HOT! 8 Hours of Classical Music $5.99, "100 All Time Greatest Classical Masterpieces"

Love me some classical music. Thanks OP.

Hope Air on G string is in there.
 
SamuraiInBlack said:
He also liked dogs.

On topic - Thanks. Gotta look at this and see if I picked this up on a previous deal. I SWEAR I got something simlar a few months back.
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I guess we gotta watch out for the ones who like Classical AND Dogs! ... Now we're getting somewhere...
 
I sampled some of them and they don't sound like very good recordings to me - most likely some low-paid east European orchestra (or Chinese one).

The fact that the performers aren't cited on the website isn't a good sign.

I'll pass.

Also, some of that music (a majority) is not classical. You have Baroque, Romantic, Contemporary, Classical, and a few other genres thrown in there as well.

You can usually find good Berlin Phil or Vienna Phil recordings in the bargain bin if you know where to look. If you want to get started in these genres, start with good artists and good orchestras.

/music nerd
 
Valkhorn said:
I sampled some of them and they don't sound like very good recordings to me - most likely some low-paid east European orchestra (or Chinese one).

The fact that the performers aren't cited on the website isn't a good sign.

I'll pass.

Also, some of that music (a majority) is not classical. You have Baroque, Romantic, Contemporary, Classical, and a few other genres thrown in there as well.

You can usually find good Berlin Phil or Vienna Phil recordings in the bargain bin if you know where to look. If you want to get started in these genres, start with good artists and good orchestras.

/music nerd
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thanks for the criticism. i dont listen to classical music, but i dont hate it. if i were to buy it though, i would want at least full-cd quality. i would never enjoy it if it was mediocre quality since i dont even listen to the stuff as it is.
 
Amazon has no DRM.

These are okay for a beginner classical listener, although it's not a very good starting point to start building a collection around. It's mostly the popular stuff that you'll recognize from movie music and popular culture.

Valkhorn said:
I sampled some of them and they don't sound like very good recordings to me - most likely some low-paid east European orchestra (or Chinese one).

The fact that the performers aren't cited on the website isn't a good sign.

I'll pass.

Also, some of that music (a majority) is not classical. You have Baroque, Romantic, Contemporary, Classical, and a few other genres thrown in there as well.

You can usually find good Berlin Phil or Vienna Phil recordings in the bargain bin if you know where to look. If you want to get started in these genres, start with good artists and good orchestras.

/music nerd
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You're talking about classical era music. People usually call Baroque/Romantic/Contemporary/Renaissance music "classical music".
 
Valkhorn said:
I sampled some of them and they don't sound like very good recordings to me - most likely some low-paid east European orchestra (or Chinese one).

The fact that the performers aren't cited on the website isn't a good sign.

I'll pass.

Also, some of that music (a majority) is not classical. You have Baroque, Romantic, Contemporary, Classical, and a few other genres thrown in there as well.

You can usually find good Berlin Phil or Vienna Phil recordings in the bargain bin if you know where to look. If you want to get started in these genres, start with good artists and good orchestras.

/music nerd
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Your post reminds me of "I didn't read the article but here's my opinion."

I downloaded the lot of them and they're just fine. or 6 bucks, one shouldn't be a snob about it.
 
to be fair, "they're fine" is how people justify listening to the black eyed peas. or daughtry.
 
That's quite the insane leap in logic there.

Next I assume will begin the comparison to Catcher in the Rye and blood diamonds.
 
Calling this all classical is akin to saying Cherry Poppin' Daddies are jazz, or renaisance art is the same as romantic.

Still, I picked this up since its cheap. Its pretty "meh". A good sampler, but if you find a piece you like, find it performed by a good orchestra to really appreciate it. This is a bit like listening to midi's or listening to an overproduced performer using autotune over a live concert. The notes are there, but that's all there is to it.

Some of them are quite bad. Air in G, for example, the 1st violin seems to be incapable of playing grace notes.
 
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Hm, thanks Ghost. I am grabbing that one as we speak, mostly just for

74. Symphonie Fantastique, Op. 14, "Episode de la vie d'un artiste": V. Songe d'une Nuit du Sabbat (The Witches' Sabbath)

You kind of need to listen to the whole thing, but that movement is my favorite. Even more so if you know what the different melodies are.

Nessun Dorma's on the list too. Few other ones on this list I like quite a bit...
 
Apallohadas said:
Your post reminds me of "I didn't read the article but here's my opinion."

I downloaded the lot of them and they're just fine. or 6 bucks, one shouldn't be a snob about it.
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Right. I'm pretty sure by listening only you could not tell me the difference between the New York Phil, the Chicago Symphony, the London Symphony, or the Dresden Statskapelle.

These are NOT good recordings, and you saying they are 'just fine' shows you really don't have very highly trained ears.

And yes, listening to this sort of music (or any real music including Jazz, Opera, etc.) requires you to do more than just idly hear 'all the notes'.
 
Its recordings like this that put people off 'classical' music :( I wouldn't listen to it if they paid me to.
 
elleana said:
Its recordings like this that put people off 'classical' music I wouldn't listen to it if they paid me to.
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It's about as bad as those stupid "now that's what I call music" cds. Or the K-Tel 'no name' records in the late 70s.
 
How is a good deal on getting "sampler" music out to people a bad thing?
If people download all that stuff and then get interested in listening to more and better played classical music, why are you snobs bitching about it?
 
ummm... because they're snobs.

I can understand one of their points - if it sounds bad, it may turn people off of classical music instead of onto it. But like all things - when getting into DSLR photography, you don't buy a Canon 1Ds-MarkIII + 24-105 F4L right off the bat. You start with a Digital Rebel Tl1 or XS and a kit lens. Same thing applies here - its probably "good enough" to give people a sample to see what its about and learn more if they're interested as long as the notes aren't flat/sharp/wrong.

BB
 
If they are classical noobs to it, they wont know that its bad. But they might like it enough to want more. If they dont like it, its not going to be because they have finely trained ears, its going to be because they just don't like it.

I mean, if you can get perfectly awesome-recorded and performed classical music for anywhere near that price, let us know.
 
With all the comments I'm imagining "Beethoven's 9th Symphony as performed by the Sheboigan Elementary School 3rd grade Jazz Banjo and Kazoo Ensemble"


I kid I kid
 
Valkhorn said:
Right. I'm pretty sure by listening only you could not tell me the difference between the New York Phil, the Chicago Symphony, the London Symphony, or the Dresden Statskapelle.

These are NOT good recordings, and you saying they are 'just fine' shows you really don't have very highly trained ears.

And yes, listening to this sort of music (or any real music including Jazz, Opera, etc.) requires you to do more than just idly hear 'all the notes'.
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I'm sure you listened to all 8 hours to share that well educated, and still remarkably IGNORANT opinion.

Thanks Mozart.
 
Apallohadas said:
I'm sure you listened to all 8 hours to share that well educated, and still remarkably IGNORANT opinion.

Thanks Mozart.
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I'm sorry, but it is you who has the 'ignorant' opinion since you don't apparently know anything about recordings. I have an actual degree in music, I'm a classical musician, and I've spent perhaps a collective couple of years listening CAREFULLY to music with many different groups and across many different composers.

I've probably spent more time carefully listening to pieces than you have spent in the bathroom.

If my opinion is ignorant, then tell me how? I've already shown how you are ignorant (as well as others) - so please, if you have any argument with substance, go ahead and tell me why we're ignorant and you somehow know better?

BB Gun said:
I can understand one of their points - if it sounds bad, it may turn people off of classical music instead of onto it. But like all things - when getting into DSLR photography, you don't buy a Canon 1Ds-MarkIII + 24-105 F4L right off the bat. You start with a Digital Rebel Tl1 or XS and a kit lens. Same thing applies here - its probably "good enough" to give people a sample to see what its about and learn more if they're interested as long as the notes aren't flat/sharp/wrong.
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This isn't the same thing. And yes I'm a musical snob because I've spent enough time in the actual field to know better. I make no bones about that. I've worked very hard and I've got a good education in it. Would you call someone a Geology snob if they hold a degree in Geology?

Why isn't it the same thing? Because the price difference between a Canon SLR and a point and shoot Canon is completely different than the price difference between a decent recording and a crappy one.

Let's say you wanted to hear some Beatles tunes. Would you go out and buy just anyone who is playing them, including a 'muzak' production? Or, would you specifically look for the Beatles or a decent cover band? It's the same here. And, unfortunately, people are ignorant enough about this collective genre of music that they don't realize that it makes a HUGE difference of who performs the piece since there are so many ways to perform it incorrectly. Plus, you'll enjoy it more with a real performer or a real group of musicians.

There's more to listening than just letting the notes bounce off your eardrums - and it's a shame people like Apallohadas don't understand that. It's the same as using any other sense you have. Some people know how to enjoy food and enjoy the subtle textures of things that they eat. Some people know how to see the world with finer detail and notice things from a more artistic perspective. Listening is the same thing.

The good thing is you can actually train your ears to listen just as you can train your palette. Of course you would disagree with me probably since you don't know any better. However, it doesn't negate the point that in most real schools of music (and conservatories are included in this) that to just get a Bachelor's you have to go through at least two years of ear training. This includes learning the ability to take dictation of music by just listening to it, to learn how to tell intervals by just listening to them all the way up to learning to listen for particular modes, picking out particular cadences, chordal progressions, and being able to write them down in four part harmony by just hearing it a few times.

Just like with actually listening to music, it's involves way more than 'a few notes'. You've got texture, intonation, form, structure, harmony, melodic lines, intonation, dynamic contrast - just about a myriad of things that you should carefully listen for.

I'm sure Apolla couldn't tell me the difference (just by listening) between the London Symphony and the Dresden Statskapelle.

Oh yeah, and it's odd Apolla calls me 'Mozart'. Of course Mozart was head and shoulders above almost anyone born in the last 300 years besides a handful of people. I'm no Mozart, but he would at the very least agree with me.

Monkey God said:
I mean, if you can get perfectly awesome-recorded and performed classical music for anywhere near that price, let us know.
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Look in your bargain bin at your local CD store. Look on iTunes or Rhapsody. You can find Berlin Phil type recordings for 99 cents a track or 6 dollars per CD if you just look. Even if they're not marked for a discount, most good recordings will cost the same as any other CD by any 'pop artist'.
 
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Valkhorn said:
Would you call someone a Geology snob if they hold a degree in Geology?
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I would, if they tried to tell me the fill dirt I just bought for a landscaping project "wasn't good enough" and I was inferior for not knowing the difference.

Oh my god, you bought less than ideal dirt for a good price? WTF prole, buy the real stuff for 10 times more so you can be cool like us.
 
Valkhorn said:
Look in your bargain bin at your local CD store. Look on iTunes or Rhapsody. You can find Berlin Phil type recordings for 99 cents a track or 6 dollars per CD if you just look. Even if they're not marked for a discount, most good recordings will cost the same as any other CD by any 'pop artist'.
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How is a person without a masters in "omg music listening skillz" supposed to pick out the good from the bad when perusing the bargain bin? Ive bought some classical stuff from bargain bins and thrown them out the recordings were so bad. And who in their right mind is going to pay full price for a CD if they have no idea if they will even like it?

HENCE THE VALUE OF A SAMPLER PACK FOR AN EXCELLENT PRICE

then someone can say, oh, I really like this one piece, but it sounds kinda lame, I wonder if I can find a better rendition.
 
Monkey God said:
I would, if they tried to tell me the fill dirt I just bought for a landscaping project "wasn't good enough" and I was inferior for not knowing the difference.

Oh my god, you bought less than ideal dirt for a good price? WTF prole, buy the real stuff for 10 times more so you can be cool like us.
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Right, and what if you were building a house or structure on that 'fill dirt'?

Again, let me say this for the 100th time... real recordings don't cost 10 times as much - they cost the same as every other 'pop group' CD out there. There's also bargain bins where you can find them much cheaper. All you have to do is look.

You won't get 100 'tracks' for 6 bucks, no. But you shouldn't throw cheap fill dirt over your ears.
 
Monkey God said:
How is a person without a masters in "omg music listening skillz" supposed to pick out the good from the bad when perusing the bargain bin? Ive bought some classical stuff from bargain bins and thrown them out the recordings were so bad. And who in their right mind is going to pay full price for a CD if they have no idea if they will even like it?
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Through self-education. Know which groups will consistently put out great recordings and go with that information. You're going to find much better recordings with the Wiener Phil than you will trying to play hit or miss with the Slovak Philharmonic or Zagrab Radio Symphony (not even sure that last one exists, but you get the idea).

Monkey God said:
HENCE THE VALUE OF A SAMPLER PACK FOR AN EXCELLENT PRICE

then someone can say, oh, I really like this one piece, but it sounds kinda lame, I wonder if I can find a better rendition.
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But every recording in this 'sampler' is crap - and this isn't exactly the best way to get anyone started in the genre. It's like learning to eat quality food by starting out at McDonald's. Or trying to get into Formula 1 by racing a Yugo. It's not going to fly. Plus, most people aren't going to know it sounds lame. Take Apollo for example.
 
Valkhorn said:
Right, and what if you were building a house or structure on that 'fill dirt'?

Again, let me say this for the 100th time... real recordings don't cost 10 times as much - they cost the same as every other 'pop group' CD out there. There's also bargain bins where you can find them much cheaper. All you have to do is look.

You won't get 100 'tracks' for 6 bucks, no. But you shouldn't throw cheap fill dirt over your ears.
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It's great that you're sophisticated and really into the details of music.

However, you did come off a bit too snobby, even if that wasn't intended.

That can have an adverse effect (and believe me, you've probably turned more than a handful of people away, who were going to try this out as some of their initial interest in classical masterpieces, as now they're convinced this music (these particular mp3s) is bad). Akin to a Geologist turning someone away from the science because they ridiculed their choice of a "Geology starter kit" when they were younger, while correct in stating that the tools, materials, etc were of poor quality, the way the information was presented was key.

One can easily use the same situation to encourage or advertise the better quality options (somewhat like your comments on affordability of the better versions), without bashing people to a point where they instead turn away.
 
Valkhorn said:
Right, and what if you were building a house or structure on that 'fill dirt'?
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its not rocket science, its music, nobodys house is going to collapse here

Again, let me say this for the 100th time... real recordings don't cost 10 times as much - they cost the same as every other 'pop group' CD out there.
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Pop group crap is too expensive as well. I sure as hell am not going to buy random pop group crap to see if I like it.

There's also bargain bins where you can find them much cheaper. All you have to do is look.
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Most stuff goes into bargain bins because they suck.

You won't get 100 'tracks' for 6 bucks, no. But you shouldn't throw cheap fill dirt over your ears.
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Youre missing the point.
 
Classical takes a bit more understanding and patience to enjoy which is a large part in why many people do not like it; however most anyone who as ever played an instrument should have a profound respect for the madding brilliance of people like Bach who's music is pushing 300 years old and still very relevant in today music industry.

Good deal none the less.
 
Monkey God said:
Most stuff goes into bargain bins because they suck.
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No. Bargain bins are because people aren't buying them or the demand is low. Low demand does not equal suck. If that were the case then how come I can always find a few great Deutsche Grammaphon recordings in just about any bargain bin in almost any decent CD store? You're telling me that label sucks? Hah. That's one of the best 'classical' labels, period.

Monkey God said:
its not rocket science, its music, nobodys house is going to collapse here
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Then you don't know anything about music. You think Bach just randomly put notes on the paper? No. His music is incredibly highly organized and well thought out, and it is pretty obvious to me you have no clue how complicated music can get. Look up Hindemith for me sometime. He was a mathematician and a composer - and his stuff is extremely mathematical and very precise. So is the case of Berg and Webern.

Monkey God said:
Youre missing the point.
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No I'm pretty sure you are the one who is missing the point, otherwise I wouldn't have to keep correcting you.
 
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