Classical musics that are peacefull to listen to? looking for

Certainly Debussy, but you've already mentioned that. I've "turned back" to Baroque, for it's "simplicity" - suggest finding a selection of various composers and "see" what you think. Same for earlier string trios - later are too "grinding". Dvorak symphonies are OK
 
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But.....watching the performer performing gives a extra dimension too. Quite often I find myself watching / listening a YouTube video not caring so much about the sound quality when the performance "hits" me.
I really don't agree with this at all. That extra dimension that you refer to I find instead to often be a major distraction. There are times when listening to classical music I close my eyes so that the room around me goes away and I can focus entirely on the music itself. I even do this at live concerts. It's a way of getting lost in the music. And that can make a very big difference. Particualarly with classical music.

https://concert-vienna.com/blogs/vi...or-beginners-how-to-listen-to-classical-music

If you read this article it specifically talks about that value in closing your eyes when listening to classical music.
 
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I really don't agree with this at all. That extra dimension that you refer to I find instead to often be a major distraction. There are times when listening to classical music I close my eyes so that the room around me goes away and I can focus entirely on the music itself. I even do this at live concerts. It's a way of getting lost in the music. And that can make a very big difference. Particualarly with classical music.
First of all, I said "quite often" which means "not always" like you suggest; it depends on the music, the mood of the moment, the circumstances among other things.
I read the article you linked; maybe you should reread also, especially point 4 below and take care of "visualise" which means going beyond mere "closing your eyes"....
Listening music is a very personal thing.

4. Close your eyes and visualise
Imagination is a huge part of listening to classical music for beginners. When you’re really enjoying a piece, close your eyes and let your mind be filled with images. Whether you picture the orchestra/solo artist playing the piece, a tale of events unfolding or a series of colours, visualising what you can hear will help you understand the music.
 
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Here's a suggestion for a collection of short pieces, including songs, which might work:

Samuel Barber: Violin Concerto, second movement
Dvorak: Song to the Moon
Brahms Violin Concerto: Adagio (as mentioned in a previous post)
Ravel Piano Concerto in G: second movement
Mahler Symphony No. 5: Adagietto
Schubert: Auf Der Wasser zu Singen
Mozart Flute Concerto: Adagio (if it's not called that, I mean the second movement)
Grieg Piano Concerto: second movement
Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto 2: second movement
Mozart: Ruhe Sanft

All of these pieces will be preview-able (if that's a word) on YouTube

Geoff
 
...maybe you should reread also, especially point 4 below and take care of "visualise" which means going beyond mere "closing your eyes"....
Listening music is a very personal thing....

4. Close your eyes and visualise
Imagination is a huge part of listening to classical music for beginners. When you’re really enjoying a piece, close your eyes and let your mind be filled with images. Whether you picture the orchestra/solo artist playing the piece, a tale of events unfolding or a series of colours, visualising what you can hear will help you understand the music.
I read it. And completely agree with it. The important thing is to close your eyes and not be distracted by what is happening around you. What you actually visualize is not as important as simply being separated from your immediated surroundings. Which is why I made a point out of not watching a classical piece on YouTube. But instead just listening to it with your eyes closed.

Plus, of course, the audio quality with YT is not going to be anywhere near what you can get from better high end sources. That may not matter much for popular music, but it can make a world of difference with classical.
 
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Btw, the idea of wax cylynder for playback was given by Charles Cros in a writting in 1877, 17 years after the first reccording from Scott de Mainville : "Au clair de la Lune" -1860-.

At the same moment there was the metal support of Edisson and wax cylynder pop ups for the "public"after (1888 according the web with Edisson wax cylinder)
 
Plus, of course, the audio quality with YT is not going to be anywhere near what you can get from better high end sources. That may not matter much for popular music, but it can make a world of difference with classical.

Do you have any classical music examples where the YT video is a 'world apart' from the CD version of the same? I'd be interested to compare as my experience has been that the differences are small, even negligible in most cases.
 
Do you have any classical music examples where the YT video is a 'world apart' from the CD version of the same? I'd be interested to compare as my experience has been that the differences are small, even negligible in most cases.
As an example, in our collection we have Iona Brown's version of Vaughan Williams 'The Lark Ascending' on a Decca CD; it's also readily viewable on YouTube. It's a beautiful and moving performance. Before I bought the official disc, I recorded the track from YouTube, converted it to WAV with Audacity and burned it to CD.

Listening to either version on our PC, which has a Creative Sound Blaster sound card and reasonable quality Boston Acoustics speakers and a sub woofer, it's hard to tell the difference between them through baby boomer ears.

Through the main stereo, the official version is superior to the burned CD, with cleaner highs, a more natural violin sound and cleaner string tone. Bass is also superior and cleaner, but our speakers (DIY of course) dig deeper and are much higher quality than the Bostons. However, the burned CD is OK if you're not sitting down and concentrating.

Diyiggy's relative is 86; of course, I've no idea how good her hearing is or how she'll be listening, but my guess is that good quality YouTube recordings - and some are awful - will probably be OK.

Geoff
 
Yes I confirm. Imo without her electronic ear pads for old and at a casual listening level.

Big fan myself of W Vaughn.

Good idea about Chopin too.
Satie, imo too much on the dark sad and spring side of the casual music for her. Though for me, find it relaxing.
Schubert 🙂
Vivaldi has some ligth to it.
 
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Do you have any classical music examples where the YT video is a 'world apart' from the CD version of the same? I'd be interested to compare as my experience has been that the differences are small, even negligible in most cases.
Read Geoff's post above (#36). He pretty much proves the point that a purchased CD played on a high quality system is far superior to the exact same piece obtained through YT and played on a PC based system.