Classical music - tips?

heavyfelly · Joined: 21 Sep 2012 Posts: 22 Location: Stockholm

Hi experts and noobs.

I´ve long wanted to submerge into the world of classical music, but never known where to start, since it´s kind of ... big.

Do any of you have any good recommendations, having in mind that I like metal for the reason that it´s with dark, eerie and heavy.

(An idea, and maybe inpossible, would be to categorise classical music under it´s closest relative in metal; If you like doom --> check out this classical music, if you like black/thrash --> check out that classical music etc. This is a whole nother project in itself, but a nice idea.)

TD666 · Joined: 01 Mar 2013 Posts: 21 Location: Minsk, Krywia

If you are into "bestial/war" metal, you should check out polish grandmasters Penderecki and Lutoslawski. Pure crushing madness. It is not classical music though, they belong to the "academic avantgarde" camp.
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NK7 · Joined: 07 Oct 2012 Posts: 1319 Location: Beograd, Srbija

I'll be a much happier man the day I understand how in the hell extreme metal fans may like classical music. I'm 100% convinced it's just a facade for the most part, I mean people pretend to be into Beethoven because it's a much convenient way to rehabilitate themselves on an intellectual level and give their ego a boost ("See, I'm not the degenerate alcoholic you thought I was"). 95% of the classical music I heard put me to sleep, I don't question the guys' skills and everything but come on, it's just boring to listen to. Sure, as an Italian I enjoy watching the occasional opera on tv if some good tenor is involved, but never in my wildest dreams I would consider buying cds or stuff. May be it's just me being too much of a diehard metalloid scum.
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Cale · Posted: Tue May 14, 2013 2:44 am Post subject:

Béla Bartók, Olivier Messiaen, Arnold Schoenberg.
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Pacifism-Sucks · Joined: 06 Aug 2009 Posts: 942 Location: Lithuania

Some personal recommendations:
Franz Schubert:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z42GrmR4U2Y for some reason this reminds me of Demigod
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUTRscVtWfM brighter mood on this one. Heard this live, became an instant fan

Igor Stravinsky (Voivod used to say that he influenced them a lot):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGFRwKQqbk4 masterpiece!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urruhLut5vE

Gustav Mahler:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FG9Rw4pM-Tg I'd say, fans of Disma, Binah and similarly composed death metal might enjoy his symphonies
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPXinFjtIyg good one as well

Dmitri Shostakovich:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8hE0c62kSw Dark one. Sound is not the best on this youtube video and I've heard better performances/recording of this piece. Sounds like a mix of Incantation, Dissection and Deathspell Omega to me. Second movement (from 5:15) is absolutely brutal.
Here's a better recording (and a more frantic performance) of the first two movements of this quartet: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDDNS4BM1xQ ("brutal" movement starts at 4:30)

Gustav Holst:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHVsszW7Nds Simply good.

Alfred Schnittke:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPyuHlQEYi8
+ his string quartets

On the doom side, Grieg's Funeral March can be hardly beaten:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJi_rb9D8I4

Also, sound of Youtube sucks, Penderecki is overrated and fuck Mozart.
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ALCHAMESTE · Joined: 25 Jan 2012 Posts: 104 Location: Pictavia

Mussorgski "Night on the bare mountain".
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Deathcrusher · Posted: Tue May 14, 2013 3:32 am Post subject:

ias · Joined: 20 Dec 2008 Posts: 388

Dante Symphony - 1. Inferno (1/3)

this is just heavy shit...
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holy ghost · Posted: Tue May 14, 2013 3:58 am Post subject:

Beethovens late string quartets are a good bet if you're looking for something a little 'out', as he wrote these as he was going a little nuts. They're excellent, and you can probably find a CD or LP collection very cheaply. I have two versions, the best in my mind is the Amadeus Quartet versions. Very interesting, but not automatically "Teutonic crushing brutality" like Penderecki.

Shostakovich is by far my favorite composer, he has an excellent 33 CD box with all aspects of his work. I think it's out of print now, but well worth looking for a torrent or whatever. I personally favour his smaller group works as he was less under scrutiny from the Stalinist regime to produce works they thought meshed with their vision of Soviet music. Some very dark, haunting stuff in there but overall all his symphonies are worth looking into as well.

Alban Berg's Lyric Suite is my favorite 20th century composition. I like all his stuff, even his operas like Wozzeck and Lulu but Lyric Suite is the place to start with him imho

I would suggest buying a copy of Alex Websters The Rest Is Noise as it's a fascinating read through 20th Century Composition.
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NK7 · Joined: 07 Oct 2012 Posts: 1319 Location: Beograd, Srbija

Pacifism-Sucks · Joined: 06 Aug 2009 Posts: 942 Location: Lithuania

I can see Bachsphemy, Beetherit, Bachammer, Onsliszt, Bachtory and Gospel of the Holst patches and a Grieg's Belial's Key t-shirt, so, I think, yes.
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holy ghost · Posted: Tue May 14, 2013 4:20 am Post subject:

Like I was saying above, The Rest is Noise should really be your first step. It's kind of a stretch to assume you will just grab a collection, even by a composer you might be into and find anything of real merit if your needs are so specific. This is a really easily readable guide to modern composition with a nod to the past. His blog is great too.

Another option is to go to a store that specializes in classical music and just ask for suggestions. Classical 'fans' know that interest among everyone is waning and are potentially really nice and helpful. There's an HMV downtown and the guy here has been really great for suggesting things I might like. I've even had customers make suggestions too, it's not the same atmosphere at the metal section with everyone looking all grimm and evil and whatever.....

Another suggestion is a Shoenberg played by Mitsuko Uchida and Boulez, really a great entry disc. In fact, this has my highest recommendation!!!!!
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satanic ritual abuse · Posted: Tue May 14, 2013 4:22 am Post subject:

http://www.whosampled.com/sample/view/87000/Black%20Sabbath-Black%20Sabbath_Gustav%20Holst-Mars,%20the%20Bringer%20of%20War/
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little_raven · Joined: 17 Aug 2011 Posts: 427

Watch the Oldboy movie. It changed my view on Vivaldi's winter, best tension-building music EVER.

I'd say start with the classic classical (lol), music you can hum to. As a kid my folks bought many of those beethoven/mozart compilations and I kinda grow listening to them, I still do from time to time. Only after confirming that, I'd move to the more 'obscure' stuff.

BTW I agree with the conception that most metalheads listen to classical music as a pose. OH I JUST NOTICED THE TCHAIKOVSKIAL INFLUENCES ON THE NEW ILL OMEN DEMO, that sort of thing is hilarious.
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holy ghost · Posted: Tue May 14, 2013 5:11 am Post subject:

Or the fascination with Wagner! Dude wrote some cool overtures and shit but you ever sit through Die Walkure in it's entirety? Man I went with my mother-in-law a few years ago, that shit is an endurance test to say the least. Just buy an LP of his famous overtures and call a fucking spade a spade.....

Hitler was a fucking weird guy man.....
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