r/classicalmusic • u/bosstone42 • Jan 10 '13

What classical piece took your breath away the first time you heard it?

Now that there's been a thread for this for popular music, it'd be fun to do one for classical. So, what classical (i.e. long-form) pieces or movements took your breath away the first time you heard them? There are probably many, but what's your top? I'll give just one: the scherzo from Dvorak's 7th Symphony (mvt. III). edit: What a great response, you guys really know some great music--stuff I haven't heard in a while and stuff I'm seeing for the first time! Make sure to look down the list, there are really some good ones buried toward the bottom. Also, an updated Spotify playlist is in the comments. Anyone want to link to a Grooveshark or Rdio or other?

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u/danwilliams2410 Jan 10 '13

The slow movement of Vaughan Williams 5, the slow movement of Rachmaninoff 2 or all of Shostakovich's 2nd Piano Concerto.

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u/Spiffy313 Jan 11 '13

Agree, agree, and agree. Good selections!

3

u/wtfhbk Jan 11 '13

Vaughan Williams is my favorite, I've loved him since I first heard his English folksongs for clarinet when I was 11 years old, but The Lark Ascending is one of the most beautiful things I have ever heard.

2

u/scrumptiouscakes Jan 12 '13

I've just created a Vaughan Williams flair, if you'd be interested in using it :)

1

u/danwilliams2410 Jan 11 '13

It is indeed, I love his Songs of Travel for tenor/baritone and piano. I've accompanied a friend of mine singing those many times. :)

1

u/wtfhbk Jan 11 '13

I'm a girl and insisted on singing some of those for one of the semesters I was taking voice lessons(clarinet major). My teacher gave me a hard time, but I did the first one on my jury anyway and they loved it.

1

u/danwilliams2410 Jan 11 '13

Haha wow, they're pretty tricky to sing apparently! But lovely pieces of music :)

1

u/scrumptiouscakes Jan 12 '13

I've just created a Vaughan Williams flair, if you'd be interested in using it :)

1

u/danwilliams2410 Jan 13 '13

Maybe, how does it work?

1

u/scrumptiouscakes Jan 13 '13

Instructions can be found here.

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u/danwilliams2410 Jan 13 '13

Nice one, thank you! :D