While late in life, I'm trying to adopt more appreciation for music. I'm starting with baroque, specifically Vivaldi. And specifically his Four Seasons.

I've listened to it repeatedly for months now. While I thought I would tire of it quickly, I actually enjoy it more each time. It's like watching a movie repeatedly and gleaning new insights each time. I'm almost at a point where I can "listen" to Spring roughly in my head.

If I were to characterize Baroque, and I know this is simplistic, elementary and perhaps even wrong, but other than melody, there seems to be 3 key elements: 1) repetition (more than other types of music like classical or romantic), 2) as part of repetition, changing volume (play the same melody louder or softer) and/or speed, 3) w/in the same work, there seems to be use of off key notes (as one might hear in jazz works from Thelonius Monk).

Is this on the right track? Should I be looking for something different? Additional things? Things that will further enhance enjoyment?

Anyway, I have a developing appreciation for music. Long overdue. One challenge though is picking what to listen to: 1) the work (composer and opus), 2) the musician (who's playing), 3) the session (which recording, conductor, orchestra, etc), 4) the publisher (DG, EMI, Telarc, etc). Especially for popular works, there are too many choices.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: konata88,

If you are enjoying baroque, also explore Bach, Handel, and Purcell.

Bach's string quartets are particularly good, as are Handel's Watermusic, and Music for the Royal Fireworks.

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Bach's string quartets are particularly good, as are Handel's Watermusic, and Music for the Royal Fireworks.

Thanks! Yup, I'm starting with baroque and will move to classical next (likely Mozart since I have a number of CDs already).

I was going to move to Bach (Brandenburg Concertos?) next after I finish with Vivaldi. Would consider Handel and Purcell but not familiar with them.

If you have specific recommendations for opus and recording, that would be appreciated.

Yes. The Brandenburg Concertos are magnificent. Back in the day, I liked Deutseche Grammophon and Telarc recordings. Christopher Hogwood was regarded as a particularly good conductor.

ETA: If you like Vivaldi, check out his works for the Italian lute.

I can no longer hear music, but when I did, one of my Bach favorites was the Goldberg Variations, specifically Glenn Gould's recording.

I think you're mostly on the right track. I'd have to say my favorite part of the Four Seasons (Opus 8) is listening to the 1st movement of No. 4 (Winter) around Christmas time along with Tchaikovsky's ballets.

Be sure to add some overtures and arias from operas and ballets to your playlist. Puccini, Rossini, and Verdi especially.

The one trait most do not know about me, or cannot believe is that I like classical music especially the Baroque period.

Even though I like the music, I do not care for art as much as I do Neoclassical.

St Matthew’s Passion, by Bach, is also a great piece.

Johann Pachelbel's Canon in D is another Baroque standard (try to go to a wedding reception where they don't play it), and an excellent piece to explore some of the characteristics of this genre.

The repetitive bass line ("basso continuo" is one of the defining characteristics of Baroque music) serves as the foundation for developing the composition. Listen to the song from the beginning, and notice how something gets added every eight bars or so. The next instrument (violin 1, then a couple measures later violin 2, etc.), then subtle changes in melody, harmony, volume (B. music is noted for its wide dynamic range), etc. With the stage set, the players are free to add their personal interpretation, often through ornamentation (trills, mordents, etc., another defining quality of this period).

You're definitely on the right track with your observations so far.

There is a comprehensive set of LP records somewhere in a dumpster pile from my college course on music appreciation. I imagine you could find the modern equivalent.

I suggest that you avoid focusing on one sub-type of music, but do a complete recon of all types. Baroque is the most understandable and is heard quite often in various venues (movies, elevators, etc.). But, the breadth of available music is beyond belief.

For example, instead of re-listening to Vivaldi, go to Aaron Copland. Purchase Appalachian Spring. Sense what he was seeing, and how he converted what he saw to music that allows us to see as he saw.

Listen to Edvard Grieg, Peer Gynt Suite. Enjoy the stories therein.

Find a modern composer like Leonard Bernstein, and marvel at his pace and passion.

Look to the incredible orchestrations of John Williams (Star Wars and others).

Don’t forget Tchaikovsky. Rachmoninoff. Schubert. Lizst.

Most people appreciate Mozart, and he is so popular that you will recognize the tunes. Symphony N.40. So many incredible pieces. He wrote something for two violins to play, as a chamber piece. The music notes are placed on a table, and the violinists play from opposite sides of the table. One starts from upper left, and moves to lower right. The other does the same, of course. On the same piece of music. It is in perfect harmony, and plays so well as a duet. The young man was amazing.

“Classical” music is more accurately named “Passionate” music. Each composer had a reason to compose, and if you play a piece in a typical 104-piece orchestra your entire being understands the composer’s heart. I have been privileged to sit in the audience, as well as on stage, and there is nothing like passionate classical music.

For baroque era classical don’t overlook Arcangelo Corelli and Pietro Locatelli. Both wrote very entertaining concerti grossi. Concerti grossi is the Latin plural form of concerto grosso, a concerto for multiple instruments. But Locatelli’s best work is his “Variations on La Follia” IMO.

When demand for Handel’s stage works waned his publisher noted that: “That fella Corelli is doing quite well with his concerti grossi.” So Handel wrote some too, and they’re very good.

Speaking of Handel, his best work IMO is his Chaconne in G major, HWV 435. In fact, I think it’s the best piece of solo keyboard music ever written, especially as played by Murray Perahia.

And Bach’s most entertaining work IMO is his concerto for four keyboards. It’s a transcription of Vivaldi’s concerto for four violins. So both Bach and Vivaldi in one piece!

Enjoy the Baroque! Indeed, Glen Gould is amazing on the Goldberg. He made his mark early with the 1955 recording, but the 1981 version is an interesting comparison. As you age, I think the emphasis on speed alone to make a musical line interesting seems to diminish, because the artist suddenly realizes there is more to expression than just fast fingers. The list of Baroque composers is HUGE--as a bassoonist myself, Vivaldi wrote 39 bassoon concerti! Renaissance (roughly 1400-1600) dance music is also great to listen to.

Thanks guys - great inputs and feedback! Much appreciated.

Just to clarify, I have listened to (obviously, who hasn't? ) various pieces by "classical" composers - sonatas, concertos, symphonies, operas, etc. I've mostly favored pieces for piano and violin but there are amazing pieces featuring flutes and harps as well.

But I've only really just listened. And with the exception of a dozen or so pieces, wouldn't really recognize the composer or work. For example - Pachabel's Canon in D; like kkina pointed out, who really hasn't heard this before?

I'm now trying to listen for appreciation. Understand and look for the characteristics in a genre. What the piece is trying to convey. Nuances between different versions (this is very hard for me). To detect and point out the brilliance of a given work - why it's enjoyable.

It's rather complex and daunting for me. 3 key genres of interest (baroque (Vergi, Bach, etc); classical (Mozart, Haydn, etc); romantic (Beethoven, Schubert, etc). A number of composers per genre. Hundreds of pieces per composer (spanning sonatas to operas). Hundreds of modern recorders for each piece by various musicians, orchestra, conductors, publishers.

The suggestions above help. Starting points that may lead in wonderful directions. Thanks for confirmations that I'm somewhat on the right track. I don't have any musical talent or training (other than learning the piano a bit when I was a child). But I've always enjoyed it and I'm envious of those who have the talent to play an instrument and those who can really appreciate music.

Questions:
1. 4mul8r: wondering why you think I should jump around a bit. Is it to avoid getting bored with a genre? Or more interesting to learn and appreciate multiple genres in parallel - variety the spice of life so to speak? Help see characteristics of a certain genre by compare / contrast? Other? My personality is more step-by-step but jumping around sounds interesting. OTOH, it's daunting - again too many choices. I'm still on Four Seasons but will be considering what to listen to next.... More Verdi? Bach? A different genre?

2. kkina: thanks for the insight into basso continuo. Interesting. I'm trying to derive these types of characteristics per genre. In wonder if there is an enumeration of this type of stuff per genre that I could listen for as I pick various works.

If only there was a recommended structure on how to develop this appreciation for music I'm seeking.

I should’ve mentioned that one very characteristic feature of baroque music is counterpoint – multiple concurrent melodic lines.

Get a good to very good turntable, and play it on vinyl, best way to listen..

I also enjoy Baroque music, especially on classical guitar as per Andres Segovia and others, Bream, Williams, Parkening, etc.

Several years ago, I discovered I have developed an unfondness of music containing harpsichord. I listen to hours of classical a day, and most of it is from the Romantic Period - many favorite.

If a piece of music containing harpsichord comes on while driving, I will switch to the other channel. If at home, I will tuff it out.

There's some question about the actual date and authorship but Albinoni's adagio is commonly referred to as a baroque piece and is a beautiful piece of music.

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Originally posted by KBobAries:
There's some question about the actual date and authorship but Albinoni's adagio is commonly referred to as a baroque piece and is a beautiful piece of music.

I didn’t know what this was. I had a quick listen and it’s a familiar piece. I think I’ve heard it many times over the years, but probably never the whole work. And if I’m not mistaken, I think there are lyrics that go with it? But maybe I’m thinking of something else.

I didn’t know it was a baroque piece. I thought it was a 20th century composition. Now I know.

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Originally posted by Pipe Smoker:
I should’ve mentioned that one very characteristic feature of baroque music is counterpoint – multiple concurrent melodic lines.

Thanks. I’ll look it up and listen for it.