Buying Western Classical Music

[ajay124]

I too love to sing-a-long when I am on a 'nostalgia' trip.All my golden oldies...Dylan,Young,Cohen,Lennon,S&G(still love them) and Stairway to Heaven too!
"If there's a bustle in your hedgerow, don't be alarmed now,
It's just a spring clean for the May queen.
Yes, there are two paths you can go by,but in the long run
There's still time to change the road you're on.
And it makes me wonder.
Your head is humming and it won't go,in case you don't know,
The piper's calling you to join him,
Dear lady, can you hear the wind blow, and did you know
Your stairway lies on the whispering wind."
Still remember most of the words,of most of the songs I used to listen to in the 80's.

 

[ssf]

Ajay,

What are your thoughts on the performances of Valentina Lisitsa. I came across her videos when browsing youtube. I am thinking of downloading these videos and compiling them into a DVD so that I can watch them at leisure.

Regards,

Sunil

YouTube - Valentina Lisitsa, piano - Rachmaninoff Prelude in g minor op. 23

 

[ajay124]

Sergei Rachmaninov was a very good pianist and composer from Russia who later migrated to America.I have some of his piano concertos and partitas but have yet to find a comprehensive box set.Not familiar with Valentina,but she's playing quite well.
One of Rachmaninov most famous works is Rhapsody On A Theme By Paganini.Performed here by the famous Russian pianist Mikhail Pletnev.
YouTube - pletnev - rachmaninov, rhapsody on a theme of paganini: i

 

[ajay124]

thanks Ajay, going to order.Also the jazz boxset.

@Sivasarjun
There's always a second chance
Checked out the latest arrivals at Rhythm House after many days,and they have another set of Beethoven's 9 Symphonies
Rhythm House Beethoven-Les 9 Symphonies
I am not familiar with the conductor,but the orchestra is the Berliner Philharmoniker.Price is good.Year of original release mentioned in the product details is 1958.The music performed in the late 50's and 60's was of a very high order,but it's not mentioned whether the recording has been remastered or not.
Some reviews of this recording
Andr Cluytens (5-Disky HR 703732)
Amazon.com: Customer Reviews: Beethoven: Les 9 Symphonies [Box Set]

 

[Asterix]

@Sivasarjun
There's always a second chance
Checked out the latest arrivals at Rhythm House after many days,and they have another set of Beethoven's 9 Symphonies
Rhythm House Beethoven-Les 9 Symphonies
I am not familiar with the conductor,but the orchestra is the Berliner Philharmoniker.Price is good.Year of original release mentioned in the product details is 1958.The music performed in the late 50's and 60's was of a very high order,but it's not mentioned whether the recording has been remastered or not.
Some reviews of this recording
Andr Cluytens (5-Disky HR 703732)
Amazon.com: Customer Reviews: Beethoven: Les 9 Symphonies [Box Set]

@ Ajay thanks for this fantastic thread...its almost like a "all you wanted to know abt western classical and didnt know whom to ask"

Have just ordered the Les 9 Symphonies....my first classical purchase...hope to start on a wonderful journey like you have

 

[ajay124]

@Asterix
Bon Voyage!
On your journey into the classics.
You are beginning with,what would be rated by most,as the best set of symphonies ever written.Especially 3,5,6,9.I have had these symphonies for almost 20 years,first on tape and now on CD and DVD.It was out of ignorance,that all the three formats I bought,are the Herbert Von Karajan/Berliner Philharmoniker version.Karajan and Berliner are among the best for the 20th century,but it would have been nice to discover what other conductors and orchestra's have done with these symphonies.I was tempted to buy the Simon Rattle version which Sunil bought,and then the Cluyten's version which you have bought.Some of the Amazon reviews happen to consider the Cluyten's version as among the best.Well,happy listening
When you have the inclination to broaden your journey,you can hunt for:
(repeating these recommendations,because I believe these are a good place to start)
Beethoven/ Piano Sonata's 1-6
Bach/ Brandenberg Concerto,Toccatas,Fantasias,Fugues
Mozart/ Clarinet Concerto in A major,Symphony 25,36,39,40,41,Eine Kleine Nachtmusik,Horn and Flute Concerto's,Piano Concerto 20/21 and virtually any Piano Sonata.
Schubert/ Symphony 8(Unfinished),Death And The Maiden,Rosamunde,Trout Quintet
Handel/ Water Music,Music For The Royal Fireworks,Messiah
Haydn/ Erdody String Quartets,London Symphonies
Schumann/ Symphony 1-4,Carnaval
Brahms/ Hungarian Dances,Violin Concerto In D major
Dvorak/ New World Symphony
Vivaldi/ Four Seasons
Mendelssohn/ Violin Concerto In E Minor,Symphony 4
Mahler/ Symphony 1.2,4,5
Chopin/ Nocturnes,Piano Concerto 1,2

 

[Asit]

Thanks Ajay for the information on the Beethoven CDs (Cluytens). If my information is to be believed, these are very good. I just ordered them. Hopefully they will turn out as expected. The recording year worries me a bit, hopefully the audio quality will be acceptable.

Regards.

 

[ajay124]

Thanks Ajay for the information on the Beethoven CDs (Cluytens). If my information is to be believed, these are very good. I just ordered them. Hopefully they will turn out as expected. The recording year worries me a bit, hopefully the audio quality will be acceptable.

Regards.

@Asit
The product detail information on the Rhythm House site is often incomplete,misleading or wrong.I dug around on the net about these recordings and my impressions are:
-Originally recorded in 1958 by EMI.
-Cluytens was not a top rung conductor then,but this recording has found favour with a lot of listeners.It has been re-issued several times.
-Cluyten's may not be a critic/media superstar like Karajan,but buyer's seem to rate his version among the best.
-Was probably remastered in 1996,but the recording retained it's 60's sound.Most people find the recording decent,but not spectacular.
-Current re-issue is probably 2006 or later.The bright red and fresh look suggests 2009/2010.
The Classical Music Guide Forums • View topic - Beethoven Symphonies - Cluytens
Beethoven: Les 9 Symphonies [Box Set] | BEST SUPER DEALS

 

[sud98]

Thanks for this wonderful thread.

I just finished watching the movie 'Amadeus' and was very keen to know your opinion on it esp. since you hate Hollywood and love western classical music.

Sorry for being a bit OT.

 

[ajay124]

Thanks for this wonderful thread.

I just finished watching the movie 'Amadeus' and was very keen to know your opinion on it esp. since you hate Hollywood and love western classical music.

Sorry for being a bit OT.

It was after watching Amadeus that I bought my first classical tapes.A lot of Mozart,but also Bach,Beethoven,Schubert,Haydn.When I first viewed Amadeus,in the mid 80's (I think),I had not heard much classical music.But I had a vague notion that these were the composers to begin with.
The film was made memorable by the music of Mozart and even more so by the sensational performance of Fahrid Murray Abraham as Salieri.

 

[sivasarjun]

Hello,
Amadeus in my opinion is just an average film.May be Hollywood does not allow anything more highbrow. i have heard somebody say that the big studios assume the MENTAL AGE of the viewer as 8 years.
The only redeeming factor is that many have started to listen seriously to Mozart after watching Amadeus.
Rgars

 

[sivasarjun]

Thanks Ajay for the Clytens link.

I need to get a decent setup to enjoy the music.Previously I used to primarly listen to Carnatic and Hindusthani maestroes on tape as the recording quality was not great.Not that the quality of listening was affected.
In my opinion Great music poorly recorded is way better than average music wonderfully recorded.
May be because I am not an audiophile.

 

[ajay124]

Thanks Ajay for the Clytens link.

I need to get a decent setup to enjoy the music.Previously I used to primarly listen to Carnatic and Hindusthani maestroes on tape as the recording quality was not great.Not that the quality of listening was affected.
In my opinion Great music poorly recorded is way better than average music wonderfully recorded.
May be because I am not an audiophile.

In the iTunes radio section,under classical,you have these wonderful radio stations
All Baroque FM
All Classique FM
Adagio FM
Absolute Classic
Radio Bach
Radio Mozart
Radio Chopin
Radio Symphony
Whispering and Solo Piano
Absolutely wonderful music all day long!
Have just begun my day,with iTunes and HiFivision!
George Friedrich Handel's Water Music playing on Absolute Classic.
With divine music like this,playing on the internet radio,I really do not want more.I feel content,happy,blessed

 

[ajay124]

Handel was a German composer from the Baroque period.But the bulk of his music was composed in England,where he was employed by King George 1.
His best known works are
Water Music
Music For The Royal Fireworks
Messiah
Concerto Grassi
Organ Concerto
Handel's music is not as 'perfectionist' and 'difficult' as Bach's.It's simple,joyful and beautiful.Even a person who has never heard classical,but loves music,would be delighted by Water Music and Royal Fireworks.
Another great composer from the Baroque period is Antonio Vivaldi.Venice and Vivaldi are something which everyone should experience!
Vivaldi's 4 Concerto's known as Four Seasons defy any attempt at description.They need to be heard.I once asked a psychiatrist friend,how he protected his own mental health,from the constant onslaught of depressed people he was treating everyday.He said he listened to music when he got home.Good idea!But I was horrified to learn that he was listening to Kenny G.I gave him Bach/Brandenberg,Mozart/Clarinet Concerto,Handel/Water Music,Mendelssohn/Violin Concerto and Vivaldi's/Four Seasons.He loved it all,but was completely blown by Four Seasons.Later,he told me that he not only uses Vivaldi to 'treat' himself but also his patients.
YouTube - Hndel Wassermusik Suite no 2 Allegro: Alla hornpipe
Particularly love ....a child is born
YouTube - Handel: Messiah, For unto us a child is born (Sir Colin Davis, Tenebrae, LSO)
YouTube - Kyung Wha Chung plays Vivaldi 'The Four Seasons'
YouTube - Four Seasons (Spring)
YouTube - Four Seasons - Summer 1/3
YouTube - Four Seasons - Autumn 1/3
YouTube - The Four Seasons (Winter)

 

[ajay124]

A truly memorable box set of complex 20th century classical music.Pierre Boulez is a remarkable composer,scholar and conductor.
http://www.rhythmhouse.in/Detail.aspx?productListing=91034

 

[ajay124]

My Diwali Shopping
Rhythm House Bach-Suites Pour Violoncelle Seul
Rhythm House Satie-L'OEuvre Pour Piano
H-A-P-P-Y-D-I-W-A-L-I-T-O-E-V-E-R-Y-O-N-E-O-N-T-H-E-F-O-R-U-M

 

[ajay124]

Gustave Mahler
Mahler stands on the cusp between the old and the new.His music is full of movements of classical beauty,followed by movements which bring alive all the confusion,uncertainty and terror of the modern world.For a major part of his life,he was a conductor.As a composer,that knowledge would certainly have made a big impact on the majestic symphonies that he wrote.His orchestration is like a giant,unstoppable tsunami.Recently one night,at a high point in Mahler's 2nd symphony,the solid aluminium grill of my Vienna Acoustic left speaker got dislodged and fell to the floor
In the classical period Haydn and Mozart symphonies were performed with an orchestra (woodwinds,brass,percussion,strings) of 40-50 musicians.Beethoven pushed the boundaries.Wagner and Mahler pushed them further.A typical Mahler symphony would require over a 100 musicians.During the years he was composing,he was largely ignored by critics and audiences alike.Ahead of it's time..The resurrection began in the post World War 2 age(an age which was now well aquainted with the horrors lurking within mankind's heart and mind)justifying Gustave Mahler's faith in himself...My day will come!
Mahler's composition list is merely a fraction of what Mozart or Haydn wrote.Primarily Leider's and 9 remarkable earth shaking symphonies.And an unfinished 10th.
As part of his 150th anniversary celebrations,EMI had put together a comprehensive,attractively priced,box set of his complete works,selecting some of the finest and most accomplished performances.I was fast and lucky enough to get it on day1,when Rhythm House got a few sets recently.I noticed that the box set became 'currently unavailable' in a matter of days.At 1995/- for a set of 16 cd's of eternal music this was a great bargainl.
Rhythm House Mahler-The Complete Works (150th Anniversary Edition)
Warning!This may be the longest You Tube video you have ever watched!

YouTube - Mahler: Symphony No. 2 (Resurrection)

 

[ajay124]

Listening to my recently purchased,Best of L Subramaniam 2CD set.Stunning fusion music.L Subramaniam's violin is hauntingly beautiful.My favorite musician from India
Excellent packaging and recording by Sony.
Rhythm House The Best Of

 

[ajay124]

Joshua Bell,and his 'HiFi' 300 year old Stradivarius,for which he is said to have paid 4 million$.
Beethoven's Violin Concerto No.1
YouTube - Joshua Bell plays Beethoven (1/5)
Ave Maria
YouTube - Joshua Bell playing Ave Maria.

 

[ajay124]

Link with the composers....
CHOPIN : THE POET OF THE PIANO
The Mozart Project
Welcome to www.madaboutbeethoven.com
The J.S. Bach Home Page
The Schubert Institute (UK)
http://www.gustav-mahler.org/english/
Felix Mendelssohn