recommend a good intro cd

[falcoron]

Can anyone recommend a good classical cd for a novice to listen to.

I had a cd a long time ago and lost it in a house move. It was a compilation of well known classics and the sleeve had the name of the artistand composer, then a ref if it was a well know tv add or film score. It had 2 disc's and nigel kennedy was among the artists playing.

Only thing i remember was the old spice number (sorry i know squat) was the last track on cd 2 any idea what this cd was called(this is probably useless to you but u never know) i loved it and could never find it again in the record shops. ive bought a couple of similar ones since but they are rubbish in comparison.

Cheers

Ron

[JANDL100]

Hi Ron - no I can't help you identify the sampler CD you lost, but if you are interested in exploring further with classical then why not dig a bit deeper and go with the full work that the Old Spice music came from?

Carmina Burana, I do believe, by Carl Orff. If you're an eBayerTHIS one by Blomstedt on Decca gets a real thumbs up for performance and recording quality.

Don't expect the whole CD to sound like the excerpt you heard, though - but it's all good fun!

[AmDismal]

I'd recommend getting real pieces rather than 'samplers' - there's always good stuff to be found, without just going for the highlights. Why not try going for some of the classic (as it were) pieces, don't worry what version, just get a Naxos one (purists will hate me!); they're all under a fiver on Amazon marketplace.

Why not try:

• Beethoven 5th Symphony
• Mozart Marriage of Figaro
• Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto
• Brahms Hungarian Dances
• Bach Cello Suites

There you have five pieces all of which are wonderful, what a start to a collection!

Don't buy too many to start off - just a few so you can get used to them.

Adam

[Chumpy]

Although I respect the opinions of those who know more about 'Classical' etc music than I, most people can IMO learn to move on to 'full' works if they e.g. start with e.g. 'Classic FM' type selections.

First 'Classical' album I bought was 'Carmina Burana' - Tilson Thomas/Cleveland Orch vinyl - following great 1976 BBC broadcast of drama-enactment (many people up to then had given me/mine LPs of e.g. 'Four Seasons' - Wagner' Mozart-Mussorgsky-Beethoven etc etc which later I came to appreciate/supplement occasionally.

I am convinced like most things that a love for e.g 'Classical' music is best initiated from a personal experience, albeit enjoying a snippet in a nice film.

Despite its adverts, Classic FM & eventually BBC Radio 3 - especially on FM radio - are IMO a great place to hear.

I am still not convinced by the recently-departed Stockhausen canon.

I am also a sucker for Vivaldi 'Gloria in D' as learned from my old Oiseau-Lyre LP replicated on CD re-doing because of personal events occurring when I was given those albums/music.

IMO Classical is personal, not just academic.

[AmDismal]

Agreed, although I think that moving to full pieces should be quite soon - there is little sense in trying to pick single from a pop 'concept album', and classical is all concept albums!

(And I agree re Classic FM, Radio 3, Stockhausen and Vivaldi!).

One thing that is also worth looking out for are audio books on classical music. Radio 3 do some good podcasts, and TTC are very good but not cheap (well, under £50 for a download of 36 hours isn't bad I guess): http://www.teach12.com/ttcx/coursede...%20and%20Music

Adam