Give me your recs!

[einahpets]

I love classical/instrumental/opera/choir music (well mostly baroque, but that's only if we're getting into specifics) and I listen to it a fair amount. Ironically, I'm not one who memorizes everything written by a composer. Heck, sometimes I'll listen to a piece more than once and not even know the composer or even the song title.

Anywoo, I'm sure I'm not alone. If you're up for it, please link me some of your favorite pieces (any era/genre ... medieval, renaissance, baroque, opera, classical, romantic, 20th century, contemporary, movie scores, etc.)

"Praetorius: Dances from Terpsichore - La Bouree" (Watch on YouTube)

I actually first heard this melody in a 1960s cover of Ding Dong the Witch is Dead, and I loved the melody so I did a search and found the source.

"Bajazet:Qual guerriero in campo armato" (Watch on YouTube)

Love music composed for castrati. It's one of my weird quirks.

"Rameau - Pièces de clavecin en concert N° 3 (Tambourin) / Il Giardino Armonico" (Watch on YouTube)

Rameau is the shit. He's like the best example of overly embellished baroque music. While I do enjoy a lot of his ballet-operas, I picked this piece because I love the demonstration of baroque ballet.

"Miserere mei Deus - University of Utah Singers" (Watch on YouTube)

This is just awesome, the haunting echo in the caves is insane.

"Smetana ~ Moldau" (Watch on YouTube)

Another melody I first heard in a pop song, well a Japanese pop song by my favorite voice actress. The night I heard the song played on the classical radio station I freaked out in excitement, but never got the title. Then when I was a freshman in college I took a music appreciation course and I finally got the title to my mystery song!
 

Comments

[itzcoatl.livejournal.com]

I was looking for a song by Purcell, and came across the fact that he'd done a semi-opera called King Arthur. Somehow I'd never heard about this. Apparently it's quite different from the legends, but it is the Britons against the Saxons, and Arthur and Merlin are in it. (No Guinevere, instead, Arthur's love interest is a blind girl). I shall have to listen to the rest of it now.



This was what I was originally looking for. "She loves and she confesses" by Purcell, I love this.

[reni-m.livejournal.com]

I know there was an attempt by another composer (I think in the late 1800s/early 1900s?) to write a series of 3 operas based on Arthurian legend. But I think he only finished one before dying.

I love the lute! Much appreciate the Purcell rec!

EDIT
Just want to add that I always get a little giggle when I see contemporary costumes/staging paired with century specific music.