Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utcsrgv.UUCP
Path: utzoo!utcsrgv!jrc
From: jrc@utcsrgv.UUCP (J.R. Cordy)
Newsgroups: net.music.classical
Subject: Re: Introduction to Classical Music
Message-ID: <4199@utcsrgv.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 8-May-84 08:53:15 EDT
Article-I.D.: utcsrgv.4199
Posted: Tue May  8 08:53:15 1984
Date-Received: Tue, 8-May-84 10:28:43 EDT
Organization: CSRG, University of Toronto
Lines: 78

[]

Well, gang, it's a long time ago, but it seems to me that
when I was first introduced to classical music, there were
two overriding considerations (since I had not been brought
up on it) :

	1)  Could I test it out without spending much money?

	2)  Did it sound enough like 'movie' music that I could
	    approach it without feeling like a snob?

Now that I'm working full time, I'm comfortable with being a
snob, and these considerations don't count for as much (although
I must admit that I still search bargain bins for old recordings
by my favourite artists and conductors).

With these two criteria in mind, I have some suggestions for
approachable classical music that you'll enjoy without losing
your shirt.  If nothing else, at least these selections won't 
put you to sleep while preparing you for the subtleties of
Vivaldi.


	1)  Beethoven Symphony #5, "The Inevitable", a.k.a.
		"The Victory"

		Many good cheap recordings are available.
		As I recall, there's one on the cheapy label
		'Ace of Diamonds' (London) by Ansermet which
		is a super rendition, but aging.
		The ones that sound most like movie music
		are conducted by Bernstein.  I still sort of
		like his renditions anyway, he's not a wimp.

	2)  Rimsky-Korsakov, "Scheherazade" (SP?)

		Along with the next selection, the source of all
		movie themes.  Good stuff.  Many cheap recordings
		available.

	3)  Holst, "The Planets"

		The source of the remaining few movie themes.
		CBS Great Recordings series version is good and
		cheap.

	4)  Dvorak Symphony #9, "From the New World"
		
		Lots of good cheap recordings of this.
		Again, a real bargain is the 'Ace of Diamonds'
		recording, if you can find it.  A must for neophytes.
		If you want something more sophisticated, try
		the Toronto Symphony / Davis recording on
		CBC SM-5000.

	5)  Prokofiev, Highlights from "Romeo and Juliet"

		One of the best of a large number of
		approachable ballet scores.  Don't confuse
		this with Tchaikovsky's R&J, which is not
		nearly as impressive.

	6)  Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto #1, "Also Inevitable"

		Lots of pomp and circumstance.  Easy to get
		cheap recordings.


There are lots more, but these are the ones I remember enjoying
most when I was a neophyte.  Try them, you'll like them.

Jim Cordy
University of Toronto
Computer Systems Research Institute

-- 
James R. Cordy