Baroque & Classical Music (Western)

[truthteller]

Yes, I prefer Western Music, because it is generally more sophisticated, more harmonic, more polyphonic.

Right now, I am listening to Rachamaninov's 2nd symphony, and this is modern 'classical' music. You can also try 2nd and 3rd piano concertos of Rachmaninov, which are more popular. Rachmaninov is basically a 20th century composer with a romantic/classical mindset.

Mozart has wonderful works, such as Symphony #40, Eine Kleine Nacht Musik, his Requiem (depressing), and some truly enchanting pieces with flute and harp that will transport you to heaven.

I love Baroque music too, especially Bach, but there is also Telemann, Vivaldi, Buxtehude, Corelli, and many others.

I can't talk about everything here ... it is just a start. Those interested to tell me what their favorites are are truly welcome

[Rasputin]

Very good choice Sir .. I am also a big fan of Western clasic music since 1984 .

[ghashanghe rozeghar]

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Af372EQLck&feature=related[/ame]

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ofaoLKPz7c&feature=related[/ame]

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zu5TkdcZA-M[/ame]

[truthteller]

Rachmaninov Prelude in C Sharp Minor

One of his most popular short piano pieces composed at a very early age:

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtuMVBLEWJU&feature=related[/ame]

[truthteller]

Rachmaninov's Vocalise on Piano

Very tender and soothing music ... this is the piano version;

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5IiC1kAdzM&feature=related[/ame]

And a vocal/orchestral version which most people would prefer:

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fW630zFA93Y[/ame]

[truthteller]

Thank you, I like the London Symphony Orchestra's version of the Canon in D.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Af37...eature=related

[Dokhtar Bandari]

Truthteller jaan lets give the guy the respect that he deserves by spelling his name right, Sergei Vasilievich Rachmaninoff.
I grew up listening to his music as my mom was and still is a classical music player..and Rachmaninoff was her favorit to play...However I do prefer Tchaikovsky, though Racmaninoff resembles a lot like Tchaikosvsky.
I can never resist Bach and not too many people can sit through all the movements..lol
What do you think of Mahler????
I love classical music and i listen to it as often as possible and sometimes I wonder what it would have been like to live in those days of Mozart and Beethoven...
BTW if you get a chance watch the movie "copying Beethoven" you will love it.

[truthteller]

Khanoome Khoob,

Both spellings are acceptable and in use, I thought 'Rachmaninov' is the more correct one :P (at least in Europe). Here are some links to reputable musical sites who spell it Rachmaninov:

Grove Concise Dictionary of Music:

http://w3.rz-berlin.mpg.de/cmp/rachmaninov.html

Naxos (specializing in budget classical CDs):

http://www.naxos.com/composerinfo/Sergei_Rachmaninov_21001/21001.htm

As for Mahler, I heard he was depressed all his life, I stayed away from his long symphonies until recently ... I can't say I am a fan yet, but I was not disappointed either.

I was not so familiar with Rachmaninov until 10-11 years ago when I discovered him first through his piano concertos 2, and 3 (I love the version with piano played by Byron Janis). I was then introduced to his symphony No.2, and I never tire of listening to it again (although some find it depressing) and again and again. Asides from these, and a few short compositions, I don't know of any other masterpieces.

Tchaikovsky's ballet suites are magnificent and, well, I listened to a couple of symphonies and piano concertos, and they are good works but somehow they don't strike me as unique or extremely moving.

I was really amazed at Harnoncourt's performance of Mozart's symphony #40. Most critics think it is straying from the classical into the romantic interpretation (ala Beethoven), but I really liked his version, even though I heard the classical interpretation probably when I was around 10 years old. Unfortunately someone stole the CDs from me, but here are different youtube versions (two of my favorite movements) - the version I had on CD performed in Austria was more far daring and romantic (passionate) than this one though:

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZC2ePGkmopg[/ame]

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNALVUCZ8AI&feature=related[/ame]

Enjoy !

Truthteller jaan lets give the guy the respect that he deserves by spelling his name right, Sergei Vasilievich Rachmaninoff.
I grew up listening to his music as my mom was and still is a classical music player..and Rachmaninoff was her favorit to play...However I do prefer Tchaikovsky, though Racmaninoff resembles a lot like Tchaikosvsky.
I can never resist Bach and not too many people can sit through all the movements..lol
What do you think of Mahler????
I love classical music and i listen to it as often as possible and sometimes I wonder what it would have been like to live in those days of Mozart and Beethoven...
BTW if you get a chance watch the movie "copying Beethoven" you will love it.

[Rasputin]

Franz Schubert's Impromptus, Opus 90 and 142 (post.), are a series of pieces for solo piano composed in 1827 and first published during the composer's lifetime (or shortly thereafter) under that name. There are eight such Impromptus in total.

Three other unnamed piano compositions, written in May 1828, a few months before the composer's death, are alternatively indicated as Impromptus or Klavierstücke ("piano pieces").

No. 2 in A-flat major

This Impromptu is written in the standard minuet form. Its main section features a melody with chordal accompaniment. The opening bars of the melody are highly reminiscent of a similar theme, from the opening of Beethoven's piano sonata in A-flat, Opus 26. Alfred Einstein has mentioned another similar theme by Beethoven - in the third movement of the Piano Trio Op. 70 #2. The middle section of the Impromptu, marked Trio as standard in minuets, is contrasted in character with the main section. It is written in D-flat major, and features continuous triplet motion. The second part of the Trio moves enharmonically to C-sharp minor (the tonic minor), then climaxes on A major, fortissimo, and finally calms down and repeats the major-mode first phrase.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmBI6Dof_Tw[/ame]

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06cvLKfShO0[/ame]

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLl432wS_rQ[/ame]

[Rasputin]

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Piano Concerto No. 21 - Andante

*My favorite since i could to play piano when i had 11 years old .

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df-eLzao63I[/ame]