Some music
I was writing out a list of my FAVORITE classical for my roommate (NOT randomly, she asked for it), and I got a bit carried away. And once I sent off the email, I thought it was a little sad that I could only share my opinions with my roommate! I love talking about classical music. And then I thought... I could post this on livejournal!
So long time no see, guys. Here is, verbatim, an email you probably don't even want to get into.
"First off, a disclaimer: this is HEAVILY biased towards chamber music/ cello music generally, since that's what I know best. If I haven't included enough symphony/ band-y pieces, I would recommend just youtube-ing the composer and seeing what comes up. And I know ABSOLUTELY NOTHING about vocal music, so I'll be no help there. ALSO, my favorites normally lie in the mid to late romantic period as well as 20th century, but I'm going to try throwing in some earlier things to even the field a bit. If this is going on a radio show, too much romantic can come off as goopy. I know because that's all that KDFC ever played (played, sniff. R.I.P.) I also have the majority of these pieces in my itunes, so once I figure out how to use dropbox properly I can definitely get you some better recordings.
Sorry I went a bit over the top here. I get excited.
Oh, one more thing! For most of these I'm only linking the first movement, but be sure to at least give a glancing listen to the other movements. Even if you don't particularly like a piece, there can be a world of difference between different movements.
20th century:
Shostakovich:
I've probably talked enough about this guy that I don't have to recap. I'm going to focus rightfully on chamber and cello music, because that's what he did best. Actually, I'd avoid his symphonies altogether, most of them were "commissioned" from Stalin and are full of completely false national pride. Basically musically uninteresting and sucky.
Cello Concerto No. 1:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcnAsv4YUn4
No.2 is also really good! They were both written for Rostropovich, so technique wise they are IMPRESSIVE. This one is the one I was trying to play last semester, ahaha.
Piano Concerto No. 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTSr2oz15Xk
Great quirky piece. No. 1 is probably more heart wrenching, but this one's fun. Of course Shostakovich's instrument was piano, so he really knows his shit.
THE FAMOUS Quartet (No. 8):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCOMyaMXdIs&feature=related
But famous for a reason. At least give the first 3 movements a listen - 3's my favorite, probs.
ALSO:
Quartet No. 3 and the Octet are VERY VERY GOOD. Can't spend forever on shostakovich, but go give them a listen.
Bartok:
The first real ethnomusicologist! Just a few ideas to get you started:
Viola Concerto:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=el75pjDH6Og
Probably the ONLY good concerto written for a violist. That's saying something in itself. This one is a good gateway piece, he hasn't completely thrown out classic harmonic progression yet.
Quartet No. 4:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FZ5cOhSQA0
His most famous one (although that's not saying much, really). THE ONLY THING I REALLY WANT TO PLAY EVARRRR. just putting some human interest into this music history lesson, har har. Quartet No. 1 is worth a go, also.
Concerto for Orchestra:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9bIoYvdMtE
Not my favorite Bartok, but still wonderful of course. What's a concerto for orchestra, you ask? I DON'T even know.
Hindemith:
I would say he's pretty similar to Bartok, but they definitely have different styles. Hindemith comes off as a bit more... minimalist? But that's not quite right... anyway:
Cello sonata:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VAw2HLnrkc
This one's super fun to play. Of course I have to put in a cello plug first, but I really do this this is the best solo cello piece since Bach's cello suites. Which is saying something.
Ludus Tonalis:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7c-L7nOQakc&playnext=1&list=PLF81FA14B814C4E47
A bit more normal, with a bit of jazz influence. This one plays more like Debussy than Bartok, actually.
British Nationalist:
Vaughan-Williams:
Ridiculously nationalist. WAAYYYY nationalist. And the only symphonies I ever really listen to. All the modern soundtrack composers completely rip off Vaughn-Williams, also.
Greensleeves:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g18PBOfkueQ
Viva la England, yes? Actually, interesting factoid, greensleeves was rediscovered by Vaughan-Williams when he was digging up old English folk tunes. So we have him to blame.
Fantasia on a theme by Thomas Tallis:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5y7nJL1hpUU
Less obviously huzzah England, although Thomas Tallis was one of the only famous English composers at the time. From the 16th century? God, I should know this. This recording has some painfully wrong notes, but you get the over all feel.
Lark Ascending:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyy34u7B4Zc
Nice, yes?
Elgar:
This guy's a sweetie. Everything he writes is just beautiful, and he's one of the only positive composers I really love. If you ignore all his over played things.
Serenade for Strings:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uotd8G3nEjQ
One of the most beautiful pieces ever, written for the birth of his kid. Yay! Also, they only have crappy recordings on youtube, so I went with the professional but obnoxiously old recording.
Nimrod:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUgoBb8m1eE
Maybe you've heard this? Another ridiculously sappy one.
Cello Concerto in E minor:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5C99JyP2ns
I know, another cello piece. Sorry. But this was Du Pre's ANTHEM, so you gotta hear her rock it.
Frenchmen:
Saint-Saens:
Has a few famous things, and not a whole lot else.
Cello concerto in a minor:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cv0LgNaM_rM
Had to throw it in. But it is a good concerto, and rather bite sized as far as classical pieces go.
Organ Symphony (No. 3):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bV11c91D4k&playnext=1&list=PLB6037863FC47FF94
The finale should be familiar if you've ever had a childhood. (Babe? Yes/yes?) Despite being tainted by modern media, still one of my favorites (jk. sort of).
Then there's the animals, of course. Can't say I really approve of those generally.
Ravel:
Another nice and crazy guy.
Piano Concerto No. 1:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSsGSzOyI60
Fun! Jazz influenced! Yay! I think this actually falls into impressionism, a very badly defined musical era.
Quartet:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehQMe57TPPM
This is a really interesting quartet. And I think he only wrote one? One of the sad things about the later composers is that they didn't crank them out like Haydn, so we don't have much to go off of :( first and second movements are my favorites.
Debussy:
The only reason I include him is because I love his cello sonata:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QeFeG3dWdI
And Gendron is another must know name if you're into cello nerdery. The only guy to play the French.
I'm bored of organizing:
Suk:
Serenade for Strings:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vd-FMQaO2P4
NO ONE knows who this guy is, which is normally a bad thing in classical music, but this piece is great.
Brahms:
MY FAVORITE MAN IN HISTORY AND I WISH I WERE CLARA SCHUMANN
Symphony 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UccOlCBcIs8
Karajan is also a big name. Unfortunately he's also a dirty nazi. You win some, you lose some.
Sextet No. 1:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWqae2y4Hvo
One of the greatest debates in music (well not really) is whether Brahms' first or second sextet is better. I'm with group one, but you know. Your choice.
Piano Quintet in F minor:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=haBMWnuQWes
Famous one in the chamber music circles. For good reason, though!
Tchaikovsky:
Souvenir de Florence:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQZeAgjwBxY
HARD PIECE. Also emotionally draining. This is a sort of odd recording, frankly... Heifetz tends to play things a bit more baroque than your average joe. Make sure to listen to the last movement as well.
Serenade for Strings:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsGRglp6tvs
Another fun one to play.
I'm not mentioning the pretty good pretty overplayed Tchaikovsky because I trust your ability to find those on your own.
Schubert:
Cello Quintet (C Major):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8jgqFnh3q0
I could listen to this piece FOREVER AND EVER. The last movement is rad, don't miss.
Death and the Maiden:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoZJkkWX8Yw
I like my recording's interpretation better, but you get the idea. It's intense. This is actually the piece that really got me into chamber music/ classical music generally. 7th grade.... before then I lived in a desolate world of 90's pop and boy bands...
Mendelssohn:
Generally too happy and well adjusted for me, but did do some important things. He rediscovered Bach! And reintroduced the fugue as a legit musical form. Both admirable contributions, I guess. Here are some of his less perky things.
Violin Concerto:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRXJWUzn240
Every violinist who has made it past Suzuki has played this. Overplayed, but with good reason.
Octet:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6K3W2DeNkoQ
I think the first movement is actually the most thrilling, which is unusual.
Dvorak:
I almost forgot this guy! Jock of the music world. All about trains and America. Most famous violist ever.
Serenade for Strings:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZOtvyAV_IQ
I guess I'm a sucker for serenades for strings. I didn't even realize so many people wrote them until I started compiling this email.
Bass Quintet
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxzS_DZOy6c
Quite possibly the only good chamber piece involving a bass written. Ever.
And then there's New World. A classic.
And Bach, of course. I'll leave him to you, unless you prefer specific suggestions.
Oh! And Handel's concerto grossi, you'll find a million of them on youtube. To get you started:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a32nicpS3rk
All fugue-y and nice! I love Fugues.
There's your balance, I haven't been very on top of that so far.
If you have any specific requests after this monstrosity, I would be happy to give you more information about a specific composer/ pull up a few more I didn't mention here/ ramble more."
So long time no see, guys. Here is, verbatim, an email you probably don't even want to get into.
"First off, a disclaimer: this is HEAVILY biased towards chamber music/ cello music generally, since that's what I know best. If I haven't included enough symphony/ band-y pieces, I would recommend just youtube-ing the composer and seeing what comes up. And I know ABSOLUTELY NOTHING about vocal music, so I'll be no help there. ALSO, my favorites normally lie in the mid to late romantic period as well as 20th century, but I'm going to try throwing in some earlier things to even the field a bit. If this is going on a radio show, too much romantic can come off as goopy. I know because that's all that KDFC ever played (played, sniff. R.I.P.) I also have the majority of these pieces in my itunes, so once I figure out how to use dropbox properly I can definitely get you some better recordings.
Sorry I went a bit over the top here. I get excited.
Oh, one more thing! For most of these I'm only linking the first movement, but be sure to at least give a glancing listen to the other movements. Even if you don't particularly like a piece, there can be a world of difference between different movements.
20th century:
Shostakovich:
I've probably talked enough about this guy that I don't have to recap. I'm going to focus rightfully on chamber and cello music, because that's what he did best. Actually, I'd avoid his symphonies altogether, most of them were "commissioned" from Stalin and are full of completely false national pride. Basically musically uninteresting and sucky.
Cello Concerto No. 1:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcnAsv4YUn4
No.2 is also really good! They were both written for Rostropovich, so technique wise they are IMPRESSIVE. This one is the one I was trying to play last semester, ahaha.
Piano Concerto No. 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTSr2oz15Xk
Great quirky piece. No. 1 is probably more heart wrenching, but this one's fun. Of course Shostakovich's instrument was piano, so he really knows his shit.
THE FAMOUS Quartet (No. 8):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCOMyaMXdIs&feature=related
But famous for a reason. At least give the first 3 movements a listen - 3's my favorite, probs.
ALSO:
Quartet No. 3 and the Octet are VERY VERY GOOD. Can't spend forever on shostakovich, but go give them a listen.
Bartok:
The first real ethnomusicologist! Just a few ideas to get you started:
Viola Concerto:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=el75pjDH6Og
Probably the ONLY good concerto written for a violist. That's saying something in itself. This one is a good gateway piece, he hasn't completely thrown out classic harmonic progression yet.
Quartet No. 4:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FZ5cOhSQA0
His most famous one (although that's not saying much, really). THE ONLY THING I REALLY WANT TO PLAY EVARRRR. just putting some human interest into this music history lesson, har har. Quartet No. 1 is worth a go, also.
Concerto for Orchestra:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9bIoYvdMtE
Not my favorite Bartok, but still wonderful of course. What's a concerto for orchestra, you ask? I DON'T even know.
Hindemith:
I would say he's pretty similar to Bartok, but they definitely have different styles. Hindemith comes off as a bit more... minimalist? But that's not quite right... anyway:
Cello sonata:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VAw2HLnrkc
This one's super fun to play. Of course I have to put in a cello plug first, but I really do this this is the best solo cello piece since Bach's cello suites. Which is saying something.
Ludus Tonalis:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7c-L7nOQakc&playnext=1&list=PLF81FA14B814C4E47
A bit more normal, with a bit of jazz influence. This one plays more like Debussy than Bartok, actually.
British Nationalist:
Vaughan-Williams:
Ridiculously nationalist. WAAYYYY nationalist. And the only symphonies I ever really listen to. All the modern soundtrack composers completely rip off Vaughn-Williams, also.
Greensleeves:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g18PBOfkueQ
Viva la England, yes? Actually, interesting factoid, greensleeves was rediscovered by Vaughan-Williams when he was digging up old English folk tunes. So we have him to blame.
Fantasia on a theme by Thomas Tallis:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5y7nJL1hpUU
Less obviously huzzah England, although Thomas Tallis was one of the only famous English composers at the time. From the 16th century? God, I should know this. This recording has some painfully wrong notes, but you get the over all feel.
Lark Ascending:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyy34u7B4Zc
Nice, yes?
Elgar:
This guy's a sweetie. Everything he writes is just beautiful, and he's one of the only positive composers I really love. If you ignore all his over played things.
Serenade for Strings:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uotd8G3nEjQ
One of the most beautiful pieces ever, written for the birth of his kid. Yay! Also, they only have crappy recordings on youtube, so I went with the professional but obnoxiously old recording.
Nimrod:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUgoBb8m1eE
Maybe you've heard this? Another ridiculously sappy one.
Cello Concerto in E minor:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5C99JyP2ns
I know, another cello piece. Sorry. But this was Du Pre's ANTHEM, so you gotta hear her rock it.
Frenchmen:
Saint-Saens:
Has a few famous things, and not a whole lot else.
Cello concerto in a minor:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cv0LgNaM_rM
Had to throw it in. But it is a good concerto, and rather bite sized as far as classical pieces go.
Organ Symphony (No. 3):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bV11c91D4k&playnext=1&list=PLB6037863FC47FF94
The finale should be familiar if you've ever had a childhood. (Babe? Yes/yes?) Despite being tainted by modern media, still one of my favorites (jk. sort of).
Then there's the animals, of course. Can't say I really approve of those generally.
Ravel:
Another nice and crazy guy.
Piano Concerto No. 1:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSsGSzOyI60
Fun! Jazz influenced! Yay! I think this actually falls into impressionism, a very badly defined musical era.
Quartet:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehQMe57TPPM
This is a really interesting quartet. And I think he only wrote one? One of the sad things about the later composers is that they didn't crank them out like Haydn, so we don't have much to go off of :( first and second movements are my favorites.
Debussy:
The only reason I include him is because I love his cello sonata:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QeFeG3dWdI
And Gendron is another must know name if you're into cello nerdery. The only guy to play the French.
I'm bored of organizing:
Suk:
Serenade for Strings:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vd-FMQaO2P4
NO ONE knows who this guy is, which is normally a bad thing in classical music, but this piece is great.
Brahms:
MY FAVORITE MAN IN HISTORY AND I WISH I WERE CLARA SCHUMANN
Symphony 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UccOlCBcIs8
Karajan is also a big name. Unfortunately he's also a dirty nazi. You win some, you lose some.
Sextet No. 1:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWqae2y4Hvo
One of the greatest debates in music (well not really) is whether Brahms' first or second sextet is better. I'm with group one, but you know. Your choice.
Piano Quintet in F minor:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=haBMWnuQWes
Famous one in the chamber music circles. For good reason, though!
Tchaikovsky:
Souvenir de Florence:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQZeAgjwBxY
HARD PIECE. Also emotionally draining. This is a sort of odd recording, frankly... Heifetz tends to play things a bit more baroque than your average joe. Make sure to listen to the last movement as well.
Serenade for Strings:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsGRglp6tvs
Another fun one to play.
I'm not mentioning the pretty good pretty overplayed Tchaikovsky because I trust your ability to find those on your own.
Schubert:
Cello Quintet (C Major):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8jgqFnh3q0
I could listen to this piece FOREVER AND EVER. The last movement is rad, don't miss.
Death and the Maiden:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoZJkkWX8Yw
I like my recording's interpretation better, but you get the idea. It's intense. This is actually the piece that really got me into chamber music/ classical music generally. 7th grade.... before then I lived in a desolate world of 90's pop and boy bands...
Mendelssohn:
Generally too happy and well adjusted for me, but did do some important things. He rediscovered Bach! And reintroduced the fugue as a legit musical form. Both admirable contributions, I guess. Here are some of his less perky things.
Violin Concerto:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRXJWUzn240
Every violinist who has made it past Suzuki has played this. Overplayed, but with good reason.
Octet:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6K3W2DeNkoQ
I think the first movement is actually the most thrilling, which is unusual.
Dvorak:
I almost forgot this guy! Jock of the music world. All about trains and America. Most famous violist ever.
Serenade for Strings:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZOtvyAV_IQ
I guess I'm a sucker for serenades for strings. I didn't even realize so many people wrote them until I started compiling this email.
Bass Quintet
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxzS_DZOy6c
Quite possibly the only good chamber piece involving a bass written. Ever.
And then there's New World. A classic.
And Bach, of course. I'll leave him to you, unless you prefer specific suggestions.
Oh! And Handel's concerto grossi, you'll find a million of them on youtube. To get you started:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a32nicpS3rk
All fugue-y and nice! I love Fugues.
There's your balance, I haven't been very on top of that so far.
If you have any specific requests after this monstrosity, I would be happy to give you more information about a specific composer/ pull up a few more I didn't mention here/ ramble more."