For my giveaway this month, I asked readers to share their favorite orchestral or Broadway pieces, since Connor shares some of his in Social Skills. Going through their suggestions reminded me of old favorites, and introduced me to some new works as well.<\/p>\n
I compiled a Reader\u2019s Favorites<\/a> list on Grooveshark, if anyone else is interested in giving these pieces a listen.<\/p>\n Beethoven\u2019s 7th Symphony<\/a> (Tim)- I\u2019ve played it before, and loved it. It\u2019s also pretty popular in movies, so even if you don\u2019t think you\u2019ve \u201cheard of it\u201d, you probably have. It starts out a little somber, builds into something brighter, and then tiptoes into the ending.<\/p>\n Concerto for Orchestra by Bela Bartok<\/a> (Geoff)- This is one of those works where you can imagine a whole epic storyline going on behind it.<\/p>\n Beethoven\u2019s Sonata Path\u00e9tique <\/a>(Madison)- A beautiful, mostly gentle piece that is popular even outside the classical music world (although it has its angstier moments). Found it on lots of good-for-your-baby CDs when compiling the playlist. \u263a<\/p>\n Wagner\u2019s Siegfried\u2019s Death and Funeral March <\/a>(Steve)- The title probably gives you an idea of the \u201ctone\u201d of this one (tone used in the non-musical sense here :P).<\/p>\n Rossini\u2019s La Gazza Ladra<\/a> (Steve)- A little sad after the Funeral March? Need something bright and energizing? Here you go. \u263a<\/p>\n Hikari written by Yoko Shimamura and arranged by Kaoru Wada<\/a> (Nathan)- I\u2019d never heard this one before, but it\u2019s a grand, uplifting piece, and I enjoyed listening to it.<\/p>\n \u201cMove On\u201d <\/a>and \u201cSunday\u201d<\/a> from Sunday in the Park with George (Richard)- Some Broadway for a change of pace. I\u2019ll confess I hadn\u2019t heard of this musical before. \u201cMove on\u201d was a really nice song.<\/p>\n Vivaldi\u2019s Four Seasons<\/a> (Jill)- Some more super-popular classical music. I’ve played Autumn<\/a> and Spring in an orchestra (the ones everyone has heard before). The other day my brother and I were wondering if kids would still learn as much classical music without those old cartoons\u2026I\u2019m pretty sure they gave me my first exposure to the Four Seasons.<\/p>\n