Top Ten Pieces of Music Written Before 1900

Me ^ | 12-05-01 | Pharmboy

[Pharmboy]

Ask the question this way: If you were stranded on a desert island with a CD player and a good sound system, what ten pieces would you take with you that were written before the 20th Century?

My list:
1) Beethoven's Appassionata sonata for piano
2) Bach's Partita Number 2 for solo violin
3) Mozart's Symphony Number 41
4) Wagner's Overture to Tristan und Isolde
5) Beethoven's String Quartet Opus 131
6) Chopin's Ballade Number 4
7) Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto (IMO the only worthwhile thing he ever wrote)
8) Schubert's Impromptus (all of them)
9) Beethoven's Pathetique Sonata
and 10) Bach's Mass in B Minor

[Fresh Wind]

Thank God there is a 24 hr. classical radio station in my area (WWFM). Yeah, its NPR connected, but there is minimal leftist crap, just great music all the time. And, I just scored about 75 classical CD's for 20 bucks at an estate auction! So much to hear, so little time!

[Pharmboy]

The thing that I like about Beethoven is the texture or layering or whatever you'd call it; I find that lacking to some degree in Mozart. But, the 41st has it. I am unfamiliar with 25; however, I will purchase it on your recommendation.

[Pharmboy]

Now that we're talkin Hayden, about 20 years ago when I was driving in New Hampshire with a lady friend, I heard a Hayden choral piece that was absolutel gorgeous and have been searching ever since. What was it? Guess--please.

[Martin Tell]

I heard a Hayden choral piece that was absolutel gorgeous ... Guess--please.

"The Seasons", "The Creation" ? Those are two of my favorites. Both massive works (oratorios). I like Handel's "Solomon" as well.

Another guess: "The Lord Nelson Mass".

[MaryFromMichigan]

The most beautiful music EVER written is Pachelbel's 'Canon in D'.
Beethoven's "Patorale" and Vivaldi's "Four Seasons" - amazing.
Gregorian Chants- excellent.

[Pharmboy]

I just wanted to stick to the romantics on back. Hey, if you wanna, start a thread on "Favorite Atonal Works for Orchestra."

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

The first movement of Symphony no. 25 in G minor, (K.183) is recognizable to most as the signature piece in the trailers for the film "Amadeus". He wrote it in Salzburg when he was around 17. You're right though, it does not have the complexities of 41 but it has a general dramatic "busyness" in the outer movements that I like as well as the interplay between the violins and cellos in the first movement.
If you do get it, I think you'll enjoy it. I've always come back to it again and again over the years and never tire of it.
Cheers.

[Pharmboy]

Well, "The Creation" sounds about right, because both of us that day thought it sounded like a choir of angels. I will pick this up also (in addition to the Jesu piece that many listed by Bach and Mozart's 25th. Merry Christmas to me!!

[tacticalogic]

Bump for the 1812 Overture - because a cannon is a musical instrument.

[T'wit]

> Sharon? Hey, I'm not too far from there.

Yes... family estate called Great Elm. Young Americans for Freedom was founded at that estate. It's gone now, I believe, although the Buckleys maintain some sort of property there.

[T'wit]

> I like "Rhapsody in Blue," and that's 20th century.... :)

I like it too, very much -- and much more by Gershwin!

But... we're working on Top Ten stuff here, and I can't rate it that high.

[Intolerant in NJ]

He wrote them so that one leads to the next, so if you stop at #4 you're kind of missing the point...live 'n' learn - I didn't know about the progressive integrity of Mahler's works - I do recall that he lost a child through drowning about the time he was writing the fifth or sixth symphony, and somehow his compositions from that period on have always seemed a bit too dark and dense for my simple-minded tastes - just an incurable old "romantic", I guess...

[BluesDuke]

Trois Gymnopédies" and "Trois Gnossiennes" by Erik Satie.

I had thought of including Satie on my own list (I am a huge fan), but I had also thought, somehow, that he composed at least the Gymnopedies in the 20th Century. I am happy to sit corrected, if need be.

For all you Tchaikovsky and Grieg lovers, I recommend a splended jazz arrangement of their signature works: a jazz orchestra arrangement of the complete Nutcracker and a like arrangement of selections from the Peer Gynt - by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn, which the Ellington band of 1959-61 recorded and is available on a disc called Three Suites (the third is an Ellington composition, "Suite Thursday"). The Ellington Nutcracker is numero uno on my holiday music parade.

[Bob Quixote]

I went to see the Gaither Homecoming Christmas Show last week. The show closed with David Phelps singing "O Holy Night" ("Cantique de Noel"). It had to be the single greatest vocal performance I've ever heard.

[Bob Quixote]

I agree. My favorite pre-1900 piece of music is "My Old Kentucky Home." I always cry when they play it at the Kentucky Derby. I want it played at my funeral--and I'm from Ohio!

[k2blader]

"Standard tastes" can oft equal "Classic tastes." :)

Great picks!

P.S. Anyone know of a good cello rendition of "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring"?

[Bob Quixote]

It is beautiful. I heard Buddy Greene (who I thought wrote it) sing it at the Gaither show last week.

[Bob Quixote]

How can you not like "House of the Rising Sun?" The Animals' recording is one of my favorites. I know that's 20th century, but the song itself dates from long before.

[CHELLEDC]

You all are going to make me cry. We had a great discussion about this in my music class. Most people had forgotten that Bugs tackled some serious music in those cartoons.
( Jones - 1950 ) How do?? Welcome to my shop, let me cut your mop, let me shave your crop
Daintily, daintily
Hey you!!
Don't look so perplexed, why must you be vexed, can't you
see you're next
Yes you're next, you're so next
How about a nice close shave
Teach your whiskers to behave
Lots of lather lots of soap
Please hold still don't be a dope
Now we're ready for the scraping
There's no use to try escaping
Yell & scream & rant & rave
It's no use you need a shave
( Elmer ) Ooh ouch ouch oh ouch oh oh ouch
There, you're nice and clean
Although your face looks like it might have gone through a machine
( Elmer ) Oh, wait until I get that rabbit
What would you want with a rabbit
Can't you see that I'm much sweeter
I'm your little senorita
You're my type of guy
Let me straighten your tie
And I shall dance for you
Sorry for taking up so much space. Please don't be mad.

[avg_freeper]

My list would also include in no particular order:

Berlioz - La Symphonie Fantastique
Vivaldi - The Four Seasons
Verdi - Requim
Bach - Die Kunst Der Fuge (for the amazing grandeur of it)
Beethoven - Ninth Symphony
Chopin - 2nd Nocturne
Beethoven - Moonlight Sonata
(yes Beethoven again but he was the pop star of his time)
Johann Strauss - Blue Danube Waltz (cause it's so durn purty)
Paganini - 24 caprices (yes, all 24 of 'em)
Liszt - Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 In C Sharp Minor