Not sure how many will be interested in this thread, but my three fav classics are

1 The lark ascending by Vaughan Williams

2 Rachmaninov piano concerto no 2, part 2.

3 Beethoven - Concerto No. 5: The Emperor

It's hard to put into words just how wonderful these pieces are, i just don't get how anyone cannot love em.

The lark ascending is typical Williams -intertwining melodies-with an English feel, earthy and real-I have thought many times that if someone doesn't like this they just don't get music.

Rachmaninov -Big hands, big heart, i always feel sad knowing how much he longed to be back in Russia, i think this is his best work.

Beethoven-heart on sleeve, this his piece is sublime so joyful.

I'm not much of a classical buff but I'm starting to appreciate it. Have you got any links you can post so we can listen? :)

In our house we love this one. In fact my partner dances to it when he's drunk, and was videoe doing so. And he delted the recording so I could tno put it on youtube! roflmao It one he often plays when we have music gatherings, you know he's drunk when thsi comes on .... :D

Brahms - Hungarian Dance in G Minor

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=IG05yLlt_FA

This is a violin version with the great Yehudi Menuhin.

I love this, not sure if it is pure classical but

Rhapsody in Blue - Geroge Gershwin

Orchestral version Pt 1
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=yiyc9Ak3EtQ

And a moe MGM musical version
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=jl0ZvLoHvfg

It's a beautiful piece for the clarinet. I got into it when I was studying antiques and interiro design of the art deco period and it's stuck ever since. I beleive they used it on a Galaxy advert.

My favourite classical stuff tends to be stuff I've played:

Beethoven - Egmont Overture

Bernstein - Overture to Candide

Beethoven - Fur Elise

(cheesy as hell, i know, but i still love it!!!)

Not played this one but still think it's lovely:

Mozart - Eine Kleine Nachtmusik

And from the opera Carmen:

Toreador Song

There's more I like, but can't remember the names to find them on youtube...... :unsure:

That's my problem! recognise stuff but have no idea what No it is etc. Like finding that Brahms - there are more than one Hungarian Dances ..... And unlike pop music where I can spot the intro in seconds it's a bit harder!

i've got the names of some of them on my computer at home, as well as some CDS, but if you type "Mozart - allegro" in to youtube, there's a fair few videos...... :blink:

Swan Lake Waltz - Tchaikovsky

Winter (from tthe Four Seasons] - Vivaldi

Cavalleria rusticana - Intermezzo - Mascagni

I know. I've a classical thing going round in my head, but I don't know what it is. I thought I did, but it is wrong! I'll hear it one day and then forget who it was. Might be Tchikovsky, I thought it was Prokoviev or Korsakov but not what I thought. Useless I am!

Tchaikovksy - 1812 overture

I do like Fur Elise, and also Ride of the Valkyries, and "Montagues and Capulets" from Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet.

Your avatar looks like it might have done a runner Yorkie :unsure:

excuse the dodgy video for this one......but Yorkshire, prokofiev's Montagues and Capulets is one of my faves too:

Prokofiev - Romeo and Juliet

Mozart - Rondo Alla Turca

and i can't find a youtube vid for it, but mozart's Horn concerto - number 4, the rondo :ok:

Shostakovich

The Second Waltz - gorgeous piece of music

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performed by André Rieu here :bow:

Carl Orf - Carmina Burana, O Fortuna

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where did I put my Old Spice :P

and then of course there's Pachelbel - Canon in D Major

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ahhh, lay back and melt

:cry: my best friend walked down the aisle to that :)

and this must be the most beautiful piece of music ever! Popular stories have it that it was commissioned by the Vatican and should never have been heard outside its walls. A certain Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was invited to listen to it and remembered every single note and wrote it down on leaving the audience...

If Pachelbel made you melt, this will make you ooze across the floor in sheer delight...

Miserere Me Deus - Kings College Chapel Choir

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Mussorgski is my fave. I love "Pictures at an Exhibition". Each piece is pure genius.

Promenade: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ts-o8xD8Al0

havn't heard this in a while, and it's superb, really enjoyed it again.
The central theme is very simple (at least the main melodic part) but somehow the genius is to take that elemental idea and make it something profound.

Sorry don't have any links SB.

I love classical but like pop and jazz too, i don't have hundreds of classical CD's, and am no expert as such, but i'll try stuff out and suck it and see-as it were.
If you havn't heard 'the lark ascending' you are in for a real treat-it'l turn your spine to jelly. If you can get it downloaded or maybe from the library i'ld recommend it.

Williams - The lark ascending

:ok:

Way too many to name.....But yet I'll name a few ;)

Figaro Opras from either Mozart or Rossini, both are superb but there is an aria in Mozart 's that is simply out of this world...but it is not the famous one.

Vivaldi - The 4 seasons is the classical piece most listened to yet its beauty and force are not diminished by the excessive broadcast.

Beethoven's Moonlight but also everything else, Bach, Schubert, Hendel simply amazing.

I used to listen to them for decades but now I don't listen to music anymore ....sadly. I m sure I'll find the time or mood again....

BTW, does anyone know a site where I can find sound pieces?

It's a lovely piece BT, and thanks for finding it Jo, nice video too. :D

I can only think of searching youtube, but you need to knwo what you want.

Thanks SB. I hadn't thought about it.

a few pieces from Peer Gynt by Edward Grieg...

Anitras' Dance

The Hall of the Mountain King

and of course..

Morning

Listen and surf :)

Well, being a classical singer, I guess I should add a few of my favourites:

Schubert impromptus D899 no. 3 in G-flat major

Schubert - Winterreise (from the excellent recording by Christoph Prégardien)

Then again, basically everything by Schubert

Bach- Erbarme dich from Matthäus Passion

Satie - Gnossiennnes no.1

Wagner - Vorspiel Tristan und Isolde

Wagner - Vorspiel Parsifal

Pieces I couldn't find any clips for:

Liszt - Via Crucis

Britten - Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings
- Holy Sonnets of John Donne (great setting of great poetry)
and everything else by Britten

Although I'm a great fan of the tandem of Britten and Peter Pears, everyone who knows them has to see this
briliant parody by Dudley Moore

Of course there still so much more left to choose from. If anyone is looking for new music to listen to, given his/her preferences, just ask.

Claire de Lune by Claude Debussy is my favourite.

I also enjoy other Debussy works, Ravel, Satie, Tchaikovsky (1812, 1st violin conc., 1st piano conc.), Scheherezarde by Rimsky Korsakov. More that I can't recall right now.

I agree with Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue as well....that beginning clarinet solo I still don't understand how it is performed technically. Amazing stuff.

Oh and Rogriguez Concerto de Aranjuez.

I also like classical film music.

The Meet Joe Black soundtrack by Thomas Newman is amazing, I find the influences are very much Impressionist as well. I encourage anyone to buy the CD or download it.

His American Beauty feature soundtrack was also brilliant.

Can't beat Howards Shore's LOTR as well.

My ex girlfriend said she wanted Claire de Lune played at her funeral if anything happened to her (she wasn't ill or anything, just something she mentioned), i love the piece but can't listen to it now without getting quite emotional.

slightly off -topic, but my ex boyfriend wanted the Imperial March from Star Wars playing at his funeral :unsure:

:wacko: well i guess if it's your own funeral, i'ld go for something really sad, to get everyone wailing (assuming anyone turnes up :huh: of course)

this could probably be a whole (somewhat depressing) thread in itself...... :unsure: wasn't there a poll of songs people wanted playing at their funerals and Robbie Williams Angels topped it??? :unsure:

Yeah, i thought that myself, and i seem to think you're right about Angels too.

no. it was james blunt...... :blink:

1. Goodbye My Lover - James Blunt
2. Angels - Robbie Williams
3. I've Had the Time of My Life - Jennifer Warnes and Bill Medley
4. Wind Beneath My Wings - Bette Midler
5. Pie Jesu - Requiem
6. Candle in the Wind - Elton John
7. With or Without You - U2
8. Tears in Heaven - Eric Clapton
9. Every Breath You Take - The Police
10. Unchained Melody - Righteous Brothers

HAHAHA who would want James Blunt sang at their funeral. I thought beforehand Angel's would be most popular funeral song.

I would have Claire de Lune too actually. Favourite piece of music for me.

I do love this piece of music too

The Piano

Ah, the joy of classical music.....

Favorites:

Vivaldi's "4 Seasons" - Spring http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4kTei0XrCs is probably the best know but I like them all

Holst's "The Planets" - Jupiter http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fE0x9DheEw is probably the best recognized and I prefer Holst to Vivaldi.

Beethoven's 5th Symphony - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhcR1ZS2hVo

Copeland's "Fanfare for the Common Man" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiB8B4XsBRk

Pachelbel's "Canon" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nPyLLedfAs&feature=related (many versions but it sounds best when it's just the strings quartet)

I can go on (and on, and on, and on....) but limit it to these 5 for now ;)