help with a classical mix cd

[chrysalid]

for the girlfirend, and also for me. i don't know much about classical.

i'm looking for stuff that's melancholic and delicate without being too depressing and dirgey. i prefer fairly spare piano compositions, but i am open to just about anything. so far i've got:

Yann Tiersen - comtine d'un autre et. from the amelie soundtrack, i love this piece of music, any more like this would be great.

Michael Nyman - the heart asks pleasure first. from the piano soundtrack, a touch overwrought (just like the sodding film) but very nice none the less.

Bethoven - moonlight sonata. predictable i know, but i love it.

Mozart - Piano Concert no.5. i find the amount of work mozart has done fairly daunting, and though i like this piece i can't help but think that there is a better one out there.

James Newton Howard - The Gravel Road. from the village soundtrack. really nice piece with piano and strings.

Alexandre Desplat - Griets Theme. from the girl with a pearl earing soundtrack. i'm not sure about this one, may be a bit dirgey, if it makes it on it will certainly be a bit of a "filler".

Bach - Air on a G string. my favourite piece of non piano music. lovely rich baroque whilst at the same time being restrained. i feel i need more bach, but like mozart i find his body of work daunting and so could do with a bit of advice.

Arvo Part - Spiegel im Spiegel. i think this **** is beautiful, though it may be a little too sparse for the girlfriend, it's going on the cd though.

i think that's about it, if any classical music buffs out there could give me some advice and suggestions i would be eternaly grateful

after this i'm doing a jazz one, and probably an 80s pop one, so expect more desperate requests for help.

 

[Ivan Kipling]

Hi crysalid . . .

I love the music you've described. The more melancholy, the better. Beethoven's string quartets, are at the far edge of the world. You may want to consider that collection.

BOCCHERINI Quintet in E Minor, is haunting, almost unendurably beautiful to hear, and seductive. I think you and your ladyfriend, will love it.

MOZART Quartet in G Minor for Piano and Strings, K. 478 AND, Quintet in E Flat for Piano and Winds, K. 452 . . . may also suit your needs. Many others, of course.

 

[Thomas]

Love the inclusion of Moonlight, although you might also consider his Sonata #7 - I think the second movement has the mood you're looking for, and the other three movements leaven the melancholy. If you can find the Horowitz version, that's the one to go for, otherwise there is Pollini, or Schnabel (old recording).

There's also a Chopin waltz that comes to mind on the same Horowitz disc that also does the trick - Waltz Op. 34 No.2 in A minor. This one is the most articulate, but others may be as good.

 

[Thracozaag]

Put in some early/middle period Scriabin (the poeme Op. 32 #1 for example)--my friend facetiously refers to it as "russian hot-tub music".

koji

 

[mrpologuy]

Some verdi, handel and wagner would be good choices I think.

 

[gamelan]

Chopin definitely as was mentioned before. Debussy perhaps. i'd also try a couple more Mozart concertos starting with #20.

for something a little more modern but right on the spot in terms of your description, Erik Satie's "Gymnopedies".

-Jeff

 

[Reflection]

I'd suggest Chopin - Fantasie Improptu

and The Raindrop Prelude.
And Bach - Aria Sulla Quarta Corda.
Maybe some Wagner too... Ride of the Valkyries perhaps.

 

[bachbeet]

Rachmaninov - Variations on a theme of Paganini

 

[bachbeet]

Oh, and the great thing about Bach and Mozart is that most of their pieces may be played with various instruments. For example, I have three different instrument combos for Bach's concerto in E (at least I think that's the name). And, I have a whole cd of Mozart quartets played with wind instruments in place of the lead violins.

 

[designprofessor]

Satie! "Gnoessienne"

Catherine Marchese /Emile Naoumoff
Satie with bassoon and piano -gorgeous!

 

[bachbeet]

I also have a double cd with Brahms trios on it. Superb!

And another cd with all Schumann oboe romances. Excellent!

 

[Violinist]

2nd movement of Emperor concerto...

Beethoven spring sonata, Franck violin sonata....

 

[Mr. Checks]

Barber, Ballade and Nocturne from John Browning's recording of the complete Barber piano music.

Hell, throw in the Barber violin concerto (Slatkin on EMI) as fitting the bill too.

Chopin, Nocturnes (my favorite is Rubenstein on RCA)

Gerard Souzay singing Faure on London cd:
http://www.amazon.com/Gerard-Souzay-...e=UTF8&s=music

Elly Ameling, Songs for Gretchen and Ellen (Phillips)

 

[Mr. Checks]

Originally Posted by Violinist

2nd movement of Emperor concerto...

Beethoven spring sonata, Franck violin sonata....

I have the Franck with Richter (bought it for the Brahms):

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...5&category=306

I once scored a treasure trove of Russian LPs from someone who loved Russian violinists, so I've got a ton of them, including some rarities

 

[imageWIS]

Originally Posted by Thracozaag

Put in some early/middle period Scriabin (the poeme Op. 32 #1 for example)--my friend facetiously refers to it as "russian hot-tub music".

koji

You wouldn't happen to know any good Scriabin pianists, would you?

Jon.