MY TOP 100 CLASSICAL MUSIC FAVORITES CONTINUE BELOW. THEY ARE NUMBERED ~ BUT NOT RANKED IN ANY PARTICULAR ORDER.
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31. "JUPITER" FROM GUSTAV HOLST'S "THE PLANETS"
TBH, while I love all seven movements of "The Planets," the orchestral suite by Gustav Holst, my absolute favorite is "Jupiter."
Of course, each movement is named after a planet in our solar system, although the suite does not include a piece for earth or Pluto (“The Planets” was written from 1914 to 1916, and Pluto was not discovered until 1930). |
When composing "The Planets," Holst initially scored the work for four hands, two pianos, except for Neptune, which he scored for a single organ.
Here are the seven movements from "The Planets"
I. Mars, the Bringer of War II. Venus, the Bringer of Peace III. Mercury, the Winged Messenger IV. Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity V. Saturn, the Bringer of Old Age VI. Uranus, the Magician VII. Neptune, the Mystic |
Holst later adapted the melody of the central section of "Jupiter" in 1921 to fit the metre of a poem beginning "I Vow to Thee, My Country" |
Below left: "Jupiter," four hands, one piano. Below center: A flash mob with the central section from "Jupiter." Below right: A moving rendition of "I Vow to Thee, My Country."
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If you've never heard the entire suite, I've included a performance at the right by the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, recorded live at the Royal Albert Hall in 2016.
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32. MOZART'S "EINE KLEINE NACHTMUSIK"
Who doesn't know -- or like -- Mozart's "Eine Kleine Musik"? Do you remember the scene from the beginning of the movie "Amadeus" when Salieri is speaking with Father Vogler? Vogler can't seem to recall any of Salieri's music -- except one. "Oh, I know that!" he said as Salieri plunked out "Eine Kleine Nachtmusik" on the keyboard. "That's charming! I didn't know you wrote that."
Here's an excerpt from that scene: |
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VOGLER: I am Father Vogler. I am a Chaplain here. I thought you might like to talk to someone.
OLD SALIERI: About what? VOGLER: You tried to take your life. You do remember that, don't you? OLD SALIERI: So? VOGLER: In the sight of God that is a sin. … OLD SALIERI: Do you know who I am? You never heard of me, did you? VOGLER: That makes no difference. All men are equal in God's eyes. OLD SALIERI: Are they? …you must know this. (He propels his wheelchair to the forte-piano, and plays an unrecognizable melody. VOGLER: I can't say I do. OLD SALIERI: How about this? (He plays another tune.) VOGLER: I regret it is not too familiar. OLD SALIERI: What about this little thing? (Slyly he plays the opening measure of Mozart's Eine Kleine Nachtmusik. The priest nods, smiling suddenly, and hums a little with the music.) VOGLER: Oh, I know that! That's charming! I didn't know you wrote that. OLD SALIERI: I didn't. That was Mozart. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. |
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33. THE POLOVTSIAN DANCES FROM BORODIN'S OPERA "PRINCE IGOR"
One comment under the YouTube video at the left said, "Thank God Borodin didn't spend all of his time doing chemistry work!"
That's right -- Alexander Borodin worked as a highly successful scientist and chemist, and he composed music "during his leisure hours, much to the dismay of his musical colleagues, who clearly thought he should be devoting more time to his talents." You can read all about it HERE. |
I've always loved Borodin's "Polovtsian Dances" -- from the first time I heard them performed.
The video above on the left is of the Polovtsian Dances with full chorus; no chorus is used in the version below center. Below left is the overture to "Prince Igor," and below right is the Polovtsian March. Often times these three pieces are performed as an orchestral suite.
The video above on the left is of the Polovtsian Dances with full chorus; no chorus is used in the version below center. Below left is the overture to "Prince Igor," and below right is the Polovtsian March. Often times these three pieces are performed as an orchestral suite.
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34. JAZZ SUITE NO. 1 BY DIMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH
Similar to Robert Russell Bennett’s Suite of Old American Dances (#7 on my list), Shostakovich's Suite for Jazz Orchestra No. 1 is a collection of dances. In this case, the suite includes a waltz, a polka, and a fox trot. All three are a bit whimsical and quirky, but my favorite is the waltz that opens the suite.
A really fun version by the Eastman Sax Project (along with one violin and some percussion) is below on the left. |
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Just FYI re: Shostakovich's Jazz Suites: Until recently the Suite for Variety Orchestra (below left) was misidentified as his Suite for Jazz Orchestra No. 2. However, the actual Suite 2 (below right) was lost during WW II until Russian musicologist and music critic Manashir Yakubov rediscovered in 1999 in the form of a piano score. It was orchestrated the following year by Gerard McBurney, a British composer and arranger.
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35. "CARMEN" BY GEORGES BIZET
I'm not a big opera fan. With some operas I might enjoy an aria or two or a duet here or there. With others I just enjoy the overture. With "Carmen," though, I love it all.
"Carmen" was not a hit when it first opened in 1875. Parisian audiences were appalled by the raw passion on the stage, the on-stage murder of Carmen by her jealous lover, and the scenes in which women smoked. |
The 36 year old Bizet died suddenly after the 33rd performance, and he never knew that the work would achieve international acclaim within the next ten years.
At the right and far right: Try your hand at singing some opera karaoke: "Habanera" and the Toreador Song. |
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36. PINES OF ROME BY OTTORINO RESPIGHI
Written in 1924, the Pines of Rome is a four-movement symphonic poem which depicts pine trees in four locations in Rome at different times of the day,
I. Pines of the Villa Borghese II. The Pines Near A Catacomb III. The Pines of the Janiculum IV. The Pines of the Appian Way |
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The entire piece is beautiful, but it is the ending that is so enthralling -- dare I say that the final movement is TREE-mendous? Just make sure that if/when you listen to the Pines of Rome (and listen, you must), your volume should be turned up -- way up. All the way up. : )
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The score for The Pines of the Appian Way calls for six buccine – ancient circular trumpets that are usually represented by modern flugelhorns, and which are sometimes partially played offstage.
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37. SYMPHONY NO. 3 IN C MINOR, THE "ORGAN SYMPHONY," BY SAINT-SAËNS Camille Saint-Saëns’ Symphony No. 3 in C Minor, the “Organ Symphony,” is one of my absolute favorite pieces of music. It is truly magnificent. Alas, I have never heard the work performed live, but I would LOVE to. I suspect that members in audience for this symphony feel the notes from a powerful pipe organ down to their core.
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By the way, there are “organ symphonies” (a piece for solo pipe organ in various movements) AND there are “symphonies for organ and orchestra” (like the Symphony No. 3 by Saint-Saëns). A lengthy list of “organ symphonies” and “symphonies for organ and orchestra” is on Wikipedia – HERE. I had no idea there were so many -- of both types.
Here's something I found on YouTube: An organist by the name of Johnathan Scott transcribed the complete Symphony No. 3 as a solo piece for organ only. He and his brother have quite an extensive YouTube channel, HERE, and in early 2019, they posted a short (6-plus minute) documentary (at the right) on the transcription work in preparation for a concert of the piece in April 2019. The actual concert is posted too at the far right.
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UPDATE: I was just listening to an episode of "Settling the Score" about movie scores from 1995 (HERE), and the hosts not only discussed the extensive use of Saint-Saëns' symphony in the movie "Babe," but they also mentioned that a major theme from the symphony was also a used in a love song called 'If I Had Words," performed by Scott Fitzgerald and Yvonne Keeley (at the right).
The discussion of "Babe" occurs about 49 minutes into the podcast. |
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38. WEBER'S OVERTURE TO "OBERON"
I've heard it said that Carl Maria von Weber was underrated, and I tend to agree. Alas, he died too young as well. From Wikipedia: "Against his doctor's advice, Weber undertook the project commissioned by the actor-impresario Charles Kemble for financial reasons. Having been offered the choice of Faust or Oberon as subject matter, he travelled to London to complete the music, learning English to be better able to follow the libretto, before the premiere of the opera. However, the pressure of rehearsals, social engagements and composing extra numbers destroyed his health, and Weber died in London on 5 June 1826." He was just 39 years old.
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The overture to "Oberon" is one of my favorite pieces of his. It is transcendent. Another piece to play with the volume set at "MAX."
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According to the write up on YouTube for the video at the left, it is a recording of a live performance of "Oberon" in 1955 by the Paris Opera under the direction of André Cluytens of von Weber's opera -- using a French language adaptation by Henri Büsser. The cast includes Raphaël Romagnoni (Obéron); Georges Noré (Huon); Pierre Germain (Sherasmin); Henri Médus (Haroun); Constantina Araujo (Reiza); Denise Duval (Fatima); Rita Gorr (Puck); Martha Angelici (Mermaid); Charles Paul (Almanzour); Marcel Clavere (Abdallah); and Edmond Chastenet (Babekan); Paul Finel and Max Conti (soldiers); Alain Vanzo* and André Philippe (pirates); and Jacqueline Cauchard (Droll). |
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39. CHOPIN'S POLONAISE IN A-FLAT MAJOR According to Wikipedia, "This composition is one of Chopin's most admired compositions and has long been a favorite of the romantic piano repertoire." The article also states, "the piece requires exceptional piano skills and great virtuosity" and that "it is also very physically demanding."
It is definitely one of my favorite pieces by Chopin! |
The polonaise includes the following:
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In the first episode of "The Addams Family TV show, their butler Lurch played the main theme of the polonaise on the harpsichord. Plus...
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40. MOZART'S CLARINET QUINTET IN A MAJOR
This piece is Mozart's only completed clarinet quintet -- a piece for clarinet and string quartet -- and it is one of the earliest and best-known works written especially for the instrument.
It was featured in the final episode of the TV sit-com "M*A*S*H," when Dr. Charles Winchester (played by David Ogden Stiers) learns that five Chinese soldiers who surrendered to him are musicians, one of whom plays a theme from the Clarinet Quintet. Winchester proceeds to teach them the entire piece. |
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I did see that episode of "M*A*S*H," but I can't remember if that was the first time I ever heard Mozart's piece. It might have been -- but either way -- I've always been in love with the lyrical beauty of this piece.
Below left and center: Scenes from the final episode of "M*A*S*H" featuring Mozart's Clarinet Quintet. On the left, Dr. Winchester discovers that one of the musicians is familiar with a theme from the work. In the center, Winchester attempts to teach the musicians the entire piece. Below right: From 2009: David Schneider, associate professor of music at Amherst College, delivers a presentation on Mozart's Clarinet Quintet.
Below left and center: Scenes from the final episode of "M*A*S*H" featuring Mozart's Clarinet Quintet. On the left, Dr. Winchester discovers that one of the musicians is familiar with a theme from the work. In the center, Winchester attempts to teach the musicians the entire piece. Below right: From 2009: David Schneider, associate professor of music at Amherst College, delivers a presentation on Mozart's Clarinet Quintet.
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