Recommend some classical music.

Victor Frost

I don't really listen to much classical music. I know its a fundamental part of musical history, which is why I'd like to broaden my horizons a bit. Could any of you recommend some classical music that you think I should listen to?

JoeLamer

As my boss said, Deep Purple is a good choice when you are talking about classical music.

I like to listen Igor Stravinsky or something else from that era.

Dr. Timo

Go on iTunes, check out some classical collection like this (iTunes link), and use Wikipedia (Classical Music) on every one of the pieces / composers in the collection.

If you haven't listened to much classical music before, you'll be surprised by how many of the pieces you'll be familiar with from, e.g., movies and Disney cartoons.

Luke Burrage

It seems a bit obvious, but start with a Mozart collection. Mozart is a good place to start for many reasons:
- his music is and was popular for a reason, it is some of the best!
- you'll recognise a lot of the pieces from generally living in the world. You'll soon be humming along.
- the development of his musical style over his working life very much tracks the development of classical music itself.
- once you've gotten to know and understand Mozart a bit, you then have a good anchor. What I mean is then you can go back and listen to earlier Baroque music such as Bach and Vivaldi and see what music Mozart grew up with and who influenced him. Then you can move forward in time to see who was listening to Mozart when they grew up and who he influenced, such as Beethoven, Chopin and Tchaikovsky. And throw in some Rachmaninoff (piano player porn) for some late Romantic and you've just about got the story of "classical music" covered.

But start with Mozart.

whatever

Watch Fantasia and look up any of the songs you find interesting.

Rym

I agree in regard to Mozart. He brought music further than perhaps any human being in history.

Listen to at least one JS Bach (there are other Bachs) organ fugue. You'll know immediately whether or not you enjoy organ music. If you do, seek out further fugues. If you do not, continue with Mozart alone.
Listen to Nessun Dorma. You'll know immediately if you like operatic arias. If you do, seek out additional arias. If you do not, continue with Mozart alone.

Li_Akahi

Watch Fantasia and look up any of the songs you find interesting.

Damn it, you beat me to it!

I would suggest Modest Mussorgksy, he's awesome.

kiwi_bird

I'd recommend Chopin, since his music is fairly easy to listen to. A few other suggestions:

Moonlight Sonata by Ludwig von Beethoven
Canon in D by Pachelbel
Ave Maria by Franz Schubert

Those are 3 very fundamental pieces which you will often recognize when listening to classical music.
One more tip I'd give you is not to be scared off by some classical pieces. I for my part can't stand listening to Beethoven's Eroica... ^^

Mr. Eric

I completely disagree with Mozart. His arpeggiated bullshit drives me insane. Listen to the beautiful counterpoint from the genius of Bach.

If you do insist on Mozart though, listen to the Glenn Gould recordings. He brings a new light to something grossly overdone and repetitive.

Here are some great fugues you might like:
Contrapunctus 4Conrapunctus 11

Of course, you can't go wrong with the Brandenburg Concertoes.
Brandenburg 3

I will agree that this sort of music is an acquired taste, and you must learn to appreciate the full beauty, but give it a try. If you don't like either, I can suggest something more accessible.

Sail

I completely disagree with Mozart. His arpeggiated bullshit drives me insane. Listen to the beautiful counterpoint from the genius of Bach.

I'm not totally sure what you mean by it driving you insane, but Bach had plenty of arpeggiated bullshit as well.

Andrew

First, learn the difference between "classical music" and baroque, classical, romantic, and modern era music. Additionally, quite possibly the most important musical form ever devised is the Sonata form, so at least become familiar with it if you want to know how the music works under the hood. Here are four pieces which give a good example of each era:

Vivaldi- Four Seasons: Winter (Baroque era)


Mozart- Symphony No. 25 in G minor (Classical era)


Brahms- Symphony No.3: Poco Allegretto (Romantic era)


Stravinsky- The Firebird: Finale (Modern/20th Century era)

Your Mom

Prokofiev, bitches.

I will link the shinies once home from work (so as to screen any pertinent video/audio links).

Also, mad props to the Stravinsky pick. The marching band class before me did Firebird for their show (and rocked the State competition, too!)

Andrew

Who could forget the long lost son of J.S. Bach, P.D.Q Bach?

Mr. Eric

I completely disagree with Mozart. His arpeggiated bullshit drives me insane. Listen to the beautiful counterpoint from the genius of Bach.

I'm not totally sure what you mean by it driving you insane, but Bach had plenty ofarpeggiated bullshitas well.

Maybe if you knew that first (out of 36) movement better than the first few lines, you would realize that is absolutely wrong. No,I'm talking about the Mozartesque left hand 1-3-5 1-4-5 accompaniment to a dull, expected treble line. Certainly, Mozart wrote some great music, but I find very much of it inappreciable to new listeners.

WindUpBird

Prokofiev and Stravinsky have already been mentioned, but they are two of my favorites. Also, Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky (listen to the Cossack Dance) and Ravel's Boléro. Also Vivaldi.

Goddamn, I have so many others....Bartok and Dvorak among them.

I need to actually acquire more of this music.

Kate Monster

NPR Performance Today's 50 essential classical music Cd's.

Your Mom

Personal Fave: Ivan the Terrible

The Oprichniki, Ivan's personal aesectic guard comes to take out the Boyars, who Ivan suspect of poisoning his late wife (and making an attempt on him).

Walker

Pandora Radio has about 12 different genre stations for classical music. I recommend learning what each of the genres are, and checking out the stations that sound interesting to you.