Brahms: Symphony No. 2 - Hungarian Dances

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Here, Marin Alsop follows up her successful recording of Brahms's First Symphony with an equally fine Second. The first movement has great warmth but moves ahead with conviction; the second is devoid of any unwanted density of tone; the third has real class, and the final movement is exciting, with dazzling brass. The selection of Hungarian Dances is varied and handsomely performed. At this price, this is a front-runner. --Robert Levine

Brahms: Symphony No. 2 - Hungarian Dances, Music, Brahms, Alsop, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Classical, Classical Composers, Orchestral, Orchestral & Symphonic, Orchestral Music, Romantic Symphony, Symphonic
25 Classical Favorites
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • classic music CD
  • Good for beginners
  • Great mix
  • Good for first-timer
  • 25 Classical Favorites cd
 25 Classical Favorites

Manufacturer: Vox (Classical)
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0000058HT
Release Date: 1996-01-23

Tracks:

  1. Eine Klein Nachtmusik: (I. Allegro)
  2. Nutcracker Suite: (Russian Dance)
  3. The Four Seasons, Op. 8: (Spring: I. Allegro)
  4. Hungarian Dance No. 5 In G Minor
  5. Symphony in D, K. 161 - 163: (III. Presto)
  6. Waltz In D-Flat Major, Op. 64, No. 1
  7. Tritsch-Tratsch Polka, Op. 214
  8. Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 In G, S. 1048: (III. Allegro)
  9. Swan Lake: (Dance Of The Swans)
  10. Carmen Suite No. 2: (Habanera)
  11. Messiah: (Overture)
  12. Wind Serenade 'The Marriage Of Figaro': Overture
  13. Violin Concerto No. 1 In G Minor, Op. 12: (III. Allegro)
  14. Water Music: (Overture)
  15. Sleeping Beauty Ballet Suite, Op. 66: (Panorama)
  16. Symphony No. 26 In E-flat Major, K. 184: (III. Allegro)
  17. Waltz No. 10 In B Minor, Op. 69 No. 2
  18. Violin Concerto No. 1 In A Minor, S. 1041: (III. Allegro)
  19. Water Music: (Lentement)
  20. Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 In G Major, S. 1049: (II. Andante)
  21. Habanera
  22. Horn Concerto No. 3 In E-Flat Major, K. 447: (II. Romanza)
  23. Rhapsody On A Theme By Paganini, Op. 43: (Variation No. 18)
  24. Thunder And Lightning Polka, Op. 324
  25. Stars And Stripes Forever

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars classic music CD.......2007-06-27

The CD was well represented by the clips on the Amazon website and came in time for our event. We did have a problem with the charge but that was taken care of promptly. Great service.

4 out of 5 stars Good for beginners.......2007-02-15

It is an excellent collection of classical music. I would recommend this CD if you have a friend who don't like classical music, since it has the most beautiful overtures and portions of famous artists. If you are a Classic Music Savvy you probably will not be impressed by it, unless you want to play the CD as background music in a friends gathering.

4 out of 5 stars Great mix.......2007-02-14

All the best composers! Over an hour of music. A samble of the greatest pieces.

5 out of 5 stars Good for first-timer.......2007-01-22

This is the first time I have ever bought a classical music CD and I was very pleased with this one. It has a good variety of selections. I would buy it again.

5 out of 5 stars 25 Classical Favorites cd.......2007-01-06

This CD has so many of my favorite, lively classical music -- love it!!
Brahms: Symphony No. 2 - Hungarian Dances
Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • Go elsewhere
  • Alsop & LPO: Mellifluous Brahms is Hearty Musical Fare
  • A Fine Leisurely Account of Brahms's 2nd Symphony....
  • A delightful new account
  • Poor Brahms
 Brahms: Symphony No. 2 - Hungarian Dances
Brahms , Alsop , and London Philharmonic Orchestra
Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

All Works by BrahmsAll Works by Brahms | Brahms, Johannes | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B000B6N67W
Release Date: 2005-10-11

Tracks:

  1. Allegro Non Troppo
  2. Adagio Non Troppo
  3. Allegretto Grazioso, Quasi Andantino
  4. Allegro Con Spirito
  5. No.1 In G Minor
  6. No.3 In F Major
  7. No.10 In F Major
  8. No.17 In F-Sharp Minor
  9. No.18 In D Major
  10. No.19 In B Minor
  11. No.20 In E Minor
  12. No.21 In E Minor

Amazon.com

Here, Marin Alsop follows up her successful recording of Brahms's First Symphony with an equally fine Second. The first movement has great warmth but moves ahead with conviction; the second is devoid of any unwanted density of tone; the third has real class, and the final movement is exciting, with dazzling brass. The selection of Hungarian Dances is varied and handsomely performed. At this price, this is a front-runner. --Robert Levine

Customer Reviews:

1 out of 5 stars Go elsewhere.......2007-05-06

The serious, self-important facial expression of the conductor on the front of the CD jewelcase is a dead giveaway of the musical treatment you are about to experience. The Brahms 2nd Symphony shouldn't be played like the 1st or 4th. After all, it's Brahms' "pastoral" symphony. Yet Maestra Alsop attempts to turn it into some sort of "profound statement", when she should just chill and let the music play. Brahms doesn't need this sort of treatment.

The Hungarian Dances are forgettable -- go instead with Neeme Jarvi, Antal Dorati or Paul Strauss for some real kick-up-your-heels excitement.

5 out of 5 stars Alsop & LPO: Mellifluous Brahms is Hearty Musical Fare.......2006-12-24

I approached this second disc in the Marin Alsop series on Naxos with some caution, given my mixed reactions to the first symphony on SACD, as well as some of the down sides of the comments the Amazon posted reviewers have made. My objections to the Alsop First Symphony involved mostly the dislocated sonics that came from using that markedly unwise venue, the Watford Colosseum. I like Alsop's approach to the composer well enough to actually wish to be able to hear it, well. Her tendencies to bring out Brahm's polyphony without unraveling the larger melodic/harmonic forward motion only makes sound and aural staging more pertinent concerns. So as a happy starting note, one can see this Second Symphony has been recorded in another, much better venue, London's Blackheath Concert Hall. Catching this break, one immediately wishes we had another go at SACD. (So I waited and waited before trying this second out. What is Naxos thinking these days? Do any of the company people actually listen to their own catalog?) On the disc filler of eight of the orchestrated version of the Hungarian Dances, we return to the Watford. Oh well, give that venue another chance I suppose, so long as it doesn't get to sabotage one's potential enjoyment of the Second Symphony.

My steadfast standard in the second has involved an old, wonderful stereo recording, led by Pierre Monteux with the Vienna Philharmonic. Some day it may get remastered again, and if Universal Classics lets Sony BMG lead the way, we might even get an SACD hybrid disc like the BMG Living Stereo series.

Other touchstones have of course included some big and some not so big players: Haitink & the Concertgebouw, Bohm with Vienna, the last Gunter Wand set with the North German Radio Orchestra, Sir Adrian Boult with the LPO/LSO, Dohnanyi with Cleveland, Levine with Vienna, Mackerras in Scotland, Marek Janowski with Liverpool, and the younger Thomas Sanderling with London's Philharmonia. Old masters have lasted, like Kurt Sanderling, Bruno Walter, Otto Klemperer, George Szell.

Right from the start, Marin Alsop adopts a flowing, moving tempo, nevertheless consistent with the gemutlichkeit essence of the opening melody and orchestral texture. I find myself mystified by the reviewers that complained of her tempo being too slow to serve this music. Of course I like my Brahms slow, provided the conductor and players plan to do something with all the music going on, like the Sanderlings, say, or Pierre Monteux. So far as I can hear, her approach to the second reminds me of her way with the first. She is adept at balancing the three sides of this complex composer, the Late Romantic Brahms who is so full of deep humanistic emotion, the music scholarly Brahms who learned his polyphony from studying all the old Medieval and Baroque masters, and the futurist Brahms whom Schoenberg much admired. By the time the work ends, I realize she has finished things as well as she began them. It probably doesn't hurt that the LPO has a strong history of its own in this composer's oeuvre.

Then we jump suddenly into the Watford Colosseum which still has all the recorded sonic deficiencies I nagged about in my review of the first symphony. It is not awful sound, just terribly displaced and floating disembodied in that great space, a bit like elevator music written larger than life by some close-up magic that quickly earns my ear's worry. If you like the Hungarian Dances as background music, and you are not listening for too much in that music, you will probably sail right on through your day.

The Third Symphony is due out, soon. I hope it avoided the Watford. I hope it continues to show the gifts of conductor and band, as the first two discs have done. Will we ever get these in super audio? Naxos?

5 out of 5 stars A Fine Leisurely Account of Brahms's 2nd Symphony...........2006-01-08

Marin Alsop's glowing interpretation of the Brahms 2nd Symphony has been earning accolades ever since it was issued last year. Hers is a vibrant, leisurely account that is aided immensely by the London Philharmonic's fine performance, most noteworthy for the silken smoothness of the strings and the crisp, broodiness of the horns. I am especially impressed with her riveting interpretation of the first movement, which I find a bit darker in tone than Bernard Haitink's latest interpretation with the London Symphony Orchestra. And speaking of Haitink's splendid interpretation, Alsop's fine interpretation should be ranked close to it as among the finest recent recordings of this symphony. If I have any slight misgivings, it is my perception that Naxos's sound quality isn't quite as fine as that obtained by the London Symphony Orchestra's sound engineers. But this does not at all detract from the superb quality of Alsop's interpretation or the London Philharmonic's glowing performance (I am also delighted with her interpretations of the Brahms Hungarian Dances included on this recording.). Those in search of a fine recording of the Brahms 2nd Symphony will not be disappointed.

4 out of 5 stars A delightful new account.......2005-11-03

Though not a revelatory version of the 2nd, Alsop's presentation sweeps along beautifully and shimmers in all the right places. Perhaps she meanders a bit in the Adagio, but I find much to relish in Alsop's pacing and lyricism. This is a nice new version of one of my favorite (perhaps my favorite) symphonies, and I have revisited it several times. If you love Brahms, I think you will find much to enjoy in this new recording!

1 out of 5 stars Poor Brahms.......2005-10-29

Sorry. Her 1st was OK, not great. This one is even less likable. There is no tension or style. She takes it so slow it just about falls apart. This is a second to avoid. Go to
Karajan. There is a complete set for the price of one that is masterful. The older Furtwangler is also superb.
Instruments of the Orchestra
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Instruments of the Orchestra - Great Reference Material!
  • Beginner or Expert
  • Very Informative and Enjoyable
  • Frank's view
  • Excellent Intro for Those Not Familiar with the Orchestra
 Instruments of the Orchestra
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00006O0NT
Release Date: 2002-12-03

Tracks:

  1. Overture To 'Tannhauser'
  2. Domna, Pos Vos Ay Chausida
  3. We Don't Merely Use Instruments, We Play On Them. And They Play On Us.
  4. Hungarian Dance No.7
  5. The Violin Is One Of The Most Tender And Beautiful Instruments Ever Invented.
  6. Violin Concerto In D Major (Adagio)
  7. But For A Long Time It Was Seen As The Instrument Of The Devil.
  8. The Soldier's Tale: Triumphal March Of The Devil
  9. The Manipulative Seductiveness Of The Gypsy Violin.
  10. Csardas Music
  11. The Violin And The Initiation Of Nature
  12. The Four Seasons (Spring, Mvt 1)
  13. Birds Are Again Evoked In The Second Concerto, Especially Music's Natural Favourite.
  14. The Four Seasons (Summer, Mvt 1)
  15. Like The Devil, The Violin Is A Master Of Disguise.
  16. Old Viennese Dance No.3 'Schon Rosmarin'
  17. The Menacing Sensuality Of Ravel's Tzigane: A Very Different Side Of The Violin:
  18. Tzigane
  19. Do We Now Have The True Measure Of This Instrument? Not Just Yet.
  20. Caprice No.24
  21. The Many Effects Of The String Tremolando: Brandenburg Concerto No.4 (Last Mvt)/From Joy To Fright/Quartettsatz In C Minor/The String Tremolo Practically Spells The World Agitato.
  22. Variations On A Theme Of Frank Bridge (No.7)
  23. Prokofiev's Tremolo In Romeo And Juliet Should Not Be Heard Just Before Bedtime.
  24. Romeo And Juliet: Act IV
  25. Vivaldi Use It To Illustrate The Shivering Of Travellers Crossing The Ice.
  26. The Four Seasons (Winter, Mvt 1)
  27. The Violin Muted
  28. Clair De Lune
  29. The Gentleness Of Muted Strings Persists Even When A Whole Orchestra Plays.
  30. Piano Concerto No.21 In C Major, K.467 (Slow Mvt)
  31. The Pizzicato Violin
  32. Pizzicato Polka
  33. In Prokofiev's Second Violin Concerto, The Accompaniment Is Pizzicato.
  34. Violin Concerto No.2 In G Minor (Slow Mvt)
  35. Varieties Of Pizzicato: Colas Breugnon (The People's Feast)/Now A Drier, Leaner, Hungrier Pizzicato. There's Not A Lot Of Comfort Here./Capriol Suite (Tordion)/The Use Of Pizzicato As 'Percussion'/Romeo And Juliet (Act I)/Mahler Used Pizzicato...
  36. The Planets (Mars - The Bringer Of War)
  37. The Technique Of Double-Stopping Enables The Violin To Play Duets With Itself./Sonata No.3 In C Major For Unaccompanied Violin (Fugue)/Now A Later Example Of The Same Technique
  38. Hungarian Dance No.4
  39. Double-Stopping Is A Standard Feature Of A Lot Of Folk Music.
  40. The Four Seasons (Autumn, Mvt 1)
  41. Now The Same Technique, But The Sound Might Have Come From Another World.
  42. Bolero
  43. Double-Stopping Can Only Approximate The Sound Of A Real Violin Duet.
  44. Cadenza To The Violin Concerto By Brahms
  45. Now Compare That With A Real Violin Duet.
  46. Forty-Four Duos (No. 1: Teasing Song)
  47. Another Duo By Bartok, Demonstrating The Violin's Rich Lower Register
  48. Forty-Four Duos (No.2: Maypole Dance)
  49. And Now What May Be The Most Beautiful Accompanied Violin Duet In History
  50. Concerto In D Minor For Two Violins (Largo)
  51. The Soul Of The Violin Is In Song; But What About This Weird Passage?
  52. Violin Concerto No.1 In D Major (Mvt 2)
  53. The Use Of Harmonies In The Orchestra Can Be Both Magical And Unsettling.
  54. Symphony No.1 'Titan' (Mvt 1, Opening)
  55. Tchaikovsky's Use Of Harmonics In The Sleeping Beauty Is Both Strange And Darling.
  56. The Sleeping Beauty (Act II, No.15: Entr'Acte)
  57. Ravel's Harmonics In Mother Goose Effect A Magical Transformation.
  58. Ma Mere L'Oye - Mother Goose (Beauty And The Beast)
  59. Stravinsky's Harmonics In The Firebird Transport Us Almost Into Another World./The Firebird (Introduction)
  60. The Natural Upper Notes Of The Violins Have A Unique Emotional 'Grab'.
  61. Also Sprach Zarathustra (Of The Afterworldsmen)
  62. Still In Their Upper Register, The Violins Unleash The Energy Of A Young Colt.
  63. Variations On A Theme Of Frank Bridge (No. 4)
  64. Elsewhere, Britten Uses The Same High Register To Create A Very Different Mood.
  65. Four Sea Interludes (Dawn) From 'Peter Grimes'
  66. To End This Outing With The Violins, A Charming Little Elfin Dance
  67. Elfenreigen

Tracks:

  1. Introduction To The Viola
  2. Viola Concerto (Mvt 1)
  3. Khatchaturian Gets A Very Different Sound From It: Fuller, Fruitier, More Exotic.
  4. Gayane Suite No.1 (Armen's Solo)
  5. Very Nearly The Whole Of The Violin's Upper Register Is Also Available To The Viola.
  6. Passacaglia, Op.33b From 'Peter Grimes'
  7. The Viola Can Bring A Special, Rich Twanginess To Pizzicato That The Violins Lack./Don Quixote/Berlioz Drew Sounds From It That Retain Their Metallic Strangeness Even Today.
  8. Harold In Italy (Mvt 4)
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  10. Cypresses (No.9)
  11. The Massed Violas Of The Modern Symphony Orchestra In Mahler
  12. Symphony No.4 (Mvt 3)
  13. The 'Period' Viola In Bach
  14. Brandenburg Concerto No.6 (Last Mvt)
  15. The Cello: A Voice Of Unique Nobility
  16. Suite No.1 For Unaccompanied Cello (Prelude)
  17. Brahms And The 'Soul' Of The Cello
  18. Piano Concerto No.2 In B Flat Major (Mvt 3)
  19. Most Orchestral Composers Tend To Emphasize The Cello's Lower Register.
  20. Cantata 'Herz Und Mund Und Tat Und Leben', BWV 147 (Soprana Aria: Bereite Dir, Jesu)
  21. In The Time Of Beethoven The Cello Remained As Fundamental As Ever.
  22. Symphony No.3 'Eroica' (Finale)
  23. But The Cello Is Not Condemned To Spend Its Life In The Basement.
  24. Elfentanz, Op.39
  25. Not Only In Recital Showpieces Like That Is The Cello Is Used In Its Highest Register.
  26. The Protecting Veil (Opening)
  27. A Cello With An Identity-Crisis: The Pizzicato Flamencan
  28. Flamenco
  29. Double-Stopping In The Lower Reaches Of The Cello's Range
  30. Solo Suiet For Cello And Piano (Sardana)
  31. It's In The Middle Register That The Cello Really Comes Into Its Own.
  32. Oriental Dance, Op.2 No.2
  33. It Was To The Cellos That Beethoven Gave Two Of His Most Famous Themes./Symphony No.5 (Mvt 2)/Still More Famous Than That Theme Is This One From The Ninth Symphony.
  34. Symphony No.9 (Finale)
  35. Introduction To The Double-Bass
  36. The Carnival Of The Animals (The Elephant)
  37. But The Double-Bass Can Be Intensely Expressive And Graceful.
  38. Elegy No.1 In D Major
  39. The Range Of The Double-Bass Is The Greatest Of All The String Instruments/Allegro Di Concerto, 'Alla Mendelssohn'/And It's Also Capable Of Very Considerable Virtuosity.
  40. Capriccio Di Bravura
  41. Double-Bass Solos In Orchestral Scores Are Rare But Often Memorable./Symphony No.1 'Titan' (Mvt 3)/In His Third Symphony Mahler Makes A Very Different Use Of The Instrument./Symphony No.3 (Mvt 1)
  42. The Double-Bass Muted In Prokofiev/Lieutenant Kije Suite (Kije's Wedding)/In Another Work Prokofiev Uses The Double-Bass To Enhance The Winds./Romeo And Juliet (Act III)/And He Combines The Bass Clarinet With A Shivering Tremolo From The Double-Basses....
  43. Symphony No.5 (Mvt 3)/So Much For The Strings/On Now To The Winds

Tracks:

  1. The Antiquity And Magic Of The Flute
  2. Prelude A L'Apres-Midi D'Un Faune
  3. The Versatility And Agility Of The Flute
  4. Orchestral Suite No.2 In B Minor (Badinerie)
  5. The Flute In Fifteenth-Century Spain
  6. Sa'Dawi
  7. Other Flutes: The Bass And Alto
  8. Chamber Music No.II
  9. The Piccolo - Aptly Named
  10. La Naissance D'Osiris (Mvt 6)
  11. From A Piccolo Of The Eighteenth Century To One Of Its Descendants In The Twentieth
  12. Suite No.1 For Small Orchestra (Valse)
  13. A Variety Of Techniques
  14. Chamber Music No.II
  15. Flutter-Tonguing. But Tchaikovsky Got There Eighty Years Before.
  16. The Nutcracker (Act II, No.2: Scene)
  17. From The Transverse To The Vertical: The Baroque Recorder
  18. Recorded Suite In A Minor (Menuet II)
  19. An Unfamiliar, Early Vision Of The Instrument
  20. Naelden, Naelden
  21. The Bachian Oboe
  22. Cantata 'Ein Feste Burg Ist Unser Gott', BWV 80 (No.7: Duetto)
  23. Introduction To The Cor Anglais Or 'English Born'
  24. Symphony No.9 'From The New World' (Mvt 2)
  25. The Loneliness Of The Cor Anglais
  26. The Swan Of Tuonela
  27. The Cor Anglais Joins The French Horn In Haydn.
  28. Symphony No.22 'The Philosopher' (Opening)
  29. Introduction To The Oboe D'Amore, Beloved Of Bach - But Also Of Ravel
  30. Bolero
  31. The Clarinet Family: Boxing The Compass, From The Depths Of The Bass Clarinet.../The Egyptian (Violence)/...To The Raucous And Squealy.../Taras Bulba (The Death Of Ostap)/...To The Shrill And Complaining...
  32. Petrushka (No.8: Peasant With Bear)/...To The High Sprits Of A Playful Puppy./Symphonie Fantastique (Last Mvt)/And To The Downright Jazzy/Romeo And Juliet (Act II)
  33. As The High Clarinets Tend To Be Loud, So The Bass Tends To Be Soft:
  34. Gayane Suite No. 1 (Mvt 5)
  35. The Bass Clarinet Is Used By Most Composers Mainly As A Colouring Agent.../Petrushka (No.4: The Blackamoor)/...But It Does Occasionally Get A Whole Tune To Itself./Iberia (Almeria).
  36. The Range Of The Normal Clarinet Parts Goes Quite High...
  37. The Snow Maiden (Scene 5: Melodrama)
  38. ...And Quite Low.
  39. Peter And The Wolf (The Cat)
  40. The Clarinet As Concerto Soloist
  41. Clarinet Concerto In A Major (Rondo)
  42. But That's Not The Instrument Mozart Wrote It For; This Is:
  43. Clarinet Concerto In A Major (Rondo)
  44. Introduction To The Saxophone
  45. Hary Janos Suite (Mvt 4)
  46. The Soprano Saxophone Has Quite A Different Feel To It.
  47. L'Arlesienne Suite No.1 (Minuet)
  48. The Little Sopranino Sax Goes Even Higher.
  49. Bolero
  50. The Most Famous Use Of The Saxophone Is In An Orchestration By Ravel.
  51. Pictures At An Exhibition (The Old Castle)
  52. The Saxophone Can Be Quite Contagiously Good-Humoured.
  53. Sax-O-Phun
  54. The Puffa-Puffa Image Of The Bassoon
  55. Peter And The Wolf (Grandfather)
  56. The Bachian Bassoon, In Accompanimental Mode
  57. Cantata 'Weichet Nur, Betrubte Schatten' ('Wedding Cantata'), BWV 202 (Aria No.1)
  58. Bizet Leaves The Puffa-Puffa Image Out, Allowing The Bassoon To Sing./Carmen Suite No.1 (Les Dragons D'Alcala)
  59. And Ravel, Also In Spanish Mode, Does Likewise.
  60. Bolero
  61. The Bassoon As A Voice Of High Seriousness, Indeed Desolate Loneliness
  62. Symphony No.3 (Opening)
  63. The Eerie Bassoon In Its Highest Register
  64. The Rite Of Spring (Opening)
  65. Stravinsky Now Draws On Its Lowest Register, Lonely And Melancholy.
  66. The Firebird Suite (1919, Berceuse)
  67. The Bassoon As Concerto Soloist, Avoiding All Exaggeration
  68. Bassoon Concerto In G Minor (Finale)
  69. The Deep-Voiced Contra-Bassoon, As A Fairy-Tale Beast
  70. Ma Mere L'Oye - Mother Goose (Beauty And The Beast)
  71. The French Horn Under Its Woodwind Hat
  72. Wind Quintet, Op.43 (Last Mvt)
  73. Now A More Prominent Role, In A Woodwind Quintet From An Earlier Era
  74. Wind Quintet In A Minor, Op.100 No.5 (Mvt 2)
  75. The Horn In Harmonious Blend With Strings In Another Quintet
  76. Horn Quintet, K.407 (Finale)

Tracks:

  1. The Trumpet As Virtuoso Soloist
  2. Brandenburg Concerto No.2 (Last Mvt)
  3. The Special Brillance Of Paired Trumpets
  4. Concerto In C For Two Trumpets, RV537 (Mvt 1)
  5. The Ceremonial Trumpet
  6. Fanfare For The Common Man
  7. Trumpets And Drums - An Incomparable Alliance
  8. Messiah (The Trumpet Shall Sound)
  9. The Versatility Of The Trumpet, From The Most Public To The Most Lonely
  10. Piano Concerto In F (Slow Mvt)
  11. The Trumpet As The Voice Of The City/An American In Paris/The Trumpet As Recruitment Officer/The Soldier's Tale (The March)/The Trumpet As Swaggerer
  12. Carmen Suite No.2 (Habanera)
  13. The Trumpet As The Voice Of Strength And Courage
  14. Carmet Suite No.2 (Toreador's Song)
  15. The Trumpet Muted/Petrushka (No.4: The Blackamoor)/Lieutenant Kije Suite (Opening)/The Trumpet As The Voice Of Weariness
  16. Billy The Kid
  17. The Trumpet As Character Actor
  18. Pictures At An Exhibition (No.6)
  19. The Trumpet As The Voice Of God
  20. Mass In B Minor ('Et Exspecto')
  21. The Birth Of The Trombone
  22. Aenmerckt Nu Hier
  23. The Birth Of The Brass As A Family
  24. Canzon 12 In Double Echo
  25. The Trombone In The Eighteenth Century
  26. Trombone Concerto In B Flat Major (Finale)
  27. The Tone Of The Tenor Trombone/Romance For Trombone And Organ/The Memorable Voice Of The Bass Trombone/Requiem (Mvt 2)/But The Bass Trombone Is More Than An Instrumental Bullfrog.
  28. Hosannah
  29. The Trombones Become Part Of The Orchestra.
  30. Symphony No.5 (Finale)
  31. The Wagnerian Trombone:/Overture To 'Tannhauser'
  32. The Trombone As Caricaturist
  33. Pulcinella (No.19: Vivo)
  34. The Trombone As Raspberry/Concerto For Orchestra (Intermezzo)
  35. The Horn And The Hunt
  36. Horn Concerto No.4 In E Flat, K.495 (Finale)
  37. The Challenging Horn Of The Baroque
  38. Abaris Ou Les Boreades (Menuet)
  39. The Scarcity Of First-Rate Players In Handel's Time
  40. Walter Music (Minuet 1)
  41. The Horn As Magician/The Firebird Suite (1919, Finale)
  42. Horns And The Sound Of Nobility
  43. Overture To 'Tannhauser' (Opening)
  44. The Special Sound Of The Horn In Its Higher Register
  45. Mass In B Minor ('Quoniam Tu Solus Sanctus')
  46. The Trumpet-Like Sound Of Massed Horns
  47. Symphony No.3 (Mvt 1, Opening)
  48. The Tuba - Unfairly Maligned?
  49. Symphony No.6 (Mvt 3)
  50. The Tuba Perfectly Cast By Ravel
  51. Pictures At An Exhibition (Bydlo)

Tracks:

  1. Introduction. And We Begin With A Bang.
  2. Fanfare For The Common Man/The Bass Drum On The Battlefields/Wellington's Victory, Op.91 (Opening)
  3. At The Opposite Extreme Is The Triangle.
  4. Piano Concerto No.1 In E Flat (Scherzo)
  5. Categories Of Percussion: Tuned And Untuned. The Side Drum
  6. Overture To 'La Gazza Ladra' - The Thieving Magpie (Opening)
  7. The Side Drum In An Effective But Unexpected Role/Clarinet Concerto (Mvt 1)
  8. The Tambourine. One Of The Oldest Instruments In The World
  9. Den Hoboecken Dans
  10. Even Older Is The Originally Oriental Gong.
  11. Ma Mere L'Oye - Mother Goose (Laideronette)
  12. No Single Instrument Can Match The Gong In Evoking The Breaking Of Waves./Passacaglia, Op.33b From 'Peter Grimes'/But Gongs Don't Have To Be Struck To Be Effective.
  13. Gymnopedie No.2
  14. The Cymbals Are Generally Discovered Early In Life./The Sanguine Fan/And They Do More Than Clash Together Loudly. They Can Be Clashed Together Softly./Studio Example: But They Needn't Be Clashed Together At All/Studio Example: They Can Be Lightly...
  15. Other Untuned Percussion Instruments Include The Whip.: Piano Concerto In G Major (Opening)/And Here Are No Fewer Than Twenty, Cracked By Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker (Act I, Scene 5)
  16. More Versatile Than The Whip Are The Wood Blocks.../Studio Example/...Which Crop Up All Over The Place In Twentieth-Century American Music.
  17. Rodeo (Hoe-Down)
  18. Related To The Wood Blocks, By Sound, Are The Castanets./Jota Aragonesa/But The Castanets Were Also Used By Monteverdi Back In The Seventeenth Century.
  19. Scherzi Musicali (Damigella Tutta Belle)
  20. A Still Earlier Example From Fifteenth-Century Spain
  21. Yo M'Enamori D'Un Aire
  22. The Birth Of The Bongo
  23. Symphonic Dances From 'West Side Story'
  24. From The Streets Of New York To The Blacksmith's Shop/Il Trovatore ('Anvil Chorus')
  25. Desert-Island Decibels: Grand Canyon Suite (On The Trail)/Arcana
  26. From One Vegetable To Another: The Humble Squash, Or Marrow/Huapango
  27. Onwards To The Tuned Percussion. First, The Timpani
  28. Also Sprach Zarathustra (Introduction)
  29. But The Drum Roll Can Be More Effectively Frightening Than The Big Bang.: Symphony No.2 'Resurrection' (Mvt 3)
  30. Not One Drum Roll, But Many/Grand Canyon Suite (Sunrise)/Symphonie Fantastique (Last Mvt)
  31. Taking Advantage Of Tunability
  32. Music For Strings, Percussion And Celeste (Mvt 2)
  33. The Russian Composer Rodion Shchedrin Takes A Downward Turn./Carmen Suite (Changing Of The Guard)/Tuned, Yes; But For The Truly Melodic We Must Look Elsewhere.
  34. Introducing The Glockenspiel/Carmen Suite (Carmen's Entrance And Habanera)
  35. Saint-Saens And The Xylophone
  36. The Carnival Of The Animals (Fossils)
  37. Ravel And The Xylophone
  38. Ma Mere L'Oye - Mother Goose (Laideronette)
  39. Introducing The Marimba/Carmen Suite (First Intermezzo)
  40. Introducing The Vibraphone
  41. The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre (Narange Dolce)
  42. The Vibraphone Goes Russian.../Carmen Suite (Carmen's Entrance And Habanera)/...And Is Joined By The Marimba./Carmen Suite (Carmen's Entrance And Habanera)
  43. Introducing The Hungarian Cimbalom
  44. Folk Dances
  45. The Cimbalom And The Symphony Orchestra
  46. Hary Janos Suite (Mvt 3)
  47. Introducing The Tubular Bells
  48. Hary Janos Suite (Viennese Musical Clock)
  49. A More 'Up-Front' Approach From Rodion Shchedrin
  50. Carmen Suite (Introduction)
  51. But The Bells Can Also Make The Sinister Even More Sinister./Symphony No.7 'Sinfonia Antartica' (Mvt 1)
  52. Introducing The Celeste
  53. The Nutcracker (Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy)
  54. Magic, In The Use Of Collective Percussion
  55. Miroirs (La Vallee Des Cloches)
  56. Plucked Instruments: The 'Undercover Percussion'/Carmen Suite (Scene)
  57. A Prime Case In Point Is The Harp, Irresistible To The Romantics./The Nutcracker (Act II, No.1: Scene)/The Non-Solo Harp As An Integral Part Of The Orchestra/Hungarian Rhapsody No.1
  58. The Traditionally Subservient Role Of The Harpsichord In The Baroque Orchestra
  59. Brandenburg Concerto No.2 (Slow Mvt)
  60. The Piano: King Of The Tuned Percussion/Symphony No.3 'Organ' (Mvt 3)/And A Quarter Of A Century After That:
  61. Petrushka (Russian Dance)
  62. The Anti-Romantic Piano As An Integral Part Of The Orchestra
  63. Music For Strings, Percussion And Celeste (Last Mvt)

Tracks:

  1. Keyboard Instruments In The Orchestra - The Most Powerful Of Them All:
  2. Symphony No.3 'Organ' (Finale)
  3. But Things In Handel's Day Were Very Different.
  4. Organ Concerto In B Flat, Op.4 No.3 (Last Mvt)
  5. The Organ Is Difficult To Classify.
  6. An Unexpected, Organ-related Guest
  7. Concerto Pour Zampogna (Last Mvt)
  8. Peasant-Fancying... And A Touch Of The Roaming Cowboy
  9. Les Miserables (Drink With Me)
  10. Outside Artefacts And The Power Of Association
  11. Mahler's Sleighbells
  12. Symphony No.4 (Opening)
  13. A Roll-Call Of Some Unusual Guests/The Typewriter/Parade
  14. Chains, And More/Integrales/An American In Paris/Sandpaper Ballet
  15. Purpose-Built Oddities: Wind Machines/Symphony No.7 'Sinfonia Antartica' (Opening)
  16. Don Quixote (Variation VIII)
  17. National Calling Cards: The Guitar For Spain/Concierto De Aranjuez (Finale)
  18. And The Guitar's Poor American Relative, The Banjo/Washington Breakdown
  19. And Poorer Still, The Mouth Organ/The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre (Packing Up)
  20. The Balalaika For Russia/Romeo And Juliet (Act II: No.14)
  21. The Maracas For Mexico/The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre (El Desayuno)
  22. The Bongos And Congas And A Whole Wealth Of Other Drums For Africa And Central America/Studio Example
  23. The Sitar Of India/Evening Raga: Bhapoli
  24. The Accordion For France (Especially Paris)/Paris Canaille
  25. The Zither For Vienna/The Third Man (Theme)
  26. The Cimbalom For Hungary/Folk Dances
  27. The Guitar As An Integral Part Of The Orchestra/Rondena
  28. There Are Whole Orchestras Of Balalaikas./Sveit Mesiats
  29. The Effect Of The Wordless Human Voice, Used Purely As An Instrument/Symphony No.7 'Sinfonia Antartica' (Mvt 1)
  30. Nocturnes
  31. Instruments And the Imitation Of Nature. The Clarinet As Cuckoo
  32. The Carnival Of The Animals (The Cuckoo)
  33. The Flute As An All-purpose Aviary
  34. The Carnival Of The Animals (The Aviary)
  35. The Oboe As Duck
  36. Peter And The Wolf (The Duck)
  37. The Recording Of Reality. Does It Work As Well?
  38. The Pines Of Rome (The Pines Of The Janiculum)
  39. The Recording Of Reality Electronically Reborn In New Guises
  40. Cantus Articus - Concerto For Birds And Orchesra (Mvt 2)
  41. Beethoven Turns Avian: Cuckoo, Nightingale, And Quail
  42. Symphony No.6 'Pastoral' (Andante Molto Mosso)
  43. Some Improbable Casting: The Violin As Braying Donkey
  44. The Carnival Of The Animals (Persons With Long Ears)
  45. A Truly Orchestral Hee-haw To Be Reckoned With
  46. Overture To 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'
  47. A Thunderstorm In A Million
  48. Symphony No.6 'Pastoral (Allegro-Allegretto)
  49. the Instrumental Depiction Of A Silent World
  50. The Carnival Of The Animals (The Aquarium)
  51. Saint-Saens' Menagerie Takes A Curtain Call.
  52. The Carnival Of The Animals (Finale)

Tracks:

  1. The Grouping Of Instrumental Families. An Additive Approach. First, Two Violins
  2. Forty-Four Duos (No.4)
  3. A Great Contrast, Of Both Pitch And Character: Violin And Viola
  4. Duo For Violin And Viola In B Flat Major, K.424 (Finale, Vars 1 & 2)/Studio Example
  5. Arrival Of The Standard String Trio: Violin, Viola, And Cello
  6. String Trio In B Flat (Menuetto)
  7. The String Quartet: Two Violins, Viola, And Cello
  8. String Quartet In F, Op.18 No.1 (Mvt 3)
  9. The String Quintet - When The Extra Instrument Is A Second Viola
  10. String Quartet No.5 In D, K.593 (Adagio)
  11. The String Quintet - When The Extra Instrument Is A Second Cello
  12. String Quintet In C (Mvt 3)
  13. The String Sextet: Two Violins, Two Violas, And Two Cellos
  14. String Sextet In B Flat (Mvt 2)
  15. The String Octet: The Standard String Quaret Times Two
  16. Octet In E Flat, Op.20 (Mvt 1)
  17. Double The String Octet: A Fully Fledged String Orchestra
  18. String Symphony No.2 (Finale)
  19. The Massed Strings Of A Symphony Orchestra
  20. Fantasia On A Theme Of Thomas Tallis
  21. Contrasts Of Pitch And Instrumental 'Colour' In The Woodwind Section
  22. Wind Quintet In A Minor, Op.100 No.5 (Theme)
  23. In The First Variation It's The Horn That Gets The Lion's Share.
  24. Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 1
  25. In Variation Two The Torch Is Handed To The Bassoon.
  26. Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 2
  27. In Variation Three The Oboe Leads.
  28. Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 3
  29. Variation Four: Conversation Before Returning To A Solo-dominated Texture
  30. Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 4
  31. And Variation Five is Dominated By The Clarinet.
  32. Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 5
  33. The Next To Be Featured Is The Virtuoso Flute.
  34. Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 6
  35. Individual Farewells And A Closing Chorus
  36. Wind Quintet In A Minor, Variation 7
  37. A Mixed Group: Clarinet, Bassoon, Horn, String Quartet, And Double-Bass
  38. Octet In F (Mvt 3)
  39. The Early Classical Symphony Orchestra Of Haydn And Mozart
  40. Symphony No.29 In A, K.201 (Finale)
  41. Strings, Wind, But No Brass. What Haydn And Mozart Never Knew
  42. Canzon 28
  43. Beethoven's Fifth: Two Horns, Two Trumpets, And Three Trombones Join The Team.
  44. Symphony No.5 (Finale)
  45. From Beethoven To The Massive Orchestras Of Berlioz, Wagner, And Mahler
  46. Beethoven Changed The Face Of The Symphony And The Orchestra Forever
  47. Symphoy No.6 'Tragic' (Mvt 1)
  48. The Cult Of Orchestral Elephantiasis Reaches Its Peak.
  49. Symphony No.1 'Gothic' (VI: Te Ergo Quaesumus)
  50. When Large Doesn't Necessarily Mean Loud: Debussy
  51. Images (Gigues)
  52. A Crisis Of Confidence; The Orchestra's Survival Hangs In The Balance, But It Still Develops. The Ondes Martenot:
  53. Turangalila Symphony (Chant D'amour 1)
  54. The Advent Of The 'Early Music' Movement Brings A New Vitality And Freshness.
  55. Balle De Xerxes (Gavotte En Rondeau)
  56. Computer And Synthesiser: Friends Or Foes?
  57. Concerto In D Minor For Two Violins (Largo)
  58. A Speculative Look Ahead/Mass In B Minor ('Dona Nobis Pacem')

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Instruments of the Orchestra - Great Reference Material!.......2007-04-04

This set lends itself to greatly enhancing one's knowledge of the orchestra, instruments in it, and their usage. I am a huge music buff, and I still picked up a great deal I previously did not know. I highly recommend this for all who wish to understand the origin of music, as well as the processes that are employed to create music!

5 out of 5 stars Beginner or Expert.......2007-03-12

This CD is excellent for the beginner or expert! To be able to haear the instrumets separately and then together really provides a good education. and/or refresher. The book thaty comes with the CD is alomost worth the price by itself!

5 out of 5 stars Very Informative and Enjoyable.......2006-11-20

Whether you're a music novice or pro, "The instruments of the Orchestra" is a very worthwhile purchase. The 7 CDs, with a total of 8 hours, are expertly narrated by Jeremy Siepmann. He's a great speaker, very much like the late Leonard Bernstein was. Mr. Siepmann takes you on an unforgetable musical journey covering the origins and use of the various orchestral instruments throughout musical history. The balance between his narration and a wealth of musical examples, which range from snippets to entire movements, is superb. The comprehensive enclosed booklet is excellent and faithfully follows the 7 CDs in content. Even with my 40+ years of music training I still learned new things from this wonderful collection. Considering the excellence of the content, and a cost that translates to about $5 per disc, this collection is a great value. Grab it, you won't regret that you did. Five solid stars!

3 out of 5 stars Frank's view.......2006-08-19

This boxed set of CD's with booklet achieved all I had hoped that it would. There are good samples of individual instruments and well done commentary on each. The only drawback was that some of the samples were too brief and could have been longer, hoiwever I guess this fits in with time constraints of the medium. It has given me a lot of clues as to future purchases of CD's for listening to individual instruments. Altogeth a satisfactory purchase and a welcome addition to my collection.

5 out of 5 stars Excellent Intro for Those Not Familiar with the Orchestra.......2003-11-08

I've listened to classical music for years and am interested in composition. I bought this CD set to learn how an orchestra and its instruments work. I thought the CDs would be a nice but boring lecture. They aren't! Not only are they FUN but they are informative as well. I learned a huge amount from each CD and couldn't wait to listen to the next one.

The narrator and writer is a great speaker and holds your attention well. He is definitely knowledgeable. He provides musical examples for each point he makes, so you get to "hear" what he just talked about. I'd say the CDs are about 65% music and 35% narration. You'll learn about the range of instruments, some history, different ways to play them, how they sound, and how they are used in the orchestra. This CD set was a great learning experience and is sold at such a low price!

I recommend this CD for those who want to learn about classical music and those who know about it but are interested in learning more about the inner workings of an orchestra. You'll learn much useful information. For instance, the Rite of Spring (with that eerie start) is written for bassoon! I never knew a bassoon could sound like that but now I do.

The one complaint I have is the last CD. This deals with the orchestra. I wanted more of a tour of how the orchestra has been used through history up to the present. Instead, it was a tour of how different groups of instruments sound. I thought it could have been better. The other 6 CDs are excellent.
The Story Of Brahms
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • great series
 The Story Of Brahms

Manufacturer: Vox (Classical)
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

All Works by BeethovenAll Works by Beethoven | Beethoven, Ludwig van | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
All Works by BrahmsAll Works by Brahms | Brahms, Johannes | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
ConcertinosConcertinos | Concertos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Concertos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
RomanticRomantic | Symphonies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
OverturesOvertures | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
Chamber MusicChamber Music | Forms & Genres | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
Vocal & SongVocal & Song | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music
PianoPiano | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music
ViolinViolin | Strings | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Reeds & Winds | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
ChorusesChoruses | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Children's Music | Styles | Music
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Similar Items:
  1. The Story of Tchaikovsky
  2. Story Of Chopin In Words And Music
  3. The Story Of Handel
  4. The Story of Beethoven
  5. The Story of Bach

ASIN: B000001KDB
Release Date: 1995-04-16

Tracks:

  1. Symphony No. 3 In F Major, Op. 90: Allegro con brio
  2. Piano Concerto No. 2 In B-Flat Major, Op. 83: Allegro appassionato
  3. Quintet in E-flat Major, Op. 83: Rondo
  4. Symphony No. 2 In D Major, Op. 73: Adagio non troppo
  5. Serenade, Op. 106: No. 1
  6. Violin Concerto in D Major. Op. 77: Allegro giocoso, ma non troppo vivace
  7. Symphony No. 2 In D Major, Op. 73: Allegro con spirito
  8. Capriccio in B Minor, Op. 76: No. 2
  9. Hungarian Dance No. 6 in D-flat Major
  10. Symphony No. 1 In C Minor, Op. 68: Andante sostenuto
  11. Piano Concerto No. 1 In D Minor, Op. 15: Maestoso
  12. Lullaby, Op. 49: No. 4
  13. Hungarian Dance No. 1 in G Minor
  14. Variations On A Theme By Paganini, Op. 35: Book II
  15. Rinaldo, Op. 50
  16. Waltz in A-flat Major, Op. 39: No. 15
  17. Love Song Waltzes, Op. 52: No. 1
  18. Hungarian Dance No. 5 in F-sharp Major
  19. Variations on a Theme by Haydn: Op. 56a
  20. Symphony No. 1 In C Minor, Op. 68: Excerpts
  21. Symphony No. 2 In D Major, Op. 73: Allegro non troppo
  22. Violin Concerto In D Major, Op. 77: Op. 77
  23. Academic Festival Overture: Op. 80
  24. Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-flat Major: Allegro non troppo
  25. Symphony No. 3 In F Major, Op. 90: Allegro
  26. Clarinet Quintet In B Minor, Op. 115: Allegro
  27. Tragic Overture: Op. 81
  28. Academic Festival Overture: Op. 80
  29. 9 Hungarian Dances: No. 1 in G Minor
  30. 9 Hungarian Dances: No. 2 in F Major
  31. 9 Hungarian Dances: No. 10 in E Major
  32. 9 Hungarian Dances: No. 5 in F-sharp Major
  33. 9 Hungarian Dances: No. 6 in D-flat Major
  34. 9 Hungarian Dances: No. 7 in A Major
  35. 9 Hungarian Dances: No. 17 in F-sharp Minor
  36. 9 Hungarian Dances: No. 19 in B Minor
  37. 9 Hungarian Dances: No. 21 in E Minor

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars great series.......2007-01-10

This CD along with the others in the series is very good. So far we have collected about ten different ones. They are thorough and interesting. I homeschool and it has been a great additon to our teaching materials and tools. The narrarated history format interspersed with the composer's music is key to keeping the interest of the children. A must-have for introducing classical music with historical background to your kids and at a great price on Amazon!
Classical Masterpieces of the Millennium [20 CD Set]
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Mill. Classical review
  • classical music for the unitiated
  • Some little gems there that I had forgotten!
  • A very helpful collection
  • Excellent!
 Classical Masterpieces of the Millennium [20 CD Set]

Manufacturer: Delta
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

DancesDances | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B00000K1C9
Release Date: 1999-08-24

Tracks:

  1. Brandenbutg Concerto No.3 In G First Movement
  2. Overture No.3 In D Second Movement
  3. Violin Concerto In E First Movement
  4. Prelude In C minor
  5. Jesu Bleibet Meine Freude (Chorus From Cantata No.147)
  6. Overture No.2 In B minor Minuet And Badinerie
  7. Oboe Concerto In D minor Second Movement
  8. Brandenburg Concerto No.4 In G Third Movement
  9. Musical Offering - Fuga canonica
  10. Easter Oratorio - Overture
  11. Minuet In D minor
  12. Kommst Du Nun, Jesu, Vom Himmel herunter(From Choral Prelude BWV 650
  13. Brandenburg Concerto No.1 In F Second Movement
  14. Art Of The Fugue - Contrapunctus 9
  15. Concerto For Flute, Violin, Harpsichord And Strings. Triple Concerto - Third Movement
  16. Overture No.4 In D - Réjouissance
  17. Concerto No. 1 in E: Spring
  18. Concerto No. 1 in E: Spring
  19. Concerto No. 1 in E: Spring
  20. Concerto No. 2 in G minor: Summer
  21. Concerto No. 2 in G minor: Summer
  22. Concerto No. 2 in G minor: Summer
  23. Concerto No. 3 in F: Autumn
  24. Concerto No. 3 in F: Autumn
  25. Concerto No. 3 in F: Autumn
  26. Concerto No. 4 in F minor: Winter
  27. Concerto No. 4 in F minor: Winter
  28. Concerto No. 4 in F minor: Winter
  29. Concerto for Flute, Strings & Basso Continuo in G minor, Op. 10, no.2
  30. Concerto for Flute, Strings & Basso Continuo in G minor, Op. 10, no.2
  31. Concerto for Flute, Strings & Basso Continuo in G minor, Op. 10, no.2
  32. Concerto for Flute, Strings & Basso Continuo in G minor, Op. 10, no.2
  33. Concerto for Flute, Strings & Basso Continuo in G minor, Op. 10, no.2
  34. Concerto for Flute, Strings & Basso Continuo in G minor, Op. 10, no.2
  35. Concerto Grosso in A minor, Op. 3, no. 8
  36. Concerto Grosso in A minor, Op. 3, no. 8
  37. Concerto Grosso in A minor, Op. 3, no. 8
  38. Water Music - Alla Hornpipe
  39. Xerxes - Ombra Mai Fu (Largo)
  40. Messiah - And The Glory Of The Lord
  41. Concerto Grosso In A Minor, Op. 6, No. 4 - Larghetto Affettuoso
  42. Organ Concerto In F, Op. 4, No. 4 Allegro
  43. Water Music - Air
  44. Messiah - For Unto Us A Child Is Born
  45. Concerto Grosso In B flat, Op. 3, No. 2 - Largo
  46. Salomon - Sinfonia, Act 3
  47. The Choice Of Hercules - While For Thy Arms
  48. Water Music - Allegro (Suite No. 1)
  49. Suite No. 5 In E - Air With Variations
  50. Jephtha - How Dark, O Lord
  51. Organ Concerto In F, Op. 4, No. 5 Alla Siciliana - Presto
  52. Mi Palpita Il Cor (Solo Cantata) S'un Di M'adora
  53. Water Music - Andante Allegro Da Capo
  54. Concerto for Trumpet & Orchestra in E-flat: First Movement
  55. Symphony No. 94 in G: Surprise Symphony-second movement
  56. Concerto for Violin No. 2 in D: Third Movement
  57. Flute Trio No. 31 in G: Second Movement
  58. Symphony No. 31 in D: Hornsignal-First Movement
  59. String Quartet No. 17 in F, Op. 3, no. 5: Serenade Quartet-Second Movement
  60. Sinfonia Concertante in B-flat for Violin, Cello, Oboe, Bassoon and Orchestra-Third Movement
  61. Concerto for 2 Horns & Orchestra in E-flat: Second Movement
  62. Symphony No. 88 in G: Fourth Movement
  63. String Quartet No. 77 in C: Kaiser Quartet-Poco adagio cantabile
  64. Notturno No. 1 in C: Second Movement
  65. Symphony No. 98 in B: Londoner No. 4-Fourth Movement
  66. Eine Kleine Nachtmusik - first movement
  67. Piano Concerto in A - second movement
  68. Flute Concerto in D - Rondeau
  69. Serenade - Minuet
  70. Violin Concerto - first movement
  71. Symphony No. 40 in G minor - first movement
  72. Clarinet Concerto - second movement
  73. Turkish March
  74. Divertimento - Minuet
  75. Horn Concerto No. 3 in E-flat - first movement
  76. Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67-First Movement
  77. Piano Sonata No. 14 in C sharp minor, Op. 27, no. 2: Moonlight Sonata-First Movement
  78. Overture
  79. O welche Lust (Prisoners' Chorus)
  80. Ha, welch ein Augenblick (Pizarros's Aria)
  81. Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 3 in C minor, Op. 37: Second Movement
  82. Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D, Op. 61: Third Movement
  83. Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor, Op. 13: Pathétique-Second Movement
  84. Sympony No. 6 in F, Op. 68: Pastorale-First Movement
  85. Fantasy for Piano, Chorus and Orchestra in C minor, Op. 80: Choral Fantasy - Finale
  86. German Dance No. 1 In C
  87. Impromptu Op. 90, No. 3 In G-Flat
  88. Heidenroslein
  89. Ave Maria
  90. Der Lindenbaum
  91. Quintet In A 'Trout Quintet' - Andante
  92. Mass No. 6 In E-Flat - Kyrie
  93. Die Schone Mullerin Des Mullers Blumen
  94. German Dance No. 2 In G
  95. Piano Sonata In B-Flat
  96. Nachtgesang Im Walde
  97. Winterreise - No. 15: Die Krahe
  98. German Mass - Zum Sanctus (Heilit, Heilig Ist Der Herr)
  99. Symphony No. 8 In B Minor 'Unfinished' - Second Movement
  100. Waltz No. 1 in E-flat, Op. 18 Grande Valse brillante
  101. Nocturne in E-flat, Op. 9, no. 2
  102. Etude in G-flat, Op. 10, no. 5
  103. Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 2 in F minor, Op. 21-Second Movement
  104. Mazurka in D minor, Op. 33, no. 2
  105. Prelude in D-flat, Op. 28, no. 15 Raindrop
  106. Etude in C, Op. 10, no. 1
  107. Nocturne in D-flat, Op. 27, no. 2
  108. Impromptu No. 4 in C-sharp minor, Op. 66 Fantasy Impromptu
  109. Scherzo in B minor, Op. 20
  110. Piano Sonata No. 2 in B-flat minor, Op. 35-Third Movement
  111. Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 1 in E minor, Op. 11 - Third Movement
  112. Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat minor - first movement 113.String Seranade - Waltz
  113. Violin Concerto - second movement
  114. The Sleeping Beauty - Waltz
  115. Capriccio Italien, Op. 45
  116. Swan Lake - Waltz
  117. Eugene Onegin - Polonaise
  118. The Nutcracker - Waltz of the Flowers
  119. Orchestral Suite No. 4 - Mozartiana - Third Movement
  120. Swan Lake - Dance of the Swans
  121. Symphony No. 6 in B minor - Pathétique - Third Movement
  122. Hungarian Dance No.5
  123. Lullaby
  124. Symphony No.1 in C minor, Op. 68 - Third Movement
  125. Intermezzo in E-flat, Op.117, no. 1
  126. Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D, Op. 77 - Third Movement
  127. Waltz, Op. 39, no. 15
  128. Concert for Piano and Orchestra No. 2 in B-flat, Op. 83 - Second Movement
  129. String Quintet in G, Op. 111 - Second Movement
  130. Symphony No.4 in E minor, Op. 98 - Third Movement
  131. Intermezzo in A minor, Op. 76, no. 7
  132. Hungarian Dance No.1 in G minor
  133. German Requiem Selig sind die Toten (Final Chorus)
  134. Die Fledermaus - Overture
  135. Kaiser Waltz, Op.437
  136. Thunder And Lightning Polka, Op. 324
  137. Roses From The South Waltz, Op. 388
  138. AnnenPolka, Op. 117
  139. Vienna Blood Waltz, Op. 354
  140. Eljen A Magyar Polka, Op. 332
  141. Wine, Women and Song Waltz, Op. 333
  142. On The Beautiful Blue Danube Waltz, Op. 134
  143. Die Meistersinger Von Nurnberg - Overture
  144. Tannhauser - Die Pilger sind's (Pilgims' Chorus)
  145. Tannhauser - O du mein holder Abendstern (Wolfram's Aria)
  146. Lohengrin - Act 3 Prelude and Bridal Chorus
  147. The Flying Dutchman - Jo-ho-he Traft ihr das Schiff (Senta's Ballad)
  148. The Flying Dutchman - Steuermann, lass die Wacht (Sailors' Chorus)
  149. Die Walkure - Wintersturme wichen dem Wonnemond (Siegmund's Aria)
  150. Die Walkure - Ride of the Valkyries
  151. Siegfried Hoho! Hoho! Hohei! Schmiede mein Hammer (Siegfried's Forging Song)
  152. Tristan und Isolde - Liebestod
  153. Thus sprach Zarathustra, Op. 30 (excerpt)
  154. Don Juan, Op. 20
  155. Eine Alpensinfonie, Op. 64, I.Nacht
  156. Don Quixote, Op.35, first movement: Introduction
  157. Salome, Op. 54, Dance Of The Seven Veils
  158. Der Rosenkavalier, Op. 59, Finale: Hab' mir's gelobt ihn lieb zu haben
  159. Piano Concerto 2 In C minor, Op. 18 - First Movement
  160. Vocalise, Op.34, No. 14
  161. Prelude In G Sharp minor, Op. 32, No. 12
  162. Piano Concerto No. 4 In G minor, Op. 40 - Third Movement
  163. Symphony No. 2 In E minor, Op. 27 - Third Movement
  164. Piano Concerto No. 1 In F sharp minor, Op. 1 - Second Movement
  165. Rhapsody, Op. 43 On A Theme By Paganini
  166. Hungarian Rhapsody No.2
  167. Liebestraum No.3 in A-flat
  168. Piano Concerto No.1 in E-flat - third movement
  169. Angelus
  170. Mephisto Waltz No.1 (Dance in a Village Tavern)
  171. Prelude and Fugue on B-A-C-H
  172. Dante Symphony - Finale. - Purgatorio - Magnificat
  173. Les Préludes
  174. Boléro
  175. Daphnis et Chloé first movement: Nocturne
  176. Rhapsodie Espagnole
  177. Shéhérazade - first movement: Asie
  178. Ma Mère l'Oye - fourth movement: La Belle et la Bête
  179. Introduction and Allegro for Harp, Flute, Clarinet, and String Quartet
  180. La Valse
  181. Slavic Dance No. 1 in C, Op. 46, no.1
  182. Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op. 95 'From the New World' - second movement
  183. Humoresque, Op. 101
  184. Slavic Dance No. 8 in G minor, Op. 46, no. 8
  185. Serenade for String Orchestra, Op. 22 - second movement
  186. Romance for Violin and Orchestra In F minor, Op. 11
  187. Symphony No. 7 in D minor - third movement
  188. Melodie (Songs My Mother Taught Me)
  189. Carneval Overture, Op. 92
  190. Concerto for Cello and Orchestra in B minor, Op. 104 - third movement
  191. Symphony No.4 In A, Op. 90. Italian - First Movement
  192. Frühlingslied In A, Op. 62, No. 6
  193. Wedding March (From A Midsummer Night's Dream, Op.61)
  194. Duetto In F, Op.30, No.6 (From Songs Without Words)
  195. String Symphony No.9 In C. Schweitzer Symphony - Third Movement
  196. Concerto For Violin, Piano And String Orchestra No. 1 In D minor - Second Movement
  197. Symphony No.3 In A minor, Op.56 Scottish - Third Movement"
  198. Notturno (From A Midsumment Night's Dream, Op. 61)
  199. Rondo Capriccioso, Op.14
  200. String Symphony No. 12 In G minor - First Movement
  201. Venetian Gondola Song In F Sharp minor, Op.30, No.6
  202. Scherzo (From A Midsumment Night's Dream, Op. 61)
  203. Violin Concerto In E minor, Op.64 - Third Movement
  204. Peer Gynt - Suite No. 1, Op. 46 - Morgenstimmung
  205. Holberg Suite, Op. 40 - I. Prelude. Allegro vivace
  206. Holberg Suite, Op. 40 - IV. Air. Andante religioso
  207. Arietta, Op. 12, no. 1
  208. Homage March from Sigurd Jorsalfar, Op. 56
  209. Peer Gynt - Suite No. 2, Op. 55 - Solveig's Song
  210. Wedding Day at Troldhauen, Op. 65, no. 6
  211. The Last Spring, Op. 34, no. 2
  212. Peer Gynt - Suite No. 1, Op 46 - Anitra's Dance
  213. Nordic Melody Op. 63
  214. Notturno, Op. 54, no. 4
  215. Elegie, Op. 47, no. 5
  216. Peer Gynt - Suite No. 2, Op. 55 - Arabic Dance
  217. Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16 - Allegro
  218. Symphony No. 3 in E flat, Op. 97 - Rhenish - first movement
  219. Traumerai (from Kinderszenen, Op. 15)
  220. Mondnacht (from Eichendorff-Liederkreis, Op. 39)
  221. Aufschwung (from Fantasietucke, Op. 12)
  222. Triolett, Op. 114, no. 2
  223. Tanzlied (No. 1 from Duets, Op. 78)
  224. Symphony No. 4 in D minor, Op. 120 - second movement
  225. Frühlingsgruss
  226. Abschied (from Waldszenen Op. 82)
  227. Dichterliebe, Op. 48 - Im wunderschonen Monat Mai
  228. Manfred Overture, Op. 115
  229. Romance in F sharp, Op. 28, no. 2
  230. Die Rose stand im Tau
  231. Liebesgarten (from Four Duets, Op. 34)
  232. Warum? (from Fantasiestucke, Op. 12)
  233. Kennst du das Land, Op.79, no. 29 (from Lieder der Mignon, Op. 98a)
  234. Von fremden Landern und Menschen (from Kinderszenen, Op. 15)

Album Description

An extraordinary 20-CD collection of great works by Bach, Vivaldi, Handel, Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Chopin, Tchaikovsky, Brahms, Ravel, Mendelssohn, Rachmaninoff, J. Strauss, R. Strauss, Schumann, Wagner, Dvorak, Grieg and Liszt. It also features worldrenowned artists such as Sir Neville Marriner, Martha Argerich, Ivo Pogorelich, Hermann Prey, Reiner Goldberg, Sylvia Sass, Jochen Kowalski, Peter Schreler and many more. This exquisite, copper metallic, deluxe boxed set is the perfect gift for the classical music neophyte.

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Mill. Classical review.......2007-05-13

This is a great set of recordings for the money, the only problem was I've had to clean some of the CD's before they played correctly.

4 out of 5 stars classical music for the unitiated.......2007-04-01

This set is a good way to start listening to classical music. It's very well produced and easy to listen to. I purchased it to use as part of my world history high school class. It would have been nice to have some bio information on the composers. However, the product is exactly as advertised and good value for the money. The students were intrigued by how many of the excerpts they had heard before.

4 out of 5 stars Some little gems there that I had forgotten!.......2007-03-30

Although I studied classical music at school, I had all but forgotten it until I bought this set. I heard several tracks I haven't heard for over 30 years, and I had been humming Brahms's 'Hungarian Dance no. 5' for years without ever knowing what it was and it was on the disc, so that was nice.

I found it to be a very good selection overall, but I felt too much had already been heard on TV, which of course is what lots of newcomers to classical music might appreciate. I managed to find about 2 hours of tracks that I wanted to keep, which works out quite expensive per disc, but I did find some wonderful music I had completely forgotten about, so it was worth it. All in all, it represents good value, and I have only knocked one star off as so much of it had been used in adverts.

It is definitely a good introduction to classical music, and it has made me want to listen to more of it, so I don't regret this 'expensive' purchase one bit!

Classical Masterpieces of the Millennium [20 CD Set]

5 out of 5 stars A very helpful collection.......2007-03-24

I define this set as an excellent way to find out who you like, and who you don't, among 20 of the important composers. It opens the door to purchasing more complete pieces by composers you do like, and can save a lot of time and money in the process.
To criticize the set for not containing more composers, or more than just snippets of those who are in the set, is missing the point: it is a helpful introduction to finding your way in the huge maze of classical music. It succeeds admirably in this.
Sound quality is uniformly very good on an audiophile system.
Highly recommended.

5 out of 5 stars Excellent!.......2007-03-08

A great way to start a classical music collection. It's nice to have a full CD of each composer. It makes it easy to keep track of selections/composers I already have and what composers I still need to puchase to complete my collection.
A to Z of Classical Music
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • LETTER PERFECT CLASS(ICAL) ACT!
  • Great Tracks -- Great Value -- Great Book, Who Can Complain?
  • At this price, how can one complain?
 A to Z of Classical Music

Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Baroque Dance SuitesBaroque Dance Suites | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music | Allemandes | Courantes | Gigue | Sarabande
DancesDances | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music
WaltzesWaltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music
QuartetsQuartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
All Works by J.S. BachAll Works by J.S. Bach | Bach, Johann Sebastian | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
All Works by BeethovenAll Works by Beethoven | Beethoven, Ludwig van | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
All Works by BerliozAll Works by Berlioz | Berlioz, Hector | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
All Works by BrahmsAll Works by Brahms | Brahms, Johannes | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
All Works by BrittenAll Works by Britten | Britten, Sir Benjamin | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
Byrd, WilliamByrd, William | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
All Works by ChopinAll Works by Chopin | Chopin, Frédéric | ( C ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
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GeneralGeneral | Couperin, François | ( C ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
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GeneralGeneral | Dvorák, Antonín | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
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Hildegard of BingenHildegard of Bingen | ( H ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
All Works by Wolfgang Amadeus MozartAll Works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
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Telemann, Georg PhilippTelemann, Georg Philipp | ( T ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
All Works by VerdiAll Works by Verdi | Verdi, Giuseppe | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
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Concerto GrossiConcerto Grossi | Concertos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Concertos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
PreludesPreludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
DivertimentosDivertimentos | Serenades & Divertimentos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
SonatinasSonatinas | Sonatas | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
SuitesSuites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
ClassicalClassical | Symphonies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
RomanticRomantic | Symphonies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
Incidental MusicIncidental Music | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
Tone PoemsTone Poems | Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Telemann, Georg Philipp | Composers | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
Chamber MusicChamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
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GeneralGeneral | Early Music | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
Sacred & ReligiousSacred & Religious | Early Music | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music | Requiems
Vocal & SongVocal & Song | Early Music | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music | Requiems
SymphoniesSymphonies | Forms & Genres | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
General ModernGeneral Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
Sacred & ReligiousSacred & Religious | Renaissance (c.1450-1600) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
Ballets & DancesBallets & Dances | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
Chamber MusicChamber Music | Forms & Genres | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
Theatrical, Incidental & Program MusicTheatrical, Incidental & Program Music | Forms & Genres | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
Vocal & SongVocal & Song | Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
TrumpetTrumpet | Brass | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music
ClarinetClarinet | Reeds & Winds | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music
ViolinViolin | Strings | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music
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CantatasCantatas | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Baroque (c.1600-1750)Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Romantic (c.1820-1910)Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
Renaissance (c.1450-1600)Renaissance (c.1450-1600) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
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OratoriosOratorios | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
CantatasCantatas | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
ChantsChants | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
OratoriosOratorios | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Instructional | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music
$9.99 and Under$9.99 and Under | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music
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Bach, Johann SebastianBach, Johann Sebastian | ( B ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music
Beethoven, Ludwig vanBeethoven, Ludwig van | ( B ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music
Berlioz, HectorBerlioz, Hector | ( B ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music
Brahms, JohannesBrahms, Johannes | ( B ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music
Britten, Sir BenjaminBritten, Sir Benjamin | ( B ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music
Byrd, WilliamByrd, William | ( B ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music
Chopin, FrédéricChopin, Frédéric | ( C ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music
Corelli, ArcangeloCorelli, Arcangelo | ( C ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music
Couperin, FrançoisCouperin, François | ( C ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music
Debussy, ClaudeDebussy, Claude | ( D ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music
Dittersdorf, Karl DittersDittersdorf, Karl Ditters | ( D ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music
Dvorák, AntonínDvorák, Antonín | ( D ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music
Elgar, Sir EdwardElgar, Sir Edward | ( E ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music
Glass, PhilipGlass, Philip | ( G ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music
Handel, George FridericHandel, George Frideric | ( H ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music
Haydn, Franz JosephHaydn, Franz Joseph | ( H ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music
Hildegard of BingenHildegard of Bingen | ( H ) | Composers, A-Z | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music