2006-09-18 05:58:05 · 14 answers · asked by fatrobertbrush 1 in Entertainment & Music ➔ Music
The greatest composer of art songs in classical music is perhaps Franz Schubert. Try his song cycles, which, to put it simply, are collections of songs based on a single theme/story: Winterreise, Die Schone Mullerin, and Schwanengesang. The Winterreise is particularly poignant and beautiful. Schubert's most famous song, however, is perhaps Gretchen am Spinnrade. For recordings, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau is highly regarded as one of the best performers of these pieces. In the Hyperion label, Graham Johnson, a renowned accompanist (Schubert's songs are usually accompanied by a piano) has started a series trying to record all Schubert's songs on CD.
If you think that classical music is boring or too complicated, then Schubert's songs might very well change your opinion. Schubert's music is accessible, melodic, very fresh and spontaneous-sounding. It's not heavy, neither is it very dense or complicated in its harmonies, yet it is very expressive and emotionally intense. It may add to your enjoyment if you have the translated text with you to refer to when listening so that you can really tell how well Schubert has conveyed the meaning of the poem in his music.
The other composer who perhaps could vie with Schubert for this claim is perhaps Robert Schumann. Like Schubert, he also wrote song cycles, of which the most famous are the Dichterliebe and the Frauenliebe und Leben. If you like women voice however, Richard Strauss perhaps wrote the best songs for the soprano (well, his wife was one). The most famous of his songs is maybe the Four Last Songs for soprano and orchestra.
Well, I think that is enough recommendation for now.
Enjoy!!!
2006-09-19 05:21:24 · answer #1 · answered by Mubai 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Right now, I'm listening to a lot of songs by Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-75). Some of his best work is in his song cycles. Try "From Jewish Folk Poetry", "Six Songs of Marina Tvestaeva" or "Spanish Songs".
Franz Schubert was one of the great songwriters. "Winterreise" is a good place to start.
I also love "Sings Kurt Weill" by Theresa Stratas - while not strictly classical, they are fantastic songs and her performance is very daring and passionate.
For something truly contemporary, "Ayre" by Oswaldo Golijov is tremendous. Sung by Dawn Upshaw, it is a cycle based on folk songs and incorporates rhythms from around the world - even electronics. A staggering work. As a bonus, the CD includes a wonder folk song cycle by Luciano Berio.
Speaking of Upshaw, she has put out several wonderful CD's of art songs. My favorite is "The Girl with Orange Lips" - perfection.
Have fun exploring!
2006-09-18 13:16:02 · answer #2 · answered by Murgatroyd 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The Peer Gynt Suite
2006-09-18 13:00:39 · answer #3 · answered by spiegy2000 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Le Sacre Du Printemps or The Rites Of Spring by Igor Stravinsky. Give it a go. It's "different"
2006-09-18 13:06:08 · answer #4 · answered by Warlock Fiend 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If your talking classical like guitar songs, try Ottmar Liebert, Andres Segovia
2006-09-18 13:00:10 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
if ya mean by coral/choir music when you said 'classical' lucky for you I'm a classical music maniac!
all the songs by 'Libera' are very nice.
or 'The Choirboys' (the best band in the world) are amazing! Partially their song 'Tears in Heaven' (my all time fav song!)
2006-09-18 13:55:51 · answer #6 · answered by sarahnikki.aspbury 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Bach,s cello concerto no 1, Vivaldi,s four seasons The Flower Duet by De Libes
2006-09-18 13:33:33 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
You might want to try:
- "Piano Sonatina" (aka - "Sonatine") by Maurice Ravel
- "Jeux d'eau" by Maurice Ravel
- "Trois Gymnopedies" by Erik Satie
- "Nocturne No. 1 in B flat minor, Op. 9, No. 1" by Frederic Chopin
- "Nocturne No. 2 in E flat major, Op. 9, No. 2" by Frederic Chopin
- "Air On The G String" by Johann Sebastian Bach
- "Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring" by Johann Sebastian Bach
- "Aquarium" by Camille Saint-Saens (from "Carnaval des Animaux" aka - "Carnival of the Animals")
- "Danse Macabre" by Camille Saint-Saens
- "Piano Sonata No. 14 in C Sharp Minor, Op. 27, No. 2" (aka - "Moonlight Sonata") by Ludwig van Beethoven
- "Fur Elise" by Ludwig van Beethoven
- "Piano Concerto No. 23, K 488: Adagio" by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
- "Piano Sonata in A , K.331: III. Rondo Alla Turca" by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
2006-09-18 14:17:48 · answer #8 · answered by SugrNspyce4 :) 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The blue danube waltz
2006-09-18 13:05:22 · answer #9 · answered by Japan_is_home 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Cantaloube's 'Songs of the Auvergne' are lovely.
2006-09-18 16:01:16 · answer #10 · answered by minerva 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋