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.