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need expert help

I am looking to give a present to a classical music fan.
I am tring to find out.what the top 100 classical music pieces of all time, are generally considered to be.
any help anyone could give me would be greatly appreciated.
please e-mail me.

Re: need expert help

Reply #1 –
It depends whom you ask. This could end up being a fun thread, here is my list of favourites, in no particular order:

Schubert: "The Trout" Quintet, String Quartet #15, "Der Hirt Auf Dem Felsen"
Beethoven: Pathetique Sonata, Symphony #3, "Spring" Sonata, Octet
Mozart: "The Magic Flute", Symphony No. 40, Symphony No. 25, "Don Giovanni", "Eine Kleine Nachtmusik"
Mendelssohn: "Scottish" Symphony, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Octet
Bach: Brandenburg Concerti
Dvorak: Symphony No. 8, "American" Quartet
Haydn: The "London" Symphonies
Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 6, "The Nutcracker"

So much good music... I'd better stop before I fill up all 100 myself!

Re: need expert help

Reply #2 –
Here's a few from me (no order):

Bach: Violin Concerto in E; #347 "Was Gott tut, das ist wohlgetan" from BWV 250~252, 3 Choräle zu Traungen
Beethoven: Symph.s #5, #9; Quartet op. 127, Grosse fugue op. 128; Lieds
Smetana: Vltava from Ma Vlast
Lizst: Symph. poem "Preludes"
R. Strauss: Tod und Verklörung
Steve Reich: Drumming
Webern: Sonata for Cello and Piano, Orchestral Variations op. 30...
Fred Nachbaur: Void of Sensation (no kidding)
Witold Lutoslawski: Concerto for Orchestra, Concerto for Cello and Orchestra, Chains, Novelette...
Schubert: Der Tod und das Mãdchen (and else)

finally
Ertugrul inanç: ...not composed yet... ;)

Re: need expert help

Reply #3 –
I was sure I'd be able to find a "top 100" list compiled
by someone or other, but after a few attempts I'm giving
up. Obviously this is entirely a matter of taste, there
is no objective means for rating a piece of music.

You can't trust "popularity" as it's so variable, and is
heavily influenced by exposure. There's a kind of snowball
effect. For example, the Vivaldi Four Seasons was written
in 1725, but it was hardly played AT ALL, by anyone, between
about 1750 and 1930. These days there are thousands of
recordings and it gets regular airtime. Who knows, in a
decade or so it may go out of fashion.

I did find a link to a book called "Classical Music : The
50 Greatest Composers and Their 1,000 Greatest Works"

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0449910423/105-2457590-0551903

I haven't got the faintest idea what criteria was used to
choose them, or if this is worthwhile list.

Re: need expert help

Reply #4 –
It's a bit late, but I can't resist.

Questions to ask yourself: (1) Orchestral, small group performing? (2) Vocal or not? (3) Any favorite instrument? (4) Any favorite time period or style? (5) Religious theme, maybe, or definitely not? (6) Country of origin?

My own tastes in classical change with time, as I do not play an instrument (except for voice).

If you think your friend would like orchestral, also consider "non-classical" orchestral such as big-band samba.

Re: need expert help

Reply #5 –
thank you everyone for your help. It was greatly appreciated.
please feel free to continue to e-mail me on this topic as there is no such thing as too much information.
 

Re: need expert help

Reply #6 –
Hi Pete,

If you're looking for a broader opinion, the UK radio station Classic FM (which you can hear on the web, by the way) holds an annual poll of the top 300 classical compositions. The piece that has come top ever since they started the poll is (rather surprisingly) Bruch's violin concerto.

If you want to check out the complete list, see http://www.classicfm.com/pages/whats_on/HoFame/HOF2000.htm

Robin Withey