[z28dreams]

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yeah...there are a million different periods of "classical" music.

most of what i like is late 19th or 20th century:

Stravinsky- "Rite of Spring," "Firebird," "Petrushka." (his classic early ballets). also "Agon," "Symphony of Psalms" "Threni," "L'histoire du Soldat" and most anything else.

Debussy- String Quartets, "La Mer," and all of his piano music.

Satie- pretty much anything

Bartok- string quartets, "Music for Strings, Percussion, and Celeste,"

Stockhausen- Helicopter Quartet, anything from "Licht."

more traditional "classical" stuff:

anything from J.S. Bach, Beethoven quartets opus 131-135 and symphonies 3-9. berlioz "symphonie fantastique."

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I don't think some of these suggestions would be really good for a starting listener.

Stravinsky's stuff is pretty dissonant, and not all the pleasing to listen to sometimes. I'm more familiar with Bartok's piano based pieces, but even though are a little bit tough to listen to.

Mozart and Beethoven are obvious good starts, and I think adding in Brahms might be good as well because his stuff usually has nice warm harmonies.

I think Copland is a great simple start for people.

I'd also check out Rachmaninov, Shostakovich, Tchaikovsky, Handel, Holst, and Respighi. (I've mentioned it before and I'll mention it again - I LOVE the Pines of Rome, 4th movement - huge brass fanfare that's hard to dislike.)