How to Start a Classical Music Collection

Due to the largely instrumental nature of classical music, it may seem to be out of touch with modern American society. However, it does not have to be seen as a strange, elitist form of music. Though society is vastly different from the one Bach, Mozart and Beethoven composed their masterpieces in, great classical music, just like great jazz music, can speak to the listener no matter the time period.

Listen to your Local Classical Music Station

To start a collection you first should know what classical music you like. Here some definitions may beneficial. Classical music is a blanket term for symphonic, operatic and chamber works, largely composed in Europe, although there are many notes American composers, from different backgrounds who have written this type of music and are still writing it today. These works may be composed in an early music style, which was music written roughly in the Renaissance. They may be in the Baroque style which encompassed the early 1600's to about 1750. The Classical Music style, with noted composers being Mozart, Haydn and early Beethoven, ran from about 1750 to the early 1800's. The Romantic Period ran from roughly the early 1800's to the early 1900's. Late music of Beethoven, as well as the music of Schubert, Brahms, Mendelssohn and many other brilliant composers are included in this group. The 20th classical music era includes composers like Serge Prokofiev, Maurice Ravel, Igor Stravinsky and Leonard Bernstein, just to name a few.

Now when listening to the station make note of the music that you like. Make a mental or physical note of the pieces that you like and their composers. Continue listening for at least a week to get a feel for what you really enjoy. Even if you find you like only one or two composers, knowing what time period they lived in may help you get acquainted with other composers whose music you may like.

Join a Music Club

It can be rather expensive to build a music collection. Even if you are only downloading songs you like, each song may be up to a $1 in price. When downloading 50 the cost can quickly add up. Furthermore, classical music downloads are not always as readily available for downloading as popular music songs often are. Therefore, it may be best to join a music club like the Musical Heritage Society. New members may be able to get several CD's for only a few dollars plus shipping and handling. There are always sales, some with music by noted artists and composers for as low as $5. Check out other music clubs as well.

Learn More about the Music

As you listen to and enjoy your new music, you may be confused by the new terms. Reading the CD jacket notes is very helpful to get a better understanding of the type of music you are listening to, why and for whom it was written and the composer who wrote it. You may want to even take an Introduction to classical music course at a local college to gain a better understanding of the music you have. A less expensive route may be to attend free classical music concerts at local churches and museums. The program notes and even some of the performers or the conductor may provide information helpful in understanding the music during the concert.

Some Essentials

No matter what genre of classical music you gravitate toward there are certain pieces that are generally a must in any collection. You may even want to start out getting these pieces when beginning your collection. Such pieces include any Beethoven symphony, preferably at least the enormously famous Fifth Symphony or the Ninth Symphony with it's well-known Ode to Joy chorale section. Handel's "Messiah" and any piece of music by Bach, including the Well-tempered Clavier and Bach's Mass in B Minor are other wonderful pieces. The Mendelssohn Violin Concerto in E minor and Mozart's Jupiter Symphony and his Symphony No. 40, Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture or Nutcracker Suite and mazurkas by Chopin are other outstanding, readily available pieces of music. Artists that have created great classical music recordings include the late pianist Vladamir Horowitz, violinist Itzhak Perlman and Anne-Sophie Mutter. For starting an opera collection arias and operas featuring Jesse Norman, Kathleen Battle, Renée Fleming, Luciano Pavarotti and Plácido Domingo are good starters.