Classical virgin needs help!

[supercapman]

Thanks for all the replies, I have been listening to Classic FM all week in my van.The girlfriend thinks I've gone barmy:shock:. I am really liking the Bach work now, and have found an excellent Naim CD 'Concerts under the dome' and am loving the Dvorak Quartet no.9 in D minor, superb stuff.

TBH I feel like a kid in a sweet shop now as there is all this classical stuff I havn't tapped into yet.

My god am I getting old before my time?

 

[jonjin]

Hahahaha... Don't believe I'm reading this meself SCM!

You could try some cello sonatas, eg Rachmaninov and Chopin are my faves...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00000279S/qid=1144094810/sr=1-2/ref=sr_1_8_2/026-5722758-2314828

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00000E3HL/qid=1144094867/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_2_1/026-5722758-2314828

JJ

 

[earl of sodbury]

supercapman wrote:

... My god am I getting old before my time?

Not at-all, there are many of us lurkingin the Classical Closet, quietly rummaging through the gorgeous garments within - just remember that Solid's choice is more Widow Twankey than Cinderella...

(though TBF the Dvorak was a top call

)

 

[SSM]

Earl, fancy seeing you here...

Lovely ta see you dig the Dvorak too. It is indeed one of the great cello works. And trust me to advocate it endlessly since one of my mates at college is a descendant of Dvorak.

Someone from Anton's line emigrated to Oz and later became the Citterbard family. My only regret once uni was over was I failed to get a lock of his hairfor a musical memento (of sorts:hom.

 

[earl of sodbury]

solidstateman wrote:

Earl, fancy seeing you here...

Lovely ta see you dig the Dvorak too. It is indeed one of the great cello works. And trust me to advocate it endlessly since one of my mates at college is a descendant of Dvorak.

Someone from Anton's line emigrated to Oz and later became the Citterbard family. My only regret once uni was over was I failed to get a lock of his hairfor a musical memento (of sorts:hom.

Blimey, small world... I can't make an informed comment on the piece, but just enjoy it for the artistry, the melodic pictures he paints and its sheer "rightness" - it's a piece that never outstays its welcome, indeed, like all good things is (quite) brief and never satisfying: keeps me coming back for more.

 

[HectorHughMunro]

I actually think the best way to discover classical music is on vinyl. It's easy to find good recordings too because you go to Oxfam and the like and look to see what people over the last 50 years have been buying and that gives you a really good start.

Oxfam is quite democratic in that way! It also only costs you about £3 to make a mistake.

 

[Emma Royd]

HectorHughMunro wrote:

I actually think the best way to discover classical music is on vinyl. It's easy to find good recordings too because you go to Oxfam and the like and look to see what people over the last 50 years have been buying and that gives you a really good start.Oxfam is quite democratic in that way! It also only costs you about £3 to make a mistake.

£3.00 blimey thats heavy, 20p-£1.00 in some charity shops,Oxfam andsome of the bigger onesdo charge more than the smaller independants.

Mind you if youfind a 1st press. SXL/ASD(stereo) in good condition for £3.00,your fortunate.First pressings in mono sound excellent as well.

 

[epca]

Did someone say chamber music? Strings?

Howabout

Mendelssohn Octet for Strings. Hausmusik on Virgin produces wonderful sounds on original instruments

Brahms Sextet. Raphael ensemble on Hyperion is not a bad place to start, although the Lindsays on ASV can be had cheaply

Beethoven String quartets, Opus 59 1-3 Rasumovsky is a good place to start as any. Lindsays on ASV also easily available at a good price, but Takacs on Decca is good too

If you like Dvorak, Cypresses, a set of pieces for String quartet is really lovely. And I would pick up a Virgin disc of the dumky piano trio and piano quintet, some of Dvorak's best chamber music IMHO.

Bach's accompanied violin sonatas for violin and keyboard (BWV 1014-1019) are not so well known, but contain superb music. Rachel Podger and Trevor pinnock on channel classics is my choice here.

I wonder if actually we could hold something like a bakeoff (although that sounds too competitive) of classical music for all those classical music virgins to come and hear what it is about. Or I would happily contribute some CD's for those who would like to try classical music, but are afraid of taking the plunge.

Cheers

Ed

 

[musicbox]

epca wrote:

I wonder if actually we could hold something like a bakeoff (although that sounds too competitive) of classical music

I was thinking of the very same thing too.... I've been to a few bake-offs but find it difficult to have any opinion of equipment where I haven't heard music I am in sympathy with.

Although I'm not a classical newbie there are some parts of the repertoire I have not yet explored... not much Haydn Chamber music or French C.19thfor example.

 

[SSM]

Earl, fancy seeing you here...

Lovely ta see you dig the Dvorak too. It is indeed one of the great cello works. And trust me to advocate it endlessly since one of my mates at college is a descendant of Dvorak.

Someone from Anton's line emigrated to Oz and later became the Citterbard family. My only regret once uni was over was I failed to get a lock of his hairfor a musical memento (of sorts:hom.

NOTICE

I have been contacted via PM by the aforementioned Mr Citterbard (now a new Wam member here, small world!

) and I have replied. Now I need to clarify my old post publicly. Mr Citterbard and I were more of casual mates at inter-college events and not intimates (contrary to what the above wordings would suggest). I was posting under an absinthe haze and unintentionally chose not to elaborate on the specifics of my acquaintance with Mr Citterbard. That would have made the message longer than needed.

But now that he is here and have sent a friendly greeting to me about this post, it is proper on my part to clarify it now.

Hope you all understand. (All Aussies like calling one another "mates", anyway.

)

My apologies for any inconvenience caused,

SS

btw, no act of braggadocio was intended by moi thru that Dvorak/Citterbard name mention, so get off my case, Boxer, okay? (Dvorak is not one of my musical gods anyway)

 

[SSM]

BTW, we finally have a spot of musical blueblood grace our little classical section.

Hail Dvorak Junior!

eace:

 

[Boxer]

I didn't say a thing:zip:, nor did I even think anything, just for once.

Boxer