Next, once you’ve had your Mozart and Bach and Beethoven, start feasting the likes of Prokofiev (his Romeo and Juliet will blow Tchaikovsky’s version out of the water if you listen to it enough times). Listen to Prok.’s Piano trios (Piano, cello, violin).

For my kind of treat, grab a handful of cello sonatas. Rachmaninoff, Brahms (ooooh, Brahms–altogether a great composer; you can eat up his chamber music, symphonies and solos without getting bored), and you can savor Dvorak and Elgar cello concertos while lying down in a dark room. Don’t listen to the Elgar unless you plan to listen to it about 2-3 times. It’s an acquired taste, like ส้มตำ. If you can get Jacqueline Dupre’s recording, or better yet, the video, do it.

I’m sure you’re already well-versed in Chopin and Debussy, but if not…er, do it.

Finally, just like accounting is the language needed to understand business, I’d ‘interleave’ your Bach basics throughout your listenings. You won’t regret it. Talk about music that makes you smarter!

After about 4-5 months with the heavier Brahms and The 5 (Russians), I’d do some pleasure listening of Stravinsky, Tchaikovsky and what’s-his-bucket…ah yes, Mahler. Holst was, contrary to what some say, more than a one-hit wonder, and if you can find anything played by Pablo Casals or Rostropovich, you’ll experience something wonderful.

Good luck. Email me with your findings some time.

Amy: Oh, sad. :P I absolutely love Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini. But too many encores would make me walk out, too, I think.

Bethany: Haha, thanks! And I think it would fit in the rubric, since it’s the spirit of the classics that I’m aiming at rather than the specific date range. I’ll check her out. (Er, I’ll check her book out. ;))

The truly exciting thing about this book, is that it opens up (for me) previously unopenable doors (ie: book covers) and makes the Classical tradition not only palatable, but exciting.

I know that you already have passion for things old and dusty, but give her a try and you might find your enthusiasm growing even more. (Besides, if you read it before December 31st, your resolution will remain intact!) :)