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Classical music for Rockers

I grew up in a non-musical household, so everything I heard was from the radio when my parents weren't listening. I quickly went from AM to FM, and from Pop to the AOR stations in Milwaukee at the time. I was raised (in a sense) on rock and roll radio.

It wasn't till much later that I was introduced to classical music. I have since been adding Bach, Mozart, Tscaikovski, and other to my regular playlist The last two things I bought were Mozart's Requium and Carl Orff's Carmina Burana. I hope I spelled those right.

What I am curious about is if there are others out there with the same experience, and if so: What Classical music are you listening to regularly?
128x128nrchy
pars
2 posts
 
Mahler, pure and simple. I'm an old rocker (music major) who also played percussion/timpani in symphony orchestras. Others to listen to would be Stravinsky, as mentioned above, Shastakovich, Prokofiev, Bartok, Bruckner, Wagner (orchestral excerpts at least if you don't get into the opera).

I guess it kinda depends on what kind of rock you liked also, as to whether Bach, Mozart, etc. would do much for you. I listen to these some, but beyond appreciation for their work given the period, sonically they don't do much for me personally. I tend to gravitate towards more modern (verging on atonal) harmonic structures.
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albertporter
4,949 posts
 
My first suggestion would be "La Fille Mal Gardee" / Herold-Lanchbery

Second, "E'Spana" Argenta / London Symphony. Both of my copies are Decca LP's and both are dramatic, lively and can hold my interest regardless of what was played before them.

If you agree with my suggestions, then purchase an album that will allow you to hear the voice of an angel, who is living here on earth as a woman.

The 1995 release "Impatient Lover" / London CD, by mezzo-soprano Cecilia Bartoli will flood your emotions with love for her and crush any prejudices you may have about opera.
danner
202 posts
 
Try something a bit on the contemporary side:
Leo Brouwer; György Ligeti; Elliot Carter;
John Adams; Arvo Part; Henryk Górecki . . .
Not everyones' cup of tea but if you like abstraction,
these are great. Give them a listen on Amazon.
gs5556
1,232 posts
 
Listen to Wagners' "Siegfried's Journey" from Gotterdammerung and The Who's Quadrophenia. Notice anything?
tsrart
79 posts
 
Try Franz Liszt's "Dante Symphony" and "Faust Symphony" -- both good classical pieces for a rock fan.

And if you like Mozart's "Requiem," try the "Requiems" by Verdi and Cardoso.

I'll also second (or third) the Wagner recommendations -- you'll probably recognize the Siegfried Idyll from the movie "Excalibur" (along with "O Fortuna" from the Orff you just bought), and the overture to "Tannhauser" is one of my favorite pieces of classical music -- you just have to get past singing "Oh Bwunhilda, you're so wovely" in an Elmer Fudd voice while you listen to it . . . . ;-0)

Pat
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