11 ms·

This is way off topic (and I apologize) but it’s remarkably hard to learn about classical music. Would you do me a favour? I’m a classical neophyte and struggle

by hluska 5y ago

This is way off topic (and I apologize) but it’s remarkably hard to learn about classical music. Would you do me a favour? I’m a classical neophyte and struggle with composer/orchestra/conductor fit. Can you recommend any combinations that I need to hear?? Thus far, I think I like baroque and Bach makes me happy. I’m starting to think I love opera but I might just have a thing for Maria Callas. However, I’m open to any and all recommendations and will love the hell out of anyone who recommends anything. I prefer vinyl but I’ll buy an 8 track if it helps. (Whenever I’ve asked HN for help, I’ve ended up with new favourite recordings of all time. Thanks to all the classical music lovers who have really enhanced my life throughout the years.)

Areading314 5y ago
You should definitely listen to Bach's mass in B minor and his cantatas if you like vocal work and Bach. Also listen to Mozart's Requiem. Some other good stuff would be all the symphonies by Mozart and Beethoven. Vivaldi's four seasons. Also try Bach's Brandenburg Concertos, and Goldberg Variations. For opera listen to some of the overtures and highlights by Wagner (Tannhauser, Tristan & Isolde, Lohengrin).
- threatofrain 5y ago
  Also check out Glenn Gould for Bach! Concerto #1 in D minor https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljLi9A0H8H4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljLi9A0H8H4
te_chris 5y ago
BBC Radio 3 has a whole series about this called Building a Library. There’s a UK retailer called Presto that annotate their stock with the different endorsements too - they sell digital files as well, if you’re not in the UK. Then it’s really about learning what you like. Personally, I’d start by period: broadly, Baroque (Bach, Vivaldi etc), Classical (Beethoven, Mozart etc), Romantic (Debussy, Ravel). The periods have identifiable styles and can be a good way to introduce yourself to the nuance of the compositions. Finally, there’s a question of instrumentation: whether you prefer orchestral, vocal, chamber, solo etc. Sounds like a lot of work, but remember it should be fun! It’s new music, a bunch of which you’ve probably never heard before. Have an open mind and dive in! Also, assuming you have access where you live and the means, live music doesn’t have to be prohibitively expensive. Check out the programs at your local concert halls and go down to hear some music.
- jjgreen 5y ago
  Presto is fabulous, CDs, SACDs, mp3s; 30s samples for most of the stock, if you order the CD you get immediate access to the mp3 ... Not affiliated with them at all, but they were a lifesaver during the lockdown (without Schoenberg to get drunk to, who knows how I would have made it through)
mariodiana 5y ago
Do you want to read a really entertaining book? The Great Pianists, by Harold C. Shonberg https://www.amazon.com/Great-Pianists-Mozart-Present/dp/0671638378 https://www.amazon.com/Great-Pianists-Mozart-Present/dp/0671... You don't have to worry about reading the whole thing. Read through Bach and Mozart (and maybe Beethoven) to begin with. You'll get a feel for the historical background, and mention of their major pieces. Then, you go listen to the pieces. I know these are pianists, but a good number of the great composers were some of the foremost pianists of their time. Supplement a composer you've read about with a YouTube video or two, and their entry in Wikipedia, and you're off to a great start. Anyway, that's one approach.
cageface 5y ago
If you think you might like opera check out the René Jacobs' recordings of Mozart's Italian Operas on the Harmonia Mundi label: Cosi Fan Tutte, Le Nozze di Figaro & Don Giovannni. In general as a beginner I wouldn't worry too much about finding the best recording of any particular piece. Once you start to develop some favorites then you can pick a few and compare. Streaming services make this a lot easier and cheaper than it used to be.
- spoonjim 5y ago
  I don't know if I agree with that. The recording can make the difference between a transcendent piece and dogshit. For example if Beethoven's Fifth is played too fast, especially if there's not enough of a pause between the first two phrases... it just ruins the whole thing.
  - cageface 5y ago
    Yeah that's true but if you stick to the major labels and performers you're very unlikely to hear a performance that bad. IMO worrying too much about this as a beginner is a distraction. But once you start to develop some favorites then hearing different takes can add a lot of enjoyment I agree.
    - staticautomatic 5y ago
      I agree this is mostly a matter of taste. Consider the endless debates over Heifetz and Argerich’s playing styles.
  - olau 5y ago
    Hah, that's funny. I grew up with a super fast Karajan (perhaps to make it fit on an LP?), and have had a hard time adjusting to the slower tempo that most recordings have. Personally, for me all Beethoven symphonies >= 4 are a treat. If you ever get the chance to see one live, go. It's overwhelming. Youtube can be helpful when it comes to interpretations. With some luck, there's going to be music geeks recommending other versions, so you can click around and find one you prefer.
tannhauser23 5y ago
Not the OP but happy to help! Since you already like Bach, start by exploring his work! Let's start with the Goldberg Variations, which are 30 variations on a theme set for the keyboard. Glenn Gould's 1955 recording is perhaps the best known recording of this work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cwas_7H5KUs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cwas_7H5KUs I also greatly enjoy Andras Schiff's interpretations of Bach: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbOwhF1hFcg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbOwhF1hFcg For opera, I suggest starting with the Magic Flute by Mozart. There are so many good recording to choose from but why not watch the thing? It's meant to be a visual/audio format, after all! I suggest this recording of the Metropolitan Opera - it's what got me hooked on operas many years ago: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjZfHFPIk7g https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjZfHFPIk7g If you like Maria Callas, you'll love Italian operas. Why not start with the classic, La Traviata? I can't find any of Callas's performances online (aside from clips), but you may like this performance with Anna Netrebko: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYGiRbDHr7k https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYGiRbDHr7k Finally, a note on where/how to listen to classical music. I find Youtube to be an incredible tool for listening and for discovery. It's not necessary to dig back to vinyl or 8-track to listen to great performances - they've been remastered for CDs and lossless media. But ultimately you want to listen to it in person. I'll never forget seeing my first opera in person (The Flying Dutchman). Or the time I scored orchestra seats for Sibelius's 4th symphony. Until the performances return, you might want to buy a ticket to an online performance on DG Premium, which is Deutsche Grammophon's streaming service: https://www.dg-premium.com/ https://www.dg-premium.com/ Good luck and good listening! EDIT: Alas, the Magic Flute performance I linked to doesn't have subtitles! Boo! Here's one that does, though it's not the classic Met production: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPxrbeR5ZyE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPxrbeR5ZyE
- mmmpop 5y ago
  Personally I find Gould's persistent humming to be very grating (not endearing) and recommend Kimiko Ishizaka over him any day.
jlebar 5y ago
Others have recommended Mozart's Requiem if you like music with singing. If you haven't heard Robert Levin's completion, e.g. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=457pvjOo9Hw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=457pvjOo9Hw, I think it takes the cake. For a neophyte, I think it's good to start with the war horses, for which there are lots of high-quality modern recordings. - Bach Brandenberg concerti (I like the Netherlands Bach Society, they have tons of great Bach recordings on Youtube. If you're into Bach, highly recommend you check them out.) - Goldberg variations (I like Glen Gould's later recording, but Kimiko Ishizaka is also a great libre recording, and Netherlands Bach Society has a great recording on harpsichord) - Mozart Symphony 40 - Mozart piano, violin sonatas - Beethoven Symphonies 3,5,9 (I really like https://www.youtube.com/user/hrSinfonieorchester https://www.youtube.com/user/hrSinfonieorchester) - Chopin waltzes, etudes, nocturnes - Rach piano concerto 2, Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini - Sibelius violin concerto (I like https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0w0t4Qn6LY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0w0t4Qn6LY) - Bruch violin concerto Personally I think watching videos helps bring the music alive in a way that listening to recordings doesn't. And maybe it's heresy to some, but I think modern recordings are, in general, a lot more pleasant to listen to. HTH!
muglug 5y ago
Read Music for Life by Fiona Maddocks: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01HDY2O0E https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01HDY2O0E
high5ths 5y ago
If you like baroque music, I can't help but plug my own New York City-based ensemble (named after Bach himself), the Sebastians: https://www.sebastians.org https://www.sebastians.org I'm the group's harpsichordist and director. We've released a lot of free content on Youtube, especially this year: https://www.youtube.com/thesebastians https://www.youtube.com/thesebastians . Just today I released four recent performances, including Bach's fifth Brandenburg concerto: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHr9-Ht2XSI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHr9-Ht2XSI . Happy listening!
krelian 5y ago
Some great recommendations already here, I'll add another one: https://www.reddit.com/r/classicalresources https://www.reddit.com/r/classicalresources
npunt 5y ago
If you have an iPad, Deutsche Grammophon's apps are a great intro to the intellectual and emotional complexity and nuance of some key classical works. They have apps for Beethoven's 9th, Vivaldi's Four Seasons, and Liszt's Sonata. https://apps.apple.com/us/app/beethovens-9th-symphony/id601942399 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/beethovens-9th-symphony/id6019... With Beethoven's 9th, while you are listening it visually syncs the original manuscript and score, a visualization of where in the orchestra different instruments are playing, and includes analysis of the performance and intention of the parts. It also lets you switch between four different performances of the 9th by the Berliner Philharmoniker, so you can compare and contrast interpretations over the years. Highly recommended!
buro9 5y ago
Seek out any Bach played by Glenn Gould. The incredible thing here is that Bach left sheet music but sheet music of the age did not include time, so the music has to be interpreted. The "Goldberg Variations" are this interpretation by Glenn Gould (a pianist). I'd throw in Beethoven's 3rd and 5th Symphonies. I'd also throw in something like Verdi's Rigoletto and Rossini's Barber of Seville. In my past I owned a record label which specialised in pop, rock and folk music. I had to learn classical like I had to learn jazz. But the thing that made this easier for me was the realisation that there is far far more rock / pop than there is classical or jazz. It can be intimidating but you only need an entry point to get you started. Whatever that is will be personal to you, but the best advice anyone can give is to just listen.
- mushishi 5y ago
  > so the music has to be interpreted Just to extend this point: My understanding of the topic might be far off as I haven't ever learned music under a teacher. But to me there's great deal of interpretation even with tempi marks that even good students just aren't thinking. I sometimes enjoy watching masterclasses of players with wealth of experience. Andres Schiff is one of the most famous ones. Also Maxim Vengerov the violinist. Anyone that hasn't seen one masterclass should look up on youtube if that sound remotely interesting.
- olau 5y ago
  Besides tempo, at Bach's time, dynamics (loudness) weren't usually written down. But there's always a lot of interpretation involved, even today. The score is a very rough model of the music, akin to jotted down notes outlining a novel. Or like a manuscript for a film.
y7 5y ago
> I’m a classical neophyte and struggle with composer/orchestra/conductor fit. If you're new to classical music you really don't need to worry about this. Almost all available professional recordings are of high quality, and the differences between interpretations are relatively subtle. What is important is to get a sense of which composers you enjoy. Classical music spans a large period of time with very different styles, so try a few well-known composers from different time periods to see what you like. I greatly enjoy classical music and I regularly attend(ed) concerts, but my interests are very narrow and I don't get a lot of enjoyment out of Mozart and Beethoven for instance. In my opinion, classical music is best enjoyed when you devote your full attention to listening to the music, i.e. when you're not doing anything else (or something with a very low cognitive load, like walking/driving/etc). Focus on how the music makes you feel, but it's okay to let your thoughts wander off a bit.
- zozbot234 5y ago
  > If you're new to classical music you really don't need to worry about this. Almost all available professional recordings are of high quality, and the differences between interpretations are relatively subtle. Agreed, but it's also important to understand that what's truly distinctive about Western classical music (as opposed to other music traditions) is it being a written art form first and foremost, with sheet music as the "standard" form for a piece and performance being subsequent to that. If you're "new" to serious/cultivated music, you really should start by learning to read the sheet music and follow along when listening to a performance. Everything else in music appreciation is downstream of that.
  - hippari 5y ago
    >what's truly distinctive about Western classical music (as opposed to other music traditions) is it being a written art form first and foremost I find this hard to believe, music score can be copied down the generation with some degree of lost-in-translation, they might not be the full materialization of the composer's idea, some copier may write down their own idea on the sheets. I would agree that music score is the only means of accessing composer's works for Western classical music, and thereby became the "standard". But this would also likely be true for other culture's music, and therefore it's not unique.
ternaryoperator 5y ago
These kinds of questions are frequently asked and answered in detail on Reddit r/classical music [0] The FAQ on the right side of the home page has links to introductory pages. You're starting on a fun journey! [0] https://www.reddit.com/r/classicalmusic/ https://www.reddit.com/r/classicalmusic/
ebcase 5y ago
Fwiw, I have learned a lot by listening to classical radio in the background every day. Some of the great stations (imho -- KDFC in SF, CPR Classical Colorado, King FM in Seattle, Portland's station) have outstanding DJs who talk about the composers, soloists, conductors, orchestras, time period, etc.
- tkgally 5y ago
  I recommend BBC Radio 3 for the same reasons.
sosuke 5y ago
I had great success with Robert Greenberg's series on music and music history. I started with How to Listen to and Understand Opera which is available on his site (https://robertgreenbergmusic.com/download/how-to-listen-understand-opera/ https://robertgreenbergmusic.com/download/how-to-listen-unde...) and The Great Courses as well. If you want a preview shoot me an email. He adds lots of fun history to go with it. Bach's Goldberg Variations was his greatest financial success "The Count presented him with a golden goblet filled with 100 louis-d'or." and he was obsessed with coffee. Coffee cantana by him as well.
- dave84 5y ago
  I’ll second his courses. Went through his Listen to and Understand Great Music course on The Great Courses through Audible.
alphaBetaGamma 5y ago
If you like Bach you might want to learn to listen to polyphony: the form of music in which multiple melodies are played simultaneously while forming an harmonious whole. I recommend looking & listening to videos of Stephen Malinowsky (smalin on youtube), particularly his older videos with less visual clutter. Each color is a separate melody. Initially and you should try to focus on just one melody, then see if you can easily switch your focus to an other one. Then see if you can listen/focus on two melodies at the same time, then three... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL81D26D4A47388279 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL81D26D4A47388279 In general I would not worry to much about the performer, but it might be interesting to listen to different interpretations of the same piece, particularly from composers with very idiosyncratic styles. On youtube, Ashish Xiangyi Kumar (https://www.youtube.com/c/AshishXiangyiKumar https://www.youtube.com/c/AshishXiangyiKumar) has videos of pieces (mainly piano solo) interpreted by different artist.
chrisseaton 5y ago
Listen to a radio station curated by genuine experts, like BBC Radio 3, and learn which curators you like.
aqme28 5y ago
I asked a classical-loving friend this same question and she gave me a wonderful Spotify playlist that I can share if you're interested[1]. I also condensed it down to my own favorites if you'd like that as well[2]. [1]: Turns out I'm unable to share her playlist, but... [2]: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2Foxcns6j4SwiWIWiaEtKX?si=6f24153fbf8a48ad https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2Foxcns6j4SwiWIWiaEtKX?si=...
scolby33 5y ago
As someone with just a touch of classical knowledge from high school band and such, I’ve truly enjoyed and learned a lot from the Classical Classroom podcast (https://classicalclassroomshow.com/ https://classicalclassroomshow.com/).
klelatti 5y ago
If you'd like to explore the BBC Music Magazine's list of 20 greatest conductors might not be a bad place to start for orchestral music. The ordering may be a bit controversial but these are all great artists and the listing has some of their best performances. https://www.classical-music.com/features/artists/20-greatest-conductors-all-time/ https://www.classical-music.com/features/artists/20-greatest... Some personal favourites: Brahms 4 - Carlos Kleiber / Vienna Philharmonic (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ho-H-8FzbU8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ho-H-8FzbU8) Mahler 2 - Claudio Abbado / Lucerne (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MPuoOj5TIw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MPuoOj5TIw) Shostakovich Symphonies - Bernard Haitink / London Philharmonic / Concertgebouw (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YS4dcZ90fN0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YS4dcZ90fN0) One thing to look out for in baroque is original instruments vs modern instruments performances. Original instruments have a very different - leaner - sound. I find I much prefer them now. Someone like John Eliot Gardiner is amazing in original instruments Bach.
- cyberbolt23 5y ago
  If you like Bach played on authentic instruments, you must know the "All of Bach" recordings https://www.bachvereniging.nl/en/about-allofbach https://www.bachvereniging.nl/en/about-allofbach All of Bach is a project of the Netherlands Bach Society. High-quality recordings of the works by Johann Sebastian Bach are made freely available for everyone.
  - klelatti 5y ago
    Thank you - that looks awesome. Look forward to exploring.
- eredengrin 5y ago
  I second the Mahler recommendation, I haven't heard that particular recording of Mahler 2 but it's one of my favorite symphonies ever and I was worried I was going to get through this thread without even reading Mahler's name. I'd also add Bruckner to the list (my favorites are 4 and 8, and since I like big brass section then the Chicago Symphony Orchestra recordings with Solti fit me well, although I realize many classical music purists will probably disagree with me there).
jbay808 5y ago
When I want to find new things I listen to Classical King FM (they stream online here). I find they have really good taste. https://www.king.org/ https://www.king.org/ Whenever I hear something I like, I write down the piece and the conductor/orchestra. They helped me find all sorts of good recordings and compositions that I otherwise wouldn't have listened to. For some reason, for my whole life I thought I didn't like Brahms. But the third time that I heard some breathtaking piece, thinking "what is this??", and then finding out it was Brahms, I realized my mind had been changed.
afturner 5y ago
I've made an opinionated playlist for some friends that you may enjoy. It includes my favorites from the past few years, and has a semi-decent range of composers/time periods. I will keep adding to it. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5iXkMfXJPsaqcAgZBu6eAU https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5iXkMfXJPsaqcAgZBu6eAU
daggersandscars 5y ago
Bach: The Art of Fugue performed by Emerson String Quartet (Deutsche Grammophon) Classical music rewards close listening, but orchestral pieces can be overwhelming to those who haven't trained themselves to listen closely. This is a good set of recordings to start with, as there are only a handful of performers, each with a distinctive sound. Digression: once one has learned the pieces, this can be a good audio assessment tool. Some speakers over-amplify specific sounds. Some amps muddy certain frequencies or complex sounds. A string quartet performing similar melodies is a great way to notice this. This specific album was the first that really opened my eyes to audio quality differences. If all four instruments are playing, I should be able to hear them. If all I can hear is the viola, there's something wrong with the system. Or, if I can suddenly hear all four where I couldn't before... These are significant differences, not minor ones. From there, it was learning finer details. The first time I could hear the attack, sustain, and release of a note on a stringed instrument. Changing equipment and suddenly getting what "soundstage" meant. Etc. This album also kept me honest when diving into the potentially incredibly expensive and super opinionated audiophile world. How does this compare to my personal system? Am I noticing anything I've not noticed before? Is anything missing? Do the answers to these questions justify spending money? Surprisingly, the answer most of the time to the last question was no.
- utexaspunk 5y ago
  I love the recording I have of Academy of St Martin in the Fields that has The Art of Fugue and Musical Offering (Philips, 1994). Both works are beautiful explorations of counterpoint. Especially MO if you read the story behind it. And the Crab Canon... Bach blows my mind. TBH I am no audiophile, but I like their performance. Have you heard it?
  - daggersandscars 5y ago
    I have not. I will check it out. Thank you!
- m0zg 5y ago
  IMO you need percussion to really show the capabilities of the speakers or headphones. Cymbals especially sound like mud on bad speakers.
dbcurtis 5y ago
Learning a bit of music history will give you a roadmap. By placing a composer in the time line of the evolution of western music, you will have a scaffold to frame your listening and other learning. When you hear something you like (or don’t like) look at when the composer was working and who they studied under. Then explore a bit about that time period and the artistic aims of the composers of that period. Listen to what you enjoy and to music adjacent (by time and school) to what you enjoy.
holri 5y ago
I would recommend going to live concerts. Classical music is about emotional communication between humans. A live performance is a much richer human communication channel than a recording. The moment in time is unique and not reproducible. My greatest emotional feelings were while live listening or self playing. I always remember them.
adolph 5y ago
This show: Exploring music with Bill McGlaughlin https://www.wfmt.com/programs/exploring-music/ https://www.wfmt.com/programs/exploring-music/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exploring_Music https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exploring_Music https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_McGlaughlin https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_McGlaughlin
bcatanzaro 5y ago
I love this question so much. Try listening to string quartets. Here are a few brilliant ones: All of Schubert: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nK-_o1OYLszr8dQ-Uf-xPCDdO6KdykfTg https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nK-_o1OYLszr8d... Shostakovich 8: https://youtu.be/HgExfvXq7VI https://youtu.be/HgExfvXq7VI Beethoven 10 (Harp): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exMaWKVcCEs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exMaWKVcCEs Mendelssohn 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UAU7xbTOyA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UAU7xbTOyA There are so many more but string quartets are such a wonderful place to get started. Intimate, pure music, with so much passion and excitement.
- SulphurCrested 5y ago
  The Schubert link demonstrates one of the real bugbears of classical music which is streamed or ripped using the usual online metadata database: "Death and the Maiden" is #46–49, presumably because it was tracks 46 to 49 in the boxed set. In reality, it is a 30 minute piece in 4 parts which is normally performed on its own. You wouldn't normally listen to just one part ("movement") and rarely to more than a couple of pieces at a time. Classical pieces are usually numbered ("opus", abbreviated "Op.", which is Latin for "work"). Schubert is one of those composers who didn't number them himself. He died young of syphilis and left his manuscripts in a disorganised mess. They were sorted through by a guy called Deutsch, hence the numbers here are "Deutsch" numbers. Here, "Death and the Maiden" is D. 810. The Italian after the Roman numerals for the movements are speed markings ("allegro" = "fast"), and this piece shows a typical progression: fast, slow, playful/fast, faster. They should be listened to in order, one after the other. The idea is that the music takes you through a sequence of moods, like courses in a dinner.
nmg 5y ago
If I may add my own recommendation — Ralph Kirschbaum's 1993 recordings of Bach's cello suites (blue cover). My entire Spotify subscription is basically "let me listen to this one album, please. Thanks."
rednerrus 5y ago
This might interest you: https://www.thegreatcourses.com/professors/robert-greenberg https://www.thegreatcourses.com/professors/robert-greenberg
zwaps 5y ago
I do it this way: Find some piece you really like, then find an interpretation you really like. I think that's actually the way it should be. People tend to hype this or that conductor or sound, and there is certainly merit to it, but I think it is even more a matter of taste than the actual music. Once you really like a certain symphony, you will listen to it many times. Then, you will have some opinion on how things should be played to excite you, make you happy etc. Min/maxing composer/performance dyads based on reputation is probably pretty nonsensical, even if it is nerdy fun. For example, there are some pieces I really like, and I acknowledge that Karajan is "the man", but his recording simply doesn't give me the right vibe to enjoy the music compared to some obscure conductor I found somewhere on an old compilation CD. One last thing: I personally do not enjoy Bach, much of Mozart, Vivaldi or "Classical"/Baroque music. There is a whole world of stuff beyond that, however, and some of it is very different. Bruckner, Mahler, Brahms, Tchaikovsky, Dvorak, Mendelssohn. In fact, the first thing I recommend is usually Dvorak 9th Symphony "A new World". Its second movement (Largo I think it is called) is eye-wateringly beautiful, but it also doesn't turn off people who get bored by Bach, Mozart, Vivaldi et al (like me).
pdpi 5y ago
Watch Disney’s Fantasia (both of them). They’re a bit of a who’s who of classical music and a good jumping board to find more stuff. The first one is also an animation tour de force (the second is pretty damn good too, but not as groundbreaking)
- minusf 5y ago
  i am not sure it's a good beginner piece... the music was playing second fiddle to the animation. > Many found fault with Stokowski's rearrangements and abridgements of the music. Igor Stravinsky, the only living composer whose music was featured in the film, expressed displeasure at how in Stokowski's arrangement of The Rite of Spring, "the order of the pieces had been shuffled, and the most difficult of them eliminated", and criticized the orchestra's performance, observing that the simplification of the score "did not save the musical performance, which was execrable"
  - pdpi 5y ago
    That’s a fair point.
dillondoyle 5y ago
IDK if this makes it more approachable, but one of my favorite things to listen to of all time is Vivaldi Recomposed (Max Richter). It's the four seasons, still a mini-orchestra but with modern sound techniques. I find it haunting and beautiful and I listen it all the time when I'm working. Has good pacing ups and downs, reminds me of the old Sim City building music https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8oYWfJuMGMA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8oYWfJuMGMA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ebm69gW9UlI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ebm69gW9UlI
dmitryminkovsky 5y ago
May I recommend Leonard Bernstein’s series Omnibus. > Whenever I’ve asked HN for help, I’ve ended up with new favourite recordings of all time. What are your favorite recordings? I’ve been listening to a lot of Bach myself lately, but I am also a neophyte. I got into Bach via the Modern Jazz Quartet’s John Lewis’ interpretations of the Well Tempered Clavier. Bach has been a trip.
8bitsrule 5y ago
It's very much a personal thing. As time goes by, we discover composers and pieces we want to return to over and over. At that point, you'll probably prefer some performances of particular pieces (conductor, orchestra, soloists, tempos, tame or wild-eyed) better than others. For example, some conductors will rush through something (to get it over with?) while others will work hard to make you feel every phrase, hear each instrumental solo. This all takes time ... and will probably change over time for you. Try to make mental (or paper) notes when you really like a performance. Some conductors are really good in certain periods, but are flat in others. In the past few years, I most enjoyed Christian Thielemann's conducting of the Beethoven symphonies. Pretty hard to go wrong with the Vienna Philharmonic ... before Brahms, that is. OTOH, Karajan ruins everything. ;->
mathematicaster 5y ago
This might not be what you are looking for (and, indeed, it doesn't quite answer your question), but it has had a meaningful impact on my quality of life https://www.thegreatcourses.com/courses/how-to-listen-to-and-understand-great-music-3rd-edition https://www.thegreatcourses.com/courses/how-to-listen-to-and... It can be had for cheap via audible.
myrandomcomment 5y ago
Wow 2nd time I have heard someone talk about Maria Callas in 2 days! So you must listen to her in Aida and La Traviata. As far as classical one of the most amazing pieces I can recommend is Scheherazade by Korsakov. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scheherazade_(Rimsky-Korsakov) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scheherazade_(Rimsky-Korsakov)
sigstoat 5y ago
Shostakovich's string quartets by the Pavel Haas Quartet are just really amazing to me. Nikolai Kasputin wrote a lot of jazz-inspired, but still "classical" pieces. Won't quite sound like much of the rest of what you'll encounter.
dxf 5y ago
The piece that first got me interested in classical music was Arthur Rubinstein playing Beethoven's 5th Piano Concerto (the "Emperor Concerto"). I recommend that piece, but I particularly recommend Rubinstein's performance.
srcreigh 5y ago
Ever really loved a classical piano song? No? Maybe you just don't like the controversial new way we've been tuning pianos for the last ~200 years. Check out the 1/4 comma meantone version of Mozart Fantasie KV397 [1] which you can compare to equal temperament. (Please note this piece was unfinished, and the final section is believed to have been written by someone else.) My secret love is Chopin Ballade No. 4 Op. 52 in unequal temperament [2]. Last year this video had ~4k views. I may be responsible for 1k and it's now ~8k views. You can compare a good ET version Krystian Zimmerman [3]. Jacob Collier has referred to Equal Temperament as a "hoax" [4] [1]: https://youtu.be/lzsEdK48CDY?t=701 https://youtu.be/lzsEdK48CDY?t=701 [2]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJT5Q6HooyA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJT5Q6HooyA [3]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pe-GrRQz8pk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pe-GrRQz8pk [4]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwRSS7jeo5s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwRSS7jeo5s
Fezzik 5y ago
For modern performances Stefan Jackiw soloing for Max Bruch’s Scottish Fantasy is my favorite piece of music. And you can fortunately watch it on YouTube. I’ve listened to a number of recordings and no others compare, not even Heifetz’s. I’d listen to Stefan Jackiw perform just about anything though, with any orchestra - something about his playing enchants me. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3aVET-CDRWk https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3aVET-CDRWk
ginko 5y ago
Youtube used to be a treasure trove for discovering classical music. Listen to a piece/composer you like and you'd get quite good suggestions to go from there, often from lesser known composers and rare recordings. These days those have mostly been scrubbed from Youtube and if they're still they're they're pretty undiscoverable since the suggestion algorithm is so bad now.
gdrift 5y ago
My favorites: Baroque / Europa Galante / Fabio Biondi Ancient music / La Capella Reial de Catalunya / Jordi Saval

by hluska 5y ago

Areading314 5y ago

You should definitely listen to Bach's mass in B minor and his cantatas if you like vocal work and Bach. Also listen to Mozart's Requiem. Some other good stuff would be all the symphonies by Mozart and Beethoven. Vivaldi's four seasons. Also try Bach's Brandenburg Concertos, and Goldberg Variations. For opera listen to some of the overtures and highlights by Wagner (Tannhauser, Tristan & Isolde, Lohengrin).

threatofrain 5y ago
Also check out Glenn Gould for Bach! Concerto #1 in D minor https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljLi9A0H8H4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljLi9A0H8H4

te_chris 5y ago

BBC Radio 3 has a whole series about this called Building a Library. There’s a UK retailer called Presto that annotate their stock with the different endorsements too - they sell digital files as well, if you’re not in the UK. Then it’s really about learning what you like. Personally, I’d start by period: broadly, Baroque (Bach, Vivaldi etc), Classical (Beethoven, Mozart etc), Romantic (Debussy, Ravel). The periods have identifiable styles and can be a good way to introduce yourself to the nuance of the compositions. Finally, there’s a question of instrumentation: whether you prefer orchestral, vocal, chamber, solo etc. Sounds like a lot of work, but remember it should be fun! It’s new music, a bunch of which you’ve probably never heard before. Have an open mind and dive in! Also, assuming you have access where you live and the means, live music doesn’t have to be prohibitively expensive. Check out the programs at your local concert halls and go down to hear some music.

jjgreen 5y ago
Presto is fabulous, CDs, SACDs, mp3s; 30s samples for most of the stock, if you order the CD you get immediate access to the mp3 ... Not affiliated with them at all, but they were a lifesaver during the lockdown (without Schoenberg to get drunk to, who knows how I would have made it through)

mariodiana 5y ago

Do you want to read a really entertaining book? The Great Pianists, by Harold C. Shonberg https://www.amazon.com/Great-Pianists-Mozart-Present/dp/0671638378 https://www.amazon.com/Great-Pianists-Mozart-Present/dp/0671... You don't have to worry about reading the whole thing. Read through Bach and Mozart (and maybe Beethoven) to begin with. You'll get a feel for the historical background, and mention of their major pieces. Then, you go listen to the pieces. I know these are pianists, but a good number of the great composers were some of the foremost pianists of their time. Supplement a composer you've read about with a YouTube video or two, and their entry in Wikipedia, and you're off to a great start. Anyway, that's one approach.

cageface 5y ago

If you think you might like opera check out the René Jacobs' recordings of Mozart's Italian Operas on the Harmonia Mundi label: Cosi Fan Tutte, Le Nozze di Figaro & Don Giovannni. In general as a beginner I wouldn't worry too much about finding the best recording of any particular piece. Once you start to develop some favorites then you can pick a few and compare. Streaming services make this a lot easier and cheaper than it used to be.

spoonjim 5y ago
I don't know if I agree with that. The recording can make the difference between a transcendent piece and dogshit. For example if Beethoven's Fifth is played too fast, especially if there's not enough of a pause between the first two phrases... it just ruins the whole thing.
- cageface 5y ago
  Yeah that's true but if you stick to the major labels and performers you're very unlikely to hear a performance that bad. IMO worrying too much about this as a beginner is a distraction. But once you start to develop some favorites then hearing different takes can add a lot of enjoyment I agree.
  - staticautomatic 5y ago
    I agree this is mostly a matter of taste. Consider the endless debates over Heifetz and Argerich’s playing styles.
- olau 5y ago
  Hah, that's funny. I grew up with a super fast Karajan (perhaps to make it fit on an LP?), and have had a hard time adjusting to the slower tempo that most recordings have. Personally, for me all Beethoven symphonies >= 4 are a treat. If you ever get the chance to see one live, go. It's overwhelming. Youtube can be helpful when it comes to interpretations. With some luck, there's going to be music geeks recommending other versions, so you can click around and find one you prefer.

tannhauser23 5y ago

Not the OP but happy to help! Since you already like Bach, start by exploring his work! Let's start with the Goldberg Variations, which are 30 variations on a theme set for the keyboard. Glenn Gould's 1955 recording is perhaps the best known recording of this work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cwas_7H5KUs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cwas_7H5KUs I also greatly enjoy Andras Schiff's interpretations of Bach: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbOwhF1hFcg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbOwhF1hFcg For opera, I suggest starting with the Magic Flute by Mozart. There are so many good recording to choose from but why not watch the thing? It's meant to be a visual/audio format, after all! I suggest this recording of the Metropolitan Opera - it's what got me hooked on operas many years ago: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjZfHFPIk7g https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjZfHFPIk7g If you like Maria Callas, you'll love Italian operas. Why not start with the classic, La Traviata? I can't find any of Callas's performances online (aside from clips), but you may like this performance with Anna Netrebko: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYGiRbDHr7k https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYGiRbDHr7k Finally, a note on where/how to listen to classical music. I find Youtube to be an incredible tool for listening and for discovery. It's not necessary to dig back to vinyl or 8-track to listen to great performances - they've been remastered for CDs and lossless media. But ultimately you want to listen to it in person. I'll never forget seeing my first opera in person (The Flying Dutchman). Or the time I scored orchestra seats for Sibelius's 4th symphony. Until the performances return, you might want to buy a ticket to an online performance on DG Premium, which is Deutsche Grammophon's streaming service: https://www.dg-premium.com/ https://www.dg-premium.com/ Good luck and good listening! EDIT: Alas, the Magic Flute performance I linked to doesn't have subtitles! Boo! Here's one that does, though it's not the classic Met production: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPxrbeR5ZyE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPxrbeR5ZyE

mmmpop 5y ago
Personally I find Gould's persistent humming to be very grating (not endearing) and recommend Kimiko Ishizaka over him any day.

jlebar 5y ago

Others have recommended Mozart's Requiem if you like music with singing. If you haven't heard Robert Levin's completion, e.g. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=457pvjOo9Hw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=457pvjOo9Hw, I think it takes the cake. For a neophyte, I think it's good to start with the war horses, for which there are lots of high-quality modern recordings. - Bach Brandenberg concerti (I like the Netherlands Bach Society, they have tons of great Bach recordings on Youtube. If you're into Bach, highly recommend you check them out.) - Goldberg variations (I like Glen Gould's later recording, but Kimiko Ishizaka is also a great libre recording, and Netherlands Bach Society has a great recording on harpsichord) - Mozart Symphony 40 - Mozart piano, violin sonatas - Beethoven Symphonies 3,5,9 (I really like https://www.youtube.com/user/hrSinfonieorchester https://www.youtube.com/user/hrSinfonieorchester) - Chopin waltzes, etudes, nocturnes - Rach piano concerto 2, Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini - Sibelius violin concerto (I like https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0w0t4Qn6LY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0w0t4Qn6LY) - Bruch violin concerto Personally I think watching videos helps bring the music alive in a way that listening to recordings doesn't. And maybe it's heresy to some, but I think modern recordings are, in general, a lot more pleasant to listen to. HTH!

muglug 5y ago

Read Music for Life by Fiona Maddocks: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01HDY2O0E https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01HDY2O0E

high5ths 5y ago

If you like baroque music, I can't help but plug my own New York City-based ensemble (named after Bach himself), the Sebastians: https://www.sebastians.org https://www.sebastians.org I'm the group's harpsichordist and director. We've released a lot of free content on Youtube, especially this year: https://www.youtube.com/thesebastians https://www.youtube.com/thesebastians . Just today I released four recent performances, including Bach's fifth Brandenburg concerto: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHr9-Ht2XSI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHr9-Ht2XSI . Happy listening!

krelian 5y ago

Some great recommendations already here, I'll add another one: https://www.reddit.com/r/classicalresources https://www.reddit.com/r/classicalresources

npunt 5y ago

If you have an iPad, Deutsche Grammophon's apps are a great intro to the intellectual and emotional complexity and nuance of some key classical works. They have apps for Beethoven's 9th, Vivaldi's Four Seasons, and Liszt's Sonata. https://apps.apple.com/us/app/beethovens-9th-symphony/id601942399 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/beethovens-9th-symphony/id6019... With Beethoven's 9th, while you are listening it visually syncs the original manuscript and score, a visualization of where in the orchestra different instruments are playing, and includes analysis of the performance and intention of the parts. It also lets you switch between four different performances of the 9th by the Berliner Philharmoniker, so you can compare and contrast interpretations over the years. Highly recommended!

buro9 5y ago

Seek out any Bach played by Glenn Gould. The incredible thing here is that Bach left sheet music but sheet music of the age did not include time, so the music has to be interpreted. The "Goldberg Variations" are this interpretation by Glenn Gould (a pianist). I'd throw in Beethoven's 3rd and 5th Symphonies. I'd also throw in something like Verdi's Rigoletto and Rossini's Barber of Seville. In my past I owned a record label which specialised in pop, rock and folk music. I had to learn classical like I had to learn jazz. But the thing that made this easier for me was the realisation that there is far far more rock / pop than there is classical or jazz. It can be intimidating but you only need an entry point to get you started. Whatever that is will be personal to you, but the best advice anyone can give is to just listen.

mushishi 5y ago
> so the music has to be interpreted Just to extend this point: My understanding of the topic might be far off as I haven't ever learned music under a teacher. But to me there's great deal of interpretation even with tempi marks that even good students just aren't thinking. I sometimes enjoy watching masterclasses of players with wealth of experience. Andres Schiff is one of the most famous ones. Also Maxim Vengerov the violinist. Anyone that hasn't seen one masterclass should look up on youtube if that sound remotely interesting.
olau 5y ago
Besides tempo, at Bach's time, dynamics (loudness) weren't usually written down. But there's always a lot of interpretation involved, even today. The score is a very rough model of the music, akin to jotted down notes outlining a novel. Or like a manuscript for a film.

y7 5y ago

> I’m a classical neophyte and struggle with composer/orchestra/conductor fit. If you're new to classical music you really don't need to worry about this. Almost all available professional recordings are of high quality, and the differences between interpretations are relatively subtle. What is important is to get a sense of which composers you enjoy. Classical music spans a large period of time with very different styles, so try a few well-known composers from different time periods to see what you like. I greatly enjoy classical music and I regularly attend(ed) concerts, but my interests are very narrow and I don't get a lot of enjoyment out of Mozart and Beethoven for instance. In my opinion, classical music is best enjoyed when you devote your full attention to listening to the music, i.e. when you're not doing anything else (or something with a very low cognitive load, like walking/driving/etc). Focus on how the music makes you feel, but it's okay to let your thoughts wander off a bit.

zozbot234 5y ago
> If you're new to classical music you really don't need to worry about this. Almost all available professional recordings are of high quality, and the differences between interpretations are relatively subtle. Agreed, but it's also important to understand that what's truly distinctive about Western classical music (as opposed to other music traditions) is it being a written art form first and foremost, with sheet music as the "standard" form for a piece and performance being subsequent to that. If you're "new" to serious/cultivated music, you really should start by learning to read the sheet music and follow along when listening to a performance. Everything else in music appreciation is downstream of that.
- hippari 5y ago
  >what's truly distinctive about Western classical music (as opposed to other music traditions) is it being a written art form first and foremost I find this hard to believe, music score can be copied down the generation with some degree of lost-in-translation, they might not be the full materialization of the composer's idea, some copier may write down their own idea on the sheets. I would agree that music score is the only means of accessing composer's works for Western classical music, and thereby became the "standard". But this would also likely be true for other culture's music, and therefore it's not unique.

ternaryoperator 5y ago

These kinds of questions are frequently asked and answered in detail on Reddit r/classical music [0] The FAQ on the right side of the home page has links to introductory pages. You're starting on a fun journey! [0] https://www.reddit.com/r/classicalmusic/ https://www.reddit.com/r/classicalmusic/

ebcase 5y ago

Fwiw, I have learned a lot by listening to classical radio in the background every day. Some of the great stations (imho -- KDFC in SF, CPR Classical Colorado, King FM in Seattle, Portland's station) have outstanding DJs who talk about the composers, soloists, conductors, orchestras, time period, etc.

tkgally 5y ago
I recommend BBC Radio 3 for the same reasons.

sosuke 5y ago

I had great success with Robert Greenberg's series on music and music history. I started with How to Listen to and Understand Opera which is available on his site (https://robertgreenbergmusic.com/download/how-to-listen-understand-opera/ https://robertgreenbergmusic.com/download/how-to-listen-unde...) and The Great Courses as well. If you want a preview shoot me an email. He adds lots of fun history to go with it. Bach's Goldberg Variations was his greatest financial success "The Count presented him with a golden goblet filled with 100 louis-d'or." and he was obsessed with coffee. Coffee cantana by him as well.

dave84 5y ago
I’ll second his courses. Went through his Listen to and Understand Great Music course on The Great Courses through Audible.

alphaBetaGamma 5y ago

If you like Bach you might want to learn to listen to polyphony: the form of music in which multiple melodies are played simultaneously while forming an harmonious whole. I recommend looking & listening to videos of Stephen Malinowsky (smalin on youtube), particularly his older videos with less visual clutter. Each color is a separate melody. Initially and you should try to focus on just one melody, then see if you can easily switch your focus to an other one. Then see if you can listen/focus on two melodies at the same time, then three... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL81D26D4A47388279 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL81D26D4A47388279 In general I would not worry to much about the performer, but it might be interesting to listen to different interpretations of the same piece, particularly from composers with very idiosyncratic styles. On youtube, Ashish Xiangyi Kumar (https://www.youtube.com/c/AshishXiangyiKumar https://www.youtube.com/c/AshishXiangyiKumar) has videos of pieces (mainly piano solo) interpreted by different artist.

chrisseaton 5y ago

Listen to a radio station curated by genuine experts, like BBC Radio 3, and learn which curators you like.

aqme28 5y ago

I asked a classical-loving friend this same question and she gave me a wonderful Spotify playlist that I can share if you're interested[1]. I also condensed it down to my own favorites if you'd like that as well[2]. [1]: Turns out I'm unable to share her playlist, but... [2]: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2Foxcns6j4SwiWIWiaEtKX?si=6f24153fbf8a48ad https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2Foxcns6j4SwiWIWiaEtKX?si=...

scolby33 5y ago

As someone with just a touch of classical knowledge from high school band and such, I’ve truly enjoyed and learned a lot from the Classical Classroom podcast (https://classicalclassroomshow.com/ https://classicalclassroomshow.com/).

klelatti 5y ago

If you'd like to explore the BBC Music Magazine's list of 20 greatest conductors might not be a bad place to start for orchestral music. The ordering may be a bit controversial but these are all great artists and the listing has some of their best performances. https://www.classical-music.com/features/artists/20-greatest-conductors-all-time/ https://www.classical-music.com/features/artists/20-greatest... Some personal favourites: Brahms 4 - Carlos Kleiber / Vienna Philharmonic (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ho-H-8FzbU8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ho-H-8FzbU8) Mahler 2 - Claudio Abbado / Lucerne (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MPuoOj5TIw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MPuoOj5TIw) Shostakovich Symphonies - Bernard Haitink / London Philharmonic / Concertgebouw (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YS4dcZ90fN0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YS4dcZ90fN0) One thing to look out for in baroque is original instruments vs modern instruments performances. Original instruments have a very different - leaner - sound. I find I much prefer them now. Someone like John Eliot Gardiner is amazing in original instruments Bach.

cyberbolt23 5y ago
If you like Bach played on authentic instruments, you must know the "All of Bach" recordings https://www.bachvereniging.nl/en/about-allofbach https://www.bachvereniging.nl/en/about-allofbach All of Bach is a project of the Netherlands Bach Society. High-quality recordings of the works by Johann Sebastian Bach are made freely available for everyone.
- klelatti 5y ago
  Thank you - that looks awesome. Look forward to exploring.
eredengrin 5y ago
I second the Mahler recommendation, I haven't heard that particular recording of Mahler 2 but it's one of my favorite symphonies ever and I was worried I was going to get through this thread without even reading Mahler's name. I'd also add Bruckner to the list (my favorites are 4 and 8, and since I like big brass section then the Chicago Symphony Orchestra recordings with Solti fit me well, although I realize many classical music purists will probably disagree with me there).

jbay808 5y ago

When I want to find new things I listen to Classical King FM (they stream online here). I find they have really good taste. https://www.king.org/ https://www.king.org/ Whenever I hear something I like, I write down the piece and the conductor/orchestra. They helped me find all sorts of good recordings and compositions that I otherwise wouldn't have listened to. For some reason, for my whole life I thought I didn't like Brahms. But the third time that I heard some breathtaking piece, thinking "what is this??", and then finding out it was Brahms, I realized my mind had been changed.

afturner 5y ago

I've made an opinionated playlist for some friends that you may enjoy. It includes my favorites from the past few years, and has a semi-decent range of composers/time periods. I will keep adding to it. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5iXkMfXJPsaqcAgZBu6eAU https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5iXkMfXJPsaqcAgZBu6eAU

daggersandscars 5y ago

Bach: The Art of Fugue performed by Emerson String Quartet (Deutsche Grammophon) Classical music rewards close listening, but orchestral pieces can be overwhelming to those who haven't trained themselves to listen closely. This is a good set of recordings to start with, as there are only a handful of performers, each with a distinctive sound. Digression: once one has learned the pieces, this can be a good audio assessment tool. Some speakers over-amplify specific sounds. Some amps muddy certain frequencies or complex sounds. A string quartet performing similar melodies is a great way to notice this. This specific album was the first that really opened my eyes to audio quality differences. If all four instruments are playing, I should be able to hear them. If all I can hear is the viola, there's something wrong with the system. Or, if I can suddenly hear all four where I couldn't before... These are significant differences, not minor ones. From there, it was learning finer details. The first time I could hear the attack, sustain, and release of a note on a stringed instrument. Changing equipment and suddenly getting what "soundstage" meant. Etc. This album also kept me honest when diving into the potentially incredibly expensive and super opinionated audiophile world. How does this compare to my personal system? Am I noticing anything I've not noticed before? Is anything missing? Do the answers to these questions justify spending money? Surprisingly, the answer most of the time to the last question was no.

utexaspunk 5y ago
I love the recording I have of Academy of St Martin in the Fields that has The Art of Fugue and Musical Offering (Philips, 1994). Both works are beautiful explorations of counterpoint. Especially MO if you read the story behind it. And the Crab Canon... Bach blows my mind. TBH I am no audiophile, but I like their performance. Have you heard it?
- daggersandscars 5y ago
  I have not. I will check it out. Thank you!
m0zg 5y ago
IMO you need percussion to really show the capabilities of the speakers or headphones. Cymbals especially sound like mud on bad speakers.

dbcurtis 5y ago

Learning a bit of music history will give you a roadmap. By placing a composer in the time line of the evolution of western music, you will have a scaffold to frame your listening and other learning. When you hear something you like (or don’t like) look at when the composer was working and who they studied under. Then explore a bit about that time period and the artistic aims of the composers of that period. Listen to what you enjoy and to music adjacent (by time and school) to what you enjoy.

holri 5y ago

I would recommend going to live concerts. Classical music is about emotional communication between humans. A live performance is a much richer human communication channel than a recording. The moment in time is unique and not reproducible. My greatest emotional feelings were while live listening or self playing. I always remember them.

adolph 5y ago

This show: Exploring music with Bill McGlaughlin https://www.wfmt.com/programs/exploring-music/ https://www.wfmt.com/programs/exploring-music/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exploring_Music https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exploring_Music https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_McGlaughlin https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_McGlaughlin

bcatanzaro 5y ago

I love this question so much. Try listening to string quartets. Here are a few brilliant ones: All of Schubert: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nK-_o1OYLszr8dQ-Uf-xPCDdO6KdykfTg https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nK-_o1OYLszr8d... Shostakovich 8: https://youtu.be/HgExfvXq7VI https://youtu.be/HgExfvXq7VI Beethoven 10 (Harp): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exMaWKVcCEs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exMaWKVcCEs Mendelssohn 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UAU7xbTOyA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UAU7xbTOyA There are so many more but string quartets are such a wonderful place to get started. Intimate, pure music, with so much passion and excitement.

SulphurCrested 5y ago
The Schubert link demonstrates one of the real bugbears of classical music which is streamed or ripped using the usual online metadata database: "Death and the Maiden" is #46–49, presumably because it was tracks 46 to 49 in the boxed set. In reality, it is a 30 minute piece in 4 parts which is normally performed on its own. You wouldn't normally listen to just one part ("movement") and rarely to more than a couple of pieces at a time. Classical pieces are usually numbered ("opus", abbreviated "Op.", which is Latin for "work"). Schubert is one of those composers who didn't number them himself. He died young of syphilis and left his manuscripts in a disorganised mess. They were sorted through by a guy called Deutsch, hence the numbers here are "Deutsch" numbers. Here, "Death and the Maiden" is D. 810. The Italian after the Roman numerals for the movements are speed markings ("allegro" = "fast"), and this piece shows a typical progression: fast, slow, playful/fast, faster. They should be listened to in order, one after the other. The idea is that the music takes you through a sequence of moods, like courses in a dinner.

nmg 5y ago

If I may add my own recommendation — Ralph Kirschbaum's 1993 recordings of Bach's cello suites (blue cover). My entire Spotify subscription is basically "let me listen to this one album, please. Thanks."

rednerrus 5y ago

This might interest you: https://www.thegreatcourses.com/professors/robert-greenberg https://www.thegreatcourses.com/professors/robert-greenberg

zwaps 5y ago

I do it this way: Find some piece you really like, then find an interpretation you really like. I think that's actually the way it should be. People tend to hype this or that conductor or sound, and there is certainly merit to it, but I think it is even more a matter of taste than the actual music. Once you really like a certain symphony, you will listen to it many times. Then, you will have some opinion on how things should be played to excite you, make you happy etc. Min/maxing composer/performance dyads based on reputation is probably pretty nonsensical, even if it is nerdy fun. For example, there are some pieces I really like, and I acknowledge that Karajan is "the man", but his recording simply doesn't give me the right vibe to enjoy the music compared to some obscure conductor I found somewhere on an old compilation CD. One last thing: I personally do not enjoy Bach, much of Mozart, Vivaldi or "Classical"/Baroque music. There is a whole world of stuff beyond that, however, and some of it is very different. Bruckner, Mahler, Brahms, Tchaikovsky, Dvorak, Mendelssohn. In fact, the first thing I recommend is usually Dvorak 9th Symphony "A new World". Its second movement (Largo I think it is called) is eye-wateringly beautiful, but it also doesn't turn off people who get bored by Bach, Mozart, Vivaldi et al (like me).

pdpi 5y ago

Watch Disney’s Fantasia (both of them). They’re a bit of a who’s who of classical music and a good jumping board to find more stuff. The first one is also an animation tour de force (the second is pretty damn good too, but not as groundbreaking)

minusf 5y ago
i am not sure it's a good beginner piece... the music was playing second fiddle to the animation. > Many found fault with Stokowski's rearrangements and abridgements of the music. Igor Stravinsky, the only living composer whose music was featured in the film, expressed displeasure at how in Stokowski's arrangement of The Rite of Spring, "the order of the pieces had been shuffled, and the most difficult of them eliminated", and criticized the orchestra's performance, observing that the simplification of the score "did not save the musical performance, which was execrable"
- pdpi 5y ago
  That’s a fair point.

dillondoyle 5y ago

IDK if this makes it more approachable, but one of my favorite things to listen to of all time is Vivaldi Recomposed (Max Richter). It's the four seasons, still a mini-orchestra but with modern sound techniques. I find it haunting and beautiful and I listen it all the time when I'm working. Has good pacing ups and downs, reminds me of the old Sim City building music https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8oYWfJuMGMA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8oYWfJuMGMA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ebm69gW9UlI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ebm69gW9UlI

dmitryminkovsky 5y ago

May I recommend Leonard Bernstein’s series Omnibus. > Whenever I’ve asked HN for help, I’ve ended up with new favourite recordings of all time. What are your favorite recordings? I’ve been listening to a lot of Bach myself lately, but I am also a neophyte. I got into Bach via the Modern Jazz Quartet’s John Lewis’ interpretations of the Well Tempered Clavier. Bach has been a trip.

8bitsrule 5y ago

It's very much a personal thing. As time goes by, we discover composers and pieces we want to return to over and over. At that point, you'll probably prefer some performances of particular pieces (conductor, orchestra, soloists, tempos, tame or wild-eyed) better than others. For example, some conductors will rush through something (to get it over with?) while others will work hard to make you feel every phrase, hear each instrumental solo. This all takes time ... and will probably change over time for you. Try to make mental (or paper) notes when you really like a performance. Some conductors are really good in certain periods, but are flat in others. In the past few years, I most enjoyed Christian Thielemann's conducting of the Beethoven symphonies. Pretty hard to go wrong with the Vienna Philharmonic ... before Brahms, that is. OTOH, Karajan ruins everything. ;->

mathematicaster 5y ago

This might not be what you are looking for (and, indeed, it doesn't quite answer your question), but it has had a meaningful impact on my quality of life https://www.thegreatcourses.com/courses/how-to-listen-to-and-understand-great-music-3rd-edition https://www.thegreatcourses.com/courses/how-to-listen-to-and... It can be had for cheap via audible.

myrandomcomment 5y ago

Wow 2nd time I have heard someone talk about Maria Callas in 2 days! So you must listen to her in Aida and La Traviata. As far as classical one of the most amazing pieces I can recommend is Scheherazade by Korsakov. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scheherazade_(Rimsky-Korsakov) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scheherazade_(Rimsky-Korsakov)

sigstoat 5y ago

Shostakovich's string quartets by the Pavel Haas Quartet are just really amazing to me. Nikolai Kasputin wrote a lot of jazz-inspired, but still "classical" pieces. Won't quite sound like much of the rest of what you'll encounter.

dxf 5y ago

The piece that first got me interested in classical music was Arthur Rubinstein playing Beethoven's 5th Piano Concerto (the "Emperor Concerto"). I recommend that piece, but I particularly recommend Rubinstein's performance.

srcreigh 5y ago

Ever really loved a classical piano song? No? Maybe you just don't like the controversial new way we've been tuning pianos for the last ~200 years. Check out the 1/4 comma meantone version of Mozart Fantasie KV397 [1] which you can compare to equal temperament. (Please note this piece was unfinished, and the final section is believed to have been written by someone else.) My secret love is Chopin Ballade No. 4 Op. 52 in unequal temperament [2]. Last year this video had ~4k views. I may be responsible for 1k and it's now ~8k views. You can compare a good ET version Krystian Zimmerman [3]. Jacob Collier has referred to Equal Temperament as a "hoax" [4] [1]: https://youtu.be/lzsEdK48CDY?t=701 https://youtu.be/lzsEdK48CDY?t=701 [2]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJT5Q6HooyA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJT5Q6HooyA [3]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pe-GrRQz8pk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pe-GrRQz8pk [4]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwRSS7jeo5s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwRSS7jeo5s

Fezzik 5y ago

For modern performances Stefan Jackiw soloing for Max Bruch’s Scottish Fantasy is my favorite piece of music. And you can fortunately watch it on YouTube. I’ve listened to a number of recordings and no others compare, not even Heifetz’s. I’d listen to Stefan Jackiw perform just about anything though, with any orchestra - something about his playing enchants me. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3aVET-CDRWk https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3aVET-CDRWk

ginko 5y ago

Youtube used to be a treasure trove for discovering classical music. Listen to a piece/composer you like and you'd get quite good suggestions to go from there, often from lesser known composers and rare recordings. These days those have mostly been scrubbed from Youtube and if they're still they're they're pretty undiscoverable since the suggestion algorithm is so bad now.

gdrift 5y ago

My favorites: Baroque / Europa Galante / Fabio Biondi Ancient music / La Capella Reial de Catalunya / Jordi Saval