Starting a Classical Music Library

Frantz,

IMO, it would be good to start with some familiar "tunes" that will establish the connection between the origins of a piece and the popular incarnations. With that in mind, let's begin with something almost everybody knows:

http://www.amazon.com/Wolfgang-Amad...=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1336796689&sr=1-1



I chose this one because it is available cheaply, and is a very good performance. Of course, many of the forum members may have their own personal favorite for this selection, and that's OK too. I'm just reminded of Salieri's conversation with the priest in Amadeus, where the priest hummed the whole first section of the piece from memory.

More to follow.

Lee

As a starter I would suggest Bela Bartok "Concerto for Orchestra", if possible the Fritz Reiner version. It comes with the Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta that is also great music.

http://www.amazon.com/Bartok-Concerto-Orchestra-Percussion-Hungarian/dp/B000003FEJ

Although I have more classical recordings than I thought I had, I too am a novice and need some direction...so Frantz, this is a great thread for me that I'll be following closely. Hopefully Lloyd will chime in as well.

I picked up this as recommended on CD from Amazon UK for a great price.

I would suggest him to start with Barroque and Chamber, easy to deal with and great pieces, Bach/Telemann would be my first pick, then move to Vivaldi. Naxos and Harmonia Mundi labels to spoil him would be great.