Your Favorite Pieces of Classical Music

Gershwin - Rhapsody in Blue
Mussorgsky - Night on bald Mountain
Wagner - Ride of the Valkyries
Bach - Toccata
Beethoven - Fur Elise
Mozart - Eine Kleine Nachtmusick
Liszt - Hungarian Rhapsody

You say Car-MEE-na and I say Car-MY-na
You say Bur-REE-na and I say Bur-AH-na
Car-MEE-na, Car-MY-na
Bur-REE-na, Bur-AH-na
Let's Carl the whole thing Orff...




Ow!

Definetely Mozart's "Requiem" and Haydn's 53rd symphony.
Also, Francisco Tarrega, "Lagrima" and "Recuerdos de la Alhambra" for the classical guitar.
Oh oh! And Classical Gas!

Beethoven's 9th, 6th, 5th symphonies, Beethoven's 5th piano concerto in D minor, Toccata & Fugue in D minor by JS Bach

I was listening to Dvorak's Symph. # 9 in e minor today. I rather like it. And then I love Carmina Burana, as do many on this thread. I think I like all the works featured in Fantasia because I loved that movie so much when I was a kid...

Oh my god... that's the hardest I've laughed all day...

I love Claire de Lune. I wanted to walk down the aisle to it, but my harpist had played it at her grandma's funeral. Yeah...didn't want to remind her of sad stuff. I went with Canon in D...cheesy, but pretty on the harp.

I said I think I could go on, so I'll try.
Long before composers could attain fame or a living by performing or writing for secular/common audiences, they were employed or had sponsors (we all pretty much know this).
John Dowland, the magnificent lute player whom I mentioned earlier, had been sponsored by the king of Denmark and tried in vain to secure permanent post in England with Queen Elizabeth. Though most of his works were about love than of God (which many people might consider more on the folk end of music), the wit and beauty of the lryics (all in English, mind, so nothing is lost in translation) tell more about the education and passion of early composers than might first be supposed. And it goes well beyond assuming the church to be the center of education; just as we have naturally talented and self-educated people today, the ones of 500 years ago were no different.
When a monarch or powerful figure searched to employ a composer, the result would not likely end with a person not passionate about their craft. It has amost always been a case of necessity, then and now, that composers play their pieces as well; who better to represent the intent and spirit of the work than the creator himself? Of course, many works were commisioned for religious services or feasts, and this may be best exmplified in England, where there was no shortage of kings and queens getting involved in church politics.
But even taking a step back to the dark ages proves little different. A plethora of manusripts survive from thoughout those times, and they are almost exclusively religious. The artists, most often monks and nuns, are anonymous. The music created also bears no reference to authors (there are exceptions, just as in anything else). So what we are left with is no choice but to accept the music for what it was, what it is, and the time we think it was created in. We have no biography of the author, no pictures, and no stories to tell of him. In the final analysis, isn't that what music should be?
Just like everybody else, I get wrapped up in the personalities behind the music I like. I think I can appreciate Johnny Cash a little more because I know a little about him, and I appreciate The White Stripes a little less because I know a little about Jack. But we start getting into visual performances, like opera and ballet, or personality and virtuoso performances wowing the crowd (ie Scarlatti). There is nothing wrong with these things at all, but it must be kept in mind that what you are listening to may not be just listening.

A favorite group of mine is the Anonymous 4, a group of women performing almost exclusively medieval music (and, as the name would suggest, anonymous works). Please check out their site. I would recommend the "Mass for the End Of Time," a collection of songs written in the 10th century about what was believed to be the end of the world at the end of the first millenium. A pretty heady topic, eh?
http://www.anonymous4.com/

I have a lot that I like....I love classical music...but I really think Pachabel Canon in D with Strings NOT piano is one of my favorites. I love the beef song but honestly I can't remember wtf the name of it is. I love Moonlight Sonata and Vivaldi's Winter.

Also, the diamond is forever comerical. I love music on commercials but I can't ever remember where the music comes from.

It's a selection from Rodeo by Aaron Copland.

I've only ever seen that as Diamond Music. I don't know if it's a real piece or just from the commercial, but I know it's on a CD by that name.

Ravel's "Bolero" and Bach's "Cello Suite #1 Prelude"

"I love the beef song..."


That is so awesome!

That, my dear, is Aaron Copland's "Hoedown" and it's wonderful!


[Edited on Dec 17, 2003 by awhitepony]

Beethoven "Moonlight Sonata"

Handel "Messiah"

Beethoven "9th Symphony"

Bach "Toccata en Fuge"

Vivaldi "4 Seasons"

too many others to name... I miss living near the Boston Symphony Orchestra

Back in 94 I worked at a movie theater when Immortal Beloved came out and I have been the same since. I used to sneak away from my job during the finale scene when he debuted the 9th. Hearing it in 6.1 SDDS recorded from the london symphony is pure bliss.