Works that everyone should know??

[swagmaster420x]

This probably isn't an important or valid thing to take into consideration , But I wanna know. My friend was playing classical music ('Chopin is my homie. And I listen to anything by Bach named English suite') and I was able to recognize and tell the names of some of the pieces on his playlist, to which he responded with ".... WOW... YOURE SO CULTURED"

And that made me think, wow, the pieces I named are pretty essential to know for someone who listens to classical. What other ones I haven't heard yet that I am missing???

At the same time, I'm looking for stuff to put on my playlist. So can someone point out a few works that you would have to be a regular Neanderthal to not be familiar with??

[j_menz]

So can someone point out a few works that you would have to be a regular Neanderthal to not be familiar with??

Given the timing of their extinction, anything written in the last 40,000 years or so.

There are squillions of lists you can google to give you the "essential" classical repertoire. They are all somewhat different5, eccentric, and to a greater or lesser extent (particularly towards the end of each) exercises in snobbery. Sample 3 or 4 of them, and the pieces that appear on all will be your list.

Don't limit yourself to it.

[theholygideons]

My friend was playing classical music ('Chopin is my homie. And I listen to anything by Bach named English suite') and I was able to recognize and tell the names of some of the pieces on his playlist, to which he responded with ".... WOW... YOURE SO CULTURED"

but how ken have fully sweg, and not being culture?

[swagmaster420x]

but how ken have fully sweg, and not being culture?

exactli

[superstition2]

This probably isn't an important or valid thing to take into consideration , But I wanna know. My friend was playing classical music ('Chopin is my homie. And I listen to anything by Bach named English suite') and I was able to recognize and tell the names of some of the pieces on his playlist, to which he responded with ".... WOW... YOURE SO CULTURED"

And that made me think, wow, the pieces I named are pretty essential to know for someone who listens to classical. What other ones I haven't heard yet that I am missing???

At the same time, I'm looking for stuff to put on my playlist. So can someone point out a few works that you would have to be a regular Neanderthal to not be familiar with??

Here are a few concertos that are very central to the canon:

Beethoven's 3rd and 5th concertos
Tchaikovsky's 1st concerto
Liszt's "1st" concerto
Chopin's "1st" concerto
Rachmaninov's 2nd and 3rd concertos
Grieg concerto
Mozart's 27th concerto and others
Schumann concerto
Brahms' concertos 1 and 2
Ravel concerto
Prokofiev 3rd concerto
Bartok concerto no. 2, sometimes #3
Saint-Saëns 2nd concerto
Bach's D minor

[justanamateur]

This probably isn't an important or valid thing to take into consideration , But I wanna know. My friend was playing classical music ('Chopin is my homie. And I listen to anything by Bach named English suite') and I was able to recognize and tell the names of some of the pieces on his playlist, to which he responded with ".... WOW... YOURE SO CULTURED"

And that made me think, wow, the pieces I named are pretty essential to know for someone who listens to classical. What other ones I haven't heard yet that I am missing???

At the same time, I'm looking for stuff to put on my playlist. So can someone point out a few works that you would have to be a regular Neanderthal to not be familiar with??

For solo piano works, the most hackneyed ones are (none of these are staples of the classical repertoire):
Bach - WTC Prelude in C major (not really piano but duh)
Bach - that particular French Suite movement I've always had in my head but can't name (never played any of the the French suite except for whatever movements John Thompson/Alfred et al. may have made me play)
Mozart - Rondo alla turca
Beethoven - Fur Elise
Beethoven - 'Moonlight' 1st
Beethoven - 'Pathetique' 2nd
Schumann - Traumerei from Kinderszenen
Mendelssohn - Spinning Song from Songs Without Words
Chopin - Nocturne 9/2
Chopin - 'Minute' Waltz 64/1
Chopin - Fantaisie-Impromptu
Liszt - Hungarian Rhapsody No 2

[j_menz]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news guys, but the "essential" classical repertoire actually extends beyond works for the piano. 

Well beyond!

[mjames]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news guys, but the "essential" classical repertoire actually extends beyond works for the piano.  

Well beyond!

Tsk tsk these piano purists


Chopin wannabes ahahahahahah        

[outin]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news guys, but the "essential" classical repertoire actually extends beyond works for the piano. 

Not for someone who barely can stand the sound of violins or a full symphony orchestra 

To be honest I think the only purpose large orchestras serve is to assist piano concertos 

[worov]

Not for someone who barely can stand the sound of violins or a full symphony orchestra  Wink

To be honest I think the only purpose large orchestras serve is to assist piano concertos  Tongue

Then I wonder why so many composers wrote symphonies. I guess they must be idiots.

[outin]

Then I wonder why so many composers wrote symphonies. I guess they must be idiots.

No, they simply wanted to attract a larger audience than just me