Classical Music

I wanted a thread for people to share their favourite pieces and composers of classical music.

Just like in the Favourite piece of art? thread, I will admit to not having any real in depth knowledge on the subject. I know and enjoy a lot of the big names but beyond them it's all new to me. For example my entire collection consists of compilation albums such as That's What I Call Classical and Cheggers Goes Posh along with Baby Got Bach.

Speaking of Bach, he appears to be my most played. I do love the violin and he rocks it, as they say.

They only style I haven't liked so far, has been the ones that may be nowadays interrupted as "the funny ones". Maybe that's the wrong way to describe them. But I don't don't really the "The Type Writer" for example, technically impressive but annoying.

I just took a phone call and forgot what I was going to finish this with so I'll just say...

GO!

Currently:

Composer - Puccini
Opera - La Boheme
Aria - Ebben? Ne andrò lontana from La Wally
Duet - Au fond du temple saint from The Pearl Fishers
Ballet Music - Montagues and Capulets from Romeo and Juliet

La Wally?

Classic FM has more adverts than music.
I do sometimes listen to it though. There's a late night show that just plays slow classical music and I listen to the podcast of that when I'm writing.
Fast classical music really stresses me the feck out.

Quote: zooo @ March 10 2011, 3:43 PM GMT

La Wally?

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Yes, by Alfredo Catalini
This is my favourite song from it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYUYbCksbjk

I also love G&S and have been in a few. Some classical music lovers don't consider it 'proper opera' which is pretty stupid IMO.

Quote: Griff @ March 10 2011, 4:30 PM GMT

I didn't know that piece Loopey, it is lovely.

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I think the Callas version is the best. I was watching a programme about her last week and it made me cry when she sang it.

Quote: Griff @ March 10 2011, 4:30 PM GMT

I didn't know that piece Loopey, it is lovely.

Although I don't quite know what to make of the discussion comments below the video. I mean, I know you don't expect a lot from YouTube comments, but a Maria Callas video? Four posts in and we've got "cocksuckers", "whores", "assholes" and the c-word being thrown around.

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Crikey, I didn't read the comments. Disgusting. I'm surprised when people say they don't like classical music. They might as well say they don't like any music as hip hop, jazz, country and western and so on are all types of popular music and I haven't heard anyone say they don't like pop.

Lots of suggestions, nice one.

I agree with you on Beethoven, Griff. Amazing, but I'm never in the mood to listen to that, unless I'm like at war or something. And Mozart, again amazing but it always feels too formal if that makes sense?

I get annoyed that I have been forced fed preconceived perceptions of a lot of this music, especially seeing as a lot of it gets used in film. I really love Pachelbel's Canon, but it's too associated with wedding music now. So I sometimes kinda feel daft listening to it. Don't worry, I still do listen. It's the same with Carmina Burana, it works fantastic for film, but once you remove that association, it becomes a whole new experience.

Quote: Griff @ March 10 2011, 5:09 PM GMT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdxkVQy7QLM

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I love this, although this is slightly different to the one I have become familiar with.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_JPCaxFbQQ

Quote: Leevil @ March 10 2011, 5:06 PM GMT

Lots of suggestions, nice one.

I agree with you on Beethoven, Griff. Amazing, but I'm never in the mood to listen to that, unless I'm like at war or something. And Mozart, again amazing but it always feels too formal if that makes sense?

I get annoyed that I have been forced fed preconceived perceptions of a lot of this music, especially seeing as a lot of it gets used in film. I really love Pachelbel's Canon, but it's too associated with wedding music now. So I sometimes kinda feel daft listening to it. Don't worry, I still do listen. It's the same with Carmina Burana, it works fantastic for film, but once you remove that association, it becomes a whole new experience.

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Good point - so many adverts have used classical music over the years that you can be put off listening to it for a while but perhaps it is a way of introducing it to people who wouldn't otherwise choose to listen.

Quote: Loopey @ March 10 2011, 5:26 PM GMT

Good point - so many adverts have used classical music over the years that you can be put off listening to it for a while but perhaps it is a way of introducing it to people who wouldn't otherwise choose to listen.

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Oh, I think it's fantastic that we are so heavily bombarded with it so often. Rather that then Justin Beiboids trying to sell me something. But the heavy associations are the ones that niggle. Zodak the Priest for example just makes me think of that damn Cruise liner company but it doesn't matter really because I don't care for the second half of that piece. God Save The King! No fanks.

Quote: Griff @ March 10 2011, 5:23 PM GMT

That's a great piece.

Hard to pick a favourite Bach but this is pretty good:

Bach - Violin Concerto - E maj-Adagio

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Love it, thanks Griff.

Quote: Loopey @ March 10 2011, 5:26 PM GMT

Good point - so many adverts have used classical music over the years that you can be put off listening to it for a while but perhaps it is a way of introducing it to people who wouldn't otherwise choose to listen.

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I've certainly been introduced to stuff through the ads notably the Lloyds ad by Elena Kats-Chernin. Of course, this leads us to ask just what is classical music, are we talking about just 'the old stuff'?

Quote: Nogget @ March 10 2011, 5:31 PM GMT

Of course, this leads us to ask just what is classical music, are we talking about just 'the old stuff'?

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I knew that question was going to come up. I can't answer it. I didn't even think about opera and ballet and everything else that has been mentioned when I started this thread.

The trouble is, when you hear a piece of classical music on an ad or in the background, or even on the radio, sometimes it's impossible to find out what it was.
If you want to identify a pop song you can at least type a few words of the lyrics into Google and find it that way.

Normally though if you do want to find music from an ad, one of the many advert collecting geeks on YouTube will upload it. Filtering through the comments you will find the answer or it may even be a suggestion in the side panel.

Interesting...

*bookmarked*