Hospers on Classical Music:

1.1. Chamber Music recommended by Hospers

Chamber Music is the best introduction to classical music because the form
stands naked
o One therefore can pay attention to the various elements of the total
flow more easily than if one were listening to an orchestra
o It has probably produced more memorable music per hundred
pieces written than the larger forms such as the concerto and the
symphony
o Usually only one instrument carrying a melodic line
o Solo compositions for piano, harpsichord, organ, violin, or any
other instrument do count as chamber music (as well as duos, trios,
string quartets, string quintets, piano quartets and so on usually up
to octets)

Composer
Haydn

Haydn

Haydn

Title of work
Comment
We start with the classical period to get a feeling for this type of music
String quartet Op. 77.2
Start with string
quintets into
chamber music
A few weeks of
listening would be
well spent on
Haydn quartets
before moving on
to the next step
Listen to third
movement of 77.2
and see how tune is
stately with a touch
of melancholy. See
how it is stated,
repeated and
repeated with a
difference, have a
look at fascinating
variations played
upon the themes.
String quartet Op. 64.5
Last movement, do
as with 77.2 until
you have sated
yourself
String quartet Op. 76.5
Listen to entire
piece several times
until you feel like
whistling to its
tunes, by this time

Haydn

String quartets
Op. 20.4 & 20.5
Op. 33.3
Op. 54.1 & 54.2
Op. 64.3 & 64.4
Op. 74.2

Haydn

String quartets
Op. 22.2
Op. 29.1
Op. 50.3
Op. 54.3
Op. 55.1 & 55.3
Op. 64.6
Op. 71.1 & 71.3
Op. 76.3-5
Four recommendations out of
Haydn string quartets
Hunt K458
Dissonant K465
No 20 in D K499
No 21 in D K525
Piano quartets
No 1 in G Minor
K478
No 2 in E K493

Quintets
For Clarinet and
Strings K581
For Horn and Strings
K407
Great string quintets
K515 in C
K516 in G Minor
K593 in D
K615 in E Flat

Mozart

Mozart

Mozart

Mozart

Mozart

you should be
hooked onto Haydn
These are the
quartets that take
you to the most
ecstatic heights
which Haydn has
provided in the
medium
Some other of the
great ones which
you may like just
as well or even
better

Mozarts greatest
works in the string
quartet genre, start
here

Go on to these
K478 one of most
joyful pieces in
literature and
authors second
favourite Mozart
chamber piece
Move on to these
as well

Now ready for the

great string
quintets
K516 favorite
Mozart chamber
piece (especially
slow movements
move one to tears
This is also good

Marvelous Trio for clarinet,

viola and piano K498

Next figure in chronological order would be Beethoven but we wait for this and

Schubert

Schubert

Schubert
Schubert

Schubert
Schubert

Beethoven

Beethoven

Beethoven

Beethoven

move on to next great figure first, Schubert

Trio No 1in B Flat for Piano,
Start with this
Violin and Cello Op. 99
The ne plus ultra of
energy and passion
Death and the Maiden String
Turn to this
quartet 14 D804
Tender and
romantic
Quartet No 13 D804
Equally worth
listening to
String quintet in C D956
Then turn to this
Nobly profound
chamber work
Many consider it
Schuberts best
chamber work
Trout quintet D667
Equally tuneful and
much lighter
Sonata
Other aspect of
in B flat major D960
Schuberts genius
evident in piano
In A Maj D664
sonatas
In C Minor D958
To say that these
are deeply moving
is to understate the
fact
D960 best one
Early string quartets
This is pure delight
18.3
18.5
18.6
Great middle phase
59.1 one of the
Op. 59.1
most cherished in
all literature and is
Op. 59.2
a must
Op. 59.3
Op. 74
Op. 95
Excellency in late period
Op. 130
Op. 131
Op. 132
Op. 135

Piano sonatas

Listen to in this
order
131 less accessible
but considered the
best by many
135 slow
movement as
sadness too deep
for tears
Equally good are

Beethoven

Beethoven

Beethoven

Mondschein
Waldstein
Appassionata
Hammerklavier

Sonatas
Op. 109
Op. 110
Op. 111

Beethoven

Cello and Piano Op.

69
Violine und Piano
Op. 96
Cello Op. 102
Piano Trio Op. 70.1
Archduke Trio Op. 97

Brahms

Debussy

Op. 40 (piano violin

horn)
Op. 25 (piano quartet)
Op. 115 (quintet with
October melancholy
of slow movement)
Op. 118 (solo piano)
Op. 108 (sonata for
violin and piano)

Reflets dans leau

Childrens corner suite
Pour le piano
Quartet Op. 10

the sonatas
Start with these
After the great
middle period ones,
one is ready to
appreciate the late
ones
In authors opinion
more accessible
than
Hammerklavier
and Op. 111 2nd
movement best
movement in
whole of piano
literature
Many more
masterpieces of
chamber music
These are
especially
noteworthy
This is the finest of
them all and you
will return to it
always
Start with this
before you turn to
late quartets and
late sonatas like we
did with Haydn
76.5
This is a selection
of Brahms most
accessible and
finest chamber
music output
In Op. 118 he
attains some of the
ethereal qualities of
the late Beethoven
Most memorable of
his chamber works
is for solo piano

Mussorgsky

Pictures at an
Exhibition

Prokofieff
Smetana

Piano Sonata No. 7

Quartet Op. 10 From
my Life

Dvorak

American quartet Op.

96

Greatest genius of
Russian Music

Once you have

heard a few times it
will be a lifetime
companion
Also worth hearing
repeatedly, he is
the Czech Schubert
when it comes to
melodiousness

Schumann
Piano Quintet Op. 44
Great chamber music also prior to Haydn, here a selection of a few highlights
Purcell
Sonata for trumpet
Superb Chamber
and strings
Works
Chacony in g minor
The three trio sonatas
Rameau/Couperin
Pieces de Cavecin
For those into
harpsichord solo
music
Rameau
Trios for flute, cello

and harpsichord
Couperin
La parnassus

Bach
Well-tempered clavier
As great as the
harpsichord and the
Goldberg variations
organ stuff by Bach
Toccata and fugue in
is, remember, that
d minor
this is not yet the
height of Bach

1.2. Further works I do own as well not especially recommended by Hospers

Composer
Mozart
Mozart
Mozart
Beethoven

Brahms
Chopin
Liszt
Schubert

Schumann

Title of work
Klaviersonate 11 alla Turca
Serenade 13 Eine kleine
Nachtmusik
String quaret K387
Sonate
op. 13 Pathtique
Les Adieux
Wiegenlied Op. 49
Walzer Op. 39
Walzer Op. 64
Liebestraum
Les preludes
Piano trio no.2 op
100
Wandererfantasie
Impromptu op. 90
Imprompto op. 142
Sonate D894
Sonate D840
Sonate D784
Sonate D959
Sonate D887
Quartettsatz D703
Kinderszenen Op. 15

Comment

Op. 100 incredible!

1.3. Further works which are not mentioned by Hospers but would be nice to own
Composer
Schubert

Schubert

Title of work
Sonate
D78
D850
D845
Trio Notturno D897

2.1. Orchestral music recommended by Hospers

Comment

Composer
Lully

Lully

Purcell

Title of Work
Pieces de symphonie

Various composers

Various composers
(Lully, Mouret, Lalande)

Suite Amadis de
Gauls
Ballet Xerxes
Gordian knot
Virtuous wife
Sonata in d for
trumpet and strings
(Nonesuch 71027)
Chaconne
Pavane
(London 6618)
Nonesuch 73014
(Music at the
Courts of Italy,
Sweden and
France)

Nonesuch 34323
(Musique royale a
notre dame)

Comments
If you want just
one record of 17-th
century French
instrumental music,
make it this one
Lully one of the
17th centuries
giants besides
Purcell and
Charpentier
(excelled in the
Vocal and will be
heard of later on)
You will be
delighted with
melodies and
sounds from
interesting
instruments of the
time

This is his best

output which is
purely instrumental
Purity and clarity
of music make it
very easy to get
hooked on
Quality will
surprise even those
familiar with this
period
(1 of 2 17th century
records
recommended
above all others)
Number 2 of 2 17th
century records
recommended
above all others

Now comes the turn to the 18th century: Start with France
Couperin & Rameau
Turnabout 34232
Now comes the
(Music at
great age of music
Versailles at the
in the early 18th

Couperin

time of Louis xiv)

as best introduction
to music of the
time
Aptheose de Lully

Couperin

Concerts royaux

Rameau

Ballet la temple de
la claire
Suite from
dardanus

century: Rameau,
Couperin, Vivaldi,
Bach and Hndel

Work to turn to
after intro form
above
After the aphteose
if you liked it

Then turn to Italy

Vivaldi

Concerto for
diverse instrumetns

Vivaldi

Vivaldi
Vivaldi

Lute and mandolin

concertos
4 seasons
Concerto grossi op
3

Unbelievable, part
of the three musts
Vivaldis
instrumental music
unquenchable
verve and vivacity,
mood is of
intoxicant delight
Approaches the
level of the grand
master Bach
himself

Best known work

After that the sky is
the limit. Concertos
for piccolo, horns,
oboe, guitar,
bassoon etc.

Brandenburg
Concertos

Start with these,

happy in mood
All but number 6
are immortal
masterpieces
Turn to this right
after Brandenburg
Concertos
From now on the
sky is the limit,
choose according
to your preferences

Then turn to the germans

Bach

Bach

4 suites for
orchestra

Bach

Concerto for flute,

violin &
harpsichord 1044
Concerto for two
violins 1043

Bach

Harpsichord
concertos (1055
etc)

Hndel

Water music

Hndel

Hndel

Royal fireworks
music
Concerto grossi op.
6

Especially
noteworthy series
of works
Without the
slightest hesitation
the best music ever
written for the
harpsichord
If you get nothing
else for
harpsichord, at
least get this!
His best known
piece
Hndel more in the
Italian vivaldi than
the german bach
style

His finest
instrumental music
in the authors
view
Restrained but
intense
enthuasiasm in no
5
Sadness in slow
movement of no 6
We now leave the baroque period and turn to the latter half of the 18th century
the classical tradition of Haydn and Mozart
Haydn
Symphonies
Doe not equal
London 104
quality of 82
quartets
Mit dem
BUT last third is
Paukenschlag 94
enjoyable
Uhr 101
Start with 104
Haydn
Concertos
Prefers this to
For trumpet
symphonies
For horn
Haydn
Concertos
Prefers this to
For harpsichord
symphonies
Haydn
Concertos
Also fine!
For cello in c
For cello in d
Mozart
Symphony
Not as profound

Mozart

Mozart

35 Haffner
Symphonies
39
40
41 Jupiter
Sinfonia
concertante in E
flat K364

Mozart

Mozart

Mozart

Mozart

Mozart

Mozart

Divertimentos
No 10 K247
No 11 K251
Horn concertos
K412
K417
K447
K495
Concertos
For oboe K314
For flute K313
For flute and harp
K 299
For bassoon K191
Concerto for two pianos
K365

but his most joyous

These are
constantly
performed and the
most famous
According to
author, Mozarts
greatest orchestral
delights not in
symphonies but in
the following
This piece is very
romantic

To a slightly lesser
degree than Horn
concertos

Listen to this as
intro to what are
the great pinnacle
of Mozart besides
his operatic work,
namely the piano
concertos
This is the great
pinnacle of Mozart
besides his operas
Begin with slow
movement of no 21
Having heard
these, you have
reached the
culmination of
orchestral music of
the 18th century
Good but not up to
his other work, you

Piano Concerto
No 21
No 22
No 23
No 24
No 26
No 27

Violin Concerto
No 4

might find them

enjoyable

No 5

Now we turn to the 19th and 20th century

Beethoven
Symphonies
Eroica No 3
No 5
Pastorale No 6
No 7
No 9

Beethoven

Piano Concertos
No 4
No 5

Beethoven

Violin Concerto Op 61

Schubert

Symphony 9 in C

Schubert
Berlioz
Brahms

Brahms

Symphony 8 unfinished
Harold in Italy
Romeo and Juliet
Symphonies
No 3
No 4
Concertos
Violin concerto
Piano concerto no
2

They have been

overworked in
comparison to
equally great works
by others and
Beethoven himself
No 9 first
movement is one of
the towering
achievements of
music
Author prefers the
No 4 to the No 5,
which he finds too
pompous
Is a fine work but
minor compared
with the Chamber
works listed above
His style so
intimately wedded
to chamber music
that orchestral
works suffer in
comparison
This amazing
work, the total
masterpiece of
symphonic form is
the exception
Rhythmic drive
that is beyond
belief
Grows on you for
days and years
A well known work
One of the greatest
of all composers
No 4 is perhaps his
greatest symphony
In authors opinion
the best violin
concerto ever as
well as the best

piano concerto ever

Tchaikovsky

Romeo and Juliet

Sympony 6
Pathetique

Tchaikovsky

Violin Concerto Op 135

Tchaikovsky

Piano Concerto 1 op 23

Tchaikovsky
Smetana

Nut Cracker Suite

Mein Vaterland

Dvorak

Symphony 9

Bruckner

Symphony
No 7 has a good
slow movement
No 9
Symhony
No 1
No 2
No 3
No 4
No 5
No 6
No 7
No 8
No 9
No 10

Symphony
No 2
No 4
No 5
No 6
No 7

Symphony No 2

Mahler

Sibelius

Rachmaninov

He is a fine
symphonist and
these are his most
powerful orchestral
compositions
One of the loveliest
of all violin
concertos
Thinks it is
bombastic
Not up to his
operas but The
Moldau is a fine
work
Second movement
is good, the rest of
his orchestral
works is
forgettable
The 9th is his
masterpiece

Greatest
symphonist of the
last 100 years
Best ones are
2,3,9,10
Listen to the 2 a
few times before
moving on to the 3
Mahler is a total
experience and
after it no one is
quite the same
again
No 7 is one of the
finest works in the
entire symphonic
literature
Stylistically he is
an heir of
Tchaikovsky
Most inspiring of
his works, Previn

Prokofieff

Symphony No 5

Prokofieff

Prokofieff

The two violin

concertos
Piano concerto No
3

recording is the
best
Best symphony but
only the beginning
Both of them are
perfect gems
Already a major
classic of piano
literature

2.2. Further works I do own as well not especially recommended by Hospers

Composer
Haydn
Mozart
Mozart
Beethoven
Brahms
Chopin
Dvorak
Rachmaninov
Rachmaninov
Schubert
Schubert
Schubert
Sibelius
Sibelius
Sibelius
Schumann
Schumann

Title of work
Symphony Oxford No 92
Symphony Prag No 38
Piano Concerto No 20
Piano Concerto No 3
Ungarische Tnze
Piano Concerto
Symphonic Poem The Water
Goblin
Symphonic Poem Isle of the
dead
Piano Concerto No 2
Symphony No 4
Symphony No 5
Symphony No 6
Finlandia
Symphony No 1
Symphony No 3
Op. 54 Piano Concerto
Op 97 Symphony No 3

Comment

Op. 100 incredible!

2.3. Further works that would be nice to have but are not mentioned by Hospers
Composer
Debussy

Title of work
Prelude a lapres midi dune
faune

Comment

3.1. Vocal music recommended by Hospers (non-choral)

Composer
Monteverdi

Title of work
Lasciatemi Moriri

Comment
Together with
gesualdo the Italian

vocal composer of
the 16th and 17th
century
Purcell

Purcell

Come ye sons of art

on Vanguard HM-14
Ayres on RCA VICS1506
Best of all his songs
on Vanguard S-280

Opera
Dido and Aeneas
King Arthur

Turn to the 18th century

Rameau
Opera
Castor and Pollux
Hndel
Oratorio
Messiah
> Saul
> Juddas Maccabeus
&
Israel in Egypt &
Solomon
Now turn to operatic music as we know it today
Mozart
The Magic Flute
> Don Giovanni &
Nozze di Figaro
> Cosi fan tutte
Verdi
Otello
La Traviata
Aida
Il Trovatore
Further one number operas
Fidelio by Beethoven
Carmen by Bizet
Barber of Seville by
Rossini
Puccini
Turandot
Madama Butterfly
Wagner

Wagner

Die Meistersinger
von Nrnberg
Der fliegende

In authors opinion
King Arthur is
Purcells greatest
work. The
orchestral suite
being the best part
of it.

Best opeara magic

flute

His works are as

beautifully lyrical
as anything in the
realm of opera
Is his most perfect
work
From his early

Strauss

Hollnder
Parsifal
Lohengrin
Tristan und Isolde
Tannhuser
Ring Cycle

Rosenkavalier
> Eletra &
Salome

Discuss the Lieder now

Schubert

Schumann
Mahler
Strauss

Winterreise
Die schne Mllerin
Schwanengesang
Eichendorfflieder
Lied der Erde
Rckert Lieder
Four last songs

opera Hollnder
to his last one all
bear the touch of
the master of
composition and
orchestration
Some passages in
Tristan and isolde
as well as
lohengrin and
tannhuser are
overlong and many
dull

Winterreise is the
best of them
Look out for the
Dietrich FischerDieskau recordings

Schwarzkopf
recording

4.1. Vocal music recommended by Hospers (choral)

Composer
Various
Des Prez
Palestrina

Tomas Victoria

Tomas Victoria
Charpentier

Title of work
A Nonesuch Christmas
(nonesuch 71232)
Misse Pange Lingua on
turnabout 34431
Magnificat
Missa papae marcelli
Missa brevis
Requiem mass, four
motets

MAgnificat
O quam gloriosum
Te deum
Marche de triomphe
Air de trompette

Comment
Good throughout
the whole year

Greatest of Spanish
composers
Start with this, it is
a must
Move on to this
These pieces far
outstrip
charpentiers

Grand magnificat
Salve regine

Midnight mass
Tenebreae lessons for
holy Wednesday

De profundis
Te deum
Jubilate
Funeral music
Vivaldi
Gloria
Kyrie
Magnificat
Credo
Now to the overtowering figure in the genre Bach
Bach
Magnificat
Bach
Cantatas
4
20
80
100
140
207
214
Bach
Christmas Oratorio

Charpentier

Laland
Purcell

Most important
Vivaldi stuff

Start with this

Move on to some
of the cantatas
This is only the
core of the best,
there are over 500

Bach

Messe in h-moll

Bach

St Matthews Mass

Bach

St john passion
Lutheran masses
Dettingen te deum
Utrecht te deum
Die Schpfung

Hndel
Haydn

instrumental music
Second only to
bach for baroque
More of
charpentier
No one with any
claim to appreciate
music can be
unaccompanied
with at least some
of these great
choral works of
charpentier
Record is a must

Now you are ready

for the Christmas
oratorio
This is the best
music written by
anyone ever! The
heights of heights!
Only slightly
inferior to the hmoll
Lesser but still
great
The dettingen is the
authors favourite

Coronation mass
The ave verum is
k317
one of the simplest
and loveliest
Great mass k427
melodies in the
Requiem k626
world
Ave verum corpus
k618
And now to the choral masterpieces of the 19th century of which there are only
4!
Berlioz
Te Deum
Berlioz
Requiem
720 performers for
this! Deus irae and
offertorium are
worldclass (colin
davis)
Verdi
Requiem
Faure
Requiem
Mozart