Pieces Everyone Needs to Know

windshieldbug · Post by **windshieldbug** » Sun Jul 31, 2005 1:26 pm

mandrake wrote:The answer to this question is obvious: it's a fad. Twentieth Century Music will cease to be written as soon as musicologists realise that it's the Twenty-First Century.

Stefan Kac · Post by **Stefan Kac** » Sun Jul 31, 2005 2:02 pm

Kernis- Second Symphony

Debussy- La Mer

Messaien- Quartet for the End of Time

Stravinsky- Rite of Spring

Schumann- Symphony No. 2

Anterux · Post by **Anterux** » Sun Jul 31, 2005 4:14 pm

Charlie Goodman wrote:Maybe I'm missing something, but I'm pretty sure that more than just dodecaphonic music was composed during the twentieth century. I don't see any reason why stuff like Stravinsky, Vaughan Williams, Copland and the rest won't continue to be appreciated as long as anybody still listens to classical music.

Yes. In fact, dodecaphonism is just a little minority.

And even today, as I think Prokofiev said, "There are still so much to say in C Major!..."

TexTuba · Post by **TexTuba** » Mon Aug 01, 2005 9:54 am

Here's my 5:

Tchaik 4 (Montreal/Dutoit)
Mahler 7 (Berlin/Abbado)
Planets (Montreal/Dutoit)
Mahler 1 (CSO/Solti)
Pictures

Ralph

Chuck(G) · Post by **Chuck(G)** » Mon Aug 01, 2005 11:56 am

Isn't it interesting that most of the suggestions submitted are largely massive-ensemble type of works?

How about the Chopin Polonaise in Ab major? Or the Beethoven Razumovsky quartet?

Any other nominations (Bach's been mentioned) for small, quiet music?

windshieldbug · Post by **windshieldbug** » Mon Aug 01, 2005 12:21 pm

Chuck(G) wrote:Any other nominations (Bach's been mentioned) for small, quiet music?

What's that? (and why would anyone ever listen to it???)

Matt G · Post by **Matt G** » Mon Aug 01, 2005 2:52 pm

The list is great so far. Here are a few of my favorites:

Shostakovich 7

Prokofiev's R&J

Bruckner 8

Bach's Brandenburg Co. No. 3

Vivaldi - Four Seasons

dtemp · Post by **dtemp** » Mon Aug 01, 2005 5:27 pm

barry guerrero wrote:I'd say listen to everything, regardless of genre or place of origin. My exception to that would be the "hottest", flavor-of-the-month pop/rock/soul/hip-rap/rap, etc. My objection there isn't the type of music. Instead, just wait until the hype is over to see if the music has any real legs to stand on. So much of that stuff is just here and gone.

Barry Guerrero

I agree. There are a lot of artists out there that perform music in different "pop" genres. However, the good ones rarely get on the radio. The ones that we're mostly exposed to are indeed "flavor-of-the-month". It's nice to see someone who doesn't disregard a certain genre just because they don't like the not-so-good representations of these genres heard on radio and TV. Cheers Barry!

Arkietuba · Post by **Arkietuba** » Mon Aug 01, 2005 8:48 pm

Shostakovich-5th and 9th Symphonies
Wagner-Magic Fire Music
Copland-Fanfare for the Comman Man
Holst-Hammersmith

Chuck Jackson · Post by **Chuck Jackson** » Mon Aug 01, 2005 10:38 pm

The V-W "Hodie" is a musicians piece. Wonderful to play, but almost impossible to listen to as an audience member. The LV Phil did this piece last Cristmas and it got a lackluster response depsite some GREAT playing. I think we have come to the point in our cultural evolution that the "masses" expect secular, short holiday tunes to be filled with the spirit of the season. Nothing like a little "Frosty" to jump start ones love to spend in a time when we should be reflective, not reactive.

Chuck[/quote]

a2ba4u · Post by **a2ba4u** » Tue Aug 02, 2005 12:57 am

Interesting thread so far. The Amazon.com wish list has definately received some updating because of it!

Below is my contribution to the discussion. They are in no particular order, and I intentionally left out several of the more standard pieces that have already been mentioned (the Beethoven symphonies, Heldenleben, etc.) so as not to be repetitive.

And they are...

1. Gorecki - Miserere......I can't recall ever being more moved by a piece of 20th century music. Absolutely profound.

2. Shostakovitch - Symphony No. 4......Would somebody please tell me why this piece is not played more often?!

3. Maslanka - Symphony No. 4.......My favorite piece of band music of all time. Also one of the toughest piccolo trumpet parts ever written.

4. Reich - Music for Mallet Instruments, Voices, and Organ......At the risk of having my artistic license revoked or suspended by certain members of this forum who seem to have, at best, a disdain for "minimalism," I will submit this piece as a fine example of a style of music that too often becomes the butt of jokes rather than the object of study. Plus, I love the piece. So there.

5. Yoshimatsu - CyberBird Concerto......If you need to expand your saxophonic horizons, this is a terrific piece to start with. Not to stereotype too much here, but this work is a totally refreshing change from the 'Screech and Fart' style of music that, along with the 'I Defy You to Find a V-I Cadence' style, seems to characterize much of the classical saxophone repertoire.

Kyle