Classical Music Playlist
Hello from Stockholm. I am a classical music enthusiast. Over the past 4 years, I have compiled a list of my favourite recordings.
I like way too many pieces, however, I have only listed some here:
1.5 hrs of fugue - full of variations.
Note the definition of Fugue from Wikipedia:
“In music, a fugue (/fjuːɡ/) is a contrapuntal compositional technique in two or more voices, built on a subject (a musical theme) that is introduced at the beginning in imitation (repetition at different pitches) and which recurs frequently in the course of the composition”
For Bach, I almost always recommend Glenn Gould - he is one of the few to use the finger tapping technique. (For your reference, I will make a new post on my favourite pianists and conductors) While he plays really fast most of the times .(except for some pieces like Turkish March ), he does produce a really crisp sound (Click this Video, go to 3:25)
with a rather clear flow , which as I think, is most important in piano playing
My favourite recording of Glenn Gould: Gould’s Practice session: Bach’s Partita No.2
Haydn is always filled with developmental ideas, always sound creative and fresh
Obviously we have to start with Platnev again…
My favourite intepretation by Platnev: Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No.2.
It’s slower than usual but as I said , crisp sound , dynamics and clear flow is really important (at least, for baroque and classical music). As I notice people sometimes really lack dynamic range (well one of the reasons is the piano quality, and that’s why I recommend Steinway and Sons)
In my humble opinion, the apex of Beethoven’s music. Unbelievably fiery ending. Lang’s Lang’s rendition has great flow and is full of dynamic variations, which, in my opinion, is most important in playing Beethoven’s music
(I may like older versions now!)
Its status as an unfinished piece does not diminish its artistic value. A bold use of ostinato intensifies the longing theme. It almost feelings like recurring love that intensifies over time. A refreshing second movement almost symbolishes young, young love. Pleasant.
The blend of classical and romantic music, with a rigorous structure but a romantic expression. The most rigorous beginning turns into a romantic fugue-esque development, with a bold use of strings that blends with the woodwinds. The theme turns abruptly into romantic solos, only to be concluded by more strings. Victorious.
An obscure composer, blending the styles of chopin, beethoven and even Haydn. Quite a virtuosic concerto, just listen to the last minute. My favourite part is around 5:00, you can almost hear Chopin but there is clearly a classical structure backbone.
Easily my favourite classical piece, the relentless finale is always building up with interesting ideas. The powerful last movement has that kind of “stickness” feeling without a second of relaxation, with contrasting short and long notes [32:24] vs [34:40].
A sparkle turned into the wildest fire of love, only to be extinguished by a sudden death. All types of emotions in 20 minutes. Fictional but almost believing.
The most recognised trumpet theme is almost a tripute to Beethoven’s fifth symphony, which leads to a wistfully longing theme. Struggles and memories lead us to the furious second movement, which periodically brings back memories of first movement and brings up new life questions. This resolves into one of the beautiful adagios ever, only to be concluded by a progressing finale, blending all the questions together and solving them in a victorious style. Phenonmenal!
A gloomy and hormoniously conflicting start turns into a light-hearted second-movement with a depressive atmostphere. This is followed by an eerily silent and longing theme that quickly turned into a furious, unrelenting finale, resolving the conflicts built up in the last 30 minutes with a sacrilegiously disturbing A Note. A symphony of fight and despair, amid the worst of times.