I can remember a time about fifteen years back when my business partner from England, Norman, and I would start our mornings off in our very small and sunny office listening to classical music over a cup of steaming hot coffee or a mug of British tea. Although I was still a relative beginner, Norman was an old pro with classical music, and he took great delight in introducing new music to me on an almost daily basis. I owe a debt to Norman for that, and for many other things, and so this one’s for him!
Music, like everything else in life, is extremely subjective. One person’s heaven is another’s purgatory, and as they say, “There’s no accounting for taste.” My list of ten classical music stunners is probably a good basic list for newcomers to the genre, and who knows—it might even contain a surprise or two for those in the know. So, here goes!
1. Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos
If you were going to buy one CD to start off with, this wouldn’t be a bad choice at all. Wikipedia’s introduction to the Brandenburg’s begins: “The Brandenburg concerti by Johann Sebastian Bach … are a collection of six instrumental works presented by Bach to Christian Ludwig, margrave of Brandenburg-Schwedt, in 1721 … They are widely regarded as among the finest musical compositions of the Baroque era.”
I’ll say! The music is truly sublime and perfect for starting off the morning with, or taking a nap to.
2. Bach’s Cello Suites
The tone of a cello is without a doubt gorgeous. But can you imagine an entire two CDs of just solo cello music? Boring? Never!
Bach wrote these suites during the period 1717–1723, when he served as a Kapellmeister in Cöthen. Interestingly, the suites were not widely known before the 1900s, until they were discovered one day in a thrift shop at the age of thirteen by Pablo Casals. He took them home and practiced them in secret for years. It was not until he was almost fifty—thirty-five years later—that he recorded the entire set of suites. He was the first person to do so!
3. Beethoven’s Symphony #6 (Pastoral)
I love this work by Beethoven because it goes against type. If your image of Beethoven is a grumpy, angry, fiery, DAH-DAH-DAH DAAAAH guy, then this symphony will shock you for its softness and beauty. The first time I heard it I had to check the CD cover twice to make sure I was really listening to Beethoven.
4. Beethoven’s Violin Sonata # 9 (Kreutzer)
Talk about energy! And beauty. If you ever wondered how much momentum a violin and piano could produce in tandem, this is the piece to listen to. Beethoven interweaves the two instruments magnificently, and especially in the first movement brings things to such a feverish pitch, you might find yourself jumping out of your chair, breathing hard, and sweating profusely. A real joy!
5. Elgar’s Cello Concerto
Oh, this one hits you in the gut and doesn’t let go. Elgar, from England, wrote this piece in 1919. The first movement contains such a level of force and beauty that it literally makes me shake with emotion, no matter how many times I listen to it.
From Wikipedia: “Pablo Casals, Pierre Fournier, Paul Tortelier, Mstislav Rostropovich, and Yo-Yo Ma all recorded the concerto, but it was popularized by Jacqueline du Pré’s 1965 recording with the London Symphony Orchestra. During a break in the recording session, the twenty-year-old du Pré left the studio, returning to find a large audience of local musicians and critics who had heard that a star was in the making. Many critics consider du Pré’s recording to be the definitive recording of the Elgar concerto; upon hearing it, Rostropovich is said to have erased the work from his repertoire ...” Sadly, duPre died at the early age of forty-two of multiple sclerosis.
