Classical Music

The Z · Post by **The Z** » Sun Sep 29, 2002 8:04 pm

Does anyone know of any good classical songs that can psyche someone up (eg. Carmina Burana, Gladiator Soundtrack, Baldur's Gate music)

ruined letters · Post by **ruined letters** » Sun Sep 29, 2002 8:25 pm

Um, Tons of Stuff by Handel can get you pumped.
Bach has tons of stuff, namely Tocatta in D minor.
Beethoven, 5th etc.
Tchaikovsky, Nutcracker etc.
Mendelssohn, has marches and stuff
Rachmaninoff, has a lot really fast crazy stuff.
Gershwin, more modern, has jazzy music.
Lanz, has a lot of fast intense music, my favorite being Dancing on the Berlin Wall
Sorry if i'm just way too generic on these, I'd go with the Beethoven or Lanz.
May I ask what this is for?

C Elegans · Post by **C Elegans** » Sun Sep 29, 2002 8:31 pm

Psych someone up?

Lygety.
Schnittke.
Schoenberg.
Stockhausen.
Stravinsky's symphonies.

Very atonal, modernistic stuff, some of which border the limit of what may be defined as music. As far from the classisists as you can get, but still symphonic.

The Z · Post by **The Z** » Sun Sep 29, 2002 8:32 pm

I kinda got tired of listening to lots of metal and hard rock, so I'm going for a diversion. Carmina Burana is one of my favourite songs so I was just looking to find others like it.

BTW - Thanks for the songs, I'll have to check them out.

ruined letters · Post by **ruined letters** » Sun Sep 29, 2002 8:35 pm

That's actually what's happened to me. I'm really into punk etc. but for the past few weeks I've been almost exclusivly listening to classical music. For me the first stop in the road to classical music appreciation was the most amazing site on the internet on the web. Soyouwanna.com. oh yes.
el link: http://www.soyouwanna.com/site/syws/cla ... sical.html

The Z · Post by **The Z** » Sun Sep 29, 2002 8:45 pm

Wow that's a lot of info, thanks again

Chanak · Post by **Chanak** » Sun Sep 29, 2002 9:33 pm

@The Z:

You sound like me, when I tire of listening to old Iron Maiden and Metallica. The Gladiator soundtrack is very nice to plug into - however, the big screen tracks are not what you are wanting. Instead, look for a CD by the composer that is comprised of versions of the tracks he composed prior to the orchestra working them over. It is more powerful and raw, and the rendition of the Gladiator Waltz on that CD will make you want to join the Roman Legions and charge barbarians in Germania, locking shields with your fellow legionnaires as flaming oil and arrows streak overhead.

Thcaikovsky composed some very powerful pieces in his time. I often like to listen to his stuff - to me, there is a somewhat militant undertone to some of his compositions. Mozart can also be quite peppy at times. Scarlatti also has some high-energy pieces for the harpsichord that are worth listening to. Have fun!

Xandax · Post by **Xandax** » Sun Sep 29, 2002 11:08 pm

Grieg with Peer Gynt Suite.
Beethovens 9th Symphony (4th Movement)

2 of my absolut favorites.

fable · Post by **fable** » Mon Sep 30, 2002 12:17 am

Can you explain what you want when you write of "psyching someone up?" Are you looking for something that really gets the adrenalin pumping? Or something that shocks you? Or something that's got really great melodies?

Morlock · Post by **Morlock** » Mon Sep 30, 2002 4:00 pm

As Fable, I'm also not sure what you mean.
Though I am starting to get into Prokofiev, who has a lot of great stuff, and so far all I've heard are really wonderful dark themes by him. If you want to test him out, try 'Montagues and Capulets' from Romeo and Juliet, or 'A night on the Bare mountain' (It's in Fantasia).

On a side note (mostly to Fable):
I want to try out Stravinsky, but I can't seem ot find any pieces I really like. Could you recommend any pieces you like of his? I usualy go for very thematic material, something that really strikes from the start.

C Elegans · Post by **C Elegans** » Mon Sep 30, 2002 6:42 pm

Night on the bare mountain was written by Mussorgsky IIRC

Prokofiew is a nice composer, the ballet music to Romeo & Juliet is nice, but don't forget to check out his symphonies. He has also made some rather unconventional stuff.

Rite of spring is the "beginner's choice" for Stravinsky, my personal favorite is Symphony in C, though. Symphony in three movements is also very nice, it has a striking intro

If you like ballet music, which is often more thematic and easy to listen to, you could try Firebird and Petrouchka (sp?). If you like opera, try Oedipus Rex, it's an interesting work.

fable · Post by **fable** » Mon Sep 30, 2002 7:14 pm

Originally posted by Morlock
On a side note (mostly to Fable):
I want to try out Stravinsky, but I can't seem ot find any pieces I really like. Could you recommend any pieces you like of his? I usualy go for very thematic material, something that really strikes from the start.

Try The Firebird. It's more thematic, less fragmented than Rite of Spring (though the ending of RoS is wonderful). Also good are Petrushka, and Pulcinella. All four works are orchestral ballets. Stick to Stravinsky's first period--avoid stuff like the Dumbarton Oaks Concerto and Apollon Musagete, which are incredibly repetitive. Hope that helps.

The Z · Post by **The Z** » Mon Sep 30, 2002 9:04 pm

Not so psyche up as in Adrenaline pumping, but something that moves you in a way that you want to just get up and do what you've gotta do. Something inspiring, preferably a touch of darkness too.

EDIT - Great stuff people...I may just give up the hard rock

ruined letters · Post by **ruined letters** » Tue Oct 01, 2002 12:17 am

Ah, Beethoven's 9th, movement 4. After watching Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange this has taken on new meaning for me. Same with Singing in the Rain. The sound track to that movie is pretty much classical but very very creepy and can really get your blood going. I strongly suggest it. You may think I'm a total loser for this, but Peter and the Wolf may just be my favorite by Prokofiev. The version without the narration is much better, I feel that the narration takes away from it. Rite of Spring is really amazing, although, well, there are some parts that you almost can't even call music, it's just noise, it really depends what kind of mood you're in when you listen to it.

Beldin · Post by **Beldin** » Tue Oct 01, 2002 12:27 am

R. Wagner: "Walkürenritt" (-> "Apocalypse Now" ...the helicopter attack).

R.Wagner: "The flying Dutchman" (esp. the "Seemannschor" = "Sailors Choir" ??)

R.Strauss: "Also sprach Zarathustra" (Theme from "2001 - Space Odyssey")

M.Ravel: "Bolero" (...remember the flick with Bo Derek

?)

P. Tchaikovsky: "Overture 1810"

No worries,

Beldin

Morlock · Post by **Morlock** » Tue Oct 01, 2002 12:51 am

Originally posted by ruined letters
You may think I'm a total loser for this, but Peter and the Wolf may just be my favorite by Prokofiev.

Not at all, my only problem is that I can't find a decent version of the march, so far I can only find extremely slow versions of it.

Originally posted by Beldin
R.Strauss: "Also sprach Zarathustra" (Theme from "2001 - Space Odyssey")

I never understood all the hype surronding this piece (same with the movie

). The tune is based on sound and tempo, not on much melody. IMO, Melodicaly, it isn't very well structured.

I know this is very possibly the most famous piece of classical music ever, but I find Beethoven's 5th symphony one of the most inspiring pieces ever. Although I definatly agree with RL about the former's 9th symphony.

Have you tried Dvorak? his 9th symphony is one my favorites (after Beethoven's 5th, 6th and 9th), each one of it's movement has a very different, very thematic climax. IMO the best movement is the 4th, but go for 3rd if you want something dark.

I know this isn't what you asked for, but, just having seen the movie, I have to recommend 'Ave Satani', the theme from 'The Omen', by Jerry Goldsmith. It simply takes darkness to a whole new level.
Goldsmith said he wrote it as a mass, or Hail Mary, but for the devil. Except for the love theme, the entire soundtrack is wonderfuly dark, and the choral group whispering 'Anti Christo' realy makes the hair on the back of your neck stand.

Minerva · Post by **Minerva** » Tue Oct 01, 2002 3:48 am

Holst, The Planets (Get Karajan/Berlin Philharmony version)
Rimsky-Korsakov, Scherazade, Capriccio Espanol
Berlioz, OvertureBenvenute Cellini
Dovorak, Symphony No. 8 & 9, Slavonic Dance
Lalo, Symphony Espanole
Tchaikovsky, Symphony No.4, Overture 1812
Rakhmaninov, Piano Concerto No.2
Shostakovic, Symphony No.5
Saint-Saens, Violin Concerto No.3, Carnival of Animals (No, it's not the representation of the SYM)
Simbelius, Finlandia
Ravel, Daphnis et Chloe
Beethoven. Symphony No.7 (THE best!)

Re: Stravinski: My favourite is Petrushka.

Re: Ravel: I think Bolero needs patience for someone who suddenly decided to try Classical music. I believe Ravel is genius of orchestration.

Personally, I don't believe in listening to just a part of movement of Symphony or Concerto.

fable · Post by **fable** » Tue Oct 01, 2002 9:09 am

Originally posted by The Z
Not so psyche up as in Adrenaline pumping, but something that moves you in a way that you want to just get up and do what you've gotta do. Something inspiring, preferably a touch of darkness too.

Try these:

Handel's Water Music and Royal Fireworks Music

Glazunov's Fifth Symphony (also the First and Second, but especially the Fifth)

Nielsen's Symphony #1

Roussel's Third and Fourth Symphonies. Wonderfully rousing stuff. I'm especially partial to the opening movement of the Third, and the last two movements of the Fourth.

(Here's a link to listen to the opening bars of any of the four movements from all four of his symphonies.)

Any number of fine Renaissance Dance Music selections, arranged by composers of the time: Susato, Byrd, Bull, Scheidt, Holbourne, etc. These are all short, zestful, tuneful pieces. Here's a link to a typical CD of the stuff, where the first dozen or so selections (which you can hear bits of) fit the requirements well.

Schumann's Konzertstuck for 4 Horns. One of the most manic, hyper-caffeinated pieces in the classical repertoire, especially for the first and last movements. Here's a link to listen to the opening of each movement. Try cuts 5 and 7.

Many operatic overtures feature the most tuneful, energetic melodies in a given work. Typical instances are Bernstein's Candide and Glinka's Ruslan and Ludmilla. Try this link and choose selections 4 and 1 to hear the opening of each. Also, look for the overtures to Smetana's Bartered Bride, Nicolai's Merry Wives of Windsor, Hartmann's Ali Baba Overture, Berlioz's Roman Carnival Overture, Borodin's Prince Igor, Rimsky-Korsakov's May Night, Mozart's Marriage of Figaro and Don Giovanni, and any overtures by Rossini.

Many works don't lend themselves to a single mood, which is why I haven't suggested Night on Bald Mountain or Pictures at an Exhibition, by Mussorgsky. But there are many compositions with sections that might fit your needs. After my wife complained about the "slow, sleepy music" which was part of complete classical works I took with us on cassette while motoring, I made special cassettes with just a a movement or two of these pieces. Here are some examples:

The March from Holst's First Suite for Military Band in Eb (choose the third selection on this page to hear a bit of it).

The third movement of Beethoven's Piano Concerto #5

The third movement of Glazunov's Violin Concerto (Try here and choose the sixth cut for the opening.)

The fourth movement of Mendelssohn's Symhony #4

The first and final movements of Shostakovich's Symphony #9

The final movement of Korngold's Violin Concerto (which reuses themes he first used in several of his movie scores, including Robin Hood and The Prince and the Pauper)

The final movements to all Mozart, Beethoven and Haydn symphonies

The third movement of Tchaikovsky's Sixth Symphony

The final movement of Nielsen's Second Symphony. He wrote each movement to reflect an extreme example of one of the four classical "temperaments"--choleric, melancholic, phlegmatic, sanguinary--and sanguinary is the last. The portrait of a bustling, optimistic, somewhat light-headed character is classic.

Hope that helps.

Minerva · Post by **Minerva** » Tue Oct 01, 2002 9:45 am

One advice

If you haven't listened to Classical music much until now, get recordings by good Orchestras.

I don't know if other members agree with me, but I found cheap CDs with unknown orchestras are clearly not up to standard. You could be put off by bad recording (ie, too slow or not quite in harmony). They are cheap, and it shows.

Get orchestras like Belrin/Vienna/Boston Philharmonic, or Orchestre de Paris. (There are some other good ones).

~while listen to Saint-Saens' violin concert no.3 by Itzhak Palman with Orchaestra de Paris, conducted by Daniel Baremboim (Great recording this

)~

VoodooDali · Post by **VoodooDali** » Tue Oct 01, 2002 2:41 pm

Listen to some Chopin Etudes - if the Revolutionary Etude doesn't psych you, nothing will...

Same goes for the third movement of the Moonlight Sonata (I'm extremely sick of the first, since I've played piano all my life)

The Rachmaninoff concertos are pretty exciting too.