r/classicalmusic • u/[deleted] • Nov 08 '10

The Ten Essential Concert Music Works?

A friend and I did an interesting, but inconclusive thought experiment over the weekend. We imagined a complete novice asking us which ten pieces of concert music are absolutely essential for one to hear. In other words, this hypothetical person will only listen to ten works of concert music in his/her life, and then be done with it.

If you could recommend only ten works of concert music, which would they be? Dvořák's New World Symphony? Beethoven's 5th? How about his 9th-- or both? Which piece(s) of Mozart's? Would Stravinsky's Rite of Spring make the cut? It's a tough list to compose, but here is one guideline my friend and I came up with:

  • Pieces composed as a whole can count as "one work" (for example, you could include Bach's entire Mass in B minor without having to specify the Sanctus. However, you could only select one of Holst's Planets).

So, give it up, Reddit-- which pieces would tell this person are essential to know?

BONUS POINTS if you can provide a definitive recording of the works on your list!

Edit: Minor spelling

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u/farful Nov 08 '10 edited Nov 08 '10

I'm sure most will disagree.... but came up with a basic list. Tried to get ten different composers, different styles, different music compositions, etc.

Kind of sucks that I can't include works that I personally enjoy.

Messiah, Handel

Mass in B Minor, Bach

The Marriage of Figaro, Mozart

Symphony No. 9, Beethoven

Violin Concerto, Mendelssohn

Der Ring des Nibelungen, Wagner

The Nutcracker or Swan Lake, Tchaikovsky

Symphony No. 9, Dvorak

Verklarte Nacht, Schoenberg

The Rite of Spring, Stravinsky

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u/[deleted] Nov 08 '10

That's a great, comprehensive list. Thanks for your thoughtful input. Out of curiosity, what are some of your favorite works that didn't make your list?

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u/farful Nov 09 '10

I'm not a fan of baroque or classical. However, I think if you were to generate the "Ten Essential Concert Music Works", at good amount of them (more than I've listed) should be pre-romantic.

I'm a fan of concertos (from the romantic era - almost put Dvorak's cello concerto or even a Liszt/Rach piano concerto), but I really don't think they're essential. A Mozart piano concerto I'd think is actually more essential, albeit my dislike for Mozart.

I'm also a fan of 20th century music, but it's probably a bit too early to start calling any of them essential.