Veering towards classical music

I have loved, played and taught music all my life. These days there are so many different ways to have access to good music. Streaming channels are an excellent way to try new genres of music. I particularly like and have YouTube Music but others prefer Spotify or Amazon Music. Many people have uploaded playlists and there is a channel called Haildon Music which has easy listening classical music, which is very relaxing. As to my suggestions, it is hard to know where to start but here goes:
Everyone knows Vivaldi's Four Seasons violin concertos but he wrote far more music than this. Particular favourites for me are his concertos for four violins in B minor and F major and his violin concerto in A minor. His Gloria is sublime. Bach's six Brandenburg Concertos and his three violin concertos, including the double violin concerto are gorgeous and Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring and Sheep May Safely Graze are not to be missed. Handel's Messiah, especially Glory to God, the Pastoral Symphony and the Hallelujah Chorus is wonderful and the four Coronation anthems and the Harmonious Blacksmith are great. Mozart is wonderful in all his music - so much to choose from but here are a few gems: piano concerto no. 20, second movement, piano concerto nos. 11 and 23, the Flute and Harp concerto and the Clarinet concerto and quintet, also the violin concertos. Haydn's symphonies and string quartets, especially the Clock, Surprise and London concertos. Beethoven's 5th, 6th, 7th and 9th symphonies and Emporer Concerto are marvellous. Schubert's 8th Symphony, the Unfinished, the Trout Quintet and Impromptus for piano are just some of this composer's most beautiful pieces of music. You could also try the second movement of Berlioz's Harold in Italy, Mendelssohn's Hebrides Overture and music for A Midsummer Night's Dream, Schumann, Grieg and Tchaikovsky's piano concertos and are beautiful. Now Elgar. His 'cello concerto and Chanson de Matin are but two of his most wonderful pieces of music. There are so many more composers and so much more beautiful music l could have mentioned - l have but scratched the surface - but I hope l have given you some ideas.

I love almost all music. Brought up with classical music and grew up in the 60s. I have Classic Fm on a lot of the time. If I'm feeling
low I tune into UK Gold Radio , it's 60s and 70s, so very nostalgic and usually happy songs. I am a bit perturbed by some of the words which nowadays could be said to be sexist. Mendelssohn 's Italian Suite is guaranteed to lift the spirits.

I love classical music as well as - some- other types of music. I was brought up with the classics and played all sorts of simple music when I was teaching. We have my granddaughter and her husband [a musician] staying with us. I'm delighted that he plays all sorts of types music when he's around. It's wonderful

Some great suggestions, especially from you madeleine - not sure we can get some of those programs here but we will have some similar. I was watching an old Andre Rieu film late last night ( dad left it for me ) filmed on board a German cruise ship . I have had it since Dad died in 2007 but first time I have watched it. Now I see!

You might enjoy the Disney film 'Fantasia' made in 1940. Leopold Stokowski conducted the Philadelphia Orchestra and the Disney studio created a series of short animations that accompany each piece of music.

I’m a Classic FM fan and have it on in the car and at home . I’m a hygienist and patients would always comment on how relaxing my room was.
I know classical purists are snobby about it , especially the film tracts . but my view is that if it introduces people to classical music , then that’s a good thing .

‘Lillipops’ is probably a very good description Madeleine! Suits us though.

I’m not very keen on Classic FM because of all the film tracks.
My favourite piece of relaxing music is Beethoven’s 6th , Pastoral.

Ever since the age of 9 or so, I have adored Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto no 2. I used to have a record player by my bed in the 50s and would play it to send me to sleep.
Now, at 80, I enjoy many types of music (even Metallica if it’s’diluted’ by the San Fransisco orchestra), but nothing has toppled the Piano Concerto from its perch. It’s beautiful.

When I was growing up, in our family. ‘music’ meant classical. It was the same at school. It was the background of life. I was an advanced recorder player, but otherwise no instrument took my fancy. My joy was in singing, and from schooldays until my late fifties I sang in choirs - good ones, with auditions! I’ve sung Bach and Mozart, Tippett and Britten, in fact most of the choral repertoire, and it has been one of the greatest pleasures in my life.

I was aware of the pop music of my era - everybody is - but never very interested.

When my daughters grew up and the house was no longer full of pop music I started listening to classical music. I soon found Radio 3, began collecting CDs and joined a group which went to a concert every month.
Then I wanted to know how these beautiful, clever pieces were made and for years music theory was my passion.
None of my family share my enjoyment of serious music. I wish everybody could experience the wonders of Bach and the great composers whose miraculous creations are still loved after hundreds of years.

My radio is tuned in to Classic FM.

It goes on when I get up and whilst eating my breakfast.

Lovely, restful music, a mix of films, tv, proper ‘classics’.

I’m started listening to Radio 3 in the early morning during Covid, didn’t want to listen to grim news, and have continued to do so. I love a wide range of music and my dgd loves telling people that I’m a fan Howling Wolf.

I'm a fan of Petroc Trelawney on radio 3. I also love Bach as well as countless other musicians, classical, folk, rock, country - you name it! I think Madeleine made some excellent points.
I didn't grow up listening to much classical music. My introduction came via the school choir and singing lessons. Before that, I loved heavy rock. But as I've got older, I've discovered all sorts of music. I know that I'm not a great fan of modern jazz although I like traditional stuff. But I keep trying.

As Madeleine says, Radio 3 is full of wonderful music but I’m not sure a great deal of it is accessible to those just finding their feet in the world of classical music. Early morning on Radio 3 is great but my car radio is tuned to Classic FM. It’s sometimes repetitive but that is no bad thing when just starting out. A bit too much film music but nicely balanced with my particular favourite choral stuff. Some very good presenters as well.
Also, as Madeleine says, Private Passions, Sunday on Radio 3, is so very good and I’ve discovered so much new (to me) music alongside very interesting guests.

We listen to classic FM every evening, cosy, lamps on reading our books. It’s very relaxing. We like that station because we enjoy hearing many pieces we recognise. Some have been used as theme tunes for films etc like the beautiful Cavatina by John Williams from The Deer Hunter, many years ago. Radio 3 is too highbrow for us. 😊

What a great post Madeleine45!

As a Brit I never understood the way people categorise music here either!

I have always had a wide taste in music which often confuses people as they expect you to be a 'type.'

At the weekend I'm taking my someone to a recital because there was an extra ticket. When I said it was piano music she pulled a face and says that always sends her to sleep!

I hope she does enjoy it though...

Last evening, Bonfire Night in the UK, Classic FM broadcast its specially chosen pieces, to help soothe the nerves of pets scared by the everlasting booms and bangs.

As you will know if you read my posts, music is very important in my life , of many kinds from Bach to Beatles and Folk to Fado. It is a shame that the british in particular seem to like to categorise things. I was a teacher and a lecturer in a college, and in particular in the junior school I used to play all sorts of music for the children, never stating whether it was classical or folk or whatever. Just playing pieces and getting their reactions to it. Asking them how the music made them feel. It was always lovely to find a piece of music that they particularly enjoyed. I also, where possible , played the whole of a piece. I dont like it when programmes such as Classical FM play what I call "lollipops" so that they take the particular popular part from a piece and just play that. It is meant to be heard in its place, and actually you increase the enjoyment by listening out for the favourite piece during the whole thing. Even if you absolutely loved coffee creams, to be given a complete box of only coffee creams would probably pall and you would much rather choose them from a mix , where you can appreciate other flavours and remember which you like the most. so it is with music.

I suggest that you try radio 3 for a great variety of music, some of which you may have never heard before and other things that you will recognise but may not know the title. I am 80 and have loved music all my life, and yet I still come across the delights of new - to me - pieces to enjoy. Perhaps you might try desert island discs on radio 4. I find it an interesting programme, where you hear about the life of the person, which can be very interesting or nothing that particularly interests you, however their choice of music and the reason for choosing it always has something worth listening to as far as I am concerned. Then on radio 3 you have Private Passions on sunday, where again a person talks to Micheal Berkely about their choices and their lives and connections. Longer pieces of music and again a variety to listen to. You might also look up when there are other programmes on three of world music and find another source of music to enjoy. Wishing you all the joy of discovering the world of all music but welcome to the classical world in particular.

I cannot leave without recommending my most important few minutes of the day to begin well. They have about 5 to 10 minutes in the morning of "Bach before 7 " which is exactly as it says and a piece of J S Bach is played, from anything from a choral mass, an organ or a piano recital. I use it as my moment in the morning to just stop and have those few minutes, simply listening, doing nothing else and it resets my mornings if they have been rough, cheers my mood, whatever is happening in the world, and lets me face the day calmly. There are still pieces that surprise me, others that I have loved for much of my life, and I see it as a gift to my mornings, which reminds me that no matter what is happening in the world and how difficult life can be, that this sublime music is there for us all to listen to , enjoy, and help us to face whatever comes in the day. May you enjoy discovering your special music over time.

I find ballet music very easy to listen to. Tchaikovsky - Swan Lake, The Nutcracker. Delibes - Coppelia.

Bizet's opera Carmen is full of good tunes.

I used to have an LP of famous overtures which I found enjoyable to listen to.

Happy listening.

nanna8

I was never really into classical music, unlike my Dad who loved it. I find as I get older I am beginning to appreciate it more and more though I have trouble remembering what is what. I used to dislike Andre Rieu , now I think he is wonderful
though I always had a soft spot for Andrea Bocelli because of his lovely voice. Old age can be positive !

Have you tried some gentle Mozart - starting with Piano Concerto No 21 in C Major - otherwise known as the theme music to the film "Elvira Madigan"?

Some of his other piano / flute / clarinet concertos are really easy on the ear, too... I often wind down to these late afternoon as it gets towards dusk and have to put on lamps in dark corners. Very relaxing.