Classical Music

And this

, Well, I'm not sure about the second one, but the first one, as a track from a video game soundtrack, would be somewhat more aptly classified under, well, video game soundtracks (there's a thread for that on the Video Games board, although activity in said thread has tapered off a bit in recent months).

(I've always regarded referring to orchestral music written for films, television series (animated or live action), or video games as "classical" as something of a grey area - but then, many composers wrote incidental music for theatrical performances (as distinct from operas or ballets - perhaps the most famous example of this is Mendelssohn's incidental music for Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, whence comes the famous "Wedding March"), it's not a new phenomenon. Still, for example, under the Awesome Music pages on Sugar Wiki, orchestral music expressly written for video game soundtracks (rather than standalone music that was later used in a game soundtrack, eg the Chopin works used in Eternal Sonata) would be filed under "Video Games", not "Classical Music".)

Personally, I've been on a bit of a Prokofiev kick lately - especially the second and third piano concerti. Both worth a listen if you're interested in early 20th-century fireworks for piano and orchestra (the last few minutes of the third concerto must be seen - not just heard - to be believed).

edited 14th Nov '12 11:32:51 AM by mlsmithca

Finally listened to some Steve Reich. Kronos Quartet performing Different Trains, and Pat Metheny performing Electric Counterpoint.

That's nice.

This is heavenly.

It sounds... soothing. Healing. Forgiving, in a way.

I'm no religious man, but listening to pieces like this makes me understand Christians a little more.

I generally don't like contemporary classical music but there are exceptions. For example, there is Karl Jenkins. I would highlight from his Requiem Dies Irae, and, to mention a more tame one, Lacrimosa. Now call sacral music boring...

On another note (no pun intended), I want to mention Zoltán Kodály. He mostly arranged Hungarian folk music, which is really awesome. Dances of Galánta is one of my favorites. And this one.

edited 23rd Jan '13 11:28:11 AM by petersohn

I am not really sure if this is a classical music, but can any of you identify the song that is played at the background in this (silly) moment? I find it lovely, also quite familiar.

Samuel Barber's "Adagio for Strings", adapted from the second movement of his String Quartet in B minor, Op.11 (linked earlier in this thread - see post 94). Regarded as one of the great tearjerkers of 20th century music, often played at funerals, used memorably in the scene in Platoon when Elias (Willem Dafoe) is gunned down, etc. Other videos of the piece either on its own or set to visual footage should be easy to find.

edited 3rd Feb '13 9:38:34 AM by mlsmithca

Oh, thanks!

um, hi. here are a few art songs:

Vittoria, mio core: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PuFu3w6bRws

Tre giorni son che Nina: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vO_2ifrahU

my favorite, O del mio dolce ardor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoECdxlUGfQ

and a German song, Die Forelle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NF9DrUXowBo

It's Benjamin Britten's centenary this year! Been listening to some of his work lately.

There's a lovely video of Patrick Stewart talking about Britten's music—

Here's a particularly magical rendition of Oberon's most famous aria from Britten's A Midsummer Night's Dream.

In that case, I think this is a piece that's called for.

Thanks—I didn't know that piece! Very reminiscent of some parts of Britten's War Requiem.

Impressive on violin, godly on trumpet.

edited 5th Apr '13 7:01:04 PM by CDRW

Recently I watched Platoon. Mthmica was right, Adagio for Strings certainly was used very well during the spoilered scene.

What do you call all those, gloomy sounding music, like Adagio for Strings, Handel's Sarabanda, and Mozart's Requiem?

Tear Jerker Music? Speaking of which...

A lot of it is Playing the Heart Strings, like The Swan of Tuonela by Jean Sibelius.

edited 4th Jul '13 10:35:39 AM by Fresison

This video is great.

edited 9th Jul '13 7:27:35 PM by caw

I watch that concert every year in TV.

I didn't even know you could make most of these sounds with the violin.

edited 19th Nov '13 10:40:57 PM by CDRW

Those rumors about Paganini selling his soul to the Devil had to have started for a reason, after all.

Also, I find it funny that the "classical" composer with perhaps the best idiomatic understanding of jazz is a man who grew up in the USSR: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41sUlTSbktQ

Other than that, I've been on an early vocal music binge for the most part; Machaut, Gombert, Monteverdi, Schutz, and what not. Also, where has Zelenka been all my life?

edited 21st Nov '13 3:14:51 PM by umbrellasareawesome

Currently going onto a classical music binge.

Die forelle is a dangerous Ear Worm.

The other day I watched Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows.

And here I thought Die Forelle could never be creepy.

Then again, if Twinkle Twinkle Little Star can be utterly horrifying.

Does anyone else know some really creepy cover of classical music?

Any admirers of counterpoint here?

Here is some neoclassical music. A short prelude and then a double fugue written in pretty strict and classical counterpoint, sans the strict adherence to baroque melody shapes and use of dissonance. Melodies are often inspired by folk material. I love these modern counterpoint pieces.

The composer is a famous Estonian choral composer, this is one of his only solo instrument pieces.

edited 29th Sep '14 9:04:56 AM by Yachar