Classical Music, Anyone?

[MikeyFingers]

I've always been a fan of classical piano to some extent, and for whatever reason I decided to dig into it a little deeper. I don't know why I never really gave it the chance it deserved. Over the last 2 weeks, for no particular reason, I started getting into it more and more. Today 3/4 of my ipod is classical music. Vivaldi, Mozart, Bach, Chopin, Bartok, a random smear of 7 or 8 composers. Piano, violin, orchestral arrangements, a dab of everything.

I am by no means trained or educated in classical music. I never studied it and I can't dissect it the way a trained ear can. But I love it. Today, for the first time in my life, I listened to an entire Beethoven symphony (7th) from beginning to end. It's incredible. It's epic. It's a journey for the mind and a feast for the ears.

When, how and why did this music fall out of the public spotlight? It is, in my naive opinion, some of the purest and most beautiful music ever written. I feel like a jerk for never giving it a real chance before. I guess I'm maturing? Haha, I don't know. I did the same thing over the last few years with literature, getting deep into Charles Dickens, Poe, Dostoevsky, a bunch of the 18th and 19th century legends that you never actually bother to read. And I'm glad I did.

So does anyone here actually listen to classical at all? I think it's going to have to become a regular thing for me. Plus it's definitely inspiring me musically. I need to buy a piano....and a violin.

[Hobobob]

Vasily Kalinnikov's First Symphony. One of my favorite pieces of music ever. From start to finish, it's a beautiful, epic journey. That's why I listen to a lot of classical music: for the journey it takes me on. I'm especially fond of 19th and 20th century Russian composers for some reason. Something about their music just seems very powerful and intense, even in its quietest moments. (this is a stupidly broad generalization, of course.) Symphonic music often draws a lot of powerful emotional responses that I just don't get from a lot of popular music. I'm not saying it's always like that, it's just a different experience.

[EdHunter]

Now then, by classical, are we talking about the Classical era? Or just anything not blues/rock/pop etc?

I cannot stand Classical, it's way too uptight, stuffy, dull and formulaic. Romantic, however, does it quite nicely for me - Holst, Elgar, Wagner, Dvorak et al are beyond compare.

[Buxtehude]

It never fell out of the spotlight. These are amongst the greatest composers who ever lived. They come back to life everytime we play their music.

[sandmangeck]

I dig Grieg alot. I was a cellist for 7 years, so I got my fill.

[Pacman]

Music related post?

Miscellaneous is where you want this to be. Moved.

[fdeck]

Originally Posted by EdHunter

Now then, by classical, are we talking about the Classical era? Or just anything not blues/rock/pop etc?

I cannot stand Classical, it's way too uptight, stuffy, dull and formulaic. Romantic, however, does it quite nicely for me - Holst, Elgar, Wagner, Dvorak et al are beyond compare.

In the US, "classical" typically refers to composed music played on orchestral instruments, all the way from baroque through modern.

From what I've read, it's as popular as ever, even though orchestras are struggling.

[Buxtehude]

Originally Posted by fdeck

In the US, "classical" typically refers to composed music played on orchestral instruments, all the way from baroque through modern.

From what I've read, it's as popular as ever, even though orchestras are struggling.

The proper term is western Art Music

[groooooove]

Originally Posted by EdHunter

Now then, by classical, are we talking about the Classical era? Or just anything not blues/rock/pop etc?

I cannot stand Classical, it's way too uptight, stuffy, dull and formulaic. Romantic, however, does it quite nicely for me - Holst, Elgar, Wagner, Dvorak et al are beyond compare.

the term "classical" is problematic. i feel like when i say it im implying that i dont understand that "classical" means haydn and mozart. unfourtunately there is no word that means "rennasaince baroque classical romantic 20th century"

a large part of appreciating the music is knowing music history. of course being trained and able to understand why beethoven modulating to the key of flat-3 helps, and how he approaches it and all this fun stuff, but the simple history of the music, putting it in context, will help you love it all so much more. being able to pick up on the romanticism in late beethoven (for me, atleast) makes it that much better knowing where he stands historically.

if you've only heard beethovens 7th, get yourself a box set of all 9. read up on music history and listen to tons of haydn symphonies. then go back to the beethoven and listen to where his music takes you- you'll have a new perspective on it and hear that hes, simply put, being a badass.

but to answer the question- yeah, i love baroqueclassicalromantic20thcentury aka "classical" music. i diddnt before i went to a music school, but after a few years of studying it, playing it, hearing it, i've grown to love it more than anything i loved before i went to school for music.

[Muddslide]

My father listened strictly to classical music and jazz. I realize 'classical" music is a catch-all term and not fully legitimate to describe all the music usually meant when "classical" is used.

Anyways, I grew up with it. I certainly am an admirer of a good deal of it, but I'm very selective insofar as what actually appeals to me.

I find a major portion of classical music far too frilly and/or bombastic for my tastes. However, I love things like the Beethoven sonatas, some of Bach's organ works, etc.

Most of the classical music I care for is more modern, perhaps "avant garde" if you want to call it that. Bartok, Lutoslavski, Ligetti, Mahler, Shostakovich (especially his string quartets) and even more recent composers like Arvo Part.

I also have a fondness for early electronic/musique concrete work like that of Pierre Henri, Morton Subotnick, Pauline Oliveros and others.

[Papa Dangerous]

I love Italian Romantic music. Paganini, Rossini are great. Listz, Wagner, Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, Grieg, Berlioz, and of course Bach.

When ever I put the classical music station on in the car when there are others present, I get yelled out. One person prefers country, so I give more crap about hearing country than orchestra pieces.

[skwee]

Good for you! I'm personally a fan of earlier music (baroque composers like Vivaldi, Handel, Bach, Lully, Purcell, etc.) I also find a lot of connection between folk band music of today, and folk band music of the 17th- 18th centuries.

[SolidFooting]

If you like music that takes you on a journey, you should really check out opera. I know, I know. But trust me.

[tri33]

I do quite a bit. I love Bach, as muscians and bass players specifically you can definately learn a ton from his music.

[Muzoid]

Love it....started out as a classical pianist.

Currently attempting "Rach 3" (Piano Concerto #3 - Rachmaninnof)

It's total hell!....but loving the challenge....84 pages, 38 minutes of total piano insanity!

[Gaius46]

Yes. About half my ipod is classical music.

Stravinsky, Beethoven, Back, Mozart, Tchaikovsky, Strauss, Brahms, Haydn, Tarrega, Carulli, Guiliani etc, etc.

For performers I love listening to cellists Yo Yo Ma and Pablo Casals and guitarists Segovia, Christopher Parkening, Sharon Isbin.

[HaMMerHeD]

I listen to classical music all the time. The USB stick that my car uses to play music is loaded with Tchaikovsky, Wagner, Beethoven, and Orff (and Cannibal Corpse, Slayer, Dream Theater, Meshuggah, et al.)

I bought myself and my mother season tickets to the Oklahoma City Philharmonic. They have a concert on the 15th, and they'll be playing Robert Schumann's 3rd symphony and Sergei Rachmaninoff's 3rd piano concerto. The guest pianist is Jon Kimura Parker.

[turbo chicken]

yes... i started on URB in jr high ... ever since... i listen to "classical".

I've actually gone to just using pandora's default classical station anymore ... it's got about everything

It's the one type of music i listen to and actually enjoy... i don't even care to know when or who composed it... it's my easy listening music.

[doktorfeelgood]

I have been listening to Classical music for a long time and I have about 100 Classical Music cd's. I listen mostly now to 15th, 16th, & 17th century English and Italian lute music....mainly anything by John Dowland. But I love Mozart, Vivaldi, and Beethoven and I mostly favor chamber music from those composers.

I have to edit this post.... There wasn't much lute music before 1500 so that was an error on my part. I should have said 16th thru 18th century....

[fdeck]

Originally Posted by Buxtehude

The proper term is western Art Music

Elwood: What kind of music do you usually have here?

Claire: Oh, we got both kinds. We got country *and* western.