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Any advice for classical works under 15 minutes long for me to listen to? I like stuff like the Bolero, the Moldeau, and Syrinx, for example. Trying to expand my horizons ^^.
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Why under 15 minutes? Just curious. You're sort of limiting your options.
If you can find a quality collection of Strauss waltzes, they're pretty much all under 15 minutes. It's not my personal favorite (I don't dislike him, just not at the top of my list.) But it does fit the criterion.
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My version of Carmina Burana clocks in at just over an hour. You'd have to smoke through that thing pretty quickly to get it in under the time limit.
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Ah, we listened to Strauss waltzes at work today. I love those -- so invigorating, especially if you turn up the voume.
I recommend Bach's cello suites (I have a wonderful recording of Yoyo Ma). In my opinion, they are the most beautiful music ever written.
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I love the Bach cello suites, but I play cello so that's expected. I think that it's those that several music experts say the Janos Starker versions are better, which makes me happy because he teaches some of my friends at IU.
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I adore those cello suites breyerchic. The 1st is my favorite.
You need some Aaron Copland. Each movement of Rodeo is under 15 minutes. Fanfare for the Common Man is like 2 minutes.
Grab a couple good symphonies and only listen to one movement at a time. the 4th movement of Mahler No. 5 is exquisite. The 4th movement of Shostakovich No. 5 is fantastic. The second movement of Tchaikovsky No. 5 has a beautiful french horn solo. The 2nd movement of Dvorak No. 9 is famous and rightly so. The first movement of the Mendelssohn Violin concerto is really nice, as is the first movement of the Tchaikovsky violin concerto no. 1. There are zillions of others.
For other zippy and shorter works, pick up Slavonic Dances by Antonin Dvorak. So much fun! There's another great CD called "Ancient Aires and Dances" all by Respighi. I listen to it all the time, it's really wonderful.
Then you can start on seperate movements from string quartets. Dvorak's American quartet is lovely. Beethoven's Op. 131 has 7 movements, some of which are pretty short. Debussy's string quartet, as well as Ravel's are just delightful. (The 3rd movement is my favorite from the Debussy.)
Then you should pick up some opera. The Overture from the Barber of Seville by Rossini is famous and a kick in the pants. The overture from the Bartered Bride by Smetana is really nice. Any Mozart overture (the Magic Flute, Don Giovanni) is lots of fun. Grab the final quintet from Die Rosenkavalier by Strauss (Richard, I think.) Puccini overtures (Tosca, Madame Butterfly, La Boheme) and any of the arias are very listenable (rather stunning actually) and all under 15 minutes.
Now you need some earlier music. Grab the Tallis Scholars greatest hits for some really great early madrigals by Palestrina, Tallis, etc. You should hear Water music and Music for the Royal Fireworks by Handel as well as the Brandenburg Concertos by Bach. Anything by either of those two is really fun. Brass quintets have recorded lots of their brass stuff and it's really nice.
That should get you started. I'll probably think of more.
Posts: 6415 | Registered: Jul 2000
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Oooh, I forgot Vivaldi. Get some Vivaldi cello concertos as well as The Four Seasons. Listen to more than just "Spring" (I love Winter).
Massenet's piece from the opera "Thais" is so so so lovely. It's called "Meditation" I think. He's also written other great opera that's definitely worth looking into.
Brahms' symphonies are pretty awesome, and if you take them one movement at a time, most of it will clock in under 15 minutes.
Grab a CD of piano solos by Debussy, Ravel, Chopin, Liszt, Mendelssohn, Schumann, Schubert, or a few Beethoven piano Sonatas for some shorter, beautiful music.
Speaking of Debussy, and if you don't mind vocal music, grab some of his chanson sung by a good soprano or Baritone (preferably a soprano since he wrote most of it for sopranos). Dawn Upshaw recorded a lovely CD called "Forgotten songs" by Debussy. I also love Faure's vocal music. All of those French songs are short. Ravel has also written some beautiful vocal music. One of the most awesome and amazing CDs of French vocal music was recorded by Regine Crespin. I don't think it has a name, but it has Berlioz' "La Nuits D'ete" on it as well as Ravel's "Shaherezade." That CD completely knocked me over when I first listened to it.
Larger works that you can listen to in 15 minute snippets : Gounod's St. Cecelia Mass. Faure's Requiem. Bach's St. Matthew Passion. Brahm's Requiem. Mendelssohn's Elijah. Morten Lauridsen's Lux Aeterna (breath-taking). Zillions of others.
See, I told you I'd think of more.
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You should also listen to some Gerswhin. His piano preludes (I can't remember if there are 2 or 3) are wonderful. Rhapsody in Blue is rather long, but I don't think it's over 15 minutes. Same goes for An American in Paris. I have the CD with both on it, conducted by Leonard Bernstein. I LOVE it.
Posts: 6415 | Registered: Jul 2000
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quote:Originally posted by Phanto: Any advice for classical works under 15 minutes long for me to listen to? I like stuff like the Bolero, the Moldeau, and Syrinx, for example. Trying to expand my horizons ^^.
Electric Counterpoint- Steve Reich. We just played it yesterday- when I get the recording I will post it on Hatrack.
Posts: 9912 | Registered: Nov 2005
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I've always like Chopin... I've never seen a particularly long piece of his.
I also would recommend Rachmaninoff's preludes (Number 4 is especially nice... Op. 23, I believe)
You could always get a 'best of' piano album.
For the most part, piano solo pieces are shorter. Playing the piano is veeery tiring on those fast pieces, so they aren't especially long. There are exceptions of course, but generally, a concert pianist wanted to play more than 1 or 2 pieces.
Posts: 438 | Registered: May 2006
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You want whole pieces under fifteen minutes. That's tricky business. The Tragic Overture by Brahms. Prometheus Overture by Beethoven and Magic Flute overture by Mozart. Try to get a copy of "The Willow Song" from Othello by Verdi. How long are the Brahms Violin sonatas? Ysaye violin sonatas number 1-4. I think that I'm tapped out for listener friendly pieces under 15 minutes. If you stretch it to a half hour, the list would be more fulfilling.
Posts: 5600 | Registered: Jul 2001
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quote:Originally posted by Nathan2006: You could always get a 'best of' piano album.
Please don't do that. If not for yourself, then for me... those peices of trash make my life slightly less livable, all the people who walk around thinking that classical music is a highlights reel of the best of... uggh Posts: 9912 | Registered: Nov 2005
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quote:Originally posted by Nathan2006: You could always get a 'best of' piano album.
Please don't do that. If not for yourself, then for me... those peices of trash make my life slightly less livable, all the people who walk around thinking that classical music is a highlights reel of the best of... uggh
Ps. I think the William tell overture is like 14 minutes... that would be a nice and popular one to start with. Just don't go around going "This is from DISNEY!!!! AHHH!!!!" Its not from Disney.
:::Shakes violent, in fetal position murmering::: Not from Disney.... not by Mozart...not from disney, not by mozart....
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I'll probably think of more.
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