Classical music/musicians??

[Kay/NC]

Although I enjoyed studying classical music in my college musical appreciation course, it isn't usually my first choice for listening.  We aveh a wide variety of musical genres represented in the CD collection, but only a title or two that might be construed as classically influenced. 

A couple of others are by famous classical musicians, stepping inot other types of music with their talents.  I like crossover/combination albums like Robert Plant and Allison Krauss on "Raising Sand", too.  Tony Bennett singing with Lady Gaga is a great duet, for instance.  (He's made a whole album of these unexpected duets).

This week, YoYo Ma appeared  on TV, in a quartet with some famous musicians out of other musical walks.  I'd say this is the Nickel Creek version of country - mandolin, fiddle and base - combined with the world's greatest cello. 

The album is called "Goat Rodeo Sessions."  I went to amazon to hear a few samples, and loved it.  I greatly enjoyed Ma's Christmas album last year, so I've ordered this one, too.  I hadn't realized hs is doing routine explorations of other musical styles with his cello. 

While I probably won't end up humming Bach or Baroque tunes, I truly like these popularized pieces, done by a classical genius.  I think the mark of a true gift is that it can be employed in many and various ways. 

Made me wonder:  Do any of you enjoy classical music or the work of classical musicians, in or out of their normal field of performance?

[Jim Meade / Iowa City]

I listen to a lot of classical music.  Beethoven is my favorite, especially the Fifth and Ninth symphonies.  For pure musical pleasure, it is hard to match Pavarotti singing famous arias. For an intro to opera, get the Julia Migenes - Placido Domingo version of Carmen.  No "fat lady singing", Migenes is as sultry and sexy as the role calls for and has a great voice.  One of the most fun operas is the Mozart's Die Zauberfloete (the Magic Flute) directed by Ingmar Bergman.  The libretto is in Swedish, but with the subtitles it's OK.  Hansel and Gretel is fun, too.

For light classical music I like Von Suppe's Light Cavalry March, most anything by Johann Strass (father or son).

Verdi has really wonderful opera arias for female singers.  You can buy a compilation and not go wrong.

I think opera is best seen as well as heard.  

You probably know that Beethoven was totally deaf when he wrote the Ninth Symphony.  Unbelievable.   

I certainly don't like all classical music.  Piano and violin works that are mostly an exercise in "see how fancy I can play" leave me cold. 

One our TV satellite package, three of the channels are classical, either opera, symphonies or "popular' songs.  We listen to the classical pop station nearly every day. 

I've seen a number of crossover artists, such as pop musicians playing classical or opera singers going pop and have to say that most of the time I wish they'd stay in their best field. 

[lawinkle]

I mainly listen to classical music on my satellite radio and have several CD collections. Unlike Jim I really don't know exactly what I am listening to but I find it soothing and relaxing. When I am stressed at the office I listen to classical stations on my XM. There was a trio at Downtown Disney in Orlando two years ago called Nova Era. They put a great spin on some familiar classical pieces. I could listen to their music for hours. I also like Andre Rieu. Especially the Tuscany and Ireland concert CDs. I am currently completing a home audio course on how to listen to and interpret great music. I hope to gain more knowledge and refine my taste.

[dairy mom]

I enjoy some classical music.  Don't really listen very often anymore.  Paid more attention when I was younger and still taking piano lessons.  I quit lessons because of a Rachmanioff that was just too much for me, needed a little  more reach for those octave plus chords.

My fil and I once attended a quartet concert in this little building, in this little almost nonexistant burg in Michigan that was an accoustically perfect building. Magnificent.  They used to hold events there quit often just because it was unique that this old building was perfect.

[Kay/NC]

When I've tuned to such signals, I occasionally recognize a selection or two from college days in Music Appreciation. Sort of the way I feel in a fine art museum, I am in awe of the work, but feel,inadequate to appreciate it. I would like to know which course you are using, if you could link me to it when you habpve the time, please. This reminded me this Koenig of the NYC trip I took with my BFF and her husband last December. The best thing od the whole trip for me was dinner out in a restaurant where the opera singers drop in to perform while you eat. There was a gifted, ancient pianist axxompanying them, who never looked at a single sheet of music the whole time. It was stunning to sit within 20 feet of such talent. During the whole meal, which lasted 3-4 hours, I realized that I recognized a lot of the pieces being performed, and the basic story lines of the operas...but, the source of my knowledge was mostly Bugs Bunny cartoons!!!! I definitely need to step up my game on this account....

[soilbabe]

Last year in Vienna Austria we attended a concert in a "salon" where Bethoven actuallly performed a few hundred years ago. the acoustics were amazing and the whole experience just magical. We could not get tickets to the Vienna Boys Choir but hope to hear them in concert some day. I bought several CDs of Gregorian chants at the many cathedrals we visited. The music at the Kelly Abbey was literally heavenly. This thread is making me homesick....

[soilbabe]

Melk Abbey....stupid Droid feature I have a love/hate relationship with...lolol

[Kay/NC]

DROID does have a mind of its own...can really play havoc with speech texting and a Southern accent. IPad is even worse in a way...always thinks " its" is supposed to be written " it's", etc. Okay, did you read into " At Home" far enough to get to the chapter on the drawing room? Just read the origins and evolution of the word "salon" in that one this morning.