I don't listen to classical music that often (even though I grew up listening to tons of it, involuntarily), but when I do it has to be the best stuff, the top of the crop, the tip of the iceberg, the pointiest bit on the pyramid, the areola and the nipple rather than the breast itself. This is pretty much my attitude toward all types of music. Who's got the bloody time to listen to average crap? Well, I know, 90% of the population do just that, bless their uneducated, underdeveloped ears. So I guess this list must be for the other 10%.
As with any type of music, most classical composers "borrowed" from others, and usually wrote very stereotypical tunes that still get played by great and less-than-great orchestras throughout the world - just because they were written by so-and-so. I fart on the cult of personality; I only look at the finished product - not who composed it, or why, or when, or how exalted his name may be in general culture. Only a small percentage of all classical music is truly great; the rest is a mixture of the good, the mediocre, and the dull - like all those vaguely pleasant but ultimately pointless Haydn symphonies that might as well have been composed on a conveyor belt.
Classical music IS of course generally overrated by its fans, and utterly underrated by hicks. Very few people have a healthy, realistic approach toward it - as I do.
Many of its deluded fans are narrow-minded snobs who actually believe that only music written by people who are long dead can be good music - as if the past held some secret ingredient, some unknown chemical element that enabled humans to write great melodies, while the modern times are somehow "corrupted" or "polluted" by some strange gases that permeate the air, not allowing any music genius to ever exit its mother's vagina. The fact that the population is much larger today - and that many more people can afford musical instruments and a music education - mathematically increases, if anything, the chances of more great music being written. That is probably why the 20th century saw an explosion of excellent music in large quantities, not to mention a plethora of new and exciting styles. Admittedly though, the current world-wide cultural dumbing-down phenomenon is a large counter-productive factor. Vast numbers of kids are growing up listening to garbage, so the odds of anyone composing great music greatly diminish.
On the other side of the coin we've got the tone-deaf idiots who utterly ignore, even mock classical music. (Cretins often mock that which they cannot understand.) These are the types that cannot comprehend anything more complex than "Jingle Bells" or the latest musical turd shat by Britney Spears's overactive anus. Their lemur ears can only process simplistic, child-like, predictable, formulaic tunes that can be hummed even by bizons. Like nervous little pubescent girlies who hysterically laugh in order to mask their insecurity and uncomfortableness, these peasants nervously snicker at anything they realize goes way above their heads - or past their ears, if you will. Classical music isn't rocket science, but it does presuppose early ear-training. If you've been brought up on a steady diet of Bon Jovi, Ice-T, and DJ Moby, you can pretty much forget it: for such retards great melodies will always remain a confusing mystery.
Keep in mind: this list isn't about ALL the famous classical melodies, just the very best - and who better to be the judge of what's best than I! There are many very nice melodies that I have not included, simply because they do not measure up to the ones already on the list.
A Metal Fan's List Of The Best Pieces Of Classical Music
Rule no. 1: No entire symphonies, no entire missas or whatever, only separate bits/parts.
Rule no. 2: No good tracks, only great tracks. Many famous pieces are missing because they do not match up to the greatness of those that made it on the list, or simply because they are dull.
Rule no. 3: The 20th century does count, but only up to a point. I can't draw a line, i.e. identify a date, when classical music stops. We can argue about what "classical" means until James Cameron is as blue in the face as his dumb aliens, but ultimately: if it quacks like a duck, it's a duck. One thing's for sure; you won't be finding any Jay-Z here. And by "classical" obviously I refer to modernist and romantic eras as much as what is literally classical music.
Rule no. 4: Sometimes a piece of music has a high placement because there is one absolutely outstanding part within it. Considering that some of these pieces go over 10 minutes, it is obvious that some of these longer compositions aren't great in their entirety but contain highlights which are the focus.
Rule no. 5: Keep in mind that the greatness of many of these tracks depends to some extent on how good they are being played, i.e. which version you've heard.
Rule no. 6: I have tried to arrange these tracks in the ascending order of greatness, which was tough. However, you will notice an increase in quality as you go down (i.e. up) the list.
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| 58. BACH/GOUNOD - Ave Maria https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyUhEjtlDLA |
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| 57. Sergei PROKOFIEV - Alexander Nevsky: The Crusaders In Pskov http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5QzroijYfY |
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| 56. Gabriel FAURE - Pavane https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWW7pfXlYLY |
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| 55. Alexander Borodin - Prince Igor https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sw1weml0-r0 |
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| 54. Ludwig VAN BEETHOVEN - Symphony #9, 2nd movement http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BDlqlhcCIk |
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| 53. Sergei PROKOFIEV - Lieutenant Kijé http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1scluzlPz0 |
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| 52. Claude DEBUSSY - The Snow Is Dancing https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1YHnYX8xfM |
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| 51. Antonin DVORAK - New World Symphony: 4th Movement http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9OBf8f55tU |
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| 50. Giuseppe VERDI - Nabucco: Hebrew Slaves Chorus http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6JN0l7A_mE |
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| 49. Léo DELIBES - The Flower Duet http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Qx2lMaMsl8 |
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| 48. Modeste MUSSORGSKY - Promenade https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1GwvPzzK1k |
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| 47. Johann Sebastian BACH - Orchestral Suite #3 D-dur http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUtCC5VPwBs |
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| 46. Claude DEBUSSY - Passepied https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-aWANHYCdM |
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| 45. Richard STRAUSS - Also sprach Zarathustra https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeHu7omCC6w |
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| 44. Pietro MASCAGNI - Cavaleria Rusticana (Intermezzo) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDAkIlZyWfw |
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| 43. Sergei RACHMANINOFF - Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini, 18th variation http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_BArG3ollw |
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| 42. Claude DEBUSSY - Estampes: Gardens in the Rain https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QH2ZsZ0rwxI |
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| 41. Tomaso ALBINONI - Adagio in G minor http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMbvcp480Y4 |
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| 40. Igor STRAVINSKY - Firebird Suite: Infernal Dance of King Kastchei https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HoLacjKPl7w |
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| 39. Carl ORFF - Carmina Burana: 11. Estuans Interius http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTxggoE48wk |
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| 38. Richard WAGNER - Götterdämmerung: Siegfried's Death and Funeral March http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NBhoGXo8lE |
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| 37. Jean SIBELIUS - Valse Triste http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvNk4jvjb_A |
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| 36. Maurice RAVEL - Pavane For Dead Princess http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKkeDqJBlK8 |
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| 35. Frédéric CHOPIN - Etude no. 3 in E major, Op. 10 no. 3, "Tristesse" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmQBFLJAIcY |
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| 34. Johann Sebastian BACH - 3 Part Invention, #2 in c-Moll BWV 788 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrlIRrS85CY |
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| 33. Claude DEBUSSY - Des pas sur la neige https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFKfuanIfdU |
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| 32. Modeste MUSSORGSKY - Baba Yaga https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNdOMcbuiiA |
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| 31. Antonin DVORAK - New World Symphony: 2nd Movement http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOX15agZ3-0 |
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| 30. Maurice RAVEL - Bolero http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xnt_8bUXVpw |
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| 29. Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY - Symphony #6 "Pathetique": 1st Movement, Adagio http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6jA_C389PU |
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| 28. Carl ORFF - Carmina Burana: O Fortuna http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdIpoE2LEps |
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| 27. Claude DEBUSSY - Arabesque #1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6s49OKp6aE |
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| 26. Edvard GRIEG - Solveig's Song http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ii2Adi2iFRM |
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| 25. Modeste MUSSORGSKY - The Old Castle http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUEvLWHWr-I |
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| 24. Sergei PROKOFIEV - Suite Scythe: Adoration de Veles et Ala http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBjsW5VcN98 |
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| 23. Igor STRAVINSKY - Firebird Suite: Introduction https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oy0fUXM_l_A |
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| 22. Claude DEBUSSY - Prelude To The Afternoon Of A Faun http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VG9jyh5zGnI |
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| 21. Modeste MUSSORGSKY - Bydlo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rx6Eo6liyCg |
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| 20. Ludwig VAN BEETHOVEN - 7th Symphony: 2nd Movement http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgHxmAsINDk |
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| 19. Franz SCHUBERT - Piano Trio #2 in E flat major http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzehhFgI2MQ |
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| 18. Igor STRAVINSKY - Firebird Suite: Berceuse & Finale https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceIpM_bLSTA |
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| 17. Claude DEBUSSY - Reverie http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THq2QSUw3k8 |
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| 16. Modeste MUSSORGSKY - The Great Gate of Kiev http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vw7OM_Q810k |
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| 15. Sergei PROKOFIEV - Violin Concerto #1: Moderato; Allegro Moderato http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ag-X50_GZes |
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Violin Concerto |
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| 13. Claude DEBUSSY - Girl With The Flaxen Hair http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yu4KObwynSc |
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| 12. Johann Sebastian BACH - Ich ruf' zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9Dh43kVL1Q |
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| 11. Claude DEBUSSY - The Sunken Cathedral http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAVyKDDsM3s |
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| 10. Franz SCHUBERT - Ave Maria http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sE1WoMocTlw |
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| 9. Joaquín RODRIGO - Aranjuez Concerto http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SILF8CrhoKo |
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| 8. Sergei PROKOFIEV - Symphony #5 In B Flat Major: Allegro Marcato http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IT7YgZ8J-PA |
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| 7. Sergei PROKOFIEV - Symphony #6 in Eb Minor, Op. 111: I Allegro moderato http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNbheYZkWWg |
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| 6. Modeste MUSSORGSKY - A Night On Bald Mountain Rimsky-Korsakov version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Im258Ea5FJA Original version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDOCuvN-19Q |
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| 5. Igor STRAVINSKY - Firebird Suite: Round Dance of the Princesses http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBb7-He4o5E |
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| 4. Richard WAGNER - The Ride of the Valkyries http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xeRwBiu4wfQ |
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| 3. Claude DEBUSSY - Claire De Lune http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcDxw6O1oRQ |
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| 2. Ludwig VAN BEETHOVEN - Ode To Joy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kcOpyM9cBg |
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| 1. Richard WAGNER - Tannhauser Overture http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBqwAGj5fDA |
If you think I have omitted something crucial, leave a link or name the tune and its composer, and I shall check it out.
To find out The Best Songs of 1970-2016, go to:
6.9.2016.
Not enough Strauss II and Saint-Saens. And the absence of a Mozart piece is shocking. I respect your love for Wagner and Beethoven, however.
ReplyDeleteI omitted Mozart just to annoy you, and other Mozart fans.
Delete"Not enough Strauss"? There isn't ANY Strauss, I, II, III, or XXVI.
Any opinion on the Russians? I have a hint of a clue of an inkling that you might despise them.
"I omitted Mozart just to annoy you, and other Mozart fans"
DeleteI'm glad to see you form your opinions based on what will annoy people over what you genuinely like.
And as for the Russians, I'm quite a fan of Tchaikovsky, but my general opinion of the Russian mentality is not a positive one.
This, however, is not a list about mentalities, but music.
DeleteThen why did you ask for my opinions on the Russians? Don't ask questions if you are disinterested in the answers.
DeleteWe had such a good thing going when I thought you had put Ode to Joy on top - that's pretty much the only piece of art that occasionally motivates me to learn German - almost.
ReplyDeleteAnd Hitler's speeches don't motivate you to learn German? Smelly fat German businessmen stuffing large pieces of Wurst in their mouths while talking about their favourite Berliner whores doesn't either?
DeleteIf that doesn't do it, nothing will. You will never speak the awesome language.
Didn't quite understand the "Ode to Joy" remark. I put it in 2nd place. Are you one of those people who only acknowledge the winner?
Is there any truth to the story that Hitler stood up the entire time he would attend a performance of one of Wagner's operas?
DeleteAnd alas, no smelly fat Germans ever shared stories about their Berliner whores with me. In my short visit to Germany I found the Germans exactly as I had imagined them to be - efficient, frugal and boring. If I had known about their love of Berliner whores maybe I would have found them more interesting.
Perhaps I'm shallow like that - Wagner I don't get. Ode to Joy makes me feel a tinge of bliss when I hear it.
I don't know whether Hitler stood or sat or curled into the fetal position during a Wagner opera, but I do know that he (allegedly) came during some of his rally-speeches. He was supposedly sexually excited by screaming at thousands of brainwashed Germans, this somehow titillated him to the point of ejaculation. Of course, the only person who could deny or confirm this is Hitler's personal underwear cleaner.
DeleteFinally someone else who doesn't view classical music as the holy grail of all art that holds all the secrets to life and the universe and fixes erectile dysfunction. Fine list, I see you love the Russians (ditto). What do you think of Rachmaninoff's piano concertos? Specifically #2 as I find myself often returning to that one.
ReplyDeleteI'd have to check it out first. Perhaps I know already from before. I know the tunes, just often clueless about the names.
DeleteYes, classic music snobs seem to believe that only people who lived centuries ago could produce great music or art. It is quaint logic.
Nice list. Not Handel´s Sarabarde? Watched Barry Lyndon and cannot get it out of my head.
ReplyDeleteIt's good but not quite good enough for this list.
DeleteI was listening to some classical music and found something I nearly forgot, Vivaldi´s Summer (Presto):
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IB5OsPwQVRA&feature=share&fbclid=IwAR2XV8bCxppO6AjQp_KjlP1RcoBdAOV_x5LzDkFFy932HaItTgW0RtnUPvA
Maybe good enough here?
PS: you like Russians, what is your opinion on Kchachaturian and Shostakovich?
Correction: maybe good enough to be here
Delete