Classical music conundrum

January 3, 2008 6:50 PM

Please guide me toward more classical music...

Lately I have been listening to one of only a few classical CD's on my hard drive, a collection of Faure I pinched from my Pop that I almost never used to play. One track in particular, Requiem, Op. 48 - In Paradisum, keeps coming up as a favorite, primarily because of the vocal section. Here's where I'm lost - How does I specify what I'm hearing? It sounds like a falsetto choir. Every so often I'll hear music like this on NPR but by the time the announcer runs the set list I have no idea what track it was I heard in the set.

Anyone out there willing to try to enlighten my dim mind would be welcomed.

posted by docpops to media & arts (13 comments total)

If you like Fauré, his Cantique De Jean Racine is one of my favorites.
posted by Pants! at 6:59 PM on January 3, 2008

It might be a choir of boys. Can you look at your Pop's CD, or ask him to tell you which groups performed it?

Some radio stations put their playlists online, and list what music they're playing at a given time--perhaps that may help you find the piece you enjoyed?
posted by Lycaste at 7:00 PM on January 3, 2008

I think it is a boys choir - at least my wife that knows something said as much.
posted by docpops at 7:22 PM on January 3, 2008

If you like Faure's Requiem you might like Durufle's.
posted by Jahaza at 7:47 PM on January 3, 2008

I'm not....quite sure what you're asking for, but hopefully this will help you...I guess.
It might take a bit of digging, but there's a great site called "hear the choirs sing". It has loads of choral masterpieces.

My favorites, from my days in high school choir are 'O Magnum Mysterium' and 'Tenebrae Factae Sunt'. I'm a fan of almost every choral Mass performed on the site as well.
posted by chara at 11:43 PM on January 3, 2008 [1 favorite]

Seconding Duruflé's Requiem. Will come back as I think of more.
posted by Pallas Athena at 4:11 AM on January 4, 2008

In Paradisum is one of the "b-list" members of the "classical's greatest hits" world, frequently anthologized. You might try searching allmusic or rhapsody.com for compilations that contain this (beautiful) piece and then picking up some of the discs that sound interesting to expand your world. I've found this is a really good way to get into classical (or any other genre with a bit of a learning curve outside the mainstream, like jazz). Figure out what you definitively like, then figure out what people who like what you like also like.
posted by softlord at 6:23 AM on January 4, 2008

Also, if the Fauré collection you're listening to is a compilation (it sounds like it is), try listening to a recording of the entire Requiem. Duruflé's Requiem is also a good suggestion. If you're feeling more adventurous, Poulenc is another French composer with some wonderful choral music; maybe try something like this or this. If it's specifically the sound of boys' choirs that you like, maybe look up some recordings by the Vienna Boys Choir or the Choir of St. Thomas Church. Or even try listening to one of the excellent recordings by the Tallis Scholars; their purity of sound might appeal to you.
posted by bassjump at 7:46 AM on January 4, 2008

Head up to the top of the page, put "classical music" in the search box and you should get a link to posts tagged with classical. A vast majority of them are requests for music selections based a lot on what individuals tend to enjoy - you could read through those to get some names to look up, or find one that seems to fit your personality and go with those recommendations.
posted by greekphilosophy at 9:03 AM on January 4, 2008

I was in a similar conundrum a few months ago and here are a few tips I've picked up while trying to expand my own classical music listening repertoire.

1) WNYC (New York NPR) station has an excellent 24/7 online Classical Music stream. It's a great mix of 20th century Classical Music, with some older music, much of it very accessible but interesting and quirky enough to pull you in. See http://www.wnyc.org/wnyc2/ - the great thing is that you can always check what's currently playing by looking on their website (there's a little pop-up thing that tells you when you click on it).

2) As you're listening to WNYC2, note down composers/works you love, and then head to a site like Last.fm or Pandora.com to listen to similar works. For example, I discovered that I love Charles Ives, and through listening to Last.fm and Pandora, I've discovered other composers that seem to share that special something that attracts me to Ives' music.

3) Buy CDs of works that pique your interest initially - with much of classical music, it really pays to listen to a piece many times to discover new layers, listen to the subtleties.

4) Read Alex Ross's new book, "The Rest is Noise" - Alex Ross is the New Yorker classical music critic, and this book is kind of a joyride in 20th century classical music, the stories, the personalities, and the music itself.

Enjoy!
posted by barmaljova at 10:52 AM on January 4, 2008

Oh-- Allegri's Miserere. Also, Poulenc's Quatre motets pour un temps de pénitence.
posted by Pallas Athena at 12:32 PM on January 4, 2008

n+1 reading The Rest Is Noise. Anyone at all interested in music and musicology should pick it up, it's brilliant. Also, read his blog.
posted by softlord at 5:06 PM on January 4, 2008

Thanks everyone. I really appreciate all the suggestions and will follow through.
posted by docpops at 8:00 AM on January 5, 2008