EPTOn July 03 2010 05:35 stack wrote:
Hey I know there are some classical aficionados here at TL so I thought I'd ask y'all for some help.
I am really into peaceful and pretty classical music but I am at a loss as to where to start.
I know that I dislike big orchestra pieces (mostly because of violins and some pieces I've heard that were very abrasive and stressful) but prefer pieces done exclusively on piano. Though I also enjoy songs with sweet vocals or woodwind type stuff.
I like debussy, beethoven, and some rachmoniov. I also really loved the type of music from 'the pianist' where he plays for the german.
I feel my scope is too narrow and I want to get my hands on much more artists and composers that have very skilled and enjoyable music. I'm missing out on all kinds of modern stuff.
I want to really get into this music as I think it will help me during my studies and also to relieve stress when I go back to school in september.
I'm hoping this thread gives me a push in the right direction. Thanks.
ps I also love lounge blues with warm tube amp guitars leads, stripped down drums, and muted bass.
Weird request I know but I always enjoy this stuff when I hear it on the radio.
peace tl!
Hey I know there are some classical aficionados here at TL so I thought I'd ask y'all for some help.
I am really into peaceful and pretty classical music but I am at a loss as to where to start.
I know that I dislike big orchestra pieces (mostly because of violins and some pieces I've heard that were very abrasive and stressful) but prefer pieces done exclusively on piano. Though I also enjoy songs with sweet vocals or woodwind type stuff.
I like debussy, beethoven, and some rachmoniov. I also really loved the type of music from 'the pianist' where he plays for the german.
I feel my scope is too narrow and I want to get my hands on much more artists and composers that have very skilled and enjoyable music. I'm missing out on all kinds of modern stuff.
I want to really get into this music as I think it will help me during my studies and also to relieve stress when I go back to school in september.
I'm hoping this thread gives me a push in the right direction. Thanks.
ps I also love lounge blues with warm tube amp guitars leads, stripped down drums, and muted bass.
Weird request I know but I always enjoy this stuff when I hear it on the radio.
peace tl!
Pianophile here.
Because there's a wide range of them, it's more important to get acquainted with the works first, but if you want I can give a list of recommended performers for everything and maybe a list of the greatest recorded performers. Most of the following is piano works but not necessarily everything. Since you said you didn't like big orchestra pieces I'm not going to recommend anything big boned Orchestral such as Mahler or Richard Strauss, Tchaikovsky etc also won't mention Gershwin.
Debussy's works are usually kind of set
Debussy L'Isle Joyeuse
Children's Scenes (
Preludes
Pour le piano
Estampes
Etudes
Beethoven Sonatas: 1, 4, 7, 8 "Pathetique", 12, 14 "Moonlight", 15 "Pastorale", 17 "Tempest", 21 "Waldstein", 23 "Appassionata", 26 "Les adieux", 27, 28, 29 "Hammerklavier", 30, 31, 32.
The ones with names are the most popular, but give the other ones a try particularly 12, 27, 30, 31, 32. While the entire thing is recommended I give the ones I listed as the starting points.
Rachmaninoff. Not too sure what you like here whether it is the concerti or his piano works. Try his Etude Tableux (Op. 39, No. 5, 6) and Preludes (Op. 32 No. 10) for piano works, Vocalise. Op. 3 No.2 is popular as well. Also try his piano duo pieces, might want to sample the Barcarolle first.
Other things you should definitely consider but I won't go into too much detail:
Scarlatti Sonatas... need to look them up but usually what you get within the first 20 seconds is a good indicator
Bach Well Tempered Clavier
Bach Violin Sonatas
Bach Partitas
Bach Chaconne (violin, or Busoni piano)
Bach Keyboard, Cello Suites
Haydn sonatas... well I need to look them up.
Mozart sonatas... start with Number 8, K 310... Also recommend some of his minor Piano Concerti as starting points 20 and 24. Then move to others.
Beethoven's Chamber Music... a lot. I reccomend the late.
Schubert Sonatas 960, 958, 537, Moment Musicales, Impromptus, Trout quintet
Schumann, mostly piano works but might take a while to warm up to. Start with Kindersczenen (butchered spelling)
Brahms late piano works Opus. 76, 79 116, 117, 118, 119. Op. 10 Ballades and also his Piano Sonatas, and Violin Sonatas.
Brahms Paganini Variations. Handel variations.
Mendelssohn variations serieuses
Liszt: a bit too much go off here. Will just say Mephisto Waltz and La Campanella etude, if you're interested ask for more.
Chopin: also a lot.
Ballades, Nocturnes, Etudes, Mazurkas, Polonaises, Barcarolle, Sonatas, Waltzes
some pre-20th or 20th century works other than Rach, not too modern.
Satie Gymnopedie
Bartok Piano Concerti, Romanian dances, Romanian Folk Dances, etc.
Ravel le tombeau de couperin, Piano Concerti
Prokofiev Sonatas 2, 6, 7, 8, some of the concerti as well.
Shostakovich Preludes and Fugues
minimalists Philip Glass and also John Adams.
classical guitar might interest you
As you can see, there is a huge chunk of classical to get into even from a mostly instrumental point. If it's too much just get a little specific into what kind of feelings you get from it and people can help you better.
