Classical anthology
Feb. 17th, 2010 09:52 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
thedarkagesInteresting problem: how to assemble a survey of classical music in 6-10 discs for $70 or under.
I hate survey CDs -- "100 Classical Pieces to Chill Out By." They're inevitably put together by the "special products" division of a label, which means that the key consideration is not quality of performance but how cheap the licensing is. Our local classical station offers them by the dozens as premiums. I want to do slightly better than that. I have a friend who is just getting into classical music. But I'm not sure she has the kind of concentration you need to listen to a whole Nathan Milstein or Beaux Arts Trio album. At the same time, I'm not comfortable simply ripping her some "mix CDs." And if I put together something out of the albums I know and love, it will cost me $150-$170. I need 6-10 "cheap and cheerful" records which will get the job done without being musical disappointments and without bankrupting me. My first and best thought was Naxos -- they had a survey sequence, but it is now offered only in Sweden. Researching and assembling a repertoire of good budget CDs will take an incredible amount of time.
What am I missing?
I hate survey CDs -- "100 Classical Pieces to Chill Out By." They're inevitably put together by the "special products" division of a label, which means that the key consideration is not quality of performance but how cheap the licensing is. Our local classical station offers them by the dozens as premiums. I want to do slightly better than that. I have a friend who is just getting into classical music. But I'm not sure she has the kind of concentration you need to listen to a whole Nathan Milstein or Beaux Arts Trio album. At the same time, I'm not comfortable simply ripping her some "mix CDs." And if I put together something out of the albums I know and love, it will cost me $150-$170. I need 6-10 "cheap and cheerful" records which will get the job done without being musical disappointments and without bankrupting me. My first and best thought was Naxos -- they had a survey sequence, but it is now offered only in Sweden. Researching and assembling a repertoire of good budget CDs will take an incredible amount of time.
What am I missing?
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Date: 2010-02-18 04:13 pm (UTC)Whitman is definitely not Christian enough for the fundie base to turn out for. Palin is.
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Date: 2010-02-18 04:16 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-02-18 04:19 pm (UTC)You could rip a few complete CDs from your collection rather than excerpts.
Do you have used CD stores handy? Academy Records here in the city has Naxos CDs for I think $4 each, and other used and sometimes new stuff even cheaper.
Check out ArkivCD.com and see what's on sale. I think they have some of the old Vox Boxes back in print, but I don't think they are as inexpensive as they were when they were in general circulation.
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Date: 2010-02-19 12:21 am (UTC)