Wagner

I've just realised I've never heard any of Wagner's music, besides "The Ride of the Valkyries" - which I love; and some of his opera - which I couldn't stand.

Any recommendations? Preferably not opera..?

A lot of Wagner's music that is FROM opera doesn't necessary sound like opera, so I think you're safe.
In fact, the overtures and finale's to many of Wagner's opera are played AS concert pieces, as seen in the Death and Funeral March I have below.

If you listen to this first it is a call played by the actor on the stage, but the real hornist sneaks backstage to play it....

YouTube Video

Siegfried's Call

(Original Source)

You might now have a slightly better understanding of this, since it has to do with Siegfriend, it involves some of the same material in the climax. This is kinda funny because Mr. Tennstedt's (London Phil's conductor at the time) stand falls at 5:49, sounding like a gunshot, but he really keeps his cool about it. Too bad we don't get to hear the Wagner tubas out loud and independent, they're just in the thick of things.

YouTube Video

Siegfried's Death and Funeral March Götterdämmerung

(Original Source)

I would recommend you watch the whole Der Ring des Nibelungen, which is in four parts:

• Das Rheingold
• Die Walküre
• Siegfried
• Götterdämmerung

Those links will lead you to Wikipedia articles on them if you care. I haven't heard or seen the whole thing myself, but I have seen bits of it on YouTube, and if you're careful in searching, you might be able to piece together all the parts, because I think they are all there somewhere.

Most of Wagner is opera, but he DID write a few pieces for orchestra, including a symphony I know nothing about, and a small handful of piano pieces including a sonata or two that never caught on. Here's what I could find of his orchestral music on YouTube:

YouTube Video

Siegfried-Idyll

(Original Source)

Somewhat poor recording, sorry.

I don't think Wagner wrote anything but opera. My teacher once told me that he was totally unable to write anything besides opera because he could only write program music. That doesn't make him less great, however!

If you don't like opera now....Wagner would be a good place to start!

Ahem...

Piano:
Sonata in Bb (1831);
Lied ohne Worte (1840);
Album Sonata in Ab (1853);
Albumblätter in Ab and C (1861).

CHORAL:
Weihegruss (1843);
Das Liebesmahl der Apostel (The Love Feast of the Apostles), orch. with male ch. (1843);
An Webers Grabe (1844);
Kinder-Katechismus, children's vv., pf (1873), rev. with orch. (1874).

ORCH.:
Concert Ov. in D minor (1831), in C (1832);
Ov. in E minor (to E. Raupach's play König Enzio) (1831-2); sym. in C (1832);
Christopher Columbus, ov. (1834-5); Polonia, ov. (1836);
Rule, Britannia, ov. (1837);
Faust, ov. (1839-40, rev. 1843-4, 1855);
Trauermusik (after motifs from Weber's Euryanthe), wind instr. (1844);
Träume, vn., small orch. (1857);
Huldigungsmarsch, military band (1864; orch. vers. 1865, completed by Raff, 1871);
Siegfried Idyll (1870);
Kaisermarsch (1871);
Centennial March (1876) <- hehe... an American commission. Such blasphemy.

SONGS:
7 Songs from Goethe's Faust (1832);
Der Tannenbaum (1838);
Les deux grenadiers (1839-40);
Les adieux de Marie Stuart (1840);
5 Gedichte von Mathilde Wesendonck (5 Wesendonck Songs), v. and pf. (1857-8; orch. Mottl; arr. Henze for high v. and chamber orch., 1979).
_____________________________
Taken from the Classical Archives.

Thanks very much for the recommendations James, 'tis most appreciated

I absolutely loved the Death and Funeral March, 5:01 onwards was truley awesome.

Again, thanks a lot

What's Wagner's best piece? I once saw the quote "listen to Wagner; if it doesn't put you to sleep, it'll put you into a coma" and from listening to his operatic stuff i must say i agree. Does he do any good orchestral/organ works?

Thanks,

Originally Posted by firsty_ferret

What's Wagner's best piece? I once saw the quote "listen to Wagner; if it doesn't put you to sleep, it'll put you into a coma" and from listening to his operatic stuff i must say i agree. Does he do any good orchestral/organ works?

Thanks,

I'm sure Berlioz (our one ) said that actually - shall try and find out.

Yep: http://www.youngcomposers.com/forum/...tml#post189791

I think the best opera to "start out" with Wagner is the "Meistersinger". Well, it is an opera of course, but quite easy to get into without being a Wagnerian. And great music!

It was the first Wagner opera I attended too.

Wagner never wrote OPERA,

He wrote MUSIC DRAMAS

Oh, snap...

He's dead, so he can't do anything against us calling it operas! Opera, opera, opera! Take that, Wagner!