My favourite version of that piece, was in a Samsung flip-phone commercial, circa ~2004.
No idea who adapted it, and it was probably only about 16 seconds long, but it was a beautiful distillation.
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My favourite version of that piece, was in a Samsung flip-phone commercial, circa ~2004.
No idea who adapted it, and it was probably only about 16 seconds long, but it was a beautiful distillation.
I suggest you watch the original 1940 movie FANTASIA by Walt Disney Co.
It has a dozen important classical pieces, set to animation. You will probably recognize most of them.
Each piece of music is explained by the conductor (Leopold Stokowski) before it is played by the orchestra.
It was made for people just like you.
It has a dozen important classical pieces, set to animation. You will probably recognize most of them.
Each piece of music is explained by the conductor (Leopold Stokowski) before it is played by the orchestra.
It was made for people just like you.
Just throwing some stuff out there that you might not have heard that’s great stuff. Symphonic Metamorphosis and Mathis Der Maler both by Paul Hindemith. Also might check out Pulcinella by Stravinsky and Concerto for Orchestra by Bartok. The Beethoven 9 symphonies, Mozart (anything), Haydn symphonies. Emotions for each run the gamut. Western European Art Music of all styles, Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, 20th Century, and Post Modern is a really, really, deep well.
The last movement never fails to bring the goose bumps:
A favorite.
Sergei Prokofiev.
Very "Russian"sounding.
Grandiose.
At 1:32
Sergei Prokofiev.
Very "Russian"sounding.
Grandiose.
At 1:32
Last edited:
I love some “classical” music, but I’m pretty picky, and mostly gravitate towards chamber music, baroque ensembles, and mostly- solo piano music. I think these often have a much more direct and emotional appeal than a lot of symphonic works. Some of the stuff I keep coming back to:
Debussy
Mendelssohn Songs without words
Chopin Etudes & Nocturnes
Dvorak Slavonic Dances
Beethoven sonatas- obviously moonlight and pathetique, but I am very partial to the Waldstein, which has plenty of humor and technical fireworks/intensity.
My fave pianists for this stuff are Horowitz, Gieseking, and the wonderful Guiomar Novaes.
I spend far too much time listening to the Joshua Rifkin conducted recordings of Bach’s cantatas. They are wonderful.
There is a similar sounding series on YouTube posted by the Netherlands Bach Society, which is trying to post every single piece Bach wrote, played or sung by the best baroque musicians currently alive. Their cantatas are all being recorded in churches with organs contemporary to Bach, which is amazing to think about. Of course, those are all in the Netherlands, as most German, French, and Italian baroque organs were blown up long ago! This is a great one- 25 minutes is a lot to ask, so drop in at 14:30 to see the gorgeous Maria Keohane break everyone’s heart. You won’t regret it...
Debussy
Mendelssohn Songs without words
Chopin Etudes & Nocturnes
Dvorak Slavonic Dances
Beethoven sonatas- obviously moonlight and pathetique, but I am very partial to the Waldstein, which has plenty of humor and technical fireworks/intensity.
My fave pianists for this stuff are Horowitz, Gieseking, and the wonderful Guiomar Novaes.
I spend far too much time listening to the Joshua Rifkin conducted recordings of Bach’s cantatas. They are wonderful.
There is a similar sounding series on YouTube posted by the Netherlands Bach Society, which is trying to post every single piece Bach wrote, played or sung by the best baroque musicians currently alive. Their cantatas are all being recorded in churches with organs contemporary to Bach, which is amazing to think about. Of course, those are all in the Netherlands, as most German, French, and Italian baroque organs were blown up long ago! This is a great one- 25 minutes is a lot to ask, so drop in at 14:30 to see the gorgeous Maria Keohane break everyone’s heart. You won’t regret it...
Grieg, Peer Gynt Suite
For a familiar tune from that, (if you liked old who stuff and other famous performers (erm, destroyers?), check out the last movement from Suite #1, "In the Hall of the Mountain King".
Try to hear a version recorded by orchestra, NOT by piano (there are piano versions... orchestra is killer though!)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For me, one of the greatest albums ever is the Saint Saens 3rd violin concerto recorded by Isaac Stern with the Orchestre de Paris way way back.
This album: https://www.amazon.com/Isaac-Stern-Plays-Saint-Saens-Orchestra/dp/B01MR9861S
Also the Chausson Poem on that album is amazing, too.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Or, if more modern stuff is your thing, and you like intellectual and repetitive yet emotional and intensely difficult and building up music for violin, as I do LoL, then Arvo Part (a composer) wrote this incredible piece for violin and Strings+Percussion (or Piano if you don't have an orchestra hanging around), called Fratres. That is one of my favorite works, and has been used in avant garde movies and such many many times. Watching it performed is amazing. Playing it on violin (albeit, a spec slower than the original still, give me time.... ) is INCREDIBLE to experience, even though I have to stop every once in a while for a cider and crackers.
For a familiar tune from that, (if you liked old who stuff and other famous performers (erm, destroyers?), check out the last movement from Suite #1, "In the Hall of the Mountain King".
Try to hear a version recorded by orchestra, NOT by piano (there are piano versions... orchestra is killer though!)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For me, one of the greatest albums ever is the Saint Saens 3rd violin concerto recorded by Isaac Stern with the Orchestre de Paris way way back.
This album: https://www.amazon.com/Isaac-Stern-Plays-Saint-Saens-Orchestra/dp/B01MR9861S
Also the Chausson Poem on that album is amazing, too.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Or, if more modern stuff is your thing, and you like intellectual and repetitive yet emotional and intensely difficult and building up music for violin, as I do LoL, then Arvo Part (a composer) wrote this incredible piece for violin and Strings+Percussion (or Piano if you don't have an orchestra hanging around), called Fratres. That is one of my favorite works, and has been used in avant garde movies and such many many times. Watching it performed is amazing. Playing it on violin (albeit, a spec slower than the original still, give me time.... ) is INCREDIBLE to experience, even though I have to stop every once in a while for a cider and crackers.
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Fratres and Summa are so good. Some friends of mine did a nice version of Summa for string quartet a few years ago:
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This. I know next to nothing about classical music, but I can't imagine not having Debussy piano works in my life.
Meditative and pensive: The Requiem Mass
Light hearted and chatty: Water Music
Inspired to achieve: Horowitz in Moscow
Light hearted and chatty: Water Music
Inspired to achieve: Horowitz in Moscow
There’s an excellent book called “From Metal to Mozart” that would be right up your alley.
I once heard this described as “angry and Russian sounding” and I think that’s one of the emotions it’s meant to convey. Either way it’s got some serious low end going on. It’s ballet music so it’s amazing with dancers.
I wouldn't even know what mood to classify this under other than "hair standing up on the back of your neck"? It may not be much to many people, but I'm not a symphonic player and my oboe playing wife wrangled me into this last year. Most terrifying 15 minutes of playing I ever did and most exhilarating at the same time. Your mileage may vary.
Bach pieces are great practice. ... When I was younger I was a sponge for all that. ... It'd be taxing to remember one now, but, when you're coming up it's amazing what it'll do for your timing and developing lines. ... It's so easy for me now to watch a bass player, or any musician, and see where they quit in their homework study. ... And that stuff was free. ... Forget taking lessons if you aren't going to take the time to learn the free stuff. ... While you have the time take the time and learn it all you won't be disappointed.
