Classic FM Made A Stupid List - Reaction 

Rumour has it Classic FM might buy another CD later this year.

The fact that none of the Chopin ballades or the Liszt Sonata in b minor is in this list, but a bunch of film score is straight up baffling

I believe the Shostakovich Jazz Suites were called that because they were written for a jazz orchestra (in the soviet sense). I’ve seen them billed as “Variety Suites for Jazz Orchestra” before and I think it’s a much better term! Unfortunately, Shostakovich wasn’t terribly jazzy. His writing for piano (for example the cadenza of his 1st piano concerto) seems to show the influence of ragtime & stride, but I’m not terribly sure, I’ll be honest.

I do insist on a part 2! Also, I agree with your hot takes: Rach 2 is absolutely genius (especially the counterpoint in that 3rd movement), and The Phantom Menace is epic and unfairly gets a lot of hate.

Ashokan Farewell is a fiddle tune written for a documentary. Not classical music. It’s very popular for fiddle players.

I'm loving the thoughtful but endlessly polite critique of this list, and want more!

"I love democracy" - Palpatine

Ashokan Farewell according to Wikipedia “The piece is a waltz in D major, composed in the style of a Scottish lament (e.g., Niel Gow's "Lament for His Second Wife").[3] Jay Ungar describes the song as coming out of "a sense of loss and longing" after the annual Ashokan Music & Dance Camps ended.[3] The most famous arrangement of the piece begins with a solo violin, later accompanied by guitar and upright bass. Another arrangement, featuring Ungar, Mason, and their family band, is performed with two violins, an acoustic guitar, and a banjo, with the piece beginning with a solo violin.” It was used in the Ken Burns Civil War Documentary.

imagine if the voters of this list were given the opportunity to engage with 'classical music' on a level beyond the most superficial possible?

I TOTALLY AGREE!! Bach should’ve been in top 3

Does anyone else hear "Stormy Weather" every time they play that Khachaturian "Spartacus" bit? (It was used to fine effect in a Coen Brothers movie I liked though nobody else did: "The Hudsucker Proxy"). And that Pachelbel Canon got popular when a fellow named Remo Giazzoto did his version back in the '60s. Nobody would have picked up on it otherwise. (I'm old--that's why I remember this.)

Looking forward to part 2!

Ashoken Farewell is a wonderful Americana piece played in the series The Civil War. They read the death letter of Sullivan Ballou through it and it is touching, ethereal. Guitar, violin, bass. It's good to see a traditional American folk piece of beauty represent here.

Go for it. I'm Radio 3 more then Classic FM, but more than both my own ability to explore via RU-vid. No - I won't pay for a subscription service, and have collected CDs, and will continue to do so, since these days, in charity shops you can get them for 50 pence, and even complete opera sets for 2£. Classic FM are on to something though. Just one observation from me: Saint Saens Organ Symphony 1980s - RFH - tremendous. One of those pieces you have to be there for. All music is like that, but I wonder how many of the voting audience of Classic FM had actually heard it, in its concert -hall - encompassing reality. I think Radio 3 still points the listener to performances. Classic FM commodifies the marketable, the already recorded.

yes please release the 2nd half. I really enjoyed this reaction.

Please I beg of you good sir, I do insist that you release the second part immediately! Having been shocked myself I am dying to see your reaction.

Please release the next lot. I listened to the top 50...spent a good while in despair...

looking forward to part 2 of your responses to this list

Beethoven's 'Moonlight' sonata only voted in because every ClassicFM listener knows the 1st movement, a few know the last movement and hardly any of them know the 2nd movement.

I'm not against including film scores but Hans Zimmer making it into the list kind of devalues it.

thanks for this, sir! more!!

Einaudi is 'Classical' music for people who don't like Classical music.

Even for most of the classical music on this list, I could name a film for you.

Part 2 please - and with the same humour (see last sentence)!😀 I generally find these lists interesting but fundamentally depressing as they don't push the boundaries but tend to exist in their own cocoons - being harsh, the music largely described in Part 1 could be seen as 'easy listening' or 'muzak' (... or 'furniture music'??!!) That said, a genuine 'hats off' to your instantaneous improvisation ... I loved the Eric Carmen impression on the second Rach 2 ... and did you really mean to say 'Onegin' for 'Onedin' at ~2:33-2:37?! (or that's what it sounded like on this computer!) 😉 Cheers - thanks as ever!

The prelude from Suite Bergamasque is excellent. Love it from the first bar, the grand opening Gm/F disolving into a delecate run of semiquavers. Lovely harmony. Easy enough to play the opening, though my rendition falls into shreads when you have the demi-semiquavers and the fast hand postion change - I failed my Grade 5 piano, and I have a feeling this is harder than grade 5.

Part 2 please!

Pachelbel Canon is probably in the list as it is often played at weddings. Over the last two years, I have heard it played on the organ, played by a small quartet and even streamed from the internet and played using the church sound system.

it was refreshing to hear a musical academic not just, as you put it, denegrate rachmaninoff. its only now that those in academia are starting to appreciate rachmaninoff’s genius. his harmony is a personal influence on my own compositions.

considering its fame (but not to the point where it's overplayed) I was actually suprised that Handel's Messiah didn't place higher

Basically if it's been used in a modern film then it makes the list.

So nice to hear you pronounce "Dives and Lazarus" correctly, something you will never hear on Classic FM, even though listeners such as myself have pointed it out to them. I was a talk given by the Vaughan Williams Society a few years ago when this point was mentioned!

Thamks for this list! I just watched Gladiator a couple of days ago. Zimmer echos a bit of Don Giovani in it, which works realy well with the revenge themes

Part 2! Part 2! Part 2! 🙏🙏🙏

It seems that there are only two types of classical music listeners left. The ones that listen to this station and think movie scores are classical music and the ones that only listen to stuff that is at least as weird as Stravinsky. If it doesn't make your ears bleed, they don't like it. I wouldn't listen to Classic FM anyway. Radio Swiss Classic is my online radio station of choice, when it comes to classical music.

I insist vehemently for a part 2!

keep it up!

I stopped caring when I realised the Bach Brandenburg concertos is one entry, Beethoven's nine symphonies get nine entries and that stupid Karl Jenkins crap thing got too high.

Shostakovich's jazz suite no 2 was actually originally titled Suite for Variety Orchestra! I don't know who gives it 'jazz suite' as the title, but that explains why it doesn't sound jazz at all

Some piece I expected some not, like I expected Mozart, And Vivaldi but not Vaugh Williams

Please continue.

I insist on a part 2! I want to see if the list continues to be as ridiculous as the list in part 1.

The way I became aquainted with the Adagio from Spartacus was from the movie Caligula… I was in high school and watched it for a theater project (had to do fake movie reviews and perform them like a radio show). Let’s just say my teacher did not do a Google search on that movie before or after I presented on it because I saw things that were probably not advisable for a 16 year old, but hey, exposed me to an amazing piece by Khachaturian. Also, I agree about Handel’s works. Solomon is my favorite.

Greetings. I have been watching your videos for a while now. I have learned quite a lot from you now. I have learned quite a lot from this stupid list video. Am I a stupid watcher ?

Spartacus was used in the Oneidin Line (thanks to which it became one of my earliest true musical loves - along with Tubby the Tuba). This list was clearly compiled to reflect that earlier self. Whose fingers russelled the corn? Good question. If there was a scarecrowe in the field, yup, probably not his. Strange how many of the top-of-the-list film scores are ones that left zero imprint on my memory. No Morricone? From his outstanding symphonies and concertos (and preludes & fugues), the Jazz Suite is one of Shostakovich's feebler offerings. It's disappointingly staid, jazz-less and uninteresting. I would love to have heard him accompanying silent films to really capture his spontaneity, stride technique etc.

Why no Women composers? Prokovieff influenced John Willuams "Star lWsrs" that has matchbox enlarged Space ships crashing into each other Shoshtakovich era had "purges" Soviet styles: of social.. in Music Jamming of Capitalist western music on Radio Morricone.. Rota should be on the list!

I absolutely insist you release part 2. Now.

Ah, the great Hollywood pastiche top 50...

Marvelous scene in the phantom menace? Really? You're not getting any pizza rolls. 😂😂😂

Hans Zimmer develops the Gladiator score into a more extreme version in the score for Dune - which in context is fantastic

Do come back to Ashakan's Farewell in part 2. I would love to hear your opinion of it. I encountered it from Burn's American Civil War Epic, as has already been pointed out here. I thought it was a traditional melody until I read up on it.

I like how you still respect film scores and their composers, unlike in some of the comments. Of course one can’t put them on the same level with the all time greats as this list does, but why must people be so spiteful and negative? We definitely need part 2!

Rachmaninoff is insanely loved by people. I constantly hear lovers of classical music or young pianists name him as their favourite composer. James Rhodes even got a tattoo of his name on his arm. I do prefer other great composers but Rachmaninoff is great as well.

Not Russell Crow's fingers but Theresa May's

Museum? I think that was just tongue in cheek mockery. A nuclear lab would be cool though.

Canon probably so interesting because of wedding music?

More!

I think Einaudi just took some orchestration classes with Berio, but I could be wrong…

Consider yourself insisted.

I agree that Messiah is a mid tier Handel oratorio. My favorites are Alexander’s Feast, Israel in Egypt and Saul. 4:29 that is wheat not corn

One cannot help but think that had BBC Radio 3 or Radio France run such a popularity poll, the results might be somewhat different. This is, after all, merely a reflection of the tastes of Classic FM listeners and for whom these pieces resonate well. Anyway, more please. I insist!

Surely, among many others appearing with wearying frequency in the list, none of John Williams' Ennio Morricone's nor John Barry's film scores can be described as 'classical music' by any stretch? Every time I switch to Classic FM, the theme from 'Dances with Wolves', Gabriel's Oboe, or a piece from the Star Wars series never seem far away (neither do 'Spiegel im Spiegel nor Pachelbel's Canon in D major, btw). For obvious reasons, Classic FM is a no-go area for me every Easter weekend, when the entire 'Hall of Fame' has taken residence for the last 28 years!

You mention Pachelbel Canon during this talk, for a very differnt take on this piece of music take a listen to this version. It's described as Canon in D - Hungarian Dance Style (Pachelbel meets Brahms) ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-BFpjbckH-hY.html

you know, M. Strakosch 'Yankee doodle concert variations' Is really hard on piano, If you play to this piece in 5:12 I mean, It's more harder than la campanella! Sorry Lisit.

Where is the dog? I was expecting to see the dog. I want my money back 😑

Rachmaninoff was a genius 👍🏻

To be fair, Classic FM isn't for people who appreciate good music, but for those who like a cuddle - an undemanding experience of familiar favourites. Radio 3 is there and still pretty good, despite concessions to chatty populism. I suppose I'm a bit of a snob, but I can't stand adverts, jingles, phone-ins and inane chatter. And the very idea of a "hall of fame" seems ludicrous.

Ashoken Farewell was used as the theme for the Ken Burns documentary “The Civil War”. It’s a wonderfully evocative bluegrass tune that sounds like a 100 year old folk song, a bit like Mark Knopfler’s “Local Hero” theme. Not sure why it’s on a “classical” list though. Bring on part 2! (And big 👍 for mentioning Berio!)

You can tell Americans made that list if Ashokan Farewell is even on it, let alone that high. Its basically a short instrumental with violin playing the melody from the early 80s. It acheived fame here in the states during the 90s when it was used as the theme for Ken Burns documentary about the American Civil War. The graphic next to the song in the list showed both the Union and Confederate flags.

Nothing from the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britian?

This list is fucking grim

Anyone else think that movie scores and the likes of Einaudi should NOT be included in crap like these lists? Let's be honest - people haven't a clue what's good or not.

Well it is all subjective isn't it? I detest most Debussy! My list would be largely Bach, Mozart and Haydn plus a lot of piano concertos and sacred choral music, with a few other one-offs interspersed. And if someone, let alone a lot of people, likes a work, then the composer has surely won. But I'm afraid you and I fell out the moment you rated Berio above Einaudi, Professor. The grotesque above the lovely, even if somewhat simple at times, can never work. As Mozart said: "Ich möchte alles haben, was gut, ächt und schön ist" - and schön is hardly a word one could use with Berio, in my view! But at least you didn't mention S****hausen...

Not a source to be taken seriously. They made a list of gay composers and everyone was gay :D chopin, schubert, handel, lully, corelli...

I despise lists. This is better than that or this is a masterpiece over this. Classic FM is a commercial radio station designed to do what it's mean't to do. Provide music to the masses. All of the film composers pay lip service to the classical composers, and even some of the classical composers pay lip service to other classical composers like Beethoven, Bach and Mozart, Haydn. The real masters were these four composers. Brahms, Schubert, Wagner and even Mahler all took nods from the master Beethoven. The world of music today encompasses newer works that are inspired by past masters. John Williams has Aaron Copland and Holst to thank for Star Wars and Dvorak for Jaws. Seeing that all film composers are trained by people with the knowledge of what the classical masters achived.

I insist

Moonlight Sonata only at 44 is pure BS!

Classic FM is a joke. I stopped listening to the commercial station back in the mid 00s. The music selected by listeners is often heard in films, including classical music. The rest of the composition by the composer is best forgotten. It does no service to what classical music is all about. That Jazz Suite by Shostakovich was used in Eyes Wide Shut. It's been in the Hall of Fame for decades since the film was released in 1999, and its inclusion . I rest my case.

I hate these lists, if only becuase they suggest that one piece of music is better than another. Also no top 50 Bach? They are all good in their own way - maybe the Hall of Fame should be refined by referring to what is popular with the audience at any moment in time. Sadly I don't listen to the radio for Classical music anymore - maybe I am a snob but hopefully not closed minded. Am happy to run with the odd surprise that Spotify mght have for me from time to time.

Absolute bullshit from the classicFM. Jurassic park over Rach 3 is just nonsense. Objectively it makes absolute no sense. These deaf people gotta listen to the second movement and the finale of the this concerto, maybe it will enlighten them. Absolute shame

Classic fm just recycle the same pieces over and over again,! I listen to Scala radio now, as tired of hearing the same ones. How many times must you endure the Ruddy Grieg piano concerto for goodness sake? Play some more different masterpieces out there classic fm!

Same old regurgitated pieces every day and night. Shallow and manipulating the listeners with safe bets to bow to the non highbrow classical fans.

Film scoring music? Ha ha, ludicrous. GTFO.