5 Pieces of Classical Music, for week of, (8/2-8/8)

1. Johann Sebastian Bach, Suite #2 in a minor BMV 807

2. Johann Sebastian Bach, Partita in c minor BMV 826

3. Ludwig Van Beethoven, Piano Sonata #8 in c minor, op.13 "Pathetique"

4. Frederic Chopin, Ballade in g minor, op.23

5. Alberto Ginastera, Danzas Argentinas, op.2

Here are some picks that I feel are must listens for classical lovers.

1. This suite in a minor by Bach is a wonderful to listen to in my opinion. The prelude is in a moderate speed with a little subject and wonderful counterpoint to accompany it. The allemande is slow and wonderfully calming. The rest is just as charming.

2. The Bach Partita in c minor has a riveting beginning with it's grave start and diminished chords throughout, leading to a very pleasing little counterpoint, then leading to a miniature fugue. The rest is set of bar form pieces all written in beautiful counterpoint. Sorry but I'm trying to keep short. These pieces could take up pages.

3. A classic Beethoven sonata that must be listened to. This piece is essentially Beethoven's first in which he ventures farther from the bounds of typical classical music in his time.

4. Frederic Chopin wrote 4 beautiful ballades, all with lush harmonies and riveting codas. This is his first, and will give you a good sense of what Chopin sounds like.

5. This piece is a modern spanish piece by the Argentinean composer Ginastera. It is a set of 3 short pieces all very different in sound and idea. The first movement is played with black keys in the left hand and white keys in the right hand, leading to a very different sound, and then ending with a chord, (E-A-D-G-B-E-) which are the open strings of a guitar. The second movement is slow with a beautiful spanish melody to start and a heavy middle part, ending with heavy dissonance, which leads to the third movement which is very heavy and chaotic.

Enjoy!

Photo courtesy of: http://www.prelovac.com/vladimir/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/piano.jpg