Classical fans, I need advice


I need a bit of advice. I've been listening to sample classical recordings (from tower records and amazon) for over 3 months trying to find a place to start. My interest began when I first became entranced by Alison Krauss + Union Station and Nickel Creek. I've gained a new appreciation for classical styles and the violin (fiddle?) in particular.

I listened to: Hilary Hahn - Bach: Violin Concertos on Deutsche Grammophon and enjoyed it. It wasn't too pretty, nor too symphonic. It's intimate and large at the same time. Maybe not quite as romantic as I might prefer but I honestly cannot say without hearing more. Keep in mind I'm not describing the performance here just the music. I'm thinking I will take the plunge with this Hybrid SACD.

Based on this can I be "profiled" and perhaps pointed in a direction? I know these works come from the Baroque period. I also read this in an amazon review "Shortly after Bach's time, the structure of a concerto changed from an ensemble piece for chamber musicians to a piece for soloist and full orchestra. Hence many recordings of these pieces are done by 'name' soloists and 'name' orchestras and lose their intimacy in the process. This recording does not; kudos to DG and Hahn for the choice of the thoroughly musical and consummately professional Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra for this disc." I really don't know if this is significant to my enjoyment of what i've heard but I thought I should mention it.

A few other notes about myself. Sound quality is of extreme importance to me. I simply cannot enjoy music on poor recordings. Something else, I really like the song from the Lord of the Rings soundtrack titled "Concerning Hobbits" composed by Howard Shore and performed by the New Zealand S.O. Again I'm not sure if this points me to a specific classical style or period but I figured I would mention it.

Any comments are appreciated
Vedric
vedric
Vedric,

You have opened the door onto a very large and complex world of music. Congratulations on beginning this exploration! I, and I'm sure others, will be happy to offer you suggestions for some other classical music to explore. But, the range of choice is so vast, you may find it daunting to explore by purchasing recordings until you have a chance to do some more exploring to determine what monetary expeditures will bring you the most enjoyment.

Two suggestions:

1. If you have access to a public library with music CDs available to take out on loan, explore what the library has available to lend. (Most libraries in the U.S. have collections of classical music CDs you can choose from.)

2. If you have access to a radio station that plays classical music, spend some time listening to the music played there. Also, most radio stations will publish their programming schedule, so you can identify when the station is most likely to be playing the genre of classical music your interested in.

As to some specific recommendations, here are some thoughts for music of the Baroque period that you might explore as first steps in seeing what you like. Look for these at the library and just try some. If you want some suggestions for specific performances, I or others can give you some.

Music for strings and continuo --
~ Handel: Water Music
~ Albinoni: Adagio in g
~ Bach: Brandenburg Concertos
~ Vivaldi: The Four Seasons

Music for Violin --
~ Vivaldi: Violin Concerto in E (L'Amorosa)
(try Pinnock/English Consort, Simon Standage, on Archiv if you see it)
~ Buxtehude: Trio Sonatas for Violin, Viola and continuo
~ Corelli: Violin sonatas, or the Sonatas da Camera for string quartet
~ Handel: Trio Sonatas, for 2 violins and continuo

One specific CD recommendation I'll make is the CD "Glass Bead Game" with Arturo Delmoni (violin) and Nathaniel Rosen (cello) on John Marks Records, JMR 15. This marvelous CD contains music of Bach interspersed/contrasted with music of the 20th Century composer Zoltan Kodaly. I think you will like the Bach and be challenged, in a good way, by the Kodaly.

Good luck with your explorations!
This could be one of the great threads. I have been listening to classical music since I stumbled on WQXR at 14 years old. I guess thats a quarter century now, and I still feel as if there are so many more peices to hear....

However, if I had to choose one set of pieces for the proverbial desert island, I would get a complete set of the Mozart Piano concerti. There are 26, I have yet to tire of them.
I've been "into" classical music for some 55 years, mostly
of an orchestral nature---tonepoems, symphonies, concerti, etc.

Just as you mentioned, I also can't enjoy music that is poorly recorded. This has become increasingly a consideration as I've upgraded my music system.

Couple of years ago, I started listening to more chamber music than orchestral when I realized that---to my old ears at least--- a recorded performance of a small group is more "believable" than that of a full orchestra, given the confines of most listening rooms (mine is 24' X 17'). Since then, I have largely concentrated my purchasing and listening to recordings of small chamber groups--- string quartets, etc., and, in particular, piano trios (piano, cello, violin).

Which brings me to a couple of recommendations: (1)Anything by The Ahn Trio (they presently have four CDs), and (2) Hyperion's hybrid CD/SACD of The Florestan Trio performing piano trios of Faure', Debussy, and Ravel. Also give a listen to Dvorak's piano trios, Dumky and F Minor in particular, again by The Florestan Trio.

Funny you should mention Nickel Creek! In an effort to broaden my music horizons, I've started listening to bluegrass. I really enjoy well-recorded performances of small groups of acoustic instruments, strings especially.
I started with the several CDs by Edgar Meyer, Bela Fleck, Joshua Bell, etc., then the group Hot Rize ("So Long of a Journey"), and most recently, Nickel Creek's two CDs, "This Side" being the latest. At the same time, I bought a two-CD
set of bluegrass interpretations of music of the group "Phish"---a wonderful recording.

I can't close this ramble without mentioning, and highly recommending, two CDs by The Be Good Tanyas, three lovely and talented ladies from Vancouver. Titles are "Blue Horse", and "Chinatown", and their music defies categorization!

I'm almost willing to bet that this aims you in some new directions! Happy listening!
Jim
Baroque Era
--Brandenburg Concertos,JS Bach
--Goldberg Variations,JS Bach
Classic Era
--Opus 76 String Quartets,Hayden
--Piano Concertos #21 and #23,Mozart
--Symphonies #5 and #6,Beethoven
Romantic
--Trout Quintet,Schubert
--Preludes,Chopin
--New World Symphony,Davorak
Modern
--Rite of Spring,Stravinsky
--La Mer,Debussy

There's a starter set. The post above about a library is great advice.

Enjoy!