Now I know I can't be the only person here who likes classical music (the "favorite film music" thread says that), but can't find a thread, so gonna start one.

A couple of summers ago I took my two sons to see a Locrian String Quartet concert - if you don't know them, they play mainly chamber music and did some of the scores for the batman and lord of the rings films.
The boys went determined to be bored witless but by the time we left they were stunned at how amazing it was and both spent their pocket money on cds there.

Two of my favorite classical pieces have got to be Vaughn Williams' Lark Ascending and Bach's Brandenburg Concertos.
I also play to death Rodrigo's Concertio de Aranjuez and the Misa Luba by a Kenyan choir (which doesn't really fit here but it doesn't fit anywhere else either).

I also have an album by Ravi Shankar which isnt really under the 'classical' genre I know, but it doesn't really fit in anywhere else either.

Anyone else got any 'classical' favorites?

I love Concierto De Aranjuez - lived in Mallorca for a while a few years back, and was lucky enough to be at a cafe one evening in the north of the island when a young lad started playing it on his guitar. Warm evening, the sea just across the promenade and that amazing piece of music being played beautifully in the perfect setting.

There's a piece I especially enjoy - I think it's called Rhapsody on a theme of Thomas Tallis but I could be wrong - it just sweeps you away. Love Fauré's stuff too. The Bruch Violin Concerto is a favourite.

Last live classical concert was Stabat Mater at Symphony Hall in Birmingham - full choir as well as the orchestra - hairs on the back of your neck stuff!

I think it's the way classical music lets you build pictures in your head without the distraction of lyrics - very freeing and good therapy too

I *think* its called Enigma Variations on a theme by Thomas Tallis, but not splitting hairs hehe. Its by Vaughn Williams, yes another beautiful piece of music.

Am so glad to have met someone else who has heard of Rodrigo - I usually get confronted with "huh?".

Guitar and violin are two instruments that I think played well are wonderful but played badly have me cringing![/quote]

Nope, you're right, thanks for putting me right chuck A friend copied the Thomas Tallis for me and I've played it so much that the titles have worn off the cd, so all I could remember was the Thomas bit

I love how the cello sounds - always wanted to learn how to play it. Agree with you re the violin and guitar - going to a gig next week to see Rodrigo y Gabriela play in Manchester - they're a couple that used to be in a Mexican heavy metal band, but they now play acoustic guitar and they play it beautifully, they're real masters at their craft, and play all sorts from classical to their take on Metallica, Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin - they're fab!

I love Faure`s Requiem. It is, at the risk of sounding pretentious, sublime. The Brahms Requiem is wonderful too.

Also anything by JS Bach or Henry Purcell, Janacek`s Sinfonietta, Ma Vlast by Smetana (well, the Moldau bit, anyway) and Gorecki`s 3rd.

Least favourite composer - Mahler. Bombastic and unlistenable, in my opinion.

I'm a bit of a philistine when it comes to classical music, but I do enjoy some of the more well known pieces (and actually own 4 differtent arrangements of The Four Seasons). Oddly enough, I have a particular leaning towards contemporary music that includes classical elements, especially the use of a string quartet.

Speaking of classical music, I noticed that the Plymouth coach station now pipes a radio station through its PA system, apparently introduced as a calming measure for waiting passengers.

ykwsg - I must thank you for correcting me! Can you believe what a dork I was. You are of course right, it is fantasia on a theme and not enigma variations, in fact as soon as I read that I thought "hhhmm, someone got that wrong" then realised 'anonymous' was me! I must have been half asleep, good job paganpoetry was my pal and wont make me feel even more stupid!