Classical music

[blessed1]

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.

[kamen]

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

[Black Shepherd Carnage]

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.

[Nail_Bombed]

Aaron Copland's Fanfare For The Common Man is also worth listening to - great, pastoral, sweeping stuff.

[Tee]

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  .
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.

[Eoin McLove]

Cheers brodudes. Plenty there to dive into.

[leatherface]

Gorecki: Symphony 3, Op.36

(also known as 'The symphony of sorrowful strings')

[Eoin McLove]

Sounds tantalising.  Cheers.

[Doctor Crippen]

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

[Don Gately]

Some great modern classical, electroacoustical stuff on Spotify. Johnny Greenwood has some interesting artists on his label.

[The Butcher]

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.

[Black Shepherd Carnage]

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

[lifeeternal]

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

[kamen]

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.

[Carnage]

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.