Classical music

[Brent Cutshall]

For some reason, I have recently acquired a taste for classical orchestra music and yet, I know nothing about it. Not that opera hollering stuff, but just orchestra, and piano, that kind of stuff. Is there anybody here who likes classical music and is willing to give me a fist shaking entry into the clamor that is music
(or something like that)?

[Mel Fulks]

Instead of reccomending a composition that I like, I prefer to describe the nature of a particular favorite and let friend decide if it's worth a try. Sibelius violin concerto ,evocative of the woods, wild beauty and savage beauty.

[Mike Chance in Iowa]

Here's some of the more popular names I can think of.

Classical orchestra music .... Guy Lombardo, Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller, Artie Shaw, Tommy Dorsey, Henry James, they are all from the 40's and 50's.

For something more modern and a bit contemporary orchestra and/or piano from around 20 years ago, you could try Vanessa Mae (violin), Yanni, George Winston, David Lanz

All of these, you would have heard their music playing in the background somewhere and probably enjoyed it even though you had no idea who it was.

While I prefer alternative metal, I could easily have any one of these names added to my playlist. As far as I'm concerned, they are all talented people and do something I could never do!

[Jerry Thompson]

"Pieces for Solo Cello." By J. S. Bach. Played by Yo Yo Ma. I listen to this alone. I want no extainous noise to take me away from the land this takes me.
I think you can get a sample on YouTube.

[Ole Anderson]

Here's some of the more popular names I can think of.

Classical orchestra music .... Guy Lombardo, Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller, Artie Shaw, Tommy Dorsey, Henry James, they are all from the 40's and 50's.

For something more modern and a bit contemporary orchestra and/or piano from around 20 years ago, you could try Vanessa Mae (violin), Yanni, George Winston, David Lanz

All of these, you would have heard their music playing in the background somewhere and probably enjoyed it even though you had no idea who it was.

While I prefer alternative metal, I could easily have any one of these names added to my playlist. As far as I'm concerned, they are all talented people and do something I could never do!
I am no classical music expert, but isn't Benny Goodman, et al big band? I consider classical orchestral music usually performed by a group such as the Detroit (insert any big city here) Symphony Orchestra or the Boston Pops. Could be anything from Bach to Beatles arrangements. Of course, as you mentioned, classical music is often performed as a solo or a small group of instruments. I see a wide interpretation of "classical music". Maybe Brent could list a few songs/musicians that are interesting him so we can get a better feel for what genre he speaks of.

[Brian W Smith]

Think about what your tastes are in woodworking....and find that in your music.

I'll use furniture periods as a guide to what music to play.Or if doing work on our house (1810 repro).Mozart is the default here.

[Brent Cutshall]

As far as I've heard, I like Franz Liszt, Les Preludes, Symphonic Poem #3, and Bach. Bach seemed to be a "clean"guy. Others were some pretty weird.

[Greg Peterson]

The Nutcracker Suite is a nice seasonal choice, but is good anytime of the year. You'll likely recognize parts of it.

[Dick Latshaw]

I am fond of:

Mozart string quartets as well as symphonies
Hayden most anything
Beethoven violin concerto and symphonies
Mahler (when I can just sit and listen)
Telemann

In the shop..er, studio, I usually have Radio Swiss Classic (the German version) on. Good music, no commercials, and a reminder of how much of the German language I have forgotten.:)

[John K Jordan]

For some reason, I have recently acquired a taste for classical orchestra music and yet, I know nothing about it. Not that opera hollering stuff, but just orchestra, and piano, that kind of stuff. Is there anybody here who likes classical music and is willing to give me a fist shaking entry into the clamor that is music
(or something like that)?

I love to hear piano concertos, perhaps because I play the piano and some classical (some improv, hymns).

I like solo piano by Chopin, Liszt, Mozart, Mendelssohn, most everything orchestral by Beethoven. Never did care for Bach or "modern" discordant music - I like harmony. I also play trumpet and french horn so I like to listen to brass and especially, orchestra pieces with amazing horn pieces. :) I don't have any specific recommendations since my memory is what is going first...

JKJ

[Doug Hepler]

A fist shaking entry into classical music? Beethoven's Choral Fantasy in C Minor. It is said to be a prototype for his famous Ninth Symphony but it's shorter and I think easier to get into. Beethoven wrote it to perform himself, to make money. Amazing to think of him performing it. It depends on the energy of the performers. My favorites are Rudolph Serkin with Bernstein and the NY Philharmonic. You can find it on You Tube. You must listen to it at least twice so you can get the structure of the piece. Also, the song at the end is nice-- you can get a translation on the www.

My entry into classical music was actually by way of Broadway musicals by Rogers and Hammerstein (any lyricist, actually). I was in love with Carousel for years. Oh -- and a film called Carmen Jones, which is an adaptation of Bizet's Carmen in English. You said you don't like opera but I bet you will like Carmen Jones. Also Gilbert and Sullivan, where the lyrics will really pull you in. Sullivan "discovered" Schubert so if you get into G&S it will lead you to Schubert. I never tire of Gershwin. He is another one who went from popular music of the day into serious music. His Rhapsody in Blue was a revolution in its day.

Doug

[Kev Williams]

I like classical, some anyway, but I couldn't tell you who I like! I have a cousin who has several classical CD's, years ago I was house-sitting for him and played a couple of songs thru his very nice-at-the-time headphones. What intrigued me maybe more than the music itself and the skill involved with playing it, was the absolute attention to detail that went into recording it. In the quiet passages, you could hear musicians taking breaths before playing, and hear the violinists clothes scuff themselves as they drew back their bows... Never found that level of fidelity in any of the Black Sabbath or Judas Priest I used to listen to! :)

[Wayne Lomman]

Don't knock Judas Priest! For some reason, whenever I have to pull and all nighter to get a job done, I always switch off the rock and turn on the radio to ABC Classic FM and listen to that all night. Now that I think about it, I like either rock or classical - forget the in between stuff. It is also interesting that a lot of heavy metal musicians are classically trained or do both genres. Cheers
PS In my neck of the woods, ABC is the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, which is publicly funded so no advertising.

[Brian Tymchak]

Hmm, Jethro Tull, or Trans Siberian Orchestra?.. :D

[Robert LaPlaca]

Brent, I listen to classical music all the time while in the shop. Charlotte (well actually Davidson) is pretty lucky to have a nice classical music station WDAV 89.9, it's a public music radio station, not too sure if you will get WDAV in Marshall? If you cannot, they also have streaming available at wdav.org..

The great grand daddy of all classical music stations is WQXR 93.9 in New York City, WQXR also has a streaming service at wqxr.org, WQXR has a much larger playlist that WDAV does..

[mike holden]

Check your library for Robert Greenberg's "Understanding Music" published by Great Courses. This will be a set of audio lectures that will give you the basics of music. Greenberg is quite easy to listen to as a lecturer. I listened to one lecture a day on my walks, and while I dont think I could pass an exam on the material, I find myself understanding and appreciating music more. Kind of like the difference between just looking at a piece of furniture and understanding the joinery.

[Garth Almgren]

"Pieces for Solo Cello." By J. S. Bach. Played by Yo Yo Ma. I listen to this alone. I want no extainous noise to take me away from the land this takes me.
I think you can get a sample on YouTube.
Agreed Jerry. My favorite is Ma's performance of the Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major, and you can listen to the whole thing here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGgG-0lOJj

[Prashun Patel]

If you have Pandora or Spotify, create a channel around any of the great composers. It'll branch you out quickly.

If you like Solo Piano that takes you back 70 years as you sip your coffee broodingly, check out Gonzales.

[Mike Henderson]

Start with the three B's - Bach, Beethoven and Brahms.

A nice reasonably light piece is Scheherazade by Rimsky-Korsakov. The story behind it is interesting. Perhaps you've heard of "A Thousand and One Arabian Nights". The Sultan, being convinced of the eternal unfaithfulness of women, took a virgin to bed each night and then had her beheaded in the morning to prevent her from being unfaithful. Scheherazade told the Sultan a story each night, but didn't finish it. So the Sultan put off her execution for 1,001 nights, after which he gave up his idea of executing his mistresses. See story here (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scheherazade).

Her stories were often about Sinbad the sailor.

Mike

[Brent Cutshall]

My favorite is probably Franz Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody No.2 in c minor. But there is a couple others I like to listen to.

[Brian Kent]

Right now I am loving the conductor - Gustavo Dudamel. He brings tremendous feeling and excitement beyond what most can do. If you do a search for his name in YouTube you will find classics and movie themes. He is the conductor for LA Philharmonic, but he made his start forming and conducting the Venezuelan Youth Orchestra.

Here is some of his excitement with a West Side Story Mambo arrangement: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYvEvP2cmdk

[John K Jordan]

Right now I am loving the conductor - Gustavo Dudamel. He brings tremendous feeling and excitement beyond what most can do. If you do a search for his name in YouTube you will find classics and movie themes. He is the conductor for LA Philharmonic, but he made his start forming and conducting the Venezuelan Youth Orchestra. Here is some of his excitement with a West Side Story Mambo arrangement: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYvEvP2cmdk

To tie conducting to wood (specifically, woodturning), has anyone else made any conductor's batons? Last year I did some research and made one to help a friend with a graduation gift for her husband-to-be. I made a few extra just for fun. (Didn't get a pic of the first one)

Might be a great gift for your local classical conductor or dreamer!


http://www.sawmillcreek.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=347691&d=1479334465

JKJ

[Doug Hepler]

Those are very cool, John

Doug