| How can I narrow down the styles and/or eras of classical music that suit me best?

How can I narrow down the styles and/or eras of classical music that suit me best?

DVS asked the question:


I would like to explore classical music, but I am not sure where to begin. I enjoy a few composers, but I would like to find a way to narrow down the styles and/or eras that suit me best, so that I can discover compositions that I truly love.

Can anyone point me in the right direction?
A website with audio clips and a breakdown of the different eras could help, for example.

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Comments

5 Responses to “How can I narrow down the styles and/or eras of classical music that suit me best?”

  1. Bastian S on February 2nd, 2009 7:03 am

    Let’s use the old standy-by: Wikipedia! The main eras in Western classical music are Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and basically 20th century and today. It’s important to think of the history as a continuum; “developments” never just happened all at once. These divisions are only for conveniance. There are also many varying aesthetic schools and styles, as well as subsets of these eras. It’s crucial to understand the history behind these eras and composers, as well a little music theory. Any learning will increase your appreciation, of course. I’ve definitely grown since a beginning piano student to the composition major I am today. With that said, here are a link to the Wikipedia pages (don’t forget to clink on any links, too, to learn more!):

    Then, use YouTube!

    My favorite era tends to fall in the late nineteenth century/early twentieth century, my favorite composers being Ravel, Debussy, Poulenc, Prokofiev, Rachmaninov, Lutoslawski, Puccini, Scriabin, Messiaen, Stravinsky, and a host of others. Happy listening/reading!

  2. P N O PLAYER 88 on February 4th, 2009 9:38 pm

    listen and get to know them all. for a whillle..

  3. Sophie B on February 6th, 2009 2:45 pm

    Google the Classical Music Pages

    this site will give you everything you want to know….

  4. ThaSchwab on February 7th, 2009 7:47 pm

    It depends on what composers you most often listen to. If you listen to Bruckner, Dvorak, Wagner, etc., then you like the Romantic era best (most likely). If you enjoy listening to Mozart, Haydn, Berlioz and Beethoven, then they’re in the Classical period. Baroque is all the basso continuo parts, harpsichords, Bach and Pachelbel, etc. For me, I listen to the Romantic composers a lot (with the additions of Stravinsky and Bartok, though they’re contemporary), but I still do enjoy Beethoven and Mozart.

  5. del_icious_manager on February 8th, 2009 3:20 am

    There is no substitute for listening to a range of music and deciding for yourself what you like best. There are no shortcuts unless you want to inadvertently lose the opportunity of discovering a great deal of music.

    Happy listening!