Classical Knowledge

[Elimis]

Hi guys,

Like I said on my other thread, I really started falling in love with classical music about half a year or so ago.

Anyway, what do u all think are the really essential pieces to know?

Not just piano, and I'm not talking about learning the pieces. Just, what are the really important pieces to listen to? What make the backbone of classical music?

Thanx all for any input.

Elimis

[ClassicalPiano2002]

Any minuets, sonatas, toccattas, and movement pieces are definatly the best to listen to in my opinion.  Also any good pieces by composers like Chopin, Mozart etc...they are all good

i never liked classical music when i was growing up.. but then i started piano and now i only listen to piano, violin, cello , so on

[ludwig]

Actually if you find that you critically and musically analyse any piece you might be interested in, or are playing, then you could figure out which ones are more important to "you." however, this is pretty subjective as I've pointed out. There probably isn't a standard way of testing which forms or composers are more musically worthy, but they probably hold different values of music within different people. Having said that, there are some composers who takes majority of liking musically among musicians, and those you should be aware of. that's about it from me.

[martin_s]

Bach, B-Minor Mass
Mozart, Magic Flute
Beethoven, Symfonies
Schubert, Lieder
Chopin, Preludes
Stravinsky, Rite of Spring
Beatles (the), Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

that's about it...

[MzrtMusic]

You gotta listen to the Mozart Requiem!!! Ole Bull, the Swedish violinist said that you could not write such music without dying. It's a MUST! Also, Where are the Beethoven Symphonies? The ninth and the seventh are my favorites!

Love,

Sarah

[selsa]

Evidently, evryone has favorites that they think are a must for classical listening. You can go to a music store and find out what you like, or download some midi and listen. There is a world of info online, sheet, etc.

-Selsa.

[martin_s]

EHHRM... he was Norwegian though... (Ole Bull) ....but still, guess he was right about the Mozart!

[MzrtMusic]

ooops... I'm sorry about the error on Ole Bull's nationality... I still agree with the quote!!! Thanks martin_s!

Love,

Sarah

[zemos]

Well, since I don't know what you really like (and probably you niether ), here are some you must download:
Beethoven's Symphonies no. 3, 5, 7, 9.
Brahms' piano concerto no. 1 in Dm (begin with the 3rd mov. , then listen to the two others. the 3rd's a bomb!)
Chopin- balladas (begin with the 1st) and scherzos (with the 1st and the 2nd)
try to download Mendelssohn piano concerto no. 1, 3rd mov. great.
Mozart's symphony no. 40 (especially the last (4th) mov. , also the 21st piano concerto.
Rachmaninov's prelude in C#m, prelude in Gm. 3rd piano concerto.
Schubert's march militaire.
Shostakovich's 5th symphony- amazing.
Tchaikovsky's violin concerto.

These are all basic, for a general impression of the composer.
Enjoy!
p.s.
I'm from Israel too (:

[glBelgedin]

Bach's Keyboard Concertos (my favorites are Dm and Am, especially the first movements)

[pianolotus]

Beethoven - Piano Sonata No. 17 in D minor, Op. 31, No. 2 (Tempest)

Rachmaninov - Prelude in G#- (Op32 No12)

[pianolotus]

Actually if you find that you critically and musically analyse any piece you might be interested in, or are playing, then you could figure out which ones are more important to "you." however, this is pretty subjective as I've pointed out. There probably isn't a standard way of testing which forms or composers are more musically worthy, but they probably hold different values of music within different people. Having said that, there are some composers who takes majority of liking musically among musicians, and those you should be aware of. that's about it from me.

No offense but you really didn’t answer anything. what is the purpose of this post other than to point out the obvious.

I don’t want  to be condescending but that is my thought.

[Tash]

well when i'd decided to expand my knowledge of classical pieces dramatically i just grabbed a heap of cds by as many different composers as possible from the library and burned them all onto my computer, and then looked at some brief biographies of various composers at what their supposed most known works are.
but yeah mozart's requiem is fantastic. personally i'd get a variety from each different sort of era. i'm not going to specify pieces cos i'll just end up naming my own personal faves!

[Nightscape]

Mabye you should just pick out some random pieces by the great composers?  They are almost bound to be good.... try these composers:

Vivaldi, Handel, Scarlatti, Bach, Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Chopin, Mendelssohn, Schumann, Berlioz, Wagner, Liszt, Verdi, Bruckner, Tchaikovsky, Brahms, Faure, Satie, Debussy, Scriabin, Vaughn-Williams, Ravel, Mahler, Rachmaninoff, Ives, Barber, Gershwin, Britten, Stravinsky, Shoenberg, Bartok, Copland, Shostakovitch, Prokofiev, Pendrecki, Stockhausen, Riech, John Adams

These are among the best-known composers... you're sure to find something you like here.  You could also try out film music.... like John Williams or Howard Shore.

Don't just stick to piano music either.... many composers reserved their best works for orchestra and chamber music.

This is also a short introduction to classical music and there is a lot of free music to listen to on this website that also contains helpful analysies of the pieces.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/classical/guide.shtml

Hope that gets you started!