Comments on: Top 10 Pieces of Classical Music Every Man Should Know

By: Lorin Wilkerson

Lorin Wilkerson — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 22:57:48 +0000

Thanks for the correction Mike; you are right. My error notwithstanding, I think either the Jupiter (#41) or the famous G minor (#25) are both great introductions to the symphonic milieu.

By: Mike

Mike — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 21:21:02 +0000

Mozart’s C major “Jupiter” symphony is Symphony no. 41, not Symphony no. 25 (Symphony no. 25, K183, is the famous G minor symphony at the beginning of Amadeus).

By: Andrew

Andrew — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 02:43:24 +0000

Sophiee thank you for the suggestions! I’ll have to check those out also.

By: sophiee

sophiee — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:38:53 +0000

Great list!
I also really like Claire de Lune (by Debussy) and i’m in love with Comptine D’Un Autre Ete (by Yann Tiersen) at the moment. It is such a beautiful piece of music (listening to it right now ;p)

By: Gary

Gary — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 21:55:25 +0000

Those are all great! I also recommend Gustav Holst – The Planets Suite, esp. ‘Mars – The Bringer of War’. John Williams’ orchestral music for Star Wars was not much more than a swipe from this suite.

By: Lorin Wilkerson

Lorin Wilkerson — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 17:05:37 +0000

Scott–

I get what you’re saying, but the way you’re saying it might make someone who used this list as it is intended feel like a dick. Most men who do have a desire to ‘pursue it seriously’ (whatever that may mean) probably are already doing so, and this article was in no way intended as a ‘be-all-and-end-all’ of classical music. It is intended as a jumping-off point, a reference for someone who may be curious but is unsure just how wide a variety of music fits under the term ‘classical,’ or what might appeal to them.

I completely reject the notion that one has to ‘pursue classical music’ seriously; in fact I think that idea is closely related to the snobbish effrontery that is one of the biggest problems with the overall perception of this great music, and one of the biggest barriers to more people exposing themselves to it: that is is somehow only for those with serious intent. The fact is, it is another style of music that someone may enjoy completely without feeling the need to make it a primary focus of their life or making it their favorite type of music.

If I had to name a goal for this article, it would be for as many guys as possible to at least dabble their toes a little bit and include a couple Bach or Mozart discs in their collection, not to convince one guy to become a total classical music geek like me. Listen to what you like–absolutely. But it’s a little hard to listen to what you like if you’re unsure of what that is. That’s the whole point of this little list of mine.

By: Scott

Scott — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 23:49:02 +0000

I think it is important to note that this should be a list for men who have no interest in seriously pursuing classical music but who never-the-less feel the desire to be more culturally literate.

This list should NOT be for the man who wishes to pursue classical music more fully and who wants to actually enjoy it, long-term. For such a man, there are no lists; pleasure is the law. Listen to what you like.

By: Tamahome Jenkins

Tamahome Jenkins — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 16:14:02 +0000

This is a good list, but every man should know at least 50 pieces of classical music…that way, my favorites like “Adagio for Strings” by Samuel Barber or “Deux Arabesques” by Debussy could make the list
Tamahome Jenkins´s last blog ..Who was Alfred Nobel?

By: Blake @ Props Blog Ideas

Blake @ Props Blog Ideas — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 23:42:54 +0000

That’s a really awesome list. I don’t know each of those pieces, however I do recognize all of those composers. Good stuff I feel more manly already
Blake @ Props Blog Ideas´s last blog ..5 Flash Maze Challenges to Strain Your Brain

By: Andrew

Andrew — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 15:13:16 +0000

@K, that wouldn’t be very diverse, would it?

By: Top 10 Pieces of Classical Music Every Man Should Know at oboeinsight

Top 10 Pieces of Classical Music Every Man Should Know at oboeinsight — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 15:01:47 +0000

[...] … this is from a Men’s mag. Where men learn to be better men. [...]

By: k

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 13:16:57 +0000

This is just wrong! The 10 pieces every man should know are:

Goldberg Variations
St. Matthew Passion
Art of the Fugue
The Musical Offering
The famous ciaccona for solo violin
The well tempered clavier
The french suites
The italian concertos
BWV82 – Ich habe genug
BWV147 – Stirb in mir

All by Master J.S. Bach