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<br>Beginner's Guide <br> <br>Though classical music appeals to many people, the diversity, complexity <br>and even the mystique of "classical Music" can be rather intimidating. <br>Granted, there is much to know, and much to learn, concerning this music <br>(many people have devoted their lives to studying obscure facets of <br>musicology), but the encouraging thing about this art form is that you can <br>enjoy what your are hearing without knowing exactly why. So, while <br>detailed study, investigation, reading, whatever, may perhaps enhance the <br>enjoyment of the music even further, a scholarly approach is fundamentally <br>not required to begin your exploration. All that is required is a desire to <br>explore and discover new musical territory. The classical music genre is rich <br>enough to provide a lifetime of wonder and surprises, and a nearly limitless <br>potential for discovery makes the journey well worth the effort. <br> <br>The basic question is, "Where do I begin?" The important thing to remember <br>is that everyone has been confronted with this same decision at some point. <br>A certain piece, performer or composer may have caught their attention <br>through either hearing a piece at a concert, on a movie soundtrack, or even <br>a commercial on TV. Once the listener has a toehold then there are a number <br>of different methodologies by which one can go about exploring classical <br>music, and each person is bound to take an individual path. The purpose of <br>this guide, therefore, is to provide some basic information, including tips on <br>possible avenues of investigation, that will be useful to the novice and <br>experienced listener alike. <br> <br>It seems that you've already made a good start to investigating the world of <br>classical music. The basic methodology I found to be effective in building a <br>good library of recordings, even though I didn't know much about it when <br>I started, was to: <br> <br>1) Listen to as much music as you can. <br> <br>Listening to the radio can be a good source. Concerts can be very effective <br>as well, though they can be expensive. Experiencing live music will help to <br>familiarize you with what real music sounds like and help make you a better <br>judge of recording and performance quality. <br> <br>2) Make note of the piece and composer. <br> <br>A) Most pieces fall into four basic categories: <br> <br>昈rchestral (symphonies, concertos, suites, overtures, serenades, etc.) <br>旵hamber (piano trios, string quartets, wind quintets, etc.) <br>昁eyboard (piano sonatas, organ works, harpsichord works, etc.) <br>昖ocal (opera, lieder/song, oratorios, sacred choral music such as masses <br> and motets, etc.) <br> <br><!--emo&B)--><img src='https://www.kaiyuan.info/bbs/html/emoticons/cool.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='cool.gif'><!--endemo--> Get to know the composer <br> <br>Knowing the composer is important because this provides a somewhat <br>reliable guide to other pieces that should investigated. If you hear one piece <br>you like by a certain composer, then there is a fair chance you'll like other <br>major pieces by the same composer. Learning about times and lives of <br>major composers can be very enlightening. There are many beginner-oriented <br>biographies and dictionaries available that can provide basic information <br>about a composer's life and works, and about musical terminology in general. <br>Even the notes that come with the recordings can be a good source of basic <br>information. <br> <br>3) Find A Good Recording <br> <br>Once you know the piece and its composer, you can then check any one of <br>several sources for the best recording of that work. The Penguin Guide is <br>a good reference. Once you have some experience you can determine which <br>source best fits your own personal taste and needs. Above all, remember <br>that, in the end, it matters little if your tastes coincide with those of the <br>critics. There is no one best performance of a piece, so if you like it, and it <br>brings you pleasure, don't be dissuaded by reviews you might read. There <br>are often many excellent recordings and performances of a major work <br>available, so don't get discouraged by the varied selection. One of the most <br>controversial topics in performance and interpretation is the use of historical <br>instruments, and/or employing historical performance practices (A discussion <br>of historically-informed performance practice). Another thing to keep in <br>mind when deciding on a certain CD may be price. Unlike any other musical <br>genre, there are many great performances of a certain piece, and some of <br>them may cost as little as $5. Don't let the low price fool you. There is often <br>no correlation between price and recording/performance quality, and the <br>extremely low cost of some releases can provide great opportunities for <br>experimentation without a lot of risk. Don't be afraid to trust your own <br>instincts. If a recording and performance moves you, you don't need to check <br>other sources to see if it's OK. Music is a personal experience. <br> <br>4) Find A Good CD Store <br> <br>Finding a good CD store from which to buy the CD you want can be a little <br>frustrating in certain parts of the world. My basic advice is to find a store <br>that has a good selection and wait for sales. <br> <br>5) What's Next? <br> <br>OK, so now you have a good CD of music you really like, what next? I think <br>a way that once you know you like at least one piece by given composer, <br>you can begin to branch out to other works, composers and periods. For <br>instance, let's say you've bought a CD of Mozart's symphonies #40 & 41, <br>and like them a great deal. You may try other symphonies by Mozart (e.g., <br>#38), or you might want to try symphonies by another composer. In this case, <br>it might be best to stay within the same period (in this case Classicism), so the <br>symphonies by Haydn (#45, 94, 101 & 104) or Beethoven (e.g., #3, 5, 6 & 9) <br>would be a good place to start. If you find you particularly like Mozart, you <br>might start exploring the major piano concertos (e.g., #20, 21 & 23) or <br>serenades (e.g., #7, #10-13). You can then start branching out and listen to <br>Mozart's piano sonatas or string quartets, and so on. <br> <br>So now you have entered the gate of Classical music and I think you will get <br>much improvement. <br> <br> <br> |
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