Classical Music Appreciation

[Jstas]

Lots of other genre's get a good deal of air time here and I think that even with the "must have" thread, the exposure is limited. Most of those are just a list. But those who don't know much about the classical stuff aren't very exposed to the actual pieces. So in an effort to expose more, I figured we could do a thread with the actual music in it. Feel free to peruse the "must have" thread and dig up ones from there to share as well. Maybe if more people hear the good stuff they'll be more inclined to jump in to the more cultured end of the music world.

Just, please, try not to repeat anything.

I'll start off. Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata. It's been all over the place from TV shows and movies to car commercials. Lotsa of people have heard it, not alot know what or who it is. So, now you know. Enjoy!

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[Big Dawg]

Nice idea for a thread, John. Keeping to the Beethoven sonata theme, here's another favorite, the Pathetique, played by Vladimir Horowitz, in three movements:

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[George Grand]

Anybody know the name and composer of the piece that used to (and maybe still does) intro the National Geographic specials? I always liked it and wondered if it had a basis in classical of the past.

It is not The Firebird, which is the answer a lot of people respond with.

[Big Dawg]

Anybody know the name and composer of the piece that used to (and maybe still does) intro the National Geographic specials? I always liked it and wondered if it had a basis in classical of the past.

It is not The Firebird, which is the answer a lot of people respond with.

I believe it was written to be the National Geographic theme song by Elmer Bernstein.

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[Jstas]

I believe it was written to be the National Geographic theme song by Elmer Bernstein.

Yup. Commissioned by Nat Geo just for the show. Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom and Marty Stouffer's Wild America did the same thing.

That was back when people still gave a damn about TV programming instead of pumping out schlock after schlock after schlock.

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[Jstas]

Another nocturne from Chopin, Op9 No2

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[fatchowmein]

My all-time favorite.

Ludwig van Beethoven - Symphony No.6 in F major ('Pastoral'), Op. 68: 5. Shepherd's Song: Happy and Thankful Feelings After the Storm - Allegretto

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[fatchowmein]

Luigi Boccherini - Musica notturna delle strade di madrid

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I also like his Minuetto.
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[fatchowmein]

Claude Debussy - Suite Bergamasque from Book 2 of Preludes for Piano - 3. Clair de Lune

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[Jstas]

Artur Schnabel plays Schubert Sonata D959 in A major (IV)

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[Jstas]

A fun one! Boston Symphony Orchestra "Super Mario Brothers In-Game Music"

<iframe width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/0yrjepmeYZk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[Jstas]

One more fun one from one of the best modern composers: Forrest Gump Theme -- Alan Silvestri

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[headrott]

How about Mozart's "Eine Kleine Nachtmusik" 1st Movement. I'm sure many have heard this. This willl let you know what it is (if you didn't already).

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Greg

[deronb1]

Both my kids were in the High School Orchestra. Loved to go see them play concerts and at state competitions. It is amazing what young people can do!

The only classical I own is a CD of "Star Tracks". Music from John Williams. Star Wars, Empire, Return of the Jedi, Superman, Raiders of the Lost Ark. Also, E.T. and Close Encounters. The disc also includes Star Trek main theme.

It was played by the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra. 1984, Pure Digital (DDD) Sounds Great!

[Jstas]

Yo-Yo Ma plays the prelude from Bach?s Cello Suite No. 1

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[Jstas]

Another one from Master and Commander.

Vivaldi's "Concerto for Four Violins and Orchestra in B Minor Movement 3 (Allegro)"

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[Jstas]

Another Vivaldi - Violin Concerto in G Major RV310

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[Jstas]

Maybe you recognize this one:

Mendelssohn Symphony No. 4, "Italian"

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[Jstas]

MAHLER - Adagietto, from Symphony No. 5 in C-Sharp Minor, 4th Movement

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[fatchowmein]

George Gershwin - Rhapsody in Blue

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[fatchowmein]

Sergei Rachmaninoff - Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op.43, 18th Variation

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Just a warning before you go searching for the CD. There is an intro and 24 variations so if you get the full piece you'll have to wait something like 15 minutes before you get to the famous 18th. Some CD's will only have certain parts but not the 18th.

[fatchowmein]

Johann Pachelbel - Canon in D for Strings and Continuo

My favorite version performed by the Jean-Francois Paillard Chamber Orchestra. The tempo is a bit faster than the wedding versions. I love to crank the volume and have the music wash over me. The Youtube copy barely does it justice.

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[fatchowmein]

Ludwig van Beethoven - Symphony No.7 in A Major, Op.92 - II. Allegretto

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[Jstas]

Johann Pachelbel - Canon in D for Strings and Continuo


Oh God! I am so sick of that song! I must have played it a billion times at weddings and holiday masses! The organist at my church (before it was closed and torn down) had an arrangement for an organ, clarinet, flute and trombone. But his trombone player quit and his clarinet player got a job at the New York Philharmonic and moved away. My sister was the flute part and they snookered me in to transposing the clarinet part for a trumpet. That 1st violin part that starts around 2:01 in your video...was not easy to play it the way everyone wanted it to sound. They basically wanted a B flat Coronet and I did not own one so when I could I'd borrow the one from high school, I'd play that otherwise I was playing my C trumpet way out of tune and compensating with my embouchure. If the wedding party was particularly huge with 250 pound fat asses in 150 pound dresses taking forever waddling up the aisle, I wouldn't be able to even smile when it was done my face hurt so bad. If I had to keep going 'cause some stupid bratty flower girl and ring bearer were screwing around I'd start falling out of tune with the organ and flute.

It's a beautiful piece, I just have it forever burned in a hateful place of my brain.

Here's Mendelssohn's "Spring Song" for another one of those lovely songs I hate.

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I can't wait until I get my permanent implant toof so I can start playing again.

[Jstas]

Beethoven's Minuet in G

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[Jstas]

Mozart's Violin Concerto No. 5 in A, 2nd Movement

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[Jstas]

Bach's Minuet in G Major

I had a music teacher in high school. His name was Alan. He was in charge of the brass sections for the school orchestra (and yes, we actually had full compliment of a Classical Orchestra). He was also a trumpet player. One day, the music director thought it would be a good idea to have the various teachers put on a concert after school for music students and their parents. Alan played this on a coronet accompanied by a bassoon, violin and a cello and it was probably the must beautiful performance I've ever heard to this date.

<iframe width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/on1DDSLdDOo" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[Jstas]

Bach's Bradenburg Concerto No. 3 in G Major

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[Jstas]

Franz Schubert - Ave Maria for Violin

<iframe width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/OY0-VNKgLaU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[Jstas]

Bach - Sleepers Wake (I played this for my trials senior year of high school)

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[Jstas]

You've all heard but how many actually know where it comes from?

Mendelssohn's "A Midsummers Night's Dream" This is the "Wedding March" movement which is the intermezzo between Acts 4 and 5 of Shakespeare's play "A Midsummer Night's Dream" which Mendelssohn wrote the musical score for at the ripe old age of 17.

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[John K.]

Nice idea for a thread, John! Rachmaninoff Vocalise; Moffo/Stokowski. This is the concluding selection on the CD that I included in the "Must Have" thread as the most beautiful vocal recording that I'd ever heard.

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[fatchowmein]

Oh God! I am so sick of that song!

I was waiting for someone to hurl. :tongue:


Tomaso Albinoni - Adagio in G Minor
Beautiful, haunting, depressing. Goes great with scotch, a fireplace, and the winter blues.
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[cnh]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VR6XJsGOF1s&feature=related

The Devil's Trill by Tartini--performed by Perlman

No youtube account so I can't do the 'fancy' upload thing.

cnh

[Jstas]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VR6XJsGOF1s&feature=related

The Devil's Trill by Tartini--performed by Perlman

No youtube account so I can't do the 'fancy' upload thing.

cnh

It's got nothing to do with uploading. You click the Share button then the Embed button, highlight the code in the dialog box copy it and paste it here.

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[fatchowmein]

One more before I call it a night. Something to dream on...

Robert Schumann - Kinderszenen (originally Kinderscenen or "Scenes from Childhood") - Traumerei ("Dreaming")
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[fatchowmein]

Antonio Vivaldi - Violin Concerto in F minor, Op.8, RV 297, "The Four Seasons: Winter" - First movement: Allegro Non Molto

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[Jstas]

<iframe width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/qDnrL46wY44" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[Jstas]

<iframe width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/QYUANirkakg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[Jstas]

<iframe width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/PKUPBr0eY6Y" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[Jstas]

<iframe width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/XbvwNAQ8u4o" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[Jstas]

<iframe width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/9q9e7Gz42z8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[Jstas]

<iframe width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/DFy7buyU0rQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[Jstas]

<iframe width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/_rflXl4Pp58" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[Jstas]

<iframe width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/0rredmrNF-4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[Jstas]

<iframe width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/2YH78E3zSm0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[Jstas]

Alot of the music in Lord of the Rings was ripped off from Dvorak

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[Jstas]

Man, if I was President there'd be free concerts on The National Mall every weekend.

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[Jstas]

<iframe width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/_WcetTxjJQk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[Jstas]

I'm resurrecting this thread.

Vivaldi - Concerto for 4 Violins in D Major RV549

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[Jstas]

Bach - Triple Concerto in A Minor BWV1044 - Mov. 1/3

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[Jstas]

Bach - Violin Concerto in D Minor BWV1052 - Mov. 3/3

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[Jstas]

Frederique Chopin - Nocturne in E

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[Jstas]

Get you subs out!

This a pipe organ at full bore. This guy plays pretty well. They aren't easy to play. This is a good recording though. aside from whomever in the background can't still still. They must have used some expensive microphones 'cause it's picking up everything, even the deepest harmonics.

If you are in the Philadelphia area, never heard a REAL pipe organ and would like to, head over to Macy's in Center City, right next to City Hall around noon on a Saturday. There are daily concerts but being as it's Christmas season, they increase the frequencies and have concerts at intervals throughout the day. Macy's is in the Wannamaker Building which is on the historic registry because it houses the largest pipe organ in the world. It is thoroughly impressive and fully operational. There is nothing like a pipe organ. Nothing. Recordings pale in comparison to a live performance.

Jesu Joy Of Man's Desiring Played By Miner Crocker

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[Jstas]

Wagner - Flying Dutchman - Overture

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