Classical Music Appreciation Station

Volucrisus Aedrius

Hello Marquis and Marquesses, Mademoiselles and Gendarmes, come right this way. Your balcony has been prepared.

Listen to these sounds as you take your seats.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTogzg5mwro

This is the thread for classical music, but the music need not come from the classical age. It need not be composed several hundred years ago in Vienna to qualify. Here we do not judge because the music does not conform to a certain trend, nor will we look down on music because it was created for the purpose of enhancing other media: some of the most beautiful classical music composed in the last decade has been done so for films.

But enough of this talk, the orchestra has tuned, the lighting has dimmed, the conductor has tapped his stand for attention. Every errant whisper magnifies in this silence, let us not contribute to it ourselves.

Here, now, a selection of my personal favorites to get the discussion rolling:

The most famous of Elgar's Enigmas, made so because of the Rob Dougan and the Matrix.

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

The most esteemed Impressionist composer Claude Debussy's famous "La Fille aux Chevaux de Lin." One can only wonder at the French beauty that inspired this intricate creation.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4XgxduIv_0

And last but not certainly least, Antonin Dvorak's incredible New World Symphony, 4th movement. Please do try your best not to lose your monocles, gentlemen, this piece is quite bombastic.

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

But enough of my preferences, no musical hall of any repute plays only to one set of tastes. Let us share.

Edit: Just as a courtesy, and I know my OP has 4 youtube links, but lets try to keep the youtube embeds to one or to per post so that the forums don't shit the bed. K thanks.

Bucketman

Gustav Holst is like sex for my ears

I'd Fuck Chuck Lidell Up

This song

right here

all day

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ef-4Bv5Ng0w&feature=related

GeoMitch

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46RouQPATVo

Adus

Probably my favorite:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uOxOgm5jQ4

Solar

Can't talk about classical music without this guy

Mozart's Reqiuem, Lacrimosa

I sung that once as part of my school choir. Really such a lovely piece, the entire requiem is really.

And this is lovely as well

Vaughan Williams' Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis

So good

Ulises

i was going to make this thread in a few minutes, i have a half-written out OP and everything

that's more than a little odd, isn't it?

Ulises

everyone go listen to bach's cello suites

Solar

Ulises wrote: »

everyone go listen to bach's cello suites

Man yes

Those are fantastic

ASimPerson

It always gets to me that the 2nd movement of From the New World is the one that seems to get included in more things. The 4th is just so great!

Volucrisus Aedrius

Just as a courtesy, lets try to keep the embeds to one or two per post. I added this to the OP. Also, excellent selections thusfar. SE++ is classy peoples.

Kochikens

I saw Joshua Bell play Sibelius Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D minor, Op. 47 while I was in New York
fucking
Amazing


I also saw Magnus Lindberg's Kraft. It was awesome. So many people walked out. And Debussy: Prélude à l’après midi d’un faune. SO GOOD.


Can we talk about Opera in here too?

Goatmon

Some music that's just intensely awesome.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsKUUn29tSs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=goeOUTRy2es

And some more fun stuff.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifKKlhYF53w

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ti-bpjcPD40

Volucrisus Aedrius

Opera is absolutely appropriate.

ASimPerson wrote: »

It always gets to me that the 2nd movement of From the New World is the one that seems to get included in more things. The 4th is just so great!

The first few minutes of the 4th movement are some of the most incredible I've ever encountered. Its just so over-the-top, and the themes are very, ah, "concrete" if the word makes sense. They stick with you, in your head for days.

ASimPerson

Volucrisus Aedrius wrote: »

Opera is absolutely appropriate.

ASimPerson wrote: »

It always gets to me that the 2nd movement of From the New World is the one that seems to get included in more things. The 4th is just so great!

The first few minutes of the 4th movement are some of the most incredible I've ever encountered. Its just so over-the-top, and the themes are very, ah, "concrete" if the word makes sense. They stick with you, in your head for days.

Indeed. I'm not sure I'm all that cut out for the Classical Music Appreciation Station, but I was just so darn glad to see that included in the OP.

I'd Fuck Chuck Lidell Up

If opera is allowed I feel like I should be able to post this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0SWaGfkPxA&feature=fvst

mainly because the 25th anniversary comes out the 22nd

Kochikens

I'm taking Feebs to La Clemenza di Tito. I wasn't going to dress up but now she is so I guess I sort of have to. Dressing up for Opera is the worst part BLUGH. Also I love Cineplex's like, streaming like from the met opera thing. I saw Das Rheingold and I already bought my tickets for Die Walküre I AM SO EXCITED.

Adus

This one too:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_2FKcorqqE

Volucrisus Aedrius

If the music is orchestral it fits in this thread. Like I said in the OP, it doesn't have to be ancient, or widely regarded. It can be your favorite theme from a movie soundtrack! This is not just a thread for stuffy European nobility.

Adus

And regarding the New World Symphony, I first heard it thanks to this song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L95MNCQzD-A

Still a variation I'm quite fond of.

Solar

It's a bit of a cliche but this really is a lovely piece

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lV3SHBFyDZM

Very moving.

Goatmon

I don't suppose this is properly orchestral, since it's just percussions and strings, but I'm posting it anyway because it's damn good.

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

Kochikens

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKJgTqRWsKg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJXTwGbAjVA&feature=related

Volucrisus Aedrius

That is still very much acceptable, Goatmon.

Here is perhaps my most favorite soundtrack of all time:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q04geeGvu2c

I'd Fuck Chuck Lidell Up

Ooh man I almost forgot about

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05__Fsn_nHs

Love this song, especially because it reminds me of 2 of my favorite composers: Chopin and Debussy

Adus

Symphonic metal is something I'm a sucker for.

Here's an instrumental of a great song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfEJwK6InXc&

[vidURL="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGBZuf3mvy0"](With Vocals)[/vidURL]

Also this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lB7hFnn2Rw

Lost Salient

So, there's a channel here on the TV that shows, for the most part, full-length operas. Old ones, new ones. It's totally fucking awesome if you like opera a lot, which I do.

This is the latest thing I watched, a bizarre version of Wagner's Gotterdammerung - this is the immolation scene and the very end of the opera, but you can watch almost the whole thing if you like. It is completely off the wall. For example, in the preceding scene, Gurtrune makes her stage entrance via a giant Death Star.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8njyLeEfuQ

For those of you unaware of the basic plot of Gotterdammerung, it's the last in Wagner's Ring Cycle and the whole thing is going to hell. There's magic spells and rings and mistaken identities and sex with the wrong people and broken promises that Odin doesn't like. All you reall need to remember is that Hagen is a bad man and Brunnhilde in this scene is going to save everyone's bacon by dying in a fire.

(The people underneath the fire are the Rhinemaidens.)

FYI there are some butts in the video. Not scandalous, but definitely buttocks.

Liiya

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

Solar

Not heard that before Liiya

It's really good

Liiya

The beeb have used it before, that's how I found it. Glad you like it!

Volucrisus Aedrius

I can't believe I forgot about this song, I should have included it into the OP

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RD3WwM6l1J0

Also, that piece is very much up my alley, Liiya. Very soothing - I have found new music to go to sleep by.

101

love this song/film

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-7P_HyrRWM

e: also

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxUH4_7OxRA&feature=related

ascot

I'm terrible at listening to classical music because I cant help trying to figure out what movie it's from. Even when it isn't. It's as though my brain is preprogrammed to associate any classical music with a soundtrack. Especially anything with big french horns, i'm like, ooh Phantom Menace right?

Saying that I love me some violin and piano only stuff. Examples of that please, knowing people.

Ulises

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2ifFuF3FoQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCaaPaQx5zg

Monkeyfeet

My favorite old school classical piece is Ravel's Piano Concerto in G.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbI4c2os6YU

Also love me some Copeland.

My favorite newest piece is this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvbCV6E0Wro

Monkeyfeet

And of course nowadays all good orchestration comes from movies. Especially kids movies. Especially John Powell.

John Powell

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9TanR_3M0o

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9n3ZDgU4nYI&feature=related

Not John Powell

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruju5ee1SFc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmXvCSsjU10&feature=related

Poorochondriac

Ain't no party like a Vivaldi party 'cause a Vivaldi party has four movements

Lost Salient

No no one listen to anything but opera from now on

You can go to places like Bregenz for Die Bregenzer Festspiel (as featured in Quantum of Solace, you may recognize) and see shit like this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZhJu9fEistw

The end of the Triumphal March from Aida only it's on a fucking lake

And here is - maybe? - the most famous-est aria ever. The young chick is the heroine and the super-scary woman is Diana Damrau playing the Queen of the Night, her mother. She tells her daughter that she has to kill another character or something-something-hell's-vengeance-disowned-blah-de-blah. (You can tell they're angry because they're talking in German.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXOYcd6KZ0E

Or if those are way too tame maybe you'd like to watch a disembodied head singing to her robot body. Because yeah. Opera's got that.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5trA-lv6MI

Who wants more? I got more!

#pipe

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-jDld11jhw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8Ca_edg6RE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mw0oQ4sD4us

I like this thread

#pipe

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afVd7qrxoO4

this might be my favourite piece of music ever written.

Monkeyfeet

Alright opera

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RM6fB2t1-pU&feature=fvst