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riverbank said:

I wish I knew how to use the internet properly. But don't have a scanner at home and wouldn't know how to post pictures of anything on the net anyway.

Anyway, one CD which I listened to in Virgin Megastores in Leeds which will definitely be on my shopping list in the new year is by Szymanowski - some piano music of his. Rather good. He is very underrated.

I spent more time listening to pop music but hey I'm sure I'll be forgiven

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Re your last sentence, me too. I used to love pop, metal, rock, and country too. I still like a lot of it. My next concerts are Deep Purple and a Pink Floyd tribute band. I hasten to add, followed by Sleeping Beauty and Romeo & Juliet.

So don't feel you're somehow unique. I reckon most people who like classical like at least one other type of music. I bet too that most started out liking some kind of pop/rock. It's just that when you really do get the "classical" bug it can take over, sometimes completely.

You mention piano music. I hope you have seen the relevant threads elsewhere here. There are many recommendations there from various people who especially like the piano genre. Some pieces you most probably know, but there will be others (I guarantee it) you won't have heard of. It's all good stuff, and far better than taking pot luck.

The bad news with classical music is that it's in fixed supply (ignoring all the so-called modern classical "music"). The good news is that there's plenty of it. Just when you've exhausted Bach, there's Mozart. And it gets better: there's Beethoven and Schubert. Then Chopin, Schumann, Wagner, Brahms. It's a bit downhill after that but it's not bad (only joking you Mahler fans, not to mention Debussy fans!)

Topaz

I just brought a Naxos CD with some music by Howard Hanson - I already have his Romantic and Nordic symphonies and I like them though I don't listen to them that often nowadays. So I thought I'd give it a try. And after one listen I think it is one of my favourite classical CDs. The pieces on there are:
Concerto for Organ Harp and Strings
Nymphs and Satyr Ballet Suite
Fantasy Variations on a Theme of Youth for Piano and Strings
Serenade for Flute, Harp and Strings
Summer Seascape No 2 for Viola and Strings
Pastorale for Oboe, Harp and Strings.

There are a lot of little known American mainly 20th century composers that Naxos have done recordings of their music. Most that I've heard haven't really done much for me but Hanson is a definite exception. I think his music is lovely. Money very well spent.

modern music


Harrison Birtwistle: Earth Dances. Boulez, conductor.
Have somebody heard music of this composer? I've only heard some short clips on the internet, but it moved me very much. The music is dynamic, powerfull and full of rhythm.


This one I bought from amazon. The composer is Bruno Maderna, born in Venice and who lived from 1920 to 1973. He was also a conductor and started touring as violinist and conductor when he was 7. His work Aura is great.


Brahms: Piano Concerto No 1 - Krystian Zimmerman/Berlin Philharmonic/Simon Rattle
I think the no 2 concerto is much better than this first one.

Does anyone know these recordings?