LISTEN!
Many entering music majors are not familiar with much
of the classical repertoire for both large or small ensembles. The
following lists are intended to serve as good starting points for
expanding knowledge of the classical literature. These pieces are
not all "masterworks", but each of them has proven to
have immediate appeal for the general listener. Hopefully, some
of the works will be so enjoyable that you will want to seek other
works by that composer or in that same style!
One great place to get started is online at the Classical Music Library. There are thousands of recordings that can be accessed for free by VCU students and faculty with a valid ID. Click here to go to www.library.vcu.edu, click on the C in the menu that you find on the lower right of the screen, then scroll down until you find the Classical Music Library.
I strongly recommend going to the library and checking
out a score to follow. The practice of score reading is not only
fun, but also a great developmental activity. Hearing and reading
correctly (and musically) played notation will reap many dividends
for you as a musician.
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