Getting into classical

James wrote: I'm waiting to see Rico on YouTube playing Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2, that would be fantastic! I also think Tchaikovsky could also be mentioned in a similar vain to J.-S. Bach. I've heard a lot of Mozart recently (I cannot remember any of the titles) and most of them I didn't really enjoy, to be honest.

Tchaikovsky should indeed be mentioned; he is, however, somewhat of a loner in Russian music, since he was very much influenced by Western composers, especially Mozart. much more important is Mikhail Glinka, who was as important for Russian composers as Bach was for Western composers


Edited by BaldJean - February 17 2008 at 04:17

Ricochet wrote: hahahaha, what creative drawings!!  btw, I'm still surprised how classical music is a thing of liking of disliking to many, just like rock, jazz and every other sort of music goes. Of course it's just me that's wandering, because I'm a classical music pianist, and classical music is the most divine form of music ever - so it's hard for me to emphasize much on "favorite" composers.

keep in mind that those drawings were made long before the existence of comic strips. Busch has not been named the "father of comic strips" for nothing. he lived from 1832 to 1908


Edited by BaldJean - February 17 2008 at 04:25

BaldJean wrote: James wrote: I'm waiting to see Rico on YouTube playing Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2, that would be fantastic! I also think Tchaikovsky could also be mentioned in a similar vain to J.-S. Bach. I've heard a lot of Mozart recently (I cannot remember any of the titles) and most of them I didn't really enjoy, to be honest. Tchaikovsky should indeed be mentioned; he is, however, somewhat of a loner in Russian music, since he was very much influenced by Western composers, especially Mozart. much more important is Mikhail Glinka, who was as important for Russian composers as Bach was for Western composers

Tchaikovsky is a "loner", simply because he's at the top and final chain of the Russian National School. He was, however, in contact with The Five (Rimski-Korsakov, Cui, Mussorgsky, Balakirev, Borodin), while Glinka was simply the first promoter of the Russian National Romanticism.

Wasn't Tchaikovsky actually deceived by seeing what the music in Italy and France goes like? I think that made him return to Russia...

Ricochet wrote: BaldJean wrote: James wrote: I'm waiting to see Rico on YouTube playing Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2, that would be fantastic! I also think Tchaikovsky could also be mentioned in a similar vain to J.-S. Bach. I've heard a lot of Mozart recently (I cannot remember any of the titles) and most of them I didn't really enjoy, to be honest. Tchaikovsky should indeed be mentioned; he is, however, somewhat of a loner in Russian music, since he was very much influenced by Western composers, especially Mozart. much more important is Mikhail Glinka, who was as important for Russian composers as Bach was for Western composers Tchaikovsky is a "loner", simply because he's at the top and final chain of the Russian National School. He was, however, in contact with The Five (Rimski-Korsakov, Cui, Mussorgsky, Balakirev, Borodin), while Glinka was simply the first promoter of the Russian National Romanticism. Wasn't Tchaikovsky actually deceived by seeing what the music in Italy and France goes like? I think that made him return to Russia...

well, the "mighty handful", as those five named themselves, tried to develop a music based on Russian roots alone, while Tchaikovsky drew his influences from elsewhere too. that's what made him the loner at the beginning of Russian music. and of course he was influenced by Italian music; he did not write his Italian Capriccio for nothing

Visitor13 wrote: How about a different kind of classical? http://www.asianclassicalmp3.org/

Indian classical music is at least as complex as Western classical music, and there are as many different styles as there are in Western music too. I am no expert for Indian classical music though. the complexity of Indian music lies not in polyphony as in Western music, but the rhythmic structure of Indian music is a lot more complex than the rhythmic structure of Western music. I must admit I would probably not be able to tell apart any of those different musical styles though. as I said, I am not an expert at all. I like to listen to Indian classical music, but without fully understanding it. I know the very basics of it, and that's it

I would wholeheartedly recommend Henryk Gorecki's,Symphony No.3.It is absolutely beutiful.

Arvo Part is another composer that I would recommend without any hesitation.Check out Tabula Rasa,Alina Te Deum,and The Beatitudes

Edited by Man Erg - February 17 2008 at 06:03

Wallium wrote: I like Tchaikovsky personally, I recommend his "Piano Concerto number 1 in Bb minor Op.23" If you know anything about Muse, you'll also notice how Matt copied this song in "Hoodoo"

the opening of Tchaikovski's "Piano Concerto #1" belongs on the list of "greatest hits" for piano, other's being for example Beethoven's "Für Elise", "Mozart's "Rondo a la Turko" or  Rachmaninoff's "Prelude in C sharp Minor".
by the way: I just listened to Rachmaninoff's prelude played by the man himself, and this has greatly changed my perception of that piece


Edited by BaldJean - February 17 2008 at 13:06

Ricochet wrote: BaldJean wrote: Wallium wrote: I like Tchaikovsky personally, I recommend his "Piano Concerto number 1 in Bb minor Op.23" If you know anything about Muse, you'll also notice how Matt copied this song in "Hoodoo" the opening of Tchaikovski's "Piano Concerto #1" belongs on the list of "greatest hits" for piano, other's being for example Beethoven's "Für Elise", "Mozart's "Rondo a la Turko" or  Rachmaninoff's "Prelude in C sharp Minor". Wouldn't say it that way (at least not in comparison with Fur Elise and Rondo a la Turca, which are small pieces, respectively a sonata finale for piano, not a full-size concert), I'm always impressed by the greatness of the concert as a whole (or at least the monumental-running first part) than by the beginning. (And I, normally, don't have Tchaikovsky's first for piano on my favorite list).

that's why I referred to the opening only. those few bars are usually immediately recognizable even to people who are not familiar with classical music. certainly the concert as a whole is something completely different.

the same could be said, by the way, about Grieg's piano concerto. everyone will recognize it, but I am pretty sure most people have no idea how the concerto goes on after those initial chords. they will most probably not even recognize it as Grieg, they will just go "yeah, I know that"


Edited by BaldJean - February 17 2008 at 14:12

Rico: Congrats on that one. A very nice piece to be sure. My 17 year old daughter is putting the finishing touches on the 2nd Chopin Ballade for her audition to The Peabody school in two weeks so we're in French mode here at my house.

I, myself never got so far along as playing stuff on that level, I went into composition and pretty much gave up the playing (performing at least) end of the spectrum. Not enough hours in a day to be good at both.

As a composer I find it somewhat saddening to see two full pages on the subject of classical music and that I am the only one to mention any composers that are still living. Check the list I had on the first page to see what is going on in music right now, some of ya'll might be pleasantly surprised.

Seriously, go take a music appreciation course before you take recommendations of Classical music from a Prog site. Unlike Prog (which is popular music), Classical is an exclusive club when it is meant to be understood at its best. Do some research on the history, take a class on understanding Classical, and then start some discussions on a Classical website. High art music is a wonderful thing, but to actually "get into" it takes a lot of preparation.