wjm@whuxj.UUCP (MITCHELL) (05/02/84)
I agree with Steven Radtke's comments - the "human touch" is certainly the best way to interest someone in classical music. There is something about a live performance that brings out the best in artists - read Brendel's article in the May "High Fidelity" and makes a newcomer feel comfortable. One excellent way to get someone's feet wet in the classics is to take them to a Boston Pops Concert (or something similar if you don't live in New England) If you can't get to a live concert - then recordings are the next best thing. Bill Mitchell Bell Communications Research, Inc. Whippany, NJ (whuxj!wjm)
helpbuild@baxter.DEC (05/03/84)
Subj; 10 classical records -
Here's my attempt at a representative collection of 10
classical records/selections.
1) Machaut - Notre Dame Mass
2) Bach - Brandenburg Concerto No.5
3) Mozart - Jupiter Symphony
4) Beethoven - Symphony No.9
5) Brahms - Symphony No.4
6) Debussy - Jeux
7) Wagner - Tristan & Isolde
8) Stravinsky - Rite of Spring
9) Boulez - Le marteau sans maitre
10) Cage - Variations IV
Was a fun puzzle trying to cram the 'entire' history of
Western music into 10 selections. Except for leaving out Schonberg,
I'm rather pleased with it.
- Karlellis@flairvax.UUCP (Michael Ellis) (05/04/84)
10 compositions? easy..
1. Beethoven - Missa Solemnis
2. Wagner - Tristan und Isolde
3. Messaien - Quattuor pour le Fin de Temps
3. Debussy - Pelleas et Melisande
4. Mozart - Piano Concerto #9
5. Mahler & Deryck Cooke - Symphony #10
6. Shostakovich - Symphony #15
7. Brahms - Piano Concerto #1
8. Schoenberg - Pelleas & Melisande
9. Schubert - Quartet #15
10.Throbbing Gristle - Dead on Arrival
11. R. Strauss - Don Quixote
-michael `thrash for peace' ellis
-ps Oops, that's more than 10... sorry!
-pps(for stupid people only) beware of ANYONE called J. Strauss, Lehar,
Delibes, Czerny, Paganini, Kuhlau and ANYTHING purists call `classical'
which means `TRIPE' (except for Mozart who is the Great Clod).zzz@mit-eddie.UUCP (Mike Konopik) (05/05/84)
Apologies if I've missed it, but I can't recall anybody mentioning the single piece that lured me into classical music: Berlioz' Symphonie Fantastique Also, Mahler's first symphony caught my fancy and kept me interested... (one might call all this trading of opinions as a bit moot since everybody's taste runs different. I disagree -- I'll probably find a dozen pieces in a compiled listing of everybody's favourites that I really like and would never have thought to try. So let's keep it up!) Oh yeah, Berlioz also made numerous delightful overtures. -- -Mike genrad!mit-eddie!zzz (UUCP) ZZZ%MIT-OZ@MIT-MC (ARPA)
rfg@hound.UUCP (R.GRANTGES) (05/06/84)
Would you believe von Suppe: Light Cavalry Overture? When I was very young I had an aunt who would come over to our house on Sunday afternoons. She usually brought classical records to play and my brother and I were made to sit and listen to that stuff by the promise that if we were good and listened to all the things we didn't like, she would play our one favorite piece with the cavalry charge and everybody getting killed and all that. Wow! Was that fun galloping around to the music. After a few years of that, I was hooked. Seems like only yesterday... hound!rfg
osd@hou2e.UUCP (Orlando Sotomayor-Diaz) (05/10/84)
Selecting music for a listener used to mindless top-40
radio is not easy. I have converted someone recently,
but I should point out that the chronological approach
didn't work (disliked the sound of some ancient instruments)
and some works I considered pleasant or interesting were
no appreciated. However, let me offer a list of interesting
musical compositions that are somewhat easy to appreciate
(I think), and have not been mentioned in any of the other lists (that I can
recall).
****
Tanzmusik der Renaissance, Archiv 2533 111, Ulsamer-Collegium, Konrad
Ragossnig, Laute, Gitarre.
Comments: An anthology of dance music of the
the 15th and 16th century. Excellent recording
and performances.
Claudio Monteverdi, Virtuose Madrigale, Archiv 2533 087, Nigel Rogers,
Ian Partridge, Christopher Keyte, Monteverdi-Chor
Hamburg, Jurgen Jurgens.
Comments: I listened to this record almost daily
a few summers ago. Excellent singing, though quite
different from the 19th Century styles, for example,
so be warned.
Padre Antonio Soler, (Music of), Nonesuch D-79010, Igor Kipnis, Harpsichord.
Comments: Someone mentioned D. Scarlatti. Soler
was his successor at the Spanish court. The "Fandango"
in this excellent recording is the most interesting
work, and very Spanish. The sonatas are very good,
and some remind me of Scarlatti.
Mendelssohn, Symphony No. 3 (Scotch). Comment: The recording I have is
not very good. This symphony was very
well received in the composer's time, so it
may give you an idea of musical tastes then.
Brahms, Liebeslieder Waltzes, Op. 52 and 65. Comment: Againg, I don't
have a good recording of this charming waltzes,
usually performed by choir and piano.
I first listened to this live, and noticed that
the singers were having a great time. Me too.
*****
I'll continue some other time with the rest of my suggestions.
--
Orlando Sotomayor-Diaz /AT&T Bell Laboratories, Crawfords Corner Road
/Holmdel, New Jersey, 07733 (Room 3M 325)
Tel: 201-949-1532 /UUCP: {{{ucbvax,decvax}!}{ihnp4,harpo}!}hou2e!osd