Recommendations?

Evan · Dec 2, 2008

There is classical music that sounds dainty and nice, then there is gypsy sounding obscure stuff.

There is also a style that sounds very godfatheresque, like Italian, darkish very emotional stuff.

I'm looking for the last two types I mentioned, not the dainty stuff, anyone have any recommendations? thanks!

westknife · Dec 2, 2008

Well, it sounds like you'd be interested in late romantic stuff. Check out Mahler, Wagner, and Richard Strauss. I don't know about "godfatheresque," and they aren't Italian either, but the late 19th century in general was a prime time for dark, weighty orchestral music.

Mendelssohn · Dec 2, 2008

Well,I think that I am (as Mendelssohn) exactly what you want!!!Between the most elegant and delicate composers,my music is rich,nice and very lyrical.If you want emotional stuff, you can listen to my "Violin Concerto in E minor",my "Songs without Words" my orchestral overtures ("The Hebrides","The Fair Melusin" etc),my Piano Trios, my "Piano Quartet in A minor",my "Strings Quartet in F minor" (op.80) and many other (a am a bit of a Romantic composer you see...)!If you want something magnificent,try my Oratorios (Elias,Paulus).
As for darkish, I think that "Die erste Walpurgisnacht" is your piece of cake!!!
As for

LvB · Dec 2, 2008

I assume that by 'Godfatherish' you mean that the music sounds similar to Nino Rota's score. Rota wrote a considerable amount of concert music, and that would be worth looking into.

There are many other possibilities, but one which comes immediately to mind is Rachmaninoff's Symphonic Dances; despite the title, this is not a lighthearted piece; the three movements are brooding, melancholy, and very effective. I wouldn't recommend just any Strauss for your purposes, but his Macbeth is a strikingly cinematic piece; similar in mood, though less flamboyant in orchestration, are Rubinstein's Faust and Dmitri Donskoi (the latter is the overture to a no longer extant opera).

The 'gypsy' part of your question isn't quite clear; could you give an example or two of what you think of here? One piece you would like for certain, if you can find it, is the Gypsy Wedding Czardas of Provenzano, which is lush, melodic, and very moody.

Evan · Dec 3, 2008

Excellent, that is quite helpful. thank you!

What I meant by gypsy sounding, is like brahms hungarian dance no.5 (I think), like the theme music to a little jewish thief, if that makes any sense.

LvB · Dec 5, 2008

You're quite welcome. Always happy to make suggestions.

I don't know A Little Jewish Thief, but the mention of Brahms brings several pieces to mind. Do you know Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsodies? Most if not all of them have been orchestrated; the best place to start is proabbly the most famous, #2 in c minor. Dvorak's Slavonic Dances share the same kind of energy; again, most if not all have been orchestrated, some by Dvorak himself. Absolutely you should check out Enesco's two Romanian Rhapsodies as well; the first is as high-energy as piece as you could ask for, while the second is much darker and more subdued, with a wonderfully haunting reference to the first tucked inside it. Equally worth investigating are Kodaly's Hungarian-folk-tinged Hari Janos suite and Peacock Variations (these are often coupled on CD, so if you find one the other is usually not far away.

Anyway, there are a few more recommendations....

nefigah · Dec 3, 2008

Recommendations?

Top Contributors this Month

Recommended Communities