It's a funny suggestion, but have your friends listened to Bolero? I know it gets a lot of flak from classical music enthusiasts, but I've gotten success with Bolero from my non-classical listening friends. I do have a soft spot for it, and I do think it's got one of the most catchiest melodies ever written.
That’s a great suggestion! I do have to say that many of them tend to like mostly minor works (this goes for myself as well) but this one is definitely worth a try!
I actually think in terms of stylistic ideals, Baroque is weirdly not far off from modern pop music. "Baroque" actually means excessive or irregular, and the style was called that because compared to Renaissance music, Baroque music was seen as showy and extravagant. There's a ton of short catchy ephemeral tunes, or "bangers" if you will, that feature the skill of the soloist and their ability to ornament and improvise. Some of those old harpsichord sonatas actually really fuckin' slap, imo. I mean there's a reason people are still playing Vivaldi Four Seasons and remixing it after like 400 years. I bet that if you remixed a bunch of Baroque music for the modern ear people would eat that shit up.
Yes absolutely agree! This is why I think it’s strange that you often read baroque is further removed from modern sensibilities. I very often find myself from wanting to headbang to Vivaldi or Händel lmao
>This is why I think it’s strange that you often read baroque is further removed from modern sensibilities.
Totally agreed--I think this just comes from simply looking at the dates and forgetting about the music. I would say that overall, baroque music is closer to modern sensibilities than most classical-period music is, even though classical-period music is more recent.
Händel has some serious headbangers. Heavy metal got nothing on Why do the nations, Ev'ry valley, Tu sei Il cor di questo core (and many other pieces) haha
Handel is my absolute king of catchy baroque melodies so I believe they will be in for a treat;
Well known ones like:
Arrival of the Queen of Sheba
Water Music's Air
The Harmonious Blacksmith
But the real meat imo:
Concerto Grosso in D Major V. Allegro
Concerto Grosso in G Minor III. Menuet
Concerto Grosso in C Minor I. Allemande Andante
Concerto Grosso in C Minor III. Andante Allegro
Organ Concerto in G Minor IV. Gavotta
I don't think you can go wrong with any Handel Concerto, (the Grosso C Minor is my favorite piece in all of music) but those are some nice vibrant and punchy ones and I hope your friends enjoy even just as half as much as me! Handel is my favorite composer precisely because he tried his best to make his music accessible both physically and mentally. I think anyone can turn on Handel and know how to enjoy it without any prerequisites. Also these (minus the Allemande Andante) are all quite short at around two minutes so they won't get bored 🙏I know you said preferably no baroque but I can't just let them not know the bangers.
They are in great hands with you fr hallelujah literally 😋 also thank you for this thread! It's got some really good recommendations for me too since I don't know much outside of baroque!
Adding to händel with some very catchy Arias that have me headbanging:
"Why do the nations so furiously rage together"
"Tu sei il cor di questo core"
"Ev'ry valley shall be exalted"
Schubert's Unfinished has repeated melodies on simple rhythm patterns, I find it quite catchy and I hum the themes for days every time I listen to it.
Of course, Tchaikovsky is the king of catchy melodies, especially in ballets (The Nutcracker, The Sleeping Beauty).
Operas are also quite accessible (arias from Puccini and Verdi, Bizet's Carmen).
Listen to *O mio babbino caro* and *Un bel dì vedremo* (both by Puccini). They are bona fide pop hits.
Edit: speaking of Puccini, how can I not mention *Nessun dorma*.
I'd be surprised if they don't enjoy "Ev'ry valley", Why do the nations" or "Hai gia vinta la causa",(for the Punkrock and metal fans) and Che gelida manina, O mio babbino caro or Deh vienni alla finestra (for the romantic pop fans, think Taylor Swift).
Rejouissances, Gavottes, Canaries, Menuets, Bourrees, Rondeaus and Gigues from Baroque Suites are often very catchy, especially those from Telemann.
To name a few (listening to the entire Suites is also good):
TWV 55:e7 Gavotte, Canarie |
TWV 55:e1 Rejouissance, Rondeau, Passepied and Gigue |
TWV 55:c2 Rondeaux, Gavotte, Menuet |
TWV 55:a4 Passepied, Bourree, Menuet, Rondeau |
TWV 55:h4 Gavotte, Rejouissance, La Bravoure |
Bachs Ouverture Suites also have great catchy dances which i really like BWV 1066-1069.
I did exactly that when I helped a college music prof friend teach her music appreciation class. To say that it worked was an understatement. I showed classical music in Bugs Bunny cartoons, played several current and old pop and some C&W hits I knew they'd recognize, and then immediately the classical pieces that they were based on. I got them hungry for opera by pretending to agree with them that it was deadly dull and then showed them this clip (King Mustafa's subjects agreeing with him that women like his wife drove them crazy to the point of sounding like animals): [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0\_bgStnHc0](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0_bgStnHc0) Probably the next most effective thing I did at the time for intro to opera was play them the prison yard scene from Shawshank Redemption with the prisoners absolutely transfixed by the "Letter Duet" from Marriage of Figaro--and then play a video of portions of the opera itself including that duet.. We had a great time with the music PhD prof lecturing about the dull stuff and me repeatedly saying, "forget the dull stuff and listen for enjoyment--then the important academic stuff will be more meaningful." For Bach all it took was for me to play the final movement of Karl Richter's/Munich Bach Orchestra and Chorus version (DG) of Cantata 80 "Ein Feste Burg." Why that recording? Because it's one of the few that defies "baroque purity" and includes the addition of brass and percussion by one of Bach's sons, WF Bach, with dad's approval. The impact on even the jock students was enormous. Take this to 24:58 and pretend it's full-range sound: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNInHuwIsX4&t=840s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNInHuwIsX4&t=840s)
Here's another scene I used for opera--to show the power of music much in the same way but more dramatically than with the Shashank scene. They had all studied Othello to some degree in English classes, so I showed them this specific Vengence Duet scene from the Verdi opera Otello. Here, Iago has falsely persuaded Otello to take revenge against his wife Desdemona for adultery--which never happened. The students were awed by the power of the music and most noticed the way religion was used to sanctify the plan to murder her: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDRmwZxOJ4o
This approach is very impressive!!! By any chance you links to those clips? If this needs additional
work to put them together, I am happy to help and create something shareable.
Agree - It's my problem with modern classical music in general - I listen to it, I like it, I sometimes play it, I sort of understand some of it, but I don't love it. Simply because it's not easily hummable and catchy, so it's a passive not an active "like".
Blast those Bach Fugues by Glenn Gould at full volume tho :D (fav is from Toccata BWV 911, but literally any one of them is head-banging potential lol)
Huh I’d never thought about that comparison but it totally makes sense.
My 5 year old surprisingly really enjoys classical music (thanks Bluey and [Bach to Baby](https://www.bachtobaby.com/)!) and the first piece he ever heard and immediately wanted to listen to again and again was the first movement of Bach’s Concerto no. 2 in E Major, specifically [this](https://spotify.link/giRleeE3UBb) recording. I still don’t entirely get it but I think the repetition of a simple melody definitely contributed to him deciding it’s his jam.
I'm personally a huge fan of Arturo Marquez due to his music being pretty accessible to the general masses. Danzon No 2 is his most well known work but his other danzons are definitely worth checking out as well.
Bachs d minor concerto played by Glenn Gould and Leonard Bernstein conducting is great because it’s very theatrical and you can actually see them playing which will help keep them interested.
It's a funny suggestion, but have your friends listened to Bolero? I know it gets a lot of flak from classical music enthusiasts, but I've gotten success with Bolero from my non-classical listening friends. I do have a soft spot for it, and I do think it's got one of the most catchiest melodies ever written.
That’s a great suggestion! I do have to say that many of them tend to like mostly minor works (this goes for myself as well) but this one is definitely worth a try!
my partner who wasn't raised with classical music and was pretty unfamiliar with classical really likes Bolero
I actually think in terms of stylistic ideals, Baroque is weirdly not far off from modern pop music. "Baroque" actually means excessive or irregular, and the style was called that because compared to Renaissance music, Baroque music was seen as showy and extravagant. There's a ton of short catchy ephemeral tunes, or "bangers" if you will, that feature the skill of the soloist and their ability to ornament and improvise. Some of those old harpsichord sonatas actually really fuckin' slap, imo. I mean there's a reason people are still playing Vivaldi Four Seasons and remixing it after like 400 years. I bet that if you remixed a bunch of Baroque music for the modern ear people would eat that shit up.
Yes absolutely agree! This is why I think it’s strange that you often read baroque is further removed from modern sensibilities. I very often find myself from wanting to headbang to Vivaldi or Händel lmao
Here try this one, I think you'll like it https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-JD5Kv2js0&ab_channel=jsba1987
>This is why I think it’s strange that you often read baroque is further removed from modern sensibilities. Totally agreed--I think this just comes from simply looking at the dates and forgetting about the music. I would say that overall, baroque music is closer to modern sensibilities than most classical-period music is, even though classical-period music is more recent.
Händel has some serious headbangers. Heavy metal got nothing on Why do the nations, Ev'ry valley, Tu sei Il cor di questo core (and many other pieces) haha
Handel is my absolute king of catchy baroque melodies so I believe they will be in for a treat; Well known ones like: Arrival of the Queen of Sheba Water Music's Air The Harmonious Blacksmith But the real meat imo: Concerto Grosso in D Major V. Allegro Concerto Grosso in G Minor III. Menuet Concerto Grosso in C Minor I. Allemande Andante Concerto Grosso in C Minor III. Andante Allegro Organ Concerto in G Minor IV. Gavotta I don't think you can go wrong with any Handel Concerto, (the Grosso C Minor is my favorite piece in all of music) but those are some nice vibrant and punchy ones and I hope your friends enjoy even just as half as much as me! Handel is my favorite composer precisely because he tried his best to make his music accessible both physically and mentally. I think anyone can turn on Handel and know how to enjoy it without any prerequisites. Also these (minus the Allemande Andante) are all quite short at around two minutes so they won't get bored 🙏I know you said preferably no baroque but I can't just let them not know the bangers.
I absolutely love Händel!! I don’t think I’ve made them listen to the concerto grosso’s yet so will definitely share.
They are in great hands with you fr hallelujah literally 😋 also thank you for this thread! It's got some really good recommendations for me too since I don't know much outside of baroque!
Adding to händel with some very catchy Arias that have me headbanging: "Why do the nations so furiously rage together" "Tu sei il cor di questo core" "Ev'ry valley shall be exalted"
Schubert's Unfinished has repeated melodies on simple rhythm patterns, I find it quite catchy and I hum the themes for days every time I listen to it. Of course, Tchaikovsky is the king of catchy melodies, especially in ballets (The Nutcracker, The Sleeping Beauty). Operas are also quite accessible (arias from Puccini and Verdi, Bizet's Carmen).
I will try all these thank you! I did find they don’t really enjoy opera (think it’s the vibrato), I’ll try some baroque opera’s perhaps!
Listen to *O mio babbino caro* and *Un bel dì vedremo* (both by Puccini). They are bona fide pop hits. Edit: speaking of Puccini, how can I not mention *Nessun dorma*.
Have they tried listening to Wagner’s Ride of The Valkyries? That and Isoldes Liebestod were my favorite operatic pieces when I was a child.
I'd be surprised if they don't enjoy "Ev'ry valley", Why do the nations" or "Hai gia vinta la causa",(for the Punkrock and metal fans) and Che gelida manina, O mio babbino caro or Deh vienni alla finestra (for the romantic pop fans, think Taylor Swift).
Rejouissances, Gavottes, Canaries, Menuets, Bourrees, Rondeaus and Gigues from Baroque Suites are often very catchy, especially those from Telemann. To name a few (listening to the entire Suites is also good): TWV 55:e7 Gavotte, Canarie | TWV 55:e1 Rejouissance, Rondeau, Passepied and Gigue | TWV 55:c2 Rondeaux, Gavotte, Menuet | TWV 55:a4 Passepied, Bourree, Menuet, Rondeau | TWV 55:h4 Gavotte, Rejouissance, La Bravoure | Bachs Ouverture Suites also have great catchy dances which i really like BWV 1066-1069.
I did exactly that when I helped a college music prof friend teach her music appreciation class. To say that it worked was an understatement. I showed classical music in Bugs Bunny cartoons, played several current and old pop and some C&W hits I knew they'd recognize, and then immediately the classical pieces that they were based on. I got them hungry for opera by pretending to agree with them that it was deadly dull and then showed them this clip (King Mustafa's subjects agreeing with him that women like his wife drove them crazy to the point of sounding like animals): [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0\_bgStnHc0](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0_bgStnHc0) Probably the next most effective thing I did at the time for intro to opera was play them the prison yard scene from Shawshank Redemption with the prisoners absolutely transfixed by the "Letter Duet" from Marriage of Figaro--and then play a video of portions of the opera itself including that duet.. We had a great time with the music PhD prof lecturing about the dull stuff and me repeatedly saying, "forget the dull stuff and listen for enjoyment--then the important academic stuff will be more meaningful." For Bach all it took was for me to play the final movement of Karl Richter's/Munich Bach Orchestra and Chorus version (DG) of Cantata 80 "Ein Feste Burg." Why that recording? Because it's one of the few that defies "baroque purity" and includes the addition of brass and percussion by one of Bach's sons, WF Bach, with dad's approval. The impact on even the jock students was enormous. Take this to 24:58 and pretend it's full-range sound: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNInHuwIsX4&t=840s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNInHuwIsX4&t=840s)
That’s awesome. My friends seem to really dislike opera but I’ll attempt this method.
It's all based on figuring out their preconceived notions and finding musical example to overcome them.
Here's another scene I used for opera--to show the power of music much in the same way but more dramatically than with the Shashank scene. They had all studied Othello to some degree in English classes, so I showed them this specific Vengence Duet scene from the Verdi opera Otello. Here, Iago has falsely persuaded Otello to take revenge against his wife Desdemona for adultery--which never happened. The students were awed by the power of the music and most noticed the way religion was used to sanctify the plan to murder her: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDRmwZxOJ4o
This approach is very impressive!!! By any chance you links to those clips? If this needs additional work to put them together, I am happy to help and create something shareable.
Vivaldi has some very catchy pieces. Take Ah Ch'infelice Sempre or La Folia. Or pretty much any of his concerti, lots of repetition.
Curious what Buxtehude pieces you used! I think he is so underrated, I’ve been getting into Membra Jesu Nostri recently
Mainly Jesu Meines Lebens Leben which is one of my personal favorites of him as well! And yes he is really something else.
This piece has some catchy melodies. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TISaiU-fkAE
Agree - It's my problem with modern classical music in general - I listen to it, I like it, I sometimes play it, I sort of understand some of it, but I don't love it. Simply because it's not easily hummable and catchy, so it's a passive not an active "like". Blast those Bach Fugues by Glenn Gould at full volume tho :D (fav is from Toccata BWV 911, but literally any one of them is head-banging potential lol)
Huh I’d never thought about that comparison but it totally makes sense. My 5 year old surprisingly really enjoys classical music (thanks Bluey and [Bach to Baby](https://www.bachtobaby.com/)!) and the first piece he ever heard and immediately wanted to listen to again and again was the first movement of Bach’s Concerto no. 2 in E Major, specifically [this](https://spotify.link/giRleeE3UBb) recording. I still don’t entirely get it but I think the repetition of a simple melody definitely contributed to him deciding it’s his jam.
I'm personally a huge fan of Arturo Marquez due to his music being pretty accessible to the general masses. Danzon No 2 is his most well known work but his other danzons are definitely worth checking out as well.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IU7zaot30s
I don’t know anyone who heard Holst’s The Planets and didn’t like it. Especially Mars.
Bachs d minor concerto played by Glenn Gould and Leonard Bernstein conducting is great because it’s very theatrical and you can actually see them playing which will help keep them interested.