@willemj methinks that some folks, myself included, have a hard time pointing to the "boring" classical music. Is it JSBach? Or Stockhausen? Maybe Bruckner symphonies? Tchaikovsky's Manfred Symphony makes me cry each and every time,... whats a better way to push yourself into sleep!?!
but seriously, if Symphonic Dances on RR by Eiji Oue cannot shake you up, then u must be dead ;-)
Xenakis efforts (used by my fav Magma) should wake up anyone!!! Not exactly what I would call "music" but it is definitely Not "boring"...
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Lorin Mazel Shostakovich 5th is awesome (Telarc)
Stravinsky Firebird Suite
Prokofiev
Saint Saens Organ Symphony
John Souza
Aaron Copeland
Beethoven
To name just a few ...tons of great stuff
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Is this all the musical interest that audiophiles can muster?
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sorry, only the last movement of the moonlight! |
Sibelius symphony #2, especially the last movement.
Beethoven Appasionata sonata for piano, first and last movements
Beethoven first and last movements, moonlight sonata
Bach, the fast choral movements of the b minor mass: start with ex ressurexit.
Bach, last movement of the double violin concerto.
Rachmaninoff, piano concerto #2, 3rd movement.
etc. |
It is my opinion that those raised on Rock but now wanting to get into "Classical" (just so you'll know, Classical is actually one era/style of "serious" music, though commonly used as the name for all of it), would do well to start with the Baroque era. The tempo's are brisker, the movements shorter (often song-length), the energy more kinetic---all traits of Rock music. J.S. Bach, Handel, Pachelbel, Rameau, Scarlatti, and Vivaldi are the major Baroque composers. You're gonna love it! |
Edgar Varese's Ionization! A favorite of Frank Zappa! |
Here are my recommendations; hope you find it of some help.
Tchaikovksy Symphony #4 - LSO/Szell(conductor) on Penguin Classics
Vivaldi Four Seasons Europa Galante/Fabio Biondi soloist on Opus 111
Beethoven Symphonies #5 & 7 - VPO/Kleiber (conductor) on DG
Obviously there are many performances you can choose from for each piece, but these are my favorites and each of the performances definitely qualify as dynamic classical which isn't boring (there are some amazingly insipid performances of these released on major labels by major artists; it's a good idea to get a recommendation for any classical music piece you are interested in). |
Check out Sibelius Lemminkinnen Suites, the 4 Legends. If you find that "boring"..???? |
Boring? I'd look at using iso/absorb stuff or better rez components to assure musical interest rather than bombast.
For example a euance platform will "tighten up" a cheap CDP so well that you'll be on the edge of your seat THROUGHOUT the Zander Starinski Sacre de Printemps on Pickwick (Jordan Hall live, 1990). Still my favorite disc. The reprise last year wasn't as good (but the same guy yelled his now-famous "gasp" at the end!). |
Carl Orff, Carmina Burana
Alan Hovaness, Mysterious Mountain, final movement
Bohuslav Martinu, Symphony # 1
And ditto Pragmatist above! |
Wow Sugarbrie nice post!!! |
I'd like to second Sugarbrie's recs, Berlioz symphonie fantastique and Stravinsky's firebird, both dynamic and beautiful works. |
There is a compilation classical CD called "Heavy Classix".
Selections include....
1. Die Walküre (The Valkyrie), opera, WWV 86b [The Ride of The Valkyries]
Composed by Richard Wagner
Performed by Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Klaus Tennstedt
2. Gayane Suite No.3, for orchestra
Composed by Aram Khachaturian
Performed by Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Yuri Temirkanov
3. Symphonie fantastique for orchestra ("Episode de la vie d'un Artiste...en cinq parties"), H.48 (Op. 14) Part 4: March to the Scaffold
Composed by Hector Berlioz
Performed by Philadelphia Orchestra
Conducted by Riccardo Muti
4. Pictures at an Exhibition (Kartinki s vïstavski), for piano The Hut on Fowls' Legs
Composed by Modest Mussorgsky
Performed by Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Mariss Jansons
5. Pictures at an Exhibition (Kartinki s vïstavski), for piano The Great Gate at Kiev
Composed by Modest Mussorgsky
Performed by Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Mariss Jansons
6. 1812 -- Festival Overture, for orchestra in E flat major, Op. 49 [Conclusion]
Composed by Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky
Performed by Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Mariss Jansons
7. Symphony No. 6 in B Minor, Op. 74 "Pathétique", Op.74 [Allegro Molto Vivace]
Composed by Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky
Performed by Philadelphia Orchestra
Conducted by Riccardo Muti, Klaus Tennstedt
8. España, rhapsody for orchestra, also arranged for 2 pianos
Composed by Emmanuel Chabrier
Performed by Toulouse Orchestra
Conducted by Michel Plasson
9. Prince Igor, opera (completed by Rimsky-Korsakov & Glazunov) Polovtsian Dance
Composed by Alexander Borodin
Performed by Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Conducted by Seiji Ozawa, Klaus Tennstedt
10. Damnation de Faust, La, for mezzo-soprano, tenor, baritone, bass, chorus and orchestra, ("légende dramatique") H. 111 (Op. 24) Hungarian March
Composed by Hector Berlioz
Performed by Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Conducted by Klaus Tennstedt
11. The Planets, suite for orchestra & female chorus, Op. 32, H. 125 No 1, Mars, the Bringer of War, conclusion
Composed by Gustav Holst
Performed by London Symphony Orchestra
Conducted by Andre Previn
12. Romeo and Juliet, Suite No. 2 for orchestra, Op. 64 ter Montagues and Capulets
Composed by Sergey Prokofiev
Performed by Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Mariss Jansons
13. Lohengrin, opera, WWV 75 [Prelude To Act III]
Composed by Richard Wagner
Performed by Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Klaus Tennstedt
14. L'oiseau de feu (The Firebird), ballet in 2 scenes for orchestra
Composed by Igor Stravinsky
Performed by Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Conducted by Klaus Tennstedt
15. Symphony No. 1 in D major ("Titan") Fourth Movement: Stürmisch bewegt
Composed by Gustav Mahler
Performed by Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Conducted by Klaus Tennstedt
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Good ? Mejames!I'm Basically looking for Classicial for Rockers.Mahler [Zander]5 and 6 are good on SACD as the 1812 mentioned.I'm looking for darker,denser,dynamic,Heavy perhaps Haunting Classicial closer to prog rock.Is it out there? |
The Romantics and Impressionists had orchestration possibilities at their disposal that the Baroquers and Classicists did not have.
Let me suggest just these few: Shostakovich Symphony #5-final movement.Borodin,Symphony #2. Richard Strauss,Don Juan.
Allow me one classic era pick. Beethoven Symphony #9.last movement-big orchestra,big chorus. |
Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture on Telarc is probably just what you need. Very dynamic......Lots of noise, church bell, cannons, and in the right performance even some chorus. |
