We hope you enjoy these Classical music selections curated by one of our members, Lorrie Wittke!

Antonio Vivaldi Concerto in G Minor RV 156 Allegro https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjXEzlN9CQA

Florian Christl – Vivaldi Variation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXgNlueMu6k

 

 

Franz Liszt was regarded as one of the greatest pianists of all times–Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdH1hSWGFGU

While this is a very demanding piece to play- Bugs Bunny tried his hand at it! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYM84n-2Sas

 

 

Johannes Brahms wrote 4 Symphonies. The third movement of the Symphony No 3 in F Major, Opus 90, is very moving: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JXvjejaVEc

 

 

The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba, from George Frederic Handel’s Oratorio Solomon, is a lively instrumental piece from Act 3. This energetic piece was featured in the 2012 London Olympics Opening Ceremonies: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rSjAs-qks0

 

 

Ludwig van Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 5 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IS30yphoy50…

 

 

Claude Debussy: Clair de Lune: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZrm9h3JRGs

 

 

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Eine Kleine Nachtmusik: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_oK8dKIBYc

 

 

This is a very moving piece of music from Johann Sebastian Bach’s Concerto in D Minor. Bach’s Concerto is an arrangement of “Concerto for Oboe and Strings in D minor” by Baroque composer Alessandro Marcello. Here is the 2nd movement: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2gVYB5oZ7o

Another arrangement for Cello and Piano–breathtaking! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2wdk9mrrro

 

 

Frederic Chopin: Valse Op 64 No 1 – “Minute Waltz” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2JCxapd5hU

Nocturne E flat Major Op 9 No 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVBzE0mUlSs

“Raindrop” Prelude D flat Major Op 28 No 15 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_6APTb3RNQ

 

 

Clara Schumann’s Nocturne in F Major Op 6, No 2 is beautiful, and a great place to start listening!
In 1947 Kathrine Hepburn played Clara in the film Song of Love.
 
 
 
 
 
 

When Benjamin Britten was asked to compose music for a film that would introduce the instruments of the orchestra to children, he composed music based on a work by Henry Purcell. It was music Purcell had written for a play entitled “Abdelzer” (written in 1676 by Aphra Behn). A Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra shows the listeners the tone colours and capacities of the different sections of the orchestra.

Animated version of the theme: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcm-1UP5O2Y

Shelley, Principal Associate Conductor of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, narrates and conducts a very special version of Benjamin Britten’s celebrated introduction to the orchestra. Featuring a brand-new narration and with the full Royal Philharmonic Orchestra coming together digitally from their own homes during the pandemic, they present a new take on this lively fugue and variations based on a memorable theme by Henry Purcell. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hFFIrKZdSY

The San Francisco Symphony kicks off its centennial season with conductor Michael Tilson Thomas leading the orchestra in Benjamin Britten’s “The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra.”   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xX6RtLDXiQ

 
 

Other Resources:

There is an orchestral seating chart on this site https://www.dsokids.com/community-education/dso-kids/

Games https://www.sfsymphony.org/EducationCommunity/Music-Connects-Kids?pageid=3

Play a game-can you recognize each instrument by its sound. https://insidetheorchestra.org/musical-games/

Make your own instrument  https://www.tso.ca/education/teacher-resources

Series of 4 videos on sections of the orchestra  https://calgaryphil.com/kids-project/

An animated adaptation of Benjamin Britten’s The Young Person’s Guide to The Orchestra: Short Film. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7veVFRKkQI

 

 

The “Haydn” String Quartets by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

The Hagen Quartett: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_neWy6Mng8PSdFkl_I6vMhSXGbjFh4QTeA

 

 

Johann Sebastian Bach – “Coffee Cantata” BWV 211 (English Subtitles) Conductor: Ton Koopman Amsterdam baroque Orchestra and Choir Schlendrian: Klaus Mertens (Bass) Liesgen: Anne Grimm (Soprano) Narrator: Lothar Odinus (Tenor) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nifUBDgPhl4

 

 

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Don Giovanni Overture – Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=raO6b59q_WU

Mozart: Don Giovanni, Overture, K. 527 | Mozart from Prague: Czech Philharmonic Orchestra: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMd44lWiHd8