Been listening to the classical music Four Seasons - anyone got any other suggestions?

Question

of what other classical music to listen to if I like this? Being pretty new to the stuff, would like some ideas.

Answer 1

I assume you mean the Four Seasons by Vivaldi.

I can assure you that, if you pursue listening to classical music, you have a lifetime of rich experiences coming to tou.

Vivaldi is of the 'Baroque' style of music, and it would be sensible for you to expand your experience of this genre, as you obviously like it. I suggest that you try the Brandenberg Concertos of J S Bach, then move on to 'Zadok the Priest' by G F Handel. Following this, you may enjoy the symphonies of haydn and Mozart, along with some of the organ music of J S Bach, and the Organ Concertos of Handel. The opera of Purcell (try Dido and Aeneas) may whet you appetite even further.

Beethoven comes next - try the third and fifth symph
onies. Then Schubert - the Trout Quintet, and the ballets of Tchaikowski - Swan Lake, the Nutcracker, and Sleeping Beauty.

Try also the Piano Concerto No 1 of TchaIkowski, and the A Minor Piano Concerto of Grieg.

Try do do these works in the order I have suggested. Once you have got a feel for the different styles and periods of development in these works, you can move on with confidence to the exhilirating works of Rimsky-Korsakov (Scheherezade), Aaron Copland (El Salon Mexico), Ralph Vaughan-Williams (Pastoral Symphony) and E J Moeran (Rhapsodies 1-3).

A few points

1. Don't be put off by people saying that it aint hip to listen to Classical music - what you like is up to you. Bugger everyone else.

2. Ignore Classical music snobs - they'll say that such and such a composer or work is far superior to the ones that you like. They probably will not have so much as a quaver's worth of argument to back upo their own self-opinionation.

3. Try to get to a few live performances.

4. When buying Vivaldi, J S Bach, Handel or other composers of the Baroque period, try to obtain performances by the Academy of St Martins in the Fields, conducted by Neville Marriner. In my opinion, he and this orchestra own the superlative interpreations of the baroque genre.

Answer 2

Four Seasons, 1986 (I hope this is what you mean) is an album that includes interpretive improvisational classical music in the genre 'Post-Bop' or 'Fusion', which is largely acoustic and often straight-ahead jazz.

But, it should not to be mistaken for classical music.

Partial list of musicians or groups linked to post-bop:

Ron Carter
Chick Corea
Eric Dolphy
Jan Garbarek
Charlie Haden
Jim Hall
Herbie Hancock
Joe Henderson
Andrew Hill
Freddie Hubbard
Bobby Hutcherson
Howard Johnson
Rahsaan Roland Kirk
Harold Land
Wilbur Little
Joe Lovano
Cecil McBee
Wynton Marsalis
Lewis Nash
Junko Onishi
Art Pepper-In the 1970s
Sonny Rollins
Woody Shaw
McCoy Tyner
Mal Waldron

Answer 3

French organists of the early-mid 20th century...Olivier Messiaen Jehan Alain. Vaughan-Williams/Britten are fine English composers - there are many more, but the twentieth century saw much change. You mention Vivaldi's Four Seasons - good choice...but you will find many composers that are not considered 'sexy' who will being tears to your eyes and joy to your wee soul...Eastern composers - Polish especially will never fail you.
There are pieces that are also used in modern films which may turn you on...that will be good - but listen to as much of the composers' music as you can...and keep away from those horrendous c.d.'s that have half-dressed women on the sleeve - it may seem snobbish, but all you'll end up with are the same tunes you've probably heard before in adverts or at the end of films. And Classic FM (if you're from the UK) - it's five minute snatches of the usual composers is also surreal...but hey - they sometimes play jazz, so I mustn't grumble!
Find a classical music group where you're from...that's always a good step.

John B...Holst composed the Planets Suite.

Answer 4

If you start off with the things you know or think you don't know. Music from some of the TV ads are excellent then you can progress on from there. Try listening to Classic FM. the presenters voice is very soothing and the choices are varied. Happy listening.

Answer 5

Bach Double violin concerto (BWV1043) + I agree with the person who recommended Bach's Brandenburg concertos - these are in a similar style to the Vivaldi & have some good tunes
Mozart Divertimenti K136-138 (these are quite jolly & should cheer you up) & Serenade no. 13 (Eine kleine Nachtmusik)
If you want something a bit more stirring try a Wagner opera overture or 2 (not the entire operas though - that would be too much)

Answer 6

If you want something similar to Vivaldi- i'd go for anything by Mozart.

Tchaikovsky's music for ballet such as The Nutcracker suite is good.

My favourite is Beethoven's Pastoral Symphony no 6. It's more dramatic than Vivaldi, rather like Holst's The Planets.

Chopin's piano music is lovely. I love to chill out to that.

Classical music is great and so much modern music is based on it and it's still used for adverts and films and chunks copied from it.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Composers-Classical-Instrumental-Music/b/ref=amb_link_22926065_9/026-9530986-9070008?ie=UTF8&node=506476

Use the above link to find an A-Z of composers and some reviews.

Answer 7

Handel: Water music, fireworks, Zadok the Priest
Mendellsohn: Hebriedean Overture
Pachibel's: Canon
Bach: Brandenburg Concerto's
JC Bach: virtually anything

Answer 8

Youtube is a superb place to hearken to and get acquainted with different composers and their works. Classical track covers a brilliant variety of types and classes. I even have been listening to classical track for over 50 years and that i could admit there are some factors of it that I even have never warmed as much as. The piano is my fashionable device. provide me a solo piano or a piano and orchestra and that i'm chuffed, yet i do no longer desire to hearken to a piano in a chamber track composition. Horns are super in a symphony, yet i do no longer desire take a seat via a horn concerto. %. your fashionable contraptions and hear products written for them. the recent international Symphony is a sizable between symphonies. The 2nd flow subject became utilized in a properly-liked track years in the past. shop listening to each and all the movements and that they're going to boost on you. because you're already listening to Dvorak, you're able to attempt a number of his Slavonic Dances. they are not as heavy as his symphonies yet make for relaxing listening

Answer 9

I think a really good collection to get is the 2cd set called "The Greatest Classical Show on Earth."

Answer 10

Ok, so he's a modern classical composer, but I strongly recommended Steve Reich's 'Music for 18 Musicians'. It is amazingly beautiful. :-)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_for_18_musicians

I'd also recommend anything by Erik Satie:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erik_Satie

especially the '3 Gymnopédies'.