Last night for some reason I had the rare (so rare I can't remember another single occasion) impulse to listen to a bit of classical music while reading in bed. I fired on a couple of obvious classics simply because they are great pieces of music and also because I know fuck all about this style, namely Ride of the Valkyrie and The Four Seasons.
I'm sure many people here have a knowledge of this stuff so fire me a few recommendations- I'm not interested in LOTR or GOT theme music fucking crap, by the way. I want the real deal. Also, I hate opera so none of that, just quality, emotive symphonies and shit. Yes, I did just smash a can into my forehead. Apologies.
Beethoven's 5th, 7th and 9th should hit the spot, the full symphonies.
Mozart's Requiem for sure you'll enjoy.
Plus loads of others
Carl Orff - Carmina Burana is a great work. Probably the most known part of the whole piece is O Fortuna, but the rest of it is also excellent stuff.
Cheers dudes, I'll dive in to those.
Adagio for Strings you've probably heard. In fact, it was given a fuckin dance remix back in the day which nearly ruined it for me. Russians by Prokofiev is a superb track. Covered by Sting and The Foreshadowing. Been meaning to check out more of his stuff as that piece is epic.
For classical piano, sometimes with some violin, Ludovico Einaudi is excellent. Covers a lot of moods, the more miserable stuff is class.
It's not classical by any stretch, but this is a really nice piece of music to kick back and drift away to.
My brother had the record when I was a kid and I'd always stick it on when I wanted to leave my rock/metal on the shelf for a bit...
Acker Bilk - Aria
https://youtu.be/JGX1j5aapIE
Cheers. Looking for classical, as per the title.
I love these two in particular
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Isic2Z2e2xs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrt7pqB5Ecw
Not strictly classical, but go easy on me - EST Symphony is an album of music by the jazz group Esbjorn Svensson Trio. After Esbjorn died, the remaining two worked on re-writing some of their music with the Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra and it's incredible, a great blend of classical and jazz. Perhaps a gateway to both genres? :D
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35bxlmUUyWk
Zero interest in jazz, but sure...
double post*
Quote from: The Butcher on January 30, 2020, 10:31:30 PM
If Ride of the Valkyrie is the style you are looking for...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0bcRCCg01I
*edit* I see Juggz has the full suite, but this one in particular is great.
If Ride of the Valkyrie is the style you are looking for...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0bcRCCg01I
*edit* I see Juggz has the full suite, but this one in particular is great.
And this (unfortunately the title makes me think of the huns walking down to the shops in the aul pjs)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fuopr2PEqz4
Chopin, nocturnes (various), Igor Stravinsky, the rites of Spring.
YouTube will be your friend for classical music.
Just type in the composer you want to hear and there's like 3 hr videos of their stuff there.
Vivaldi is my favourite by a mile though.
So melodic and flamboyant.
I actually started violin lessons last month as well. Fuck me it's extremely hard.
Those composers were otherworldly to me.
Creating that type of stuff hundreds of years ago boggles my mind.
Quote from: Scáthach on January 30, 2020, 11:50:05 PM
Chopin, nocturnes (various), Igor Stravinsky, the rites of Spring.
Chopin's Nocturnes are sublime. Loads of great interpretations around, Maria João Pires is one I can recommend.
Bach is one of the most incredible composers ever, his stuff is otherworldy. The Goldberg Variations on piano are a good starting point. Glenn Gould's first 1955 recording is virtousic, his 1981 version more considered and introspective. Both are quite idiosyncratic, though, and Gould's audible humming on the later one can be offputting. The best performer of Bach's keyboard works I've come across is Roslyn Tureck, she plays them (beautifully) at a slower pace than others which allows the composer's genius to come to the fore.
A modern composer to hear is the Estonian Arvo Pärt. I remember years ago reading Björk saying something like his music reminds us that there is another world, and it is true. The ECM label brought him to prominence in the West, and their first album of his,
Tabula Rasa, is essential if you like his style. Here's Fratres for violin and piano: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gmgM_HgZmNc
Seconding Arvo Pärt.
There is a composer whose name is on the tip of my tongue and would be right up Andy's street, but I can't get it. Will come back to you!
In the meantime, Tchaikovsky's Romeo & Juliette and 1812, both worth a listen in full, the first in particular is a favourite of mine; so many moods!
Stravinsky mean mentioned a few times, there's also Shostakovitch who could appeal to you.
Aaron Copland's Fanfare For The Common Man is also worth listening to - great, pastoral, sweeping stuff.
I see Stravinsky mentioned. For more russian stuff, can't go wrong with Mussorgsky, Night on bald mountain and Pictures at an exhibition. Pretty much any of Rachmaninoffs piano concertos and symphonies too. Also check out his prelude in C# minor :abbath:.
For Bach, I'd also recommend his organ works, particularly Simon Preston or Karl Richters recordings. Some seriously overwhelming bass going on.
For more relaxing stuff I'd recommend Bachs cello suites, particularly Mischa Maiskys 80s recordings. Ludivico Einaudi is great too as someone mentioned.
Cheers brodudes. Plenty there to dive into.
Gorecki: Symphony 3, Op.36
(also known as 'The symphony of sorrowful strings')
Sounds tantalising. Cheers.
Lorcan Murray on RTÉ lyric radio has a great show and it has podcasts, it's not bad could be worth checking out for inspiration
Some great modern classical, electroacoustical stuff on Spotify. Johnny Greenwood has some interesting artists on his label.
Quote from: leatherface on February 01, 2020, 12:02:35 AM
Gorecki: Symphony 3, Op.36
(also known as 'The symphony of sorrowful strings')
That is class! Parts of it with the singing remind me of the Alien 3 soundtrack by Elliot Goldenthal.
Quote from: leatherface on February 01, 2020, 12:02:35 AM
Gorecki: Symphony 3, Op.36
(also known as 'The symphony of sorrowful strings')
And, as a bonus, there's a version with Beth Gibbons from Portishead!
https://www.byte.fm/blog/rezensionen/beth-gibbons-gorecki-symphony-no-3-87814/?fbclid=IwAR3Cll9iiG1icEmkRVlHwgBOYJBOYGzuBBfYSSn9tXwwF-qcZutASEp-4kw
Schonberg A Survivor from Warshaw
https://youtu.be/LBNz76YFmEQ
Paganini obviously
https://youtu.be/vPcnGrie__M
Vidovic's playing is flawless
https://youtu.be/inBKFMB-yPg
Schriabin Black Mass
https://youtu.be/ENxotmXmvGw
Shostakovich 10th Symphony
https://youtu.be/XKXQzs6Y5BY
Mahler 6th Symphony
https://youtu.be/YsEo1PsSmbg
Quote from: Black Shepherd Carnage on February 03, 2020, 12:28:42 PM
Quote from: leatherface on February 01, 2020, 12:02:35 AM
Gorecki: Symphony 3, Op.36
(also known as 'The symphony of sorrowful strings')
And, as a bonus, there's a version with Beth Gibbons from Portishead!
Lisa Gerrard has just released a version too, arranged for her lower vocal register. I had a listen to it there, even streaming on a phone it sounds great. Another very worthwhile interpretation, along with Gibbons' one.
My favourite recording of that incredible symphony is the one on Naxos with Zofia Kilanowicz, though, far better (imo) than the most famous one with Dawn Upshaw.
Just watching this documentary on Holst:
https://youtu.be/YrckoMAauxg
(which is excellent, despite completely missing the point as the end credits rolled) reminded me of just how good The Planets Suite is. This is supposedly the best recording of it:
https://youtu.be/tdAKscrCqEo
Everyone knows Mars, The Bringer Of War and how bombastic it is, but it's great throughout, right down to the haunting choirs in Neptune, The Mystic. Mighty stuff.
Johann Johannson is worth listening to. I'm quite fond of his album Fordlandia. Check out the song The Rocket Builder. Such moods to it. Brilliant!
Brahms Symphony no 4 in e minor is a banger!
Erik Satie's 'Gnossienne 1-6'. Brilliant piece for solo piano.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLFVGwGQcB0
Just posted this in the Now Playing thread but it deserves a mention here:
Ralph Vaughan Williams: Symphony No. 6 in E Minor / Fantasia On A Theme By Thomas Tallis / The Lark Ascending (1990 - Tasmin Little / BBC Symphony Orchestra / Andrew Davis conducting)
Fucking love the Thomas Tallis piece, it's a real tearjerker. You'd know it from the Master And Commander film, it pops up a couple of times. This particular performance was recorded on in the same location as its premiere. On the 80th anniversary, I think.
Edit: just stuck on Nicola Benedetti's take on The Lark Ascending, jaysus it's mighty:
https://youtu.be/IM50kxByH94
Quote from: kamen on February 04, 2020, 01:59:08 PMQuote from: Black Shepherd Carnage on February 03, 2020, 12:28:42 PMQuote from: leatherface on February 01, 2020, 12:02:35 AMGorecki: Symphony 3, Op.36
(also known as 'The symphony of sorrowful strings')
And, as a bonus, there's a version with Beth Gibbons from Portishead!
Lisa Gerrard has just released a version too, arranged for her lower vocal register. I had a listen to it there, even streaming on a phone it sounds great. Another very worthwhile interpretation, along with Gibbons' one.
My favourite recording of that incredible symphony is the one on Naxos with Zofia Kilanowicz, though, far better (imo) than the most famous one with Dawn Upshaw.
Just listening to the Gibbons version (again) now, as usual the piece is devastating. I must listen to that version you've mentioned as the Upshaw recording is my go-to (I have it on CD) and I can't imagine it being topped. That being said, I have a major thing for Gerrard's voice so her version is a must-hear.