Western Classical Music

The Top 100 Western Songs

Western Writers of America members choose the all-time best Western songs.
American Cowboy Picture

The Western Writers of America surveyed its members for the top 100 Western Songs of all time. The list was presented at the WWAs Annual Convention Knoxville, Tennessee. This list is an interesting mixture of old, traditional songs, songs from the movies and songs which many might label "country." What do you think?

1. Ghost Riders in the Sky
2. El Paso
3. Cool Water
4. Streets of Laredo/Cowboys Lament
5. Back in the Saddle Again
6. High Noon/Do Not Forsake Me
7. Oh Shenandoah/Across the Wide Missouri
8. Tumbling Tumbleweeds
9. Home on the Range
10. Red River Valley
11. Big Iron
12. Dont Fence Me In
13. Bury Me Not in the Lone Prairie
14. Desperado
15. Wildfire
16. Cattle Call
17. Pancho and Lefty
18. Little Joe, the Wrangler
19. They Call the Wind Mariah
20. Coyote
21. Along the Navaho Trail
22. Happy Trails
23. Rawhide
24. Yellow Rose of Texas
25. Mamas, Dont let your Babies Grow up to Be Cowboys
26. Ballad of Davy Crockett
27. Wayward Wind
28. Strawberry Roan
29. When the Works All Done This Fall
30. Empty Saddles in the Old Corral
31. Ballad of the Alamo
32. Mule Train
33. My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys
34. Knockin on Heavens Door
35. Amarillo by Morning
36. Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
37. Last Comanche Moon
38. Oh My Darling, Clementine
39. The Rebel (Johnny Yuma)
40. Ballad of Ira Hayes
41. North to Alaska
42. My Rifle, My Pony and Me
43. Dont Take Your Guns to Town
44. South of the Border
45. Desperadoes Waiting for a Train
46. Get Along, Little Dogies
47. Buffalo Gals
48. Im an Old Cowhand from the Rio Grande
49. New San Antonio Rose
50. Gunfight at the OK Corral
51. Wild Montana Skies
52. Last Cowboy Song
53. Ballad of Paladin
54. Tonight We Ride
55. Oklahoma!
56. Id Like to Be in Texas for the Roundup in the Spring
57. Call You Cowboy
58. Bonanza
59. Old Double Diamond
60. Lorena
61. The Hanging Tree
62. Dust Eatin Cowboys
63. Cowpoke
64. Old Timer
65. Red Headed Stranger
66. Last Wild White Buffalo
67. Jesse James
68. Faster Horses
69. El Dorado
70. Goodbye Old Paint/Im Leaving Cheyenne
71. Tom Dooley
72. I Want to Be a Cowboys Sweetheart
73. Wayfarin Stranger
74. The Old Cantina
75. I Ride an Old Paint
76. Granpa
77. Someday Soon
78. Summer Wages
79. Battle of New Orleans
80. Jingle, Jangle, Jingle
81. Blue Shadows on the Trail
82. O Susanna
83. Sweet Betsy from Pike
84. Colorado Trail
85. When Roy Rogers Was Around
86. Navajo Rug
87. Remember the Alamo
88. Billy the Kid
89. Life is Like a Mountain Railway
90. Old Chisholm Trail
91. Whatever Happened to Randolph Scott
92. Desert Pete
93. Rocky Mountain High
94. Theme from the Searchers
95. Wagon Wheels
96. Vaya Con Dios
97. Ridin Down the Canyon
98. Shifting, Whispering Sands
99. Oklahoma Hills
100. Masters Call
 
Uh, abhicreative12, the western classical music under discussion on this thread doesn't have anything to do with the music of the wild west.

OT: There are some really nice westerns (unsullied by spaghetti) in that list though. My Dad is (still) obsessed with them, and my childhood was one endless parade of westerns. :)
 
The spaghetti-sullied ones were the best! Especially from the musical point of view :)

And yes, this departure is stretching Western Classical a bit far.
 
A very different genre, but my favourite "Western" songs: Calamity Jane. I have a tradition of trying out new audio gear/configurations with this.

For a single song from a 'serious' western: Oh Don't forsake me, Oh my Darling, from High Noon. Don't know if it is the above lists, as I find lists of over six items indigestible.
 
...I would like to venture into the world of classical music....

This is the 'bucket-list' I am gnawing into slowly for a while now, something that was sent to me by a retired professor of a well known music college in the USA. The titles mentioned here is based on both, performance and quality of the recording. If the recording quality happens to fall below par, then it is dropped.

You will not see many with the so-called "audiophile" tags attached (or even "historic" recordings). Also, for an American's choice, you will notice that preferences clearly lie on the east side of the big pond - Europe. One would be advised to listen to streaming sample audio tracks on Amazon or AMG, before buying anything. Any boxed sets of more than 3 CDs may also have a disorienting effect. Music, after all, is clearly a personal choice.

Recommended Recordings : Baroque (Pre-Classical)

01. Bach: Cello Suites
Ralph Krishbaum - Cello Solo - Virgin Classics (2CDs)
Amazon.com: Bach: Cello Suites / Kirshbaum: Music

02. Bach: Brandenburg & Violin Concertos
Jonathan Rees & Scottish Ensemble - Virgin Classics (3CDs)
Amazon.com: Bach: Brandenburg Cto.: Music

03. Bach: Brandenburg Concerti 1-6
Harnancourt - Conentus Musicus Wein - Teledec (2CDs)
Amazon.com: Brandenburg Concerti 1-6: Music

04. Bach: Complete Sonatas & Partitas for Violin Solo
Rachel Podger - Violin Solo - Channel Classics NI (2CDs)
Amazon.com: Bach: Complete Sonatas & Partitas for Violin Solo: Music

05. Bach: Goldberg Variations
Angela Hewitt - Piano Solo - Hyperion UK
Amazon.com: Bach: Goldberg Variations: Music

06. Bach: The Well Tempered Clavier
Angela Hewitt - Piano Solo - Hyperion UK (2CDs)
Amazon.com: Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier (book 1): Music

07. Handel: Messiah (1751 Version)
Higgingottom - Choir of New College Oxford - Naxos (2CDs)
Amazon.com: Messiah: Music

08. Handel: Water Music
Minkowski - Les Musiciens du Louvre - Grenoble - Nave (Fr)
Amazon.com: Water Music: Music

09. Telemann: Barbaric Beauty - 18th Century Dance
Valent - Holland Baroque Society - Channel Classics SACD
Amazon.com: Barbaric Beauty - 18th Century Dance: Music

10. Vivaldi: LeQuarttro Stagioni (4 Seasons)
Rinaldo Alessandrino - Concerto Italiano - Alliance (2CDs)
Amazon.com: Vivaldi Edition: Le Quattro Stagioni (with bonus CD: Portrait): Music

11. Vivaldi Concerti La Stravaganza
Rachel Podger & Arte Dei Suonatori - Channel Classics NI (2CDs)
Amazon.com: Stravaganza: Violin Concerti Op 4 1-12: Music

Recommended Recordings : Classical Era

12. Beethoven: Symphony 9
Solti - Chicago Symphony Orchestra - Decca-London
Amazon.com: Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 / Solti: Music

13. Beethoven: Piano Concertos 3 & 4
Yefim Bronfman (P), David Zinman - Zurich Tonhalle Orchestra - Arte Nova Classics
Amazon.com: Beethoven: Piano Concertos Nos. 3 & 4: Music

14. Beethoven: Piano Concertos 5
Yefim Bronfman (P), David Zinman - Zurich Tonhalle Orchestra - Arte Nova Classics
Amazon.com: Beethoven: Piano Concerto No 5: Music

15. Beethoven: The Beethoven Symphonies 1 to 9 Live
Mackerras, Scottish Chamber Orchestra & Philharmonic Orchestra - Hyperion UK (5CDs)
Amazon.com: Symphonies 1-9 Live From the Edinburgh Festival: Music

16. Beethoven: Complete String Quartets
Emerson String Quartet - Deutsche Gramaphon (7CDs)
Amazon.com: Beethoven: Complete String Quartets: Music

17. Haydn: Paris Symphonies
Harnoncourt - Concentus Musicus Wien - Deutsche Harmonia Mundi (3CDs)
Amazon.com: Paris Symphonies: Music

18. Haydn: London Symphonies
Harnoncourt - Royal Conertgebouw Orchestra - Warner Classics (5CDs)
Amazon.com: Symphonies 68 & 93-104: Music

19. Haydn: Piano Sonatas Vol.1
Marc-Andre Hamelin - Piano Solo - Hyperion UK (2CDs)
Amazon.com: Haydn: Piano Sonatas, Vol 1: Music

20. Haydn: Piano Sonatas Vol. 2
Marc-Andre Hamelin - Piano Solo - Hyperion UK (2CDs)
Amazon.com: Haydn: Piano Sonatas Vol.2: Music

21. Mozart: Piano Concertos 12 & 17
Alfred Brendel - Mackerras, Scottish Chamber Orchestra - Philips
Amazon.com: Piano Concertos: Music

22. Mozart: Piano Concertos 22 & 27
Alfred Brendel - Mackerras, Scottish Chamber Orchestra - Philips
Amazon.com: Mozart: Piano Concertos 22 & 27: Music

23. Mozart: Piano Concertos 20 & 24
Alfred Brendel - Mackerras, Scottish Chamber Orchestra - Philips
Amazon.com: Piano Concerti 20 & 24: Music

24. Mozart: Symphonies 38 to 41
Charles Mackerras & Scottish Chamber Orchestra - Linn UK (2 SACDs)
Amazon.com: Mozart Symphonies 38 Through 41: Music

25. Mozart: Complete Wind Concertos
Orpheus Chamber Orchestra - Deutsche Gramaphon (3CDs)
Amazon.com: Mozart: Complete Wind Concertos: Music

26. Mozart: Violin Concertos K 216,218 & 219
Manze - The English Concert - Harmonia Mundi
Amazon.com: Mozart: Violin Concertos, K. 216, 218, & 219: Music

Recommended Recordings : Romantic Era

27. Brahms: Symphonies 1 to 4
Dorati - London Symphony Orchestra - Polygram - Mercury (2CDs)
Amazon.com: Symphonies 1-4: Music

28. Brahms: Piano Trios
Nicolas Angelich & Capuon Brothers - Virgin Classics (2CDs)
Amazon.com: Piano Trios: Music

29. Brahms: Piano Concertos 1 & 2
Nelson Freire & Gewandhaus Orchestra Leipzig - Decca (2CDs)
Amazon.com: Brahms: Piano Concertos, Nos. 1 & 2: Music

30. Brahms/Stavinsky: Violin Concertos
Hilary Hahn, Marriner - Ao St. Martin in the Fields - Sony
Amazon.com: Brahms / Stravinsky: Violin Concertos: Music

31. Brahms: Complete Piano Quartets
Walter Trampler & The Beaux Arts Trio - Philips
Amazon.com: Brahms: Complete Piano Quartets: Music

32. Brukner: The Complete Symphonies
Eugen Jochum - Staatskapelle Dresden - EMI Classics (9CDs)
Amazon.com: Bruckner: The Complete Symphonies 1-9: Music

33. Brukner: Symphony 9 - Four Movements
Simon Rattle - Berliner Philharmoniker - EMI Classics
Amazon.com: Bruckner: Symphony No.9 Wiht Finale: Music

34. Chopin: Etudes/Preludes/Polonaises
Maurizio Pollini - Piano Solo - Deutsche Gramaphon (3CDs)
Amazon.com: Chopin: Etudes/Preludes/Polonaises: Music

35. Dvorak: The Nine Symphonies
Rafael Kubelik - Berliner Philharmoniker - Deutsche Gramaphon (6CDs)
Amazon.com: Dvorak: The 9 Symphonies: Music

36. Dvorak: Cello Concerto
Queyras & Dumky Trio - Harmonia Mundi
Amazon.com: Dvorak: Cello Concerto Dumky Trio: Music

37. Liszt: Oeuvers pour Piano
Georges Cziffra - Piano - EMI Classics (9CDs)
Amazon.com: Liszt: Oeuvres pour Piano / Piano Works: Music

38. Liszt: Years of Pilgrimage
Lazar Berman - Piano - Deutsche Gramaphon (3CDs)
Amazon.com: Liszt: Annees de Pelerinage - Complete Recording (Years of Pilgrimage): Music

39. Mahler: Symphonies 1 to 10
Gary Bertini - Koln Radio Orchestra - EMI Classics (11CDs)
Amazon.com: Mahler: Symphonies Nos. 1 - 10: Music

40. Rachmaninov: The Symphonies
Vladimir Ashkenazy - Concertgebouw Orchestra - EMI-London (3CDs)
Amazon.com: Rachmaninov: The Symphonies: Music

41. Rachmaninov: The Piano Concertos
Ashkenazy (P), Previn - London Symphony Orchestra - EMI-London (6CDs)
Amazon.com: Piano Concertos: Music

42. Saint-Saens: Romantic Piano & Complete Works for Piano and Orchestra
Hough, Oramo - City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra - Hyperion (2CDs)
Amazon.com: Saint-Sans: Romantic Piano Concerto, Vol. 27 - The Complete Works for Piano & Orchestra: Music

43. Schubert: Symphonies 1 to 9
Gunter Wand - Koln Radio Symphony Orchestra - RCA Red Seal / BMG (5CDs)
Amazon.com: Franz Schubert: Symphonies Nos. 1-9 / Rosamunde (Gnter Wand Edition): Music

44. Schubert: Complete Trios
Grumiaux Trio, Beaux Arts Trio - Decca (2CDs)
Amazon.com: Schubert: Complete Trios: Music

45. Schubert: The Complete Impromptus
Alfred Brendel - Piano - Decca (2CDs)
Amazon.com: Schubert: The Complete Impromptus / Moments Musicaux: Music

46. Schubert: The Last Four Quartets
Quartetto Italiano - Philips (2CDs)
Amazon.com: Schubert: Last 4 Quartets: Music

47. Schubert: Late Piano Sonatas
Leif Ove Andsnes - Piano - Warner Classics (2CDs)
Amazon.com: Late Piano Sonatas: Music

48. Schubert: Impromptus & Dances
Vassily Primakov (P) - Bridge
Amazon.com: Dances & Impromptus: Music

49. Schumann: The Symphonies
Barenboim - Staatskapelle Berlin - Warner Classics (2CDs)
Amazon.com: Schumann - The Symphonies ~ Barenboim: Music

50. Scriabin: Complete Piano Sonatas
Marc-Andre Hamelin - Piano Solo - Hyperion (2CDs)
Amazon.com: Complete Piano Sonatas: Music

51. Sibelius: The Symphonies
Herbert Blomstedt - San Francisco Symphony - Decca (4CDs)
Amazon.com: Sibelius: The Symphonies / Blomstedt: Music

52. Tchaikovsky/Sibelius: Violin Concertos
Hyung-Wha Chung (V), Andre Previn LSO - Decca 96/24 Remastered
Amazon.com: Violin Concertos: Music

53. Tchaikovsky: Symphonies 4, 5 & 6
Mravinsky, Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra - Deutsche Gramaphon (2CDs)
Amazon.com: Tchaikovsky: Symphonies 4, 5 & 6: Music

54. Tchaikovsky/Prokofiev: Piano Concerto 1, 3
Argerich (P), Abbado - Berliner Philharmoniker - Deutsche Gramaphon
Amazon.com: Piano Concerto 1 / Piano Concerto 3: Music

55. Wagner: Der Ring des Nibelungen (Ring Cycle)
Solti, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra & Vienna State Opera - Decca (14-CDs)
Amazon.com: Wagner: Der Ring des Nibelungen (Ring Cycle): Music

Recommended Recordings : Impressionism

56. Debussy/Ravel: Orchestral Works
Martinon, Orchestre de Paris - EMI Classics (8CDs)
Amazon.com: Debussy, Ravel: Orchestral Works: Music

57. Debussy: Complete Works for Piano
Jean-Efflam Bavouzet (P) - Chandos (8CDs)
Amazon.com: Complete Works for Piano: Music

Recommended Recordings : Post Romantic Era

58. Bartok: Piano Concertos 1, 2 & 3
Andras Schiff (P), Fischer, Budapest Festival Orchestra - Teldec
Amazon.com: Bartok:Piano Concertos 1-3: Music

59. Bartok: Concerto for Orchestra, et.al.
Reiner, Chicago Symphony Orchestra - RCS SACD
Amazon.com: Bartok: Concerto for Orchestra / Music for Strings / Percussion & Celesta / Hungarian Sketches: Music

60. Bartok/Straninsky: Violin Concertos
Mullova (V), Salonen - LA Philharmonic - Philips
Amazon.com: Bartok: Violin Concerto No. 2 / Stravinsky: Violin Concerto ~ Mullova: Music

61. Bartok: 6 String Quartets
Emerson String Quartet - Deutsche Gramaphon (2CDs)
Amazon.com: 6 String Quartets: Music

62. Prokofiev: The 5 Piano Concertos/Hebrew Themes
Beroff (P), Masur - Gewandhaus Orchester Leipzig - EMI Classics (2CDs)
Amazon.com: Prokofiev: The 5 Piano Concertos/Overture on Hebrew Themes/Visions Fugitives: Music

63. Prokofiev/Stravinsky: Violin Concertos
Cho-Liang Lin (V), Salonen - LA Philharmonic - Sony
Amazon.com: Prokofiev: Violin Concertos 1&2; Stravinsky: Violin Concerto In D: Music

64. Shostakovich: The String Quartets
Emerson String Quartet - Deutsche Gramaphon (5CDs)
Amazon.com: Shostakovich: The String Quartets: Music

65. Shostakovich: The Complete Symphonies
Barshai - WDR Symphony Orchestra - Brilliant Classics (11CDs)
Amazon.com: Dmitry Shostakovich: Complete Symphonies - WDR Symphony Orchestra / Rudolf Barshai: Music

66. Williams: Symphonies 1 to 9, et.al.
Haitink - London Philharmonic Choir & Orchestra - EMI Classics (7CDs)
Amazon.com: Vaughan Williams: Symphonies #1-9, The Lark Ascending, Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis, In the Fen Country - Haitink, Bostridge, Chang (7 CD's): Music

67. Walton: Violin, Cello Concerto, Symphonies
Haitink/Berglund/Pervin - LSO, Bournemouth, Philharmonia - EMI Classics (2CDs)
Amazon.com: Walton: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 2 / Cello Concerto / Violin Concerto: Music

Recommended Recordings : Modern Era

68. John Adams: The John Adams Ear Box
Various Orchestras, Quartets & Choirs - Nonesuch (10CDs)
Amazon.com: The John Adams Earbox: A 10-CD Retrospective: Music

69. Adams: Harmonielehre, Short Ride in a Fast Machine
Thomas - San Fransisco Symphony Orchestra - SFS Media SACD
Amazon.com: Adams: Harmonielehre, Short Ride in a Fast Machine: Music

70. Anderson: Orchestral Music 1, et.al
Slatkin - BBC Concert Orchestra - Naxos
Amazon.com: Leroy Anderson: Orchestral Music 1 - Piano Concerto / The Golden Years / Fiddle-Faddle - Jeffrey Biegel, Piano / BBC Concert Orchestra / Leonard Slatkin: Music

71. John Cage: Sonatas & Interludes for Prepared Piano
Boris Berman (P) - Naxos
Amazon.com: Cage: Sonatas and Interludes for Prepared Piano: Music

72. Mahler/Debussy: Symphony 4 / Prelude a l'apres-midi d'un faune
Pinncock - Royal Academy of Music Ensemble - Linn SACD
Amazon.com: Mahler: Symphonie No. 4: Music

73. 25 Years: Restropective (various)
Kronos Quartet - Nonesuch (10CDs)
Amazon.com: 25 Years: Retrospective: Music

74. Ligeti: Edition 1 - String Quartets
Arditti String Quartet - Sony
Amazon.com: Gyrgy Ligeti Edition 1: String Quartets and Duets - Arditti String Quartet: Music

75. Ligeti: Edition 3 - Works for Piano
Pierre-Laurent Aimard (P) - Sony
Amazon.com: Gyrgy Ligeti Edition 3: Works for Piano (Etudes, Musica Ricercata) - Pierre-Laurent Aimard: Music

76. Schnittke: The Complete String Quartets
Kronos Quartet - Nonesuch (2CDs)
Amazon.com: Kronos Quartet Performs Alfred Schnittke: The Complete String Quartets: Music

77. Strauss: Don Juan, Death & Transfiguration, et.al
Honeck - Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra - Reference Recordings SACD
Amazon.com: Tone Poems / Don Juan / Death & Transfiguration: Music

End of List
 
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Music for a lifetime! Or two!

Three is probably a closer guess..! The most recent, three-hours long Haydn's Paris Symphonies (#17 on the list) has been sitting in my CD player for the past five days or so, and it's refusing to vacate the CD tray. Take it from there and workout life-spans...!

I'm not sure if all on this list is going to sound as good as this Hadyn.
 
hi,

which CD of Holst - Planets has a good recording ?

There are many versions on amazon.com and including Zubin Mehta's which i heard briefly and there is stuff from USD 10 to USD 70 for the CD.

There is one on rhythm house for rs 350 but i need a good recording.

is it a good one ?

any light ?

thanks
mpw
 
Have never spent time on this thread. Some great information on here!
Here is a Contemporary Classical album I would like to share ...

71hzSyhhzBL.jpg
 
Beethoven's 9th - this was a requirement for a CD. A CD was made to hold the 63 minutes this one runs when CD's were being designed.
I'll add tchaikovsky's 1812 and get one with the real cannon fire. Leonard Bernstein's NY philharmonic is the best sounding, except, it uses crash cymbals instead of cannon fire, obviously you cant get cannon fire in a crowded opera house - and as a result, I think the cannon fire ones from the 60's are better.
You tube has a good version of the ones with cannon fire.

Cool.
Srinath.
 
I am happy to share some classical music from my collection with visitors to Bangalore. I prefer specific requests please. I do have multiple versions of the pieces mentioned in the earlier list, for example. Also great to see a recommendation for a contemporary classical CD Nikhil. Will check it out.
Also MPW, lots of good recordings of Planets available - my favorites include Gardiner, Solti and Karajan. Regards.
 
Purchase the Audiolab 6000A Integrated Amplifier at a special offer price.
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