Classical Music for Aficionados


I would like to start a thread, similar to Orpheus’ jazz site, for lovers of classical music.
I will list some of my favorite recordings, CDs as well as LP’s. While good sound is not a prime requisite, it will be a consideration.
  Classical music lovers please feel free to add to my lists.
Discussion of musical and recording issues will be welcome.

I’ll start with a list of CDs.  Records to follow in a later post.

Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique.  Chesky  — Royal Phil. Orch.  Freccia, conductor.
Mahler:  Des Knaben Wunderhorn.  Vanguard Classics — Vienna Festival Orch. Prohaska, conductor.
Prokofiev:  Scythian Suite et. al.  DG  — Chicago Symphony  Abbado, conductor.
Brahms: Symphony #1.  Chesky — London Symph. Orch.  Horenstein, conductor.
Stravinsky: L’Histoire du Soldat. HDTT — Ars Nova.  Mandell, conductor.
Rachmaninoff: Symphonic Dances. Analogue Productions. — Dallas Symph Orch. Johanos, cond.
Respighi: Roman Festivals et. al. Chesky — Royal Phil. Orch. Freccia, conductor.

All of the above happen to be great sounding recordings, but, as I said, sonics is not a prerequisite.


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On second thought here is one the Master has something else to say, in Cantata , 106.,

In English his endless wisdom is , Gods Time Is The Best Time .

About Ashokan Farewell:

Ashokan is a reservoir in upstate New York, not a lake.

The "Ashokan" in Ashokan Farewell refers not to a body of water but to a nearby camp.

Its composition had nothing to do with the Civil War.

It is not classical music. If "White Christmas" were played by the Vienna Philharmonic, that would not make it classical music.

Ashokan Farewell is a folk tune composed by a folk fiddler, Jay Ungar, celebrating the camp experience. His inspiration was Celtic fiddle tunes of a similar nature.

As for the Civil War connection, it was adopted, many years after its composition, for the Ken Burns PBS documentary series on the Civil War. It was played during the entire series and was not focused upon New York soldiers.

I don’t know which experts think it is the "one of the best pieces written in America." That would seem to bypass a great many American classical composers, not to mention Jazz and "American Song Book" composers. It is a good tune, no doubt. I knew Ungar and am confident that’s what he thinks.

This is the internet and people just dump their notions here. Be careful what you read.

Enjoy:

 

This piece is  beautiful in any interpretation...

Amazing! Thanks it is a discovery for me....