Buying Western Classical Music

[ajay124]

Who needs oxygen when you can have
Rhythm House Bach-Suites Pour Violoncelle Seul

 

[ajay124]

Rhythm House Grands Concertos Pour Violon
EMI 'gimme red' box sets,seem to be getting sold pretty fast,possibly because of attractive pricing.
This one is truly special.Yehudi Menuhin is more or less the best in classical violin,and he has played it all.Although the details are not mentioned,they can be confirmed from CD Universe or Amazon.I'm sure there would be plenty of good stuff from Bach,Beethoven,Mozart,Brahms etc.
This particular set won't be around for many days as Rhythm House seems to be getting only one copy of most fresh stock.

 

[ajay124]

Johann Strauss 2 was an Austrian composer,famous for having written some of the most popular waltzes of all times.The Blue Danube Waltz,Tales From Vienna Woods,Roses From The South,Pizzicato Polka are part of the eternal,instantly likeable music of the world.
There are plenty of Best of Strauss CD's available,which would serve as a good introduction.However it would be a simple mistake to get confused between Johann Strauss 1 and 2 or senior and junior,or even with Richard Strauss.Therefore before a purchase one should ensure that one is actually buying the king of the waltzes,Johann Strauss 2 or Jr.
Apart from an anthology of his popular waltzes,his opera's 'Die Fledermaus' and 'The Gypsy Baron' are also very nice and easy to find.

 

[iaudio]

ajay, have you heard this?
Rhythm House Legendary RCA Recordings

Your thoughts?

 

[ajay124]

ajay, have you heard this?
Rhythm House Legendary RCA Recordings

Your thoughts?

Vladimir Horowitz is one of the most famous pianists of the 20th century.Without a doubt,this cd set will be very good.
I had Horowitz on a cassette earlier,playing compositions by Chopin and Rachmaninoff,but don't have anything on cd.
The music on the cd is more from the romantic period.
Broadly there were 4-5 major periods.
Baroque(1600-1750) Bach,Handel,Vivaldi,Scarlatti
Classical(1750-1820)Mozart,Beethoven,Haydn,Schubert
Romantic(1800-1900)Schumann,Brahms,Chopin,Wagner,Mendelssohn,Liszt,Rachmaninoff
Late Romantic(Nationalist)(1850-1900)Tchaikovsky,Dvorak,Sibelius,Rimsky-Korsakov
Modern(1900-)Mahler,Stravinsky,Bartok,Messiaen,Debussy,Shostakovich,Khachaturian
One can of course begin listening from any period,but I feel a natural progression down the periods starting with Baroque would be the best.
Classical music becomes more and more complex (but not better) as we progress down the centuries.
For a start I would recommend
Brandenberg Concerto's/Johann Sebastian Bach
Four Seasons/Antonio Vivaldi
Water Music,Music For The Royal Fireworks/George Frideric Handel
Symphony 25,40,41,Clarinet Concerto In A Minor,Piano Concerto 20,21,Eine Kline Nachtmusik,Piano Sonata's/Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Symphony 5,6,9,Piano Sonata's 1-6/Ludwig Von Beethoven
Symphony 8,Trout Quintet,Moments Musicaux,Rosamunde,Death And The Maiden/Franz Schubert
String Quartets,London Symphonies/Joseph Haydn
Violin Concerto In E Minor/Felix Mendelssohn
Piano Concerto 1 and 2/Frederic Chopin
Waltzes/Johann Strauss 2
New World Symphony(No.9)/Antonin Dvorak
Initially it dosen't matter which conductor?which orchestra?There would be a certain minimum standard to all recordings.
In earlier posts I have mentioned famous conductor's,orchestra's,musician's.And recordings made by them would obviously be better.

 

[ajay124]

'Children's Classics' with truly wonderful music for grown ups.Don't think too many children in India would be tuning into classical musicAttractive pricing.
Set of 3 for 495.
Rhythm House 50 Best Children's Classics
Set of 6 for 795.
Rhythm House 100 Best Children's Classics

 

[ajay124]

Browsing through the Rhythm House western classical catalogue.Nothing for me at the moment.
I already have plenty of music by the major composers and currently I'm only looking for specific 20th century classical music.
But plenty of good CD's for anyone interested in building up a collection.
The last two,Bream and Chopin/Rubinstein are truly special.
Rhythm House Chopin-Oeuvres Pour Piano
Rhythm House Schubert-Les Symphonies
Rhythm House 50 Best Wiener Philharmoniker
Rhythm House 100 Best Wiener Philharmoniker
Rhythm House Popular Classics For Spanish Guitar
Rhythm House 50 Best Cello
Rhythm House Beethoven-Symphonies # 5&6
Rhythm House Mozart-Piano Concertos
Rhythm House Bizet-Carmen Duets & Arias
Rhythm House Bach-Toccata
Rhythm House Beethoven-Piano Sonatas
Rhythm House Chopin-200 Great Recordings
Rhythm House Beethoven-String Quartets op. 18/2 op. 59/3 op. 131-op.132
Rhythm House Handel-Over 2 Hours Of Baroque Favourites
Rhythm House 25 Greatest Classical Works
Rhythm House Arthur Rubinstein-The Chopin Recordings
(For chopin's music,rubinstein is possibly the best pianist.595 for 5 cd's is a steal)
Rhythm House The Essential Julian Bream
(bought 100's of cd's in 2010.Rate Julian Bream Essentials as the best buy of the year.
Have never heard a guitar sound so good.Julian Bream and Andre Segovia take the sound of the guitar
into realms where no rock/jazz guitarist would ever be able to follow.)

 

[ajay124]

Music so beautiful,that even a new born child will start moving its finger's and twitching it's toe's.
Music so eternal,that even an old man in the twilight of his life will wipe away his tears and smile while stepping into the eternal darkness beyond.
Music to celebrate with.To work with.To make love with.
Music that will still be playing like a benediction,when the lights are finally extinguished on Mother Earth by some terrible fury of nature or man.
Music that I will play as the old year passes,yeilding place to the new.
YouTube - Mozart: Symphony No. 40 / Trevor Pinnock Berliner Philharmoniker

 

[quad]

My first post in this thread - I recently got to listen to
this excellent CD - "Musical Fantasies: Pleasure Dome of
Kubla Khan, White Peacock, Through the Looking Glass"

The two composers featured are less known, but
the selections are excellent, and very very involving.

Amazon.com: Musical Fantasies: Pleasure Dome of Kubla Khan, White Peacock, Through the Looking Glass: Charles Griffes, Deems Taylor, Gerard Schwarz, Seattle Symphony: Music

This is a very good recording and like so much of good western
classical music, needs to be heard on a good system with excellent
dynamic range.
Even the slightest hum could totally mar the listening experience, as
there are so many subtle and very quiet moments, rising to a crescendo.

Charles Griffes - for more info, read the reviews for this CD.

Amazon.com: Charles Griffes: The Pleasure Dome of Kubla Khan/The White Peacock/Three Poems of Fiona McLeod: Charles Tomlinson Griffes, JoAnn Falletta, Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, Barbara Quintiliani: Music

 

[captrajesh]

I've recently purchased 50 odd CDs of western Classical. I'll probably take a lifetime to listen to all of them.

 

[ajay124]

I've recently purchased 50 odd CDs of western Classical. I'll probably take a lifetime to listen to all of them.

Congratulations Rajesh!
Don't stop!Keep Going!
I have never regretted spending on Western Classical Music.
Initially many tapes/cd's used to keep languishing on my shelve's
until one day I discovered their magic!
I still have entire box sets of Bach,purchased several years ago,which for various reasons (incomprehension,hoarding for the future) I have not played much.
Why don't you post a list of the 50 cd's and your initial impression's.

 

[captrajesh]

Why don't you post a list of the 50 cd's and your initial impression's.

Sure Ajay, will compile & post shortly.

 

[captrajesh]

Here is the complete list that I bought recently. I have few more that I had purchased earlier which are not listed here.

Beethoven symphony no 3
Beethoven symphony no 5 & 7
Beethoven symphony no 9
Beethoven symphony no 6 & Schubert symphony no 5
Beethoven violin concerto and romances
Beethoven piano concerto no 4 & 5
Gustav Mahler symphony no 5
Simon Rattle Mahler symphony no 4
Verdi Without words Cincinnati Pop Orchestra
Bartok Concerto for Orchestra
Ravel Bolero La Valse Debussy La Mer Images
Debussy La Mer Nocturnes
Tchaikovsky 1812 overture
Gilels, Reiner Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 1
Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 5
Tchaikovsky symphony No. 6 Pathetique
Tchaikovsky / Sibelius Violin Concertos
Carl Orff Carmina Burana
Smetana Ma Valst
Greig Peer Gynt Academy of St. Martin in the Fields
Dvorak symphony no 8h
Dvorak symphony no 9 / Schubert symphony no 8
Dvorak Slavonic dances
Holst the Planets
Chopin Piano Concerto 1 & 2
Chopin Preludes Maurzio Pollini
Berlioz Symphony Fantastique
Johannes Brahms Hungarian Dances
Brahms Symphony No. 2
Brahms Symphony No. 3
Khachaturian Masquerade Suite Kabalevsky the Comedians
Schumann Symphonies No. 1 & 3
Mendelssohn Symphony No. 4 Italian A Midsummer Nights Dream
Rimsky Korsakov Scheherazade, Antar
Rachmaninoff Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini
Valery Gergiev/Mussorgsky Pictures at an Exhibition
James Galway plays Vivaldi 6 Concerti Op. 10
Franck Symphony in D Minor
The Igor Markevitch Legacy Vol I Wroks by Schubert, Tchaikovski & Mahler 2 CDs
Handel Wassermusik Yehudi Menuhin
Igor Stravinsky Petrouchka / Le Sacre Du Printemps
Anton Bruckner Symphony No. 8 Apocalyptic 2 CDs
Schubert Forellenquintett, adur Piano Quintet in a, Trout
London Symphony Orchestra String classics
The royal Philharmonic Collection - Glinka, Ponchielli, Verdi, Thomas, Webber, Liszt, Berlioz
Ottorino Respighi Jesus Lopez Cobos Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra
Mozart symphony 40&41
Mozart Symphonies 39, 35 Haffner & 32
Mozart Various - Beginner's CD
Rhapsody in Blue

 

[jls001]

Wow, what an eclectic list! Must get around to listing the classicals I have on vinyl. Been too lazy to do that. For the seriously inclined (to western classical), there is a wealth of classical records available with LP sellers, usually in fine condition.

I had never seriously listened to western classical but seeing the way I kept bumping into them, I thought why not start listening to them? That I did, and have not looked back. In fact it is much easier to get good classical titles than good rock or pop titles. No mark up, too, unlike a Beatles or Pink Floyd LP that can cost almost as much as a new pressing!

In fact one serendipitous discovery (of an old TT gifted to me by a friend) has opened so many new avenues and vistas of music to me. If I were to buy them on CDs, I usually don't even bother browsing through the western classical aisle, or for that matter, jazz. These are genres I have discovered through vinyl.

It has also re-opened my eyes to 70s, 80s and 90s pop, R&B, soul and blues. Things I only listened to in passing. I am glad that I recently bought (on LP) Anita Baker's "Rapture", Thompson Twins "Into The Gap", Muddy Waters' "Hard Again", and so many more gems.

Sorry if that sounded like I am threadjacking and a bit OT, but since we're talking on how to buy western classical, I thought this is a good alternative for serious listeners.
Joshua

 

[captrajesh]

Wow, what an eclectic list!

Hi Joshua,

At present, I have no special fascination for Western Classical like I till recently used to have for Rock. Someone was getting rid of his collection and I lapped it up (for a price of course)

It is my assumption that as one evolves and matures as a audiophile, one tends to move away from the rut and take to exotic genre that Jazz & Classical are. Just my opinion I may be wrong.

Rgds


Rajesh

 

[jls001]

It is my assumption that as one evolves and matures as a audiophile, one tends to move away from the rut and take to exotic genre that Jazz & Classical are. Just my opinion I may be wrong.

I have always been highly impressed by orchestral strings, mainly from what I had heard of string arrangements in rock and non-rock popular music, and of course old Hindi film songs where there used to be very elaborate arrangements (now sadly supplanted by glib synthesizer strings). But I am glad to report that Rehman still produces great string arrangements (IMO). Another maestro is Illayaraja (especially on his non-film symphony that I had heard). I have been looking to buy Illayaraja's non-film symphony but no luck till date (especially Nothing But Wind which I used to have on cassette many, many moons ago).

When I hear a great string arrangement, I get goosebumps. I guess the first time I ever wanted to know more about orchestral strings was when I heard Wild Frontier by Gary Moore. It is a good song, with Moore's beautiful guitar solo and superb backing on strings. Another good rock number where string plays a major part in shaping the sound of the song is "Who Cares?" by Extreme. On Who Cares? the string sounds no less grander than a full orchestra, nor any less complex.

Another thing that tingles my spine is full-fledged brass sections. But I guess that's a story for another day.

The way/path I am progressing musically is definitely towards jazz and dollops of classical, without much conscious effort on my part. If that's the audiophile path to progress, then so be it:lol: to a more evolved me.

Joshua

 

[captrajesh]

Hi Joshua,

I was travelling on that road a while ago. That is why I used to like rock music a lot. Now-a-days, I'm tripping on good percussion stuff. That's why I really love to listen to Santana, Shivamani, Bob Marley and the likes.

I started my classical music sessions a couple of days ago. Unfortunate part foe me is I live in a busy locality and there is a lot of traffic noise. Listening to rock is ok but western classical consists of a generous amount of quiet passages between two crescendos. It is very annoying that you get to hear even fan noise, what to talk of traffic noise and barking of your neighbour's dog.:annoyed:

Fortunate are those who have their own houses. Lesser mortals like me are destined to live in employer's accommodation.:sad:

 

[ajay124]

Great start Rajesh!
Have you been buying for long or was it a onetime buy from someone?
Is it by design or by chance that you made a good selection? But no Bach!
Statutory Warning
The day Mozart or Beethoven enter your bloodstream and 'infect' you,Pink Floyd,Dire Straits,Eagles and Co.will lose their magic and start seeming very very ordinary.
You can check in anytime you like and you CAN leave.Hotel California is a place I inhabited for a few years and then left.Never felt the urge to revisit.
Not a very pleasant sensation to wake up one day and discover that you have become indifferent to all the rock music you have lovingly collected.:sad:

 

[somen24in]

ajay

i see your selection , all are very good , one blu ray , other two in dvd , i try now make collection on bluray ,

"""" Sleeping Beauty and Nutcracker by Tchaikovsky are also very good.
The Magic Flute by Mozart is a masterpeice,very popular with children and adults."""

ajay ,if possible give those title in bluray ,
also sleeping beauty +nutcracker +magic flute +
i thing some title may be may not be in blu ray , if bluray give me name ,also dvd give name or link

thank you
somen

 

[ajay124]

ajay

i see your selection , all are very good , one blu ray , other two in dvd , i try now make collection on bluray ,

"""" Sleeping Beauty and Nutcracker by Tchaikovsky are also very good.
The Magic Flute by Mozart is a masterpeice,very popular with children and adults."""

ajay ,if possible give those title in bluray ,
also sleeping beauty +nutcracker +magic flute +
i thing some title may be may not be in blu ray , if bluray give me name ,also dvd give name or link

thank you
somen

Since I am not into Blueray's they seem incredibly expensive to me.
Some more opera/ballet for children and adults
Peter And The Wolf,Sleeping Beauty and Nutcracker on DVD,but not available on Blue Ray.
Rhythm House Peter And The Wolf-A Prokofiev Fantasy Narrated by Sting
Rhythm House The Sleeping Beauty
Rhythm House Nutcracker
The Magic Flute is not available at the moment.

The incredible Queen Of The Night Aria from The Magic Flute.
Requiring a high F6 pitch,the highest note that a vocal range can reach.
Try singing it
YouTube - Erika Miklsa - Der Hlle Rache (Queen of the Night) - Minkowski