Heavy Metaller needs some class ical .

Good suggestions, gentlemen. When I started getting weaned from acid rock into classical, I started with tone poems like the Mussorgsky (I'd add the Levi/Atlanta Symphony version on Telarc), Sheherezade (Reiner and the Chicago SO on RCA) and Respighi's Roman Trilogy of the Pines of Rome, Fountains of Rome and Roman Festivals. I found it interesting to tie the music to a picture or story. In this vein, I'd also suggest shorter pieces, like on Mephisto and Company on Reference Recordings (Night on Bald Mountain, Sorcerer's Apprentice, Danse Macabre) and Copland's Appalachian Spring (might as well go for the Reference Recordings new version, which has the Fanfare for the Common Man and, when you get more adventurous, Symphony No. 3). I found that I gravitated more to the Russian composers at first, as they had a "power music" like in rock that I found exciting. You might want to give these pieces and recordings a try; heck, check your local library, they may have them available for you to borrow so you don't spend money on a piece you don't like. I think you'll enjoy them.

funny how so many of us started with russian composers. the first classical record i ever purchased was tschaikovsky's 1st piano concerto with van cliburn. i still enjoy the "war horses" fom grieg, mussoursky, stravinsky, et al. an excellent "starter classical cd" that has lots of short flashy pieces is "kaleidoscope" on mercury living presence (434 352-2). and, you can usually find it discounted.

Excellent suggestions here and some I will have to try myself. This list would not be complete without Richard Wagner's "Ride of the Valkyries," (which was used on the air assault scene in "Apocalypse Now.") Rowdy orchestral music for sure. I would also second the Rossini. It is the only orchestral music I ever witnessed my 12-year-old daughter bob her head to. She usually just ducks down in my truck from embarrassment as I tend to "air baton" most of the orchestral music I play and am familiar with. I think I'm pretty good, she doesn't appreciate me at all. [:)]

Charlie

Check out violin works by Paganini (Niccolo). He was an Italian violin virtuoso of the late 18th/early 19th century. He really "pushed the envelope" by employing harmonics, double and triple stops, and even used alternative tuning of the instrument. Don't quote me on this, but story has it that he was so gifted and intense that he had to convince his fellow countrymen that he indeed wasn't posessed by the Devil (the ORIGINAL Satanic music!). I also want to say that his music was an influence for Yngwie Malmstein (not sure of the spelling there, but you probably know who I mean.

Here's a "stupid" confession. I realized recently, now that we have approx. 60 or so classical CD's that much of my exposure to this music came from classic cartoon (Bugs, etc.). I have fun (with my wife) remembering the cartoon scene in which the musical piece (or part of it) was played.