Necessary Listening?

rcaz · 18-05-2010 09:36PM #1

Are there any works that you think everyone should listen to when they're getting into classical? Works with reputations like Miles Davis' Kind of Blue or Aphex Twin's Selected Ambient Works, that can be like a starting point for their respective styles?

I got into classical about three years ago with Stravinsky's The Firebird, and heard a bit of Reich and Pärt and Górecki, and just went with what I liked from there. Most of my listening is 20th century stuff, with a little romantic stuff but not much. I don't listen to any classical or baroque stuff, save for Well-Tempered Clavier.

What are the works you think everyone should listen to at least once? Note, I'm not asking for your favourite pieces, I mean the ones that should be noted for marking changes or movements or developments or something.

One thing I've realised is I never listen to opera. I know I must be missing a lot, but I haven't heard anything that really grabbed me.

TheBandit · 19-05-2010 10:48AM

"Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune" by Debussy 1894.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_7loz-HWUM

This doc has a background and analysis of it

http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:_w9eF80lHSYJ:www.musicteachers.co.uk/resources/debussyfaune.pdf+pr%C3%A9lude+%C3%A0+l+apr%C3%A8s+midi+d+un+faune+analyse&hl=en&gl=ie&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEEShYUVqA7MIZDeSaBPuTqPEflh1LwVVlLcbbY2ogmPjuoPETmqNBFRSkxUCFsA44v6Xr-CpUi6tBmsAyFvQ-uL2CCjXnb4qrFgg4NwPu8ckLtBw5aSvhX8WobRkFMn_eBapfjWEF&sig=AHIEtbRyCAhqq5TM9FDD8ThvYc0Kz9iEBA

Norrdeth · 19-05-2010 01:13PM

El Pr0n wrote: »

One thing I've realised is I never listen to opera. I know I must be missing a lot, but I haven't heard anything that really grabbed me.

Hey, czech out Wozzeck by Alban Berg, it's pretty cool! or Dr Atomic & Nixon in China by Adams.

Wozzeck - Act 1, Scenes 1 & 2.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQTsFa9EcHQ

Dr. Atomic - Batter My Heart.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYiokai3FW4&feature=related

Nixon in China - News - Act 1, Scene 1.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Tv3hrZmcEk&feature=related

funky penguin · 19-05-2010 04:05PM

I think it depends entirely on the individual.....but I've written about this piece in all 3 years in college....defining of an era I think!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uMfXh4OOx8

With regards to Opera....I'm the same as teh OP, but I recently did a module on the earliest form of Opera, Monteverdi's stuff. Absolutely magical:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_UKrjz7ZTU

rcaz · 19-05-2010 05:55PM

Haha, I did an essay on the Rite this semester

Actually, I heard some bits from Wozzeck and Peter Grimes in lectures this semester too, some of Peter Grimes was nice, but Wozzeck didn't grab me too much. I think it might be not really liking the classical singing voice? I'll persist anyway

All the stuff mentioned is pretty modern stuff, I was expecting more works from baroque and classical stuff. All the stuff mentioned is also great

funky penguin · 19-05-2010 06:29PM

Ahem.....All modern?

Look at the Monteverdi again!!!

In other news, ask and you shall receive.....

Where metal shredding came from (Not me favourite recording. Rachel Podger ftw.):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vfMADWKFsM

Awesomeness:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfjD-DQ5REk

Schumann:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRWWP7H-9SQ

If you don't like Des Abends, Move onto Aufshwung.

Listen to ALL of this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmN65gLNLDE

You will LOVE this. If you don't, you have no heart. :P

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5y7nJL1hpUU

darjeeling · 19-05-2010 08:28PM

Here's a good live recording of Beethoven's 3rd symphony, often said to be a watershed between the Classical and Romantic eras.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XL2ha18i5w

-> Part 2
-> Part 3
-> Part 4
-> Part 5
-> Part 6
-> Part 7

Norrdeth · 20-05-2010 12:46PM

Well I suppose that's what college is for, learning all about the 'definitive' works.
I think it's more fun when you branch out from that and start finding links with different styles and eras that you never thought were there before. Making your own Canon of composers, outside the general taught group.

But also it is nice to know where stuff came from and to hear or see the beginnings of certain styles evident in earlier works, even from the 'big' more 'important' composers.

Will post some nice videos soon.....

I really think that Mahler 2 is one of the best symphonies of the 19th century.
It really brought the form of symphony to new harmonic and expressive levels after Beethoven.

Plus the finale is so epic!

Whole thing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6idPaGqvV8

Finale
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tf5fM1i3MGQ

The Mad Hatter · 22-05-2010 07:22PM

Norrdeth wrote: »

Dr. Atomic - Batter My Heart.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYiokai3FW4&feature=related

Nixon in China - News - Act 1, Scene 1.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Tv3hrZmcEk&feature=related

Having listened to those and a handful of others, I've decided that listening to John Adams is like being punched in the face over and over by Philip Glass.

funky penguin · 23-05-2010 12:47AM

Hallelujah junction, or Phrygian gates? ;_;

Norrdeth · 23-05-2010 04:57PM

Neither! =P Nemám rad protože nevím, ale to musí být nudný pro mě =(
Myslím jsou příliš dlouhé!

I don't like because, I don't know, they must be boring for me =(
I think that they are too long!

The Mad Hatter wrote: »

Having listened to those and a handful of others, I've decided that listening to John Adams is like being punched in the face over and over by Philip Glass.

=D

The Mad Hatter · 23-05-2010 05:12PM

Norrdeth wrote: »

=D

For what it's worth, I'm not necessarily saying that's a bad thing. I quite like Philip Glass (in spite of myself).

For my own contribution: The Brandenburg Concertos. A little like the Four Seasons in joyousness, but far more varied, interesting and intricate. Staggeringly good free recording by the early music ensemble Musica Florea is available here.

OxfordComma · 31-05-2010 04:14PM

The Mad Hatter wrote: »

For my own contribution: The Brandenburg Concertos. A little like the Four Seasons in joyousness, but far more varied, interesting and intricate. Staggeringly good free recording by the early music ensemble Musica Florea is available here.

I love the Brandenburg Concertos. They're some of Bach's finest music.

Just off the top of my head, everyone should (in my opinion) listen to the following:

Bach's keyboard music. I especially love the English suites and the Well-Tempered Clavier. Also his cello suites, harpsichord concertos, choral music...
Pretty much everything by Chopin - especially his Etudes, Preludes, Ballades and Polonaises... Such incredibly powerful and moving music. And I rarely see him mentioned on Boards, which is rather surprising!
Beethoven's symphonies and piano sonatas.
Prokofiev's piano concertos, especially the Third.

Norrdeth · 04-06-2010 10:19AM

What if you're not really into solo piano music??

Bach's solo Cello suites on the other hand=P

Norrdeth · 28-06-2010 10:20AM

The Mad Hatter wrote: »

For what it's worth, I'm not necessarily saying that's a bad thing. I quite like Philip Glass (in spite of myself).

Sorry to annoy you again, but this actually reminds me of the Adams with a healthy dose of neoclassical and maybe some Glass, but not as needlessly repetitive. =P

Attention, it begins pretty loud!
http://khv.upol.cz/dokumenty/pedagogove/12/Hudba%20-%20Music/Vit%20Zouhar%20-%20Blizka%20setkani%20zbesilosti%20srdce%20(1993).mp3

The composer is Vít Zouhar
http://www.musica.cz/skladatele/zouhar-vit.html

gavitron22 · 02-07-2010 03:36AM

speaking of opera, took me ages to remember it from first year, dido's lament from dido and aeneas!

Necessary Listening?

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