Are there well-known classical composers who aren't trained on a particular instrument? An acquaintance is a young singer who's interested in composition (mostly for voice), but in talking to him I get the sense that he feels a little inadequate compared to his fellow students who are accomplished on at least one instrument like piano or violin. Can you give me examples of classical composers whose work is respected but who weren't primarily instrumental players? Modern or otherwise. Thanks!
posted by mediareport on Dec 14, 2009 - 14 answers

Cost- and effort-effective way to end up with a large HD full of lossless classical music, legally. [more inside]
posted by Your Time Machine Sucks on Nov 14, 2009 - 28 answers

I've been trying to branch out my musical tastes, and have started recently to listen to atonal and serialist music (Boulez, Schoenberg, Webern). There is something about it that I like, but I'm not quite sure what it is, and I feel like if I knew more about the music in question I could better appreciate it. [more inside]
posted by Frankieist on Jul 23, 2009 - 16 answers

How do you pronounce composer Charles Wuorinen's name? Which syllable is accented?
posted by mediareport on Jul 16, 2009 - 8 answers

Suggestions for classical guitar tab? [more inside]
posted by starman on May 6, 2009 - 6 answers

Romantic-era classical music for someone who is not fond of Romantic-era classical music? [more inside]
posted by NemesisVex on Oct 4, 2008 - 11 answers

How can I get my iPod to display the composer tag? [more inside]
posted by KirkJobSluder on Apr 2, 2008 - 5 answers

I played a piece in orchestra in high school that I think was named Aces Däd, but I can't seem to find that anywhere. [more inside]
posted by ZaneJ. on Dec 22, 2007 - 6 answers

What's the best way to locate scholarly writing and analysis of a given piece of classical music? [more inside]
posted by agropyron on Jul 24, 2006 - 19 answers

What are the best books offering analysis of Beethoven's symphonies? Other classical works? [more inside]
posted by agropyron on May 22, 2006 - 16 answers

DamnMusicStuckInMyHeadFilter: I am looking for a "holiday" piece of music that has been on the radio station playlists but for some reason no DJs will say what it is (I really hate that) [more inside]
posted by Botunda on Dec 28, 2005 - 3 answers

Recommend unaccompanied brass quintet recordings of Christmas carols on CD. [more inside]
posted by cribcage on Dec 2, 2005 - 3 answers

I want to learn more about contemporary classical music of the Pärt, Feldman, Glass variety. Anyone have any pointers? {more inside} [more inside]
posted by josh on Sep 29, 2004 - 23 answers