Friday, December 3, 2010

Music is in the Air

I think it is known by most people who read this blog that I have a certain level of nerdiness.  Two to three hundred years ago, it probably would have been the norm, but I probably would have also died because of my strong opinions that I feel inclined to express often, so I'll stick with being a nerd.  But what I know about most nerds is that many of you are closet nerds.  The next several posts will be for you.

I LOVE classical music.  I listen to this station every morning in my classroom when I prep (Confession - I hijacked an England post code to be able to do this - I keep waiting to feel guilt about it, but I don't.)  But I also have many works that are on both computers, own multiple discs with great works on them, etc.

Over the last few months, I started a list of my favorite classical works.  This was not a small project. When I first thought about uploading this list here, I realized it is so HUGE that if someone were to want to dabble in the classical realm, they would be completely overwhelmed.  So I kicked in some of my OCD and organized the list in alphabetical order by composers last name.  Not all the letters are equally represented, and I skipped the A's altogether (my favorites, remember?  If you like some of the A's, make your own list).

So today, I present to you my favorite classical works written by composers with the last name of B.  There are lots.  Beethoven alone could have taken up a page, but I've tried to make it concise and easy to read/find/experience/criticize/whatever.



Bach 
Concerto in D minor for two violins
Air on a G String
Toccata and Fugue
Cello Suite #1
Orchestral Suite No. 2 in B minor – Badinerie
Piano Concerto No. 1
Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring
 
Barber 
Adagio for Strings
 
Berlioz 
The Damnation of Faust
Symphonie Fantastique

Bizet 
Carmen
Pearl Fisher’s Duet
L'Arlesienne Suite
 
Brahms
Piano Concerto No. 1 & 2
Rhapsody in G minor

Britten
The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra

Bruch 
Violin Concerto No. 1
Scottish Fantasy
Concerto for Two Pianos & Orchestra

Beethoven 
Symphonies (Love them all - favorites are 4, 5, 7 & 9)
Moonlight and Pathetique piano sonatas
Piano Concerto (Again, all are amazing - favorite is No. 5
Choral Fantasy
Turkish March
Egmont Overture

As always, I would love to hear your favorites and if you think I left someone or something off the list that absolutely should be there. 

5 comments:

Charlotte said...

Music must be in the air--although this post about music is MUCH more coherent than mine.

:)

LOVE Adagio for strings.

In the first area of my mission, there was a church bell tower, and the bells would play Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring every few days. It's always been one of my favorites, and on hard days, I'd look forward to that little treat. Now, because of that memory, I love it all the more.

The aria in Carmen where she talks(sings) about going to Lilas Pastia's is probably my favorite--although the Habanera is GREAT for dramatics/pretending/dancing.

Cardine said...

I'm not a nerd, nor am I very versed in classical music and its derivatives, but I've always been a fan of:

- The Flower Duet from the opera "Lakme" by Léo Delibes
- Almost anything Gershwin
- Swan Lake, Romeo and Juliet, and The Nutcracker by Tchaikovsky
- Vivaldi's The Four Seasons
- The Works of Handel

I'm not familiar with some of your favorites, but the ones I do know, I love. I'll have to check out some of the others I don't know. Thanks for this list!

Mellissa said...

I agree with you; I think we're all closet nerds in one form or another.

I also love classical music, but I'm not familiar with which composer wrote which piece.

Harmony said...

Wow! This is a great resource Tash. I'm excited to check out what you like. Can't wait for future posts!

Laurel said...

Awesome post. I'm going to have to listen and see which ones I recognize.
I like Prelude by Bach (it probably has a more specific name, but I don't know it). It's one of the few pieces I know how to play (see also: Ave Maria).
Love Beethoven's Pathetique (and it's use in "Age of Innocence"). I even love the horrible 80's pop song that gave it lyrics. (Midnight Blue)
I know you're a purist, but I love hearing all versions of the classics. (dance mix, anyone?) :)
I'm excited for future lists!