Bespin 8,481 Posted May 14, 2017 Share Posted May 14, 2017 Hi, I just suggested a "discovery kit" for a friend of mine who's not really a cinephile, but loves classical music. He's not really a fan of big fanfares too... I wanted him to discover John Williams's music, so I quickly picked these 15 entries... As a first step I wanted to avoid the soundtracks which are too much brass bands... What would have been your suggestions (in about 10-20 albums/singles max)? 1978-Mehta_ Star Wars - Cinema Gala (okay.... but is it not the most « classical » way of presenting Star Wars to a non-fan without disgusting him, no?) 1982-E.T(OST) (I could not miss it!) 1993-Schindler's List (in my sense a very classical score... and because of Itzhak Perlman's solos too) 1995-Sabrina (A favorite of mine, has some beautiful piano part in the theme) 1997-Seven Years in Tibet (in my sense a very classical score... and because of Yo-Yo Ma's solos too) 1997-The Five Sacred Trees (LSO) 2001-Treesong 2005-Memoirs of a Geisha (in my sense a very classical score... and because of Perlman's and Ma's solos too!) 2006-Memoirs of a Gesiah - Live Sessions EP (We love Yo-Yo, who does'nt love him!?) 2008-Baadsvik_ Tuba Concerto 2009-Marsalis_ Escapades 2010-Slatkin_ Horn Concerto 2011-On Willows and Birches (BSO) 2013-Harjanne_ Trumpet Concerto 2013-Oboe Concerto (BPO) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karelm 2,913 Posted May 14, 2017 Share Posted May 14, 2017 I would include Soundings, Flute Concerto, Violin Concerto, Jane Eyre, Escapades, and Images (excerpts) because these violate most peoples "saccharine" prejudice about him since he has scored such a string of commercially popular but "cute" films that bore many people. Most people would never guess who the composer of these works are if they didn't know his range already. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bespin 8,481 Posted May 14, 2017 Author Share Posted May 14, 2017 12 minutes ago, karelm said: I would include Soundings, Flute Concerto, Violin Concerto, Jane Eyre, Escapades, and Images (excerpts) because these violate most peoples "saccharine" prejudice about him since he has scored such a string of commercially popular but "cute" films that bore many people. Most people would never guess who the composer of these works are if they didn't know his range already. About Soundings, unfortunately we have nothing on the market except the Dudamel version on DVD. Why a CD version doesn't exist? I like your Jane Eyre suggestion! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marian Schedenig 8,193 Posted May 14, 2017 Share Posted May 14, 2017 CE3K. The 20 minute Gerhardt suite. Comes with the best Star Wars interpretation as a bonus. Joni Wiljami 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bollemanneke 3,348 Posted May 14, 2017 Share Posted May 14, 2017 Far and Away! (And include the bootleg tracks.) I'm currently compiling all his suites, concert arrangements ad concert works to experience his scores in a more structured way, just to see how that will sound. Bespin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bespin 8,481 Posted May 14, 2017 Author Share Posted May 14, 2017 51 minutes ago, Marian Schedenig said: CE3K. The 20 minute Gerhardt suite. Comes with the best Star Wars interpretation as a bonus. True, but with Mehta I though I played safe! It is serious stuff! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marian Schedenig 8,193 Posted May 14, 2017 Share Posted May 14, 2017 But the long Gerhardt suite of CE3K has all that wonderful post-Strauss rumbling and cluster stuff that might pass as "serious" more easily than the directly accessible and melodic Star Wars suite. Bespin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naïve Old Fart 9,527 Posted May 14, 2017 Share Posted May 14, 2017 I don't believe in systematic desensitization. IMAGES. Throw them in at the deep end. If that doesn't hook them, then nothing will. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bespin 8,481 Posted May 14, 2017 Author Share Posted May 14, 2017 7 minutes ago, Richard said: I don't believe in systematic desensitization. IMAGES. Throw them in at the deep end. If that doesn't hook them, then nothing will. LOL! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gurkensalat 340 Posted May 15, 2017 Share Posted May 15, 2017 I found the OST of The Fury very interesting from a classical music perspective and would recommend it for this. Bespin and Naïve Old Fart 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nightscape94 965 Posted May 15, 2017 Share Posted May 15, 2017 I would also added "Tributes! For Seiji" since it's basically a concerto for orchestra, but unfortunately no official release. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bespin 8,481 Posted May 15, 2017 Author Share Posted May 15, 2017 7 hours ago, Gurkensalat said: I found the OST of The Fury very interesting from a classical music perspective and would recommend it for this. Perhaps more the expanded set than the OST? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naïve Old Fart 9,527 Posted May 15, 2017 Share Posted May 15, 2017 Actually, the OST just about covers it. The novice listener doesn't need all that car-chase-through-the-alley stuff. Besides, the OST sounds much better, and it has the EPILOGUE. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cumulonimbus 22 Posted May 16, 2017 Share Posted May 16, 2017 What classical music is he into? Back, Mozart, Chopin, Tchaikovsky, ...? Piano, chamber music, orchestral music, ...? I think The Book Thief is quite classical too. Bespin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naïve Old Fart 9,527 Posted May 16, 2017 Share Posted May 16, 2017 Probably all of those, and Vaughn Williams, Walton, Copeland, and Holst. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bespin 8,481 Posted May 16, 2017 Author Share Posted May 16, 2017 2 hours ago, Cumulonimbus said: What classical music is he into? Back, Mozart, Chopin, Tchaikovsky, ...? Piano, chamber music, orchestral music, ...? I think The Book Thief is quite classical too. Schumann, Brahms, Tchaikovsky. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gurkensalat 340 Posted May 16, 2017 Share Posted May 16, 2017 2 hours ago, Bespin said: Schumann, Brahms, Tchaikovsky. Lincoln and BFG come to mind. Bespin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom 4,658 Posted May 16, 2017 Share Posted May 16, 2017 Essay for strings is a must. As for Memoirs, I would go with the Cello Suite, as it plays like a cello concerto. If your friend can handle narration, the Reivers suite is a fun ride. Bespin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naïve Old Fart 9,527 Posted May 16, 2017 Share Posted May 16, 2017 6 hours ago, Cumulonimbus said: What classical music is he into? Back, Mozart, Chopin, Tchaikovsky, ...? Piano, chamber music, orchestral music, ...? I think The Book Thief is quite classical too. 3 hours ago, Bespin said: Schumann, Brahms, Tchaikovsky. 4 hours ago, Richard said: Probably all of those, and Vaughn Williams, Walton, Copeland, and Holst. Don't forget all those "underrated German composers" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
publicist 4,643 Posted May 16, 2017 Share Posted May 16, 2017 Prokoviev's 5th (though in some respects to lose to comfort): Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naïve Old Fart 9,527 Posted May 16, 2017 Share Posted May 16, 2017 I've always loved the Deutsche Grammophon covers, but...do you think that Karajan got the best out of Prokofiev? What I mean is, how do you think he interpreted him? Good? Bad? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
publicist 4,643 Posted May 16, 2017 Share Posted May 16, 2017 It's a good recording, gripping. The best Prokofiev is conductor is Valery Gergiev, though. Loert 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naïve Old Fart 9,527 Posted May 16, 2017 Share Posted May 16, 2017 Thanks, I'll check him out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bespin 8,481 Posted May 16, 2017 Author Share Posted May 16, 2017 Gergiev, I love his Nutcracker! Get some vodka. 'Na zdorovie! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick1Ø66 4,714 Posted May 19, 2017 Share Posted May 19, 2017 I remember years ago reading the liner notes (written by someone from FSM I believe) to the Star Wars Anthology, and being a bit incredulous by the suggestion therein that hopefully in listening to the Star Wars soundtracks the listener would move on to discover more "sophisticated fare"...i.e. classical music. I just found the suggestion, in a set celebrating the music of Star Wars, that William's achievement somehow lacked sophistication to be somewhat insulting, and the notion that those who listen to such music wouldn't already have been exposed to classic music to be a bit presumptuous. In any event, if I wonder if your classical music loving friend will find Williams to lack sophistication. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bespin 8,481 Posted May 19, 2017 Author Share Posted May 19, 2017 15 minutes ago, Nick1066 said: In any event, if I wonder if your classic music loving friend will find Williams to lack sophistication. I will ask him, he's a big Charles Aznavour fan like me (an essential collaborator for my discography about him), so I know he's open-minded and have a good taste in music! ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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