What are good pieces to begin classical listening exposure?
Hi there! I’ve played classical piano for 13 years now so I’ve got some exposure to classical music but it is surprisingly limited, mostly solo piano works and only those pieces that have been suggested to me by friends, so I’ve got no methodic exposure to classical music by any means. I’ve gained an interest in seeing what’s out there and dove into the library recently picking up CDs by well known composers like Arcangelo Corelli, Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, etc. but it’s been pretty hit and miss. Some pieces I’ve loved (beethoven’s violin sonatas, Bach’s cello suites, and a few of corelli’s sonatas from opus 1) and some I’ve found stale.
Thus, I was wondering if people could suggest classical works for me to begin listening to. I mentioned my background to give an idea of where I’m coming from. I’ve got a soft spot for violin and cello, especially so solo.
Thanks!
I find it intelligent and realistic to look for a systematic approach to classical music, even after many years of hands-on practicing. Star to you. Many seem to consider themselves quite learned and apparently can’t put composers on even a minimal sequential order for forms and historical background.
I think you should follow a simple, practical order. That will skip some important musical periods, like Renaissance or much of the nationalistic romanticism or the 20th century avantgardes, but you’ll retrieve them later on. Now, stick to solid things:
- Baroque: Bach’s Brandenburgs and Well Tempered; Vivaldi’s Four Seasons; Handel harpsichord sonatas and Corelli’s Conceti grossi.
- Mozart: Symphonies in the range 29-41; piano concertos from n.13 on; the solo concertos for oboe, flute, bassoon, clarinet and horn.
- Beethoven: all the piano sonatas; all the symphonies; piano concertos 3,4,5; violin concerto.
- Schubert; symphonies Unfinished and The Great; piano fantasia Wanderer; lieder for voice and piano.
- Schumann: Symphonies 3,4; piano concerto; lieder for voice and piano
- Brahms: Symphonies 1,4; the two trios with horn; the sextets; piano concerto n.1; violin concerto
- Mendelssohn: symphonies 3,4,5.
- Chopin: Studies; Nocturnes
- Liszt: Annees de pelerinage; Harmonies poetiques et religieuses
- Dvorak : Symphony from New World
- Rimski-Korsakov : Sheherazade
- Mussorgski: Pictures at an exhibition for piano
- Tchaikovski: Symphonies 5,6
- Mahler: Symphonies 5,6
- Schoenberg: Gurre Lieder.
When you’re done with that, knock again.
Tzvi Erez plays Beethoven’s Sonata 23 « Appassionata » Opus 57 – Allegro ma non troppo (3/3)
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