What's the first piece of classical music you've ever listened to?

[nanabush]

...and does it still hit a special spot today? 

I was 7 and we had a computer encyclopedia (encarta 95).

It had these excerpts (among a ton others)

-Mozart's 'Kyrie' from the Reqiuem
-Schumann 'Estrella' from Carnaval
-Debussy 'Prelude' from Pour le Piano

What a crazy assortment!  These BLEW my mind, and today when I hear them they still give me chills.  Kind of makes me wish I had heard the entire classical repertoire (haha) at a young age, because I really find it struck me differently back then, as opposed to after having dissected the poor pieces to death in harmony class!  I want my untrained ears back! lol

Just want to know what everyone's 'first' leap into classical music was?  Before that, I was listening to Sharon Lois and Bram, Fred Penner, and Alvin and the Chipmunks... so although that other stuff still rocks, hearing Schumann was like seeing a brand new color.... ahhhhhh...

[j_menz]

When I was very young, my mother had a music box that played Traumerei. She still has the music box, and I still have a soft spot for Traumerei.

[zezhyrule]

When I was very young, my mother had a music box that played Traumerei. She still has the music box, and I still have a soft spot for Traumerei.

Oh yeah, I love that Persona 4 track

I didn't ruin the awesome fuzzy nostalgic moment did I
The Schumann is great too, of course.

I have no idea what the first piece of classical music I ever heard was... Probably just a small section of a piece used on a movie or tv commercial or something.

[j_menz]

I didn't ruin the awesome fuzzy nostalgic moment did I

You're an evil lad.    But, no.

[brendan765]

The first was what was in baby tv shows when we were little, we dont remember, but we heard it. I don't at all doubt it makes young kids smart.

[iansinclair]

Good heavens.  I have no idea -- that was a long time ago!  We always had classical music in the house.  I suppose, all things considered, it was probably something from the Well Tempered Clavier -- my grandmother played that a good deal.  On the other hand, it might have been on the radio; perhaps a Toscanini/NBC symphony broadcast (but who knows of what!) or a Metropollitan Opera Saturday afternoon broadcast.

Or it might have been something on our Victrola; I still have the 78 rpm records.  Mostly opera.

I also still have the very first LP we bought; Rafael Kubelik and the Chicago Symphony, Dvorak Symphony from the New World.  And I still have a soft spot for that!

[evitaevita]

I really can't remember... I don't even know which the first classical piece I've ever listened to was! Then, I was in all likelihood inside my mum's belly! 

My mother and my grandparents love classical music. Since I remember myself, I have been listening to classical music.
When I was a toddler, my mum had some Mozart CDs. I used to listen to them. Symphonies (especially the 40th, which I still love listening to!), Piano Concertos (I still remember listening to the 9th), Eine Kleine Nachtmusik and, of course, his Piano Sonatas.
At my grandparents house, I used to listen to Rossini's "Il Barbiero di Siviglia" and Beethoven's 3rd, 5th, 7th and 9th Symphony. All these were and still are my grandfather's favourite and certainly remind me of my childhood! As for my grandmother, she likes Beethoven's Piano Sonatas and Schubert's Serenade. I must have listened to all them pieces for about a million times!
Finally, both my mum and her parents reaaaaaally adore Chopin. I don't think I have to exlain anything here! Waltzes, Nocturnes, Polonaises, Impromptus were "favourites" at my home! 

Anyway, interesting question by nanabush!
I can't hold back my tears when listening to all these masterpieces! 

[outin]

I can't remember of course, but I was probably traumatized by some Sibelius (my father's favorite composer) or a Beethoven symphony (since I have a vague recollection of someone playing it very loud in our house).

Had I been exposed to something different than these and the stuff in the Michael Aaron books I might have gotten interested in classical before I was over 20 and actually found some really nice classical music 

[perprocrastinate]

Lol, I still remember. Fur Elise.

I opened my mother's jewelry box when I was four, and it just started playing.

[librarypatron]

The first piece of classical music I ever listened to was George Solti conducting Richard Wagner orchestral music only on vinyl 2 record set.  It was referred to me by the Classical Music department Head of the now defunct Sam Ash Music in Yonkers, NY.  I was a 16 year old METAL HEAD who lived and breathed electric guitar.  To this day I owe Gino a debt of gratitude for having the wisdom to nail what I was searching for. 

I am 52 years old now and own  6,000 classical CD's and close to 1,000 Hard Rock and Classic Rock CD's.

The first encounter at 16 was Richard Wagner music arranged for orchestral music
by Sir George  Solti. My friends at that time thought I was weird for the dramatic shift in musical preference.  They continue to be die hard rock fans while I just built a closet to hold my classical and Romantic epochs.

I have twin 11year old sons that have weekly piano lessons and love 4hands on one piano pieces. They started playing at 5 and have won several competitions during the last 6 years.  I am humbled by their gifts as classically trained pianists.  I used to bottle feed them with Wagner and Chopin playing as background music.

Cheers,

Eddie Jones

[49410enrique]

i don't really remembr but it was prolly something like this, more than likely one of these three (at least from what i sorta recall since i watched, actaully still do, a ton a cartoons!)'

*sigh they dont make them like they used to....shame.

[the89thkey]

Probably the first classical music I ever listened to was Mozart concertos. My parents used to play CDs of them to try to get me to go to sleep when I was 2 or 3...
The first music I vividly remember, though, is when I went to a performance of Tchaikovsky's Pathetique symphony and Rachmaninov's 2nd concerto at around 6 years old. I still can bring back memories of that concert. I started taking piano 3 days afterward.

[teran]

The Ode to Joy from Beethoven's 9th.

Was also the first thing I ever learned to play by ear at a rudimentary level on my totally miniature Casio keyboard.

Ah to be a toddler again ;__;

[brendan765]

Just to clarify, there's a difference between Hearing and Listening

Hearing is when the eardrum sends nerve flashes to your brain when sound is produced...The brain doesn't have to pay attention in this case!

Listening is the same as hearing except for the fact that listening requires the brain to pay attention to what's physically being heard!

Idk if that's common knowledge or all new to you guys..i've known that for a while.

[nocturnetr]

The first piece of classical music I have ever listened to (on purpose) was The Revolutionary Etude.

[lousyplayer]

When I started playing piano I never listened to classical music. I remember being fascinated with "the sound of music" age 6 or 7 and I sang the main song for 3 whole days non stop, so my parents put me in music lessons. My first contact with classical music was probably a sonatina of beethoven I learned in my first year. I became addicted by playing music, and started listening to it and going to concerts. Then I lost interest in pop music cause I thought it was boring and brainless compared to classical. Then people in school started teasing because I didn't listen to Britney Spears or The Coors or whatever. It was politically incorrect to say that pop music was melodically and rythmically poor and didn't entertain me at all. eeheh

[karin73]

I'm an adult beginner (since 17) and before that, I wouldn't really listen to much music. But there were always some things played on the radio, television, some things an older brother would listen to etc. I used to get so surprised at first when I understood I had actually listened to some classical music without knowing it. The first one was Mozart's 40th symphony. (Actually the first I realized had been a classical piece!)
(It might surprise you, but I hadn't listened to a live performance by the time I turned 16. The first I listened to was Moonlight Sonata and I was completely stunned - and scared- as I couldn't even imagine there could ever be something that expressive and genuine and... and I hadn't discovered that for 16 years, which were simply lost.)

[the89thkey]

Just to clarify, there's a difference between Hearing and Listening

Hearing is when the eardrum sends nerve flashes to your brain when sound is produced...The brain doesn't have to pay attention in this case!

Listening is the same as hearing except for the fact that listening requires the brain to pay attention to what's physically being heard!

Idk if that's common knowledge or all new to you guys..i've known that for a while.

Believe me, if you know it we know it...and a lot more besides. Just stop doing what you're doing, you're driving more people than me up the wall.

[unholeee]

hungarian Rhapsody No. 2. well i know i listened to this as we had the vhs.

[thesixthsensemusic]

Beethoven's 'Archduke Trio' which my mother was playing the violin part in, must have been 4 or summink, I've been addicted to classical music ever since

[danielekstrom]

My first discrete memory of classical music is Chopin's Military Polonaise. We had gone to church that day and, as always, I was very curious about the organ and pianos. My mother decided to buy me a tape of Chopin's "greatest hits" The first was an orchestration of The Military Polonaise, the Second was a performance of Minute Valse, then the C# minor waltz orchestrated, the last piece on the tape was Grande Valse Brilliante (op. 18). I used to listen to that tape over and over and over again. I wore it out I think.

[thesixthsensemusic]

hungarian Rhapsody No. 2. well i know i listened to this as we had the vhs.

In that case it was not the Rhapsody no. 2 you first heard, but Chopin's Prelude op. 28 no. 24, which is used in the intro of the cartoon, albeit in an orchestrated version.

[teenagepiano]

Probably Beethoven's 5th Sympthony, Fur Elise or Chopin Op66 Fantasie impromptu.

[austinarg]

I can only guess, since i can't remember. I think it would have been Fur Elise, played by my teacher. Oh yes, I wanted to learn piano before listening to it. I only remember asking for a keyboard for Christmas. Can't say I made the wrong choice 

[ahinton]

Chopin: Ballade No. 4 in F minor, Op. 52.

Best,

Alistair

[p2u_]

What's the first piece of classical music you've ever listened to?

I don't know if you agree that this is "classical" enough, but I was told by my parents that it was It's Now or Never - Elvis Presley, based on "O sole mio" and Surrender - Elvis Presley, based on "Torna a Surriento". I must have been 1 or 2 when I heard those and I liked them so much that my mum had to change my diaper.

Next came the (almost classical) film music in a series of films my parents watched on TV: Angelique: The Marquise of the Angels (1964). This music lead me immediately to Tchaikovsky's first piano concerto, and I was sold so to speak.

...and does it still hit a special spot today? 

Rhetorical question.

Paul

[Bob]

No idea.

I do remember...
Hooked on Classics on an LP
Records for little kids on a kid turntable.  Horribly scratched up.  Nursery songs, Disney, Twinkle Twinkle, etc.
Sorcerer's Apprentice
Fantasia
Cartoons like the ones mentioned above
Probably something on Sesame Street or Mr. Rogers. Mr. Rogers would have the jazz/Debussy influence going.

Oh man....  

[Bob]

Haha.  Does this count?

I imagine I heard this....

[ Invalid YouTube link ]

[Bob]

[Bob]

Tchaikovsky... 1812, Nutcracker....

Mendelssohn... Wedding march....


Grieg... Morning, Mountain King....


I see we must have had the whole set... It does pack a lot of theme recognition into a few minutes.  Steady beat to keep everyone on board.

Brahms' Lullaby?

[Bob]

There's your final exam for listening/repertoire... Identify all the pieces in Hooked on Classics, vol 1-3.  Include composer birth/death dates, catalog numbers, and composition dates.


How about Christmas music?  Ave Maria?

[Bob]

Van Cliburn...   And Liberace of course... 

*Bob wonders if he's not wearing enough giant rings while performing.*


I suppose church music too.  There must have been some classic music in there.  That's common.

[Bob]

Lots of classical music used in here...

Here's an example...

Apparently Papa Smurf was running a meth lab....

[Bob]

Sousa marches too I'm sure.

Elgar, Pomp and Circumstance.

Gershwin, Rhapsody in Blue.

[chopin2015]

Beethoven. My momma always has looooved Beethoven. I hope ia am not her worst nightmare haha...

[nikolasideris]

My parents had a lot of vinyl records of classical music... and used to take me to concerts in Athens. I also used to fall asleep...

But in any case one of the first thing I heard was Dvorcak 9th symphony. The intro in the 4th movement was so awesome that I destroyed the tape by going back and forth that part. And because I didn't know how to rewind the tape, I would play the first 30-40 secs of what I wanted to hear, turn the side listen to that last 40 secs of the other side and relisten... Must've drove my parents crazy!

And then it was the 8th (unfinished) symphony of Schubert... from smurfs... yes... but Meth lab?!?!? hahaha!

[cvp1796]

I believe it was a Chopin Etude (Op. 10, No. 3). My mother had no idea what the piece was, but I think it was one of my dad's favorites. I was only four when I first heard it, but it has become one of my personal favorites.

[williampiano]

My parents always used to play recordings of J.S. Bach for me when I was around two or three, so I recollect in my earliest memories pieces such as Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring, Sheep May Safely Graze, Badinerie and movements from the Brandenburg Concertos.