Recommendations for Classical Music, Please!

Cafe Society
21

Handel’s “Zadok the Priest,” which builds and builds to sheer gloriousness: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1W1XJ96y9k&feature=related

His “Entry of the Queen of Sheba” is also a favorite of mine: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TGKJ9MgCOQ

Then there’s Bach’s very zippy Brandenburg Concerto, No. 3, Allegro Moderato: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZ9qWpa2rIg

And you can’t go wrong with his Brandenburg Concerto No. 2, Allegro Moderato: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EC1E4_imS0A&feature=related (which is one of the tunes on the Voyager Gold Records: Voyager Golden Record - Wikipedia)

But let’s not forget William Boyce’s Symphony No. 5 in D: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0ciboqDC4o&feature=related

22

I don’t know what the OP’s examples are, so I’m not sure what to recommend.

But what comes to mind is rapidly played music.

Last movement of Mendelssohn’s violin concerto.

Last section of Sarasate’s Ziegeunerweisen.

The second movement (the scherzo) of Beethoven’s 9th. (For that matter, probably any scherzo.)

The beginning of this Mendelssohn scherzo was used in the Wizard of Oz (as Toto escapes from the witch’s castle).

Smetana, Dance of the Tumblers from “Bartered Bride” (used in Road Runner cartoons, also in Hare Conditioned at 5:16).

Dvorak, “Carnival” Overture.

Mozart, “Marriage of Figaro” overture.

Bernstein, “Candide” overture.

Tchaikowsky, Russian dance from “Nutcracker”.

Thirding the Rossini pieces. Last section of the William Tell overture, last half of the Semiramide overture, Barber of Seville overture (cf. “Rabbit of Seville”).

Some or all of the above can be found on YouTube.

23

I have three CDs that include great stuff, including many of the pieces mentioned already.

CLASSICAL BLAST (available on iTunes), “The Most Exhilirating music in the Universe!” is a two-disk set with a wonderful selection.

HEAVY CLASSIX 1 and 2 is ditto, with “Ride of the Valkyrie” and conclusion of the 1812 Overture, among others. I don’t see it on iTunes.

THUNDER AND LIGHTNING is a two-desk set subtitled “Solti Sonic Spectaculars: Orchestral Fireworks” and includes the William Tell Overture, Bizet’s March of the Toreadors, etc. I don’t see that on iTunes, either.

24

Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5, Movement 4 comes to mind immediately (Not the more famous “da-da-da-daaaa” Movement 1, although that certainly works too!).

25

Give a try to John Adams’ Short Ride in a Fast Machine: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDhRQDwTDJE. If you like that you might like other stuff by Adams, like Foxtrot for Orchestra. The minimalists are full of high energy stuff, check out this piece, by Steve Reich: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OY5_cwN1i74&feature=related.

Or, for something completely different, “Joy of the Blood of the Stars”, a movement of the Turangalila Simphony, by Messiaen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tv67YkOWJNA

26

AHEM…I believe you mean Dance of the Comedians. The Overture from the same piece also has some fuoco.

Dance of the Tumblers is another lively piece by Rimsky-Korsakov. Then again so is just about every other piece he wrote.

27

Nutcracker and anything by Chopin.

Fantasia is a fun cartoon to watch too.

28

Gustav Holst’s “Mars, the Bringer Of War” is quite rousing.

Deborah J Ledford