Classical music greats - what should the rest of us hear? And by whom?

[elisedance]

Bach violin partitas and sonatas - prefereably played by Nathan Milstein.

If you have never listend to these, put on the last movement of th 2nd Partita (caccione or chaconne) and try to count the number of violins playing.... 

[dream a little dream]

I'm no expert, but I am partial to Orff's Carmina Burana. 

[cornutt]

Bach violin partitas and sonatas - prefereably played by Nathan Milstein.

Just for fun, I'll start out with something that's pretty much the polar opposite of that..   






Look out, here it comes.... 







Glass, "Concerto Fantasy for Two Tympanis and Orchestra".  a/k/a "Tympiani Impossible".   

[elisedance]

I'm no expert, but I am partial to Orff's Carmina Burana. 

I've never even heard of that!  Hey, non-expert who what do you get Orff on?

[Medira]

I'm no expert, but I am partial to Orff's Carmina Burana. 

I've never even heard of that!  Hey, non-expert who what do you get Orff on?

You've never heard it?  Really?  I'll have to burn you a copy.  You'll most likely recognize "O Fortuna", since it is used all over the place, but all in all, it's a very solid piece of work.

[Medira]

For me, I'm partial to Tchaikovsky's ballet suites: The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake...

But then again, I started out as a classically trained ballet dancer.

[Lioness]

I'm now living on this thread...

Debussy. All Debussy. Especially the Suite Bergmasque, Pour le Piano (Sarabande in particular), and the First Arabesque.
Then Ravel...Ondine and Pavane are so beautiful.
Chopin I like, but not as much as ravel and Debussy.

Rachmaninoff's 18th variation on a theme of Paganini (I think that's it) is very nice orchestrated.

[elisedance]

For me, I'm partial to Tchaikovsky's ballet suites: The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake...

But then again, I started out as a classically trained ballet dancer.

see, I have a hard time with T's music - I have always strongly disliked the Nutcracker - seen it as a kid and adult several times and its just a jumble of people, noise, and a non-sensical story line.  The music certainly has its catchy bits but T is, well, unsatisfying.

Wait, I'm not done yet!

I love violin music (for obvious reasons).  The best violinist probably since Paganini (who was undoubtedly the genius since he revolutionized the instrument) was Heifetz.  So I have a few Heifetz CDs - and his playing is superlative - technically but it is harsh and hard - in everything except T.  It is gorgeous in his hands - and (IMO) the vehicle to his genius.  So now I'm divided on T.  On the one hand, he sounds like movie accompaniment music but on the other is ths richeness that I get from Heifetz.

OTOH (and its a big one) as dance music - if I could move to it - perhaps I would enjoy the rest of it much more.  Just never had a chance to try - but I do see why a ballet dancer would go bonkers for it - translated into movement....

[elisedance]

I'm now living on this thread...

Debussy. All Debussy. Especially the Suite Bergmasque, Pour le Piano (Sarabande in particular), and the First Arabesque.
Then Ravel...Ondine and Pavane are so beautiful.
Chopin I like, but not as much as ravel and Debussy.

Rachmaninoff's 18th variation on a theme of Paganini (I think that's it) is very nice orchestrated.

If you like Debussy (as the line goes) then you should love Faure.  Here's a cello version ...
http://tr.youtube.com/watch?v=mwpbpYPfE9I&feature=PlayList&p=78566E408ED75DCD&index=0&playnext=1

Here's another - Berceuse.  There are many versions on utube but I like this zusman version because he plays it slower
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fuIXryCnQQY

we want more links to your favorites !!

[elisedance]

Debussy. All Debussy. Especially the Suite Bergmasque, Pour le Piano (Sarabande in particular), and the First Arabesque.

we have to do one at a time!!
Love the arabesque... my own favorites

L'après-midi d'un faune
This version is masterful on the flute - http://tr.youtube.com/watch?v=F5A4CkUAazI

more later....

[dream a little dream]

Carmina Burana is choral, maybe that is why you are unfamiliar with it?

[cornutt]

Yeah, I'm that guy... that guy who listens to the 20th-century stuff.     Copeland, Mahler (okay, he's borderline), Stravinsky, Varese, Messain, Boulez, Glass, Adams,...

[elisedance]

then you are way more sophisticated than i am C   I can just get out of the 19th with Faure...

in time.... suggest some faves - but I am not a copeland fan.... unless you are watching cowboy movies that is

[Lioness]

James Galway is also a really good flautist. I particularly like his version of Bach's Flute sonata in C.

[elisedance]

lovely - my best friend is a flautist and she loves JG too.... is there a good utube version?