Classical music challenge: convince me.

[StatesideRambler]

Honestly, you leave a thread for a couple of hours to get the kids tested for Covid-19 and when you get back it’s all over the place!

People who’re not into “classical” music miss so much: it’s not all the same. It’s a lot more diverse than rock.

Pick and choose: I’ll propose Beethoven in general; Stravinsky‘s “Firebird” and “Rite of Spring” for their familiarity; “The Planets” by Gustav Holst (I fantasized many years ago about arranging that for a rock ensemble); Symphony No. 9 in E minor, "From the New World" by Antonin Dvořák; “The Grand Canyon Suite“ by Ferde Grofé; and for those who enjoy F. Zappa, there’s his classical analogue, Professor Peter Schickele a.k.a. P.D.Q. Bach. (You’ll get much more of the humor of P.D.Q. Bach if you already have a fair grounding in classical music).

 

[philpm]

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.

And Fantasia 2000 as well. Not only a good way for someone to sample several different varieties of classical music, but also a great way to get the kiddos interested as well.

 

[skwee]

Rock has a lot more to do with baroque-era music (roughly 1600-1750) than other eras. Monteverdi, Handel, Vivaldi, Rameau, Lully, Bach & family, etc.

 

[StatesideRambler]

Another vote for Clair de lune...

I’ve listened to that piece many times since I was in elementary school. It was the centerpiece of the Terrence McNally play Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune which I saw in L.A. when Kathy Bates and Kenneth Welsh performed at the Mark Taper Forum. McNally wrote it for Kathy Bates [the Michelle Pfeiffer movie was a seriously pale follow-on] and the musical underpinning of Clair de Lune nailed the emotions. I wish I could experience that performance one more time!

 

[fourstr00]

I’ve always enjoyed Joby Talbot’s string quartets. Ominous and quietly pissed off, if you want to assign an emotion to it per the OP.

 

[Spirit of Ox]

I've been working on Turkish March aka Rondo Al Turk. It's uplifting and fast. To play it at full speed on bass is really hard. There are some two handed talking variations but I play the full melody and I have yet to perfect after playing it for a few years on and off. If I get the time Id love to master it on Fretless.

 

[StatesideRambler]

Rondo Al Turk evokes Brubeck’s Blue Rondo a la Turk in my mind.

 

[Carl Hillman]

Sad strings...THE OFFICIAL sad strings...

Adagio for Strings -Samuel Barber



Oooo, Scary! Just the thing if an advanced A.I. is trying to kill you during a mission to Europa.

Requiem for Soprano, Mezzo Soprano, Two Mixed Choirs & Orchestra -György Ligeti



Looking for over-the-top romanticism and virtuosity? This whole Rachmaninoff No. 3 is worthwhile, but especially the ending as played by a young Olga Kern.



Here is "we fixin' to go to war" music:

 

[Guild B301]

Rondo Al Turk evokes Brubeck’s Blue Rondo a la Turk in my mind.

Which just proves that jazz is influenced by classical.

 

[elberon]

Oh, Appalachian Spring by Aaron Copland. Also Four Dance Episodes from Rodeo and Billy the Kid also by Copland. Candied Overture by Bernstein. Done for now.

Candide Overture, I hate autocorrect.

 

[Funky Phantom]

In a musical, or mathematic mood - J.S. Bach
In a happy mood - Strauss
Pissed off - a bit of the ol’ Ludwig Van. Viddy well little brother, viddy well.

 

[raphaeld]

Solid recommendations all over. Tchaikovsky is pretty moving and powerful, Smetana as well.
Few geniuses you should check out are Hans Zimmer, John Williams (Star Wars Symphony), Harry Gregson-Williams, James Horner and so many more.
yes I'm recommending Film Soundtracks composers because they deal with a lot with emotions.

 

[Ultradust]

"Miscellaneous Classical Emotions and Situations".

The following is a very subjective list that formed in my psyche from my undergraduate years 30 years back studying classical composition, but I reckon some of these feelings are likely a more than a little universal. Maybe.


The 30-second "Newlywed Quicky": Chopin - Prelude Nº.1 in C major

Soundtrack for high tea (feat. scones + clotted cream) : G.Holst - 1st Suite in Eb

I wanna drink hot cocoa and smile at the rain : C.Debussy - Suite Bergamasque/Children's Corner

So this is what it's like to breathe underwater in my dreams: C.Debussy - The Sunken Cathedral

Not going make it to the toilet in time (again?!): L.V. Beethoven - Piano Sonata Nº21, (bowel) mov.1

Craigslist bod is coming over to buy my first bass: B.Bartok - Piano Concerto Nº3 mov.2

'Member granddad's cowboy hat + porch bourbon as the Texas sun went down? : A.Copland - Corral Nocturne

"I reckon it would be nice to pass in my sleep" : G.Mahler - The "Ewig" ending of Das Lied

Oh no, Sonny is having pops of "smiley gas" during choir practice again : J.Rutter - Gloria mov. 1 and 3

I'm not Czech, but darn it, I am now : B.Smetana - The Vltava theme from Ma Vlast.

It feels so good to be sad sometimes : J.Brahms - Opus 76 and Opus 118

Is really she kissing me? She's kissing me! Wait...who is this again? : M.Ravel - Pavane for a Dead Princess.

March my casket to the plot without delay. I'm outta here! : J.Brahms - Sym.Nº1, mov.1

Sunlight after a chilly early spring rain is the best : J.S.Bach: Cantata Nº208 'Sheep May Safely Graze'

 

[fishdreams]

Renaissance composers:
Jean Ockeghem, Josquin desPrez
19th Century: Hector Berlioz
From the past 60 years:
Olivier Messiaen (for example his work for church organ is amazing), Gerard Grisey, Gyorgi Kurtag, Gyorgi Ligeti, KarlHeinz Stockhausen, Edgar Varese, John Cage (Dream is an impossibly simple sounding piece of ethereal beauty), Morton Feldman, Charles Ives. And many more.

 

[40Hz]

The Ring cycle? I thought that was supposed to be very long and not very accesible?

If you’re curious about the Ring Cycle, Anna Russel offers this excellent introduction:

 

[Outshined91]

I would say if you're into prog, then you're already halfway there. I didn't read through every post on this thread, and @squarepeg already touched upon it, but a lot of prog took melodies, harmonies and song structures from classical music. Heck, a lot of Emerson, Lake and Palmer's music are interpretations of classical music (check out Pictures At An Exhibition, based on a Modest Mussorgsky composition). I would use certain prog works like that (take a look around on Google - I believe Rick Wakeman has some straight-up classical stuff out too) as a bridge to get into classical. Absorb and groove to the melodies in those certain prog songs and you will tighten your grasp on classical! Good luck!

P.S. I used to be a HUGE prog guy myself, but turned on to grunge and post-punk and now can't stand the Close To The Edge kinda stuff. Oops..... Not to knock it though - it is some AMAZING stuff if you can dig it.

Enjoy!

 

[QweziRider]

Thank you for pointing this one out. Great sales job! Just ordered the disc and downloaded the mp3s.

 

[Jeff Scott]

 

[neuman]

2 routes I take

1. Find a piece I like and YouTube as many different versions of it. Current bent - Shostakovich’s 5th Symphony. Astounding interpretation from 40ish minutes to 50 plus. Each version has a ‘feel’.

2. Building on number 1, follow a conductor to see how they interpret pieces of music.

This, for one example,


led to me to find this

 

[JvJazz83]

Hi!
I have to admit that I haven't read the whole thread, so please don't bite my head of if I accidently repeat a suggestion from someone else...
When it comes to classical music and moods, I have some favourites, but they may not be yours...

For conteplation: Ravel; Bolero
For relaxation: Grieg; The spring
For joy: Grieg; Norwegian dance no.2
For rage: Grieg; In the hall of the mountain king

Since we are on a bass forum, I would also use this opportunity to recomend a fellow norwegian, performing Bachs cello suites on a upright bass: