into cosmic bliss (it’s a B). I hope you find your note. ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2017, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-into-classical-music-need-some-help/788606/17 "2017-06-10T23:57:42Z")
> [@ioioio](#): > > Let your discovery of classical music be a delight, not a chore. Don’t feel ignorant – we all do. It’s a huge subject, but can be enjoyed at many levels. > > What you might have to look forward to: there is a particular note in Beethoven’s Ninth that sends me into cosmic bliss (it’s a B). I hope you find your note. This very well may be my favorite post on Classical music in SDMB history. ---
**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:** [June 11, 2017, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-into-classical-music-need-some-help/788606/18 "2017-06-11T04:29:55Z")
Leonard Bernstein’s Young People’s Concerts are interesting. They’re probably more than you want to know at the moment, but keep them in mind for later. Here’s one that explains “What is sonata form?” [http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x4dcpil](http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x4dcpil) Don’t watch the whole thing (unless you want to). But do watch the clip starting at 15:32 to hear him start the explanation with “Twinkle, twinkle, little star” and then a Beatles tune. There are many more of those concerts on YouTube and other video sites. ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2017, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-into-classical-music-need-some-help/788606/19 "2017-06-11T06:08:21Z")
The current program I use to educate myself on the subject is [Exploring Music](https://exploringmusic.wfmt.com/) with Bill McLaughlin. It’s the spiritual inheritor of Adventures in Good Music with Karl Haas, which sadly is hard to find due to licensing issues. ---
**Author:** ![Apocalypso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Apocalypso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apocalypso)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2017, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-into-classical-music-need-some-help/788606/20 "2017-06-11T15:11:54Z")
Wow. I was hoping to get a couple of decent responses and move me along a little further. I got much more than that. Thank you everyone for all this great information and encouraging words. I realize this is a very large body of work spanning hundreds of years, so this was exactly the information I was looking for, some ways to introduce and educate myself on this. Here’s something NAF1138 said that I’ve been trying to figure out. If, say, Beethoven, wrote this piece a long time ago, did he leave room open for different aspects of it, is there room for some slight variation? How is there room for interpretation? Did Beethoven not write all the music notes to be played originally? When I was in my early teens I took guitar lessons for a while. They gave me a book with notes, and I played the notes. How does there wind up being such different performances of the same song? Er, movements. :o Ok, I’m going to check out some of the links given and learn some new things. I feel like a redneck walking into a museum of fine art. 😛 But I really am liking this and want to educate myself and hear much more. **Quartz** , I have heard people talking about the similarity before, and I think that’s what started getting me interested in classical music to begin with. There are some bands like Blind Guardian, Rhapsody of Fire, and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra that have symphonic elements mixed with the heavy metal. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-into-classical-music-need-some-help/788606.md?page=2)