Good classical music?

Question

Ok, I'm looking for some beautiful classical pieces.

Things that I like:
Mozart Symphony 40, all movements.
Mozart Turkish March
Ludwig Van Beethoven Symphony 9 and 5, most movements.
Carmina Burana, No.1,2,8.
Hungarian Dance by Brahms
Tchaikovsky Swan Lake Act II
Dvorak New World Symphony

I like music that doesn't change its mood quickly or not at all.
I really like Beethoven and Mozart the most, so more of them would be nice.

Answer 1

Try these



Mozart:

Symphony 41 (check out some of the other symphonies too)

Piano concertos

Marriage of Figaro, Magic Flute, Cosi Fan Tutte, etc (his operas)



Beethoven:

The other Symphonies - especially 3, 7, 8

Piano Sonatas

Piano Concertos (especially no. 5 "Emperor")

String Quartets



Tchaikovsky symphonies 4 and 6 are really nice and very melodic.

Also check out Dvorak symphony 8 if you like the New World, and Brahms wrote many more Hungarian Dances, the most famous one is no. 5.

Answer 2

I have a slightly different take on this subject. The term "Classic" or "Classical" in reference to music may be a bit overused. It has been applied to denote various genre of other types of music, including Country, Rock and Jazz. I think of it as applying to music that is of a vintage and style marked by excellence. Many classical composers created their music long after Beethoven, Bach, or the other composers generally regarded as classical. For example, an American composer whose work has been considered classical is Gershwin, who composed mainly in the first half of the 20th Century. An alternative term I like is "Great Music." The problem is that almost any term we use can be stretched or shrunk according to a person's tastes. I think we have to categorize music--I don't know any other way to classify it--but bear in mind that the eye (or ear) of the beholder may have a lot to do with how the categories are perceived. We might well do better to sort music out by categories such as opera and symphonic, but I would think this would create a risk of excluding some very worthwhile music. An interesting question. I'll be thinking about it for a while.

Answer 3

Try listening to Beethoven's other symphonies, such as #7, and 3, and 6...and 8! The "Emporer" Piano Concerto (no 5) always gives me chills (particularly the second movement. Also, Brahms 3rd symphony is beautiful. I like a lot of Tchaikovsky works. One of my favorites is the Pathetique (Symphony #6). If you want to listen to a very beautiful but sad piece, listen to Samuel Barber's Adagio for Strings. I don't know why, but I just love that piece. It's very melancholy. Try listening to some violin concerti, by the composers you already seem to like (Tchaikovsky, Mozart, Beethoven...Brahms).

Answer 4

Grieg's Peer Gynt is real cute.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAbwMGZtIsY



Also: Mozart's overture to Don Giovanni, one of my all time favorites! Actually, many of the overtures of famous operas are really beautiful such as Mozarts' Marriage of Figaro, Magic Flute, and Rossini's and Verdi's overtures.

Answer 5

Try Mozart's piano concertos, esp. No.9 and later (he wrote 27). They are the epitome of beauty.

Answer 6

so you are looking for melodies....

Try Rachmaninoff concerto no.2 op.18.. 1, (moderato)

Try Schubert, Wanderer.. (it has some "mood changes" but it is really pretty)

try Fanz liszt, the hungarian rhps.

Answer 7

"I like music that doesn't change its mood quickly or not at all". These two are rather "moody" I guess one might say; but, consistent.....................(I hope you don't find them depressing?)



From Richard Wagner's "Tristan und Isolde", the Act III Prelude(disregard 1st 10 secs.): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Yb4923UPIQ



"The Swan of Tuonela" by the great Jean Sibelius: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6B5_l-yUFsE



Alberich