Where to get started listening to classical music?

Rock you say? Get started with Scherzos by Anton Bruckner, specifically, the Scherzo from Symphony No. 9 in D minor. All Bruckner's symphonies are in four movements (though he didn't get to finish his 9th), of which the second or third of those is a Scherzo. These are in 3/4, but the driving force of the rhythms will probably appeal to your rock sensibilities.

P.S. Before anyone makes a stupid joke about "movements," in German those are called Satze and it's just a word to mean a larger section of a long work usually separated from the others by silences. In stuffier circles, you're not supposed to clap between those.

You have already received some very thorough, helpful answers, but I would also like to point out that there are many opportunities to find free music at a local library. Generally, large cities have large libraries which have large sound recording sections, and the majority of these sections usually have an extensive collection of classical music. They tend to be better recordings as well, performed by more renowned orchestras, soloists, and conductors. You can easily download the CDs onto your computer and keep the MP3 recordings when the discs have to be returned. Also, if you cannot find what you want at the library, I recommend buying MP3 recordings from Amazon, as they tend to be cheaper, and then transferring to your iTunes account.

Here is a list of pieces (some folks here are a bit touchy about calling pieces "songs" unless they are truly songs) that I think are great music and are also likely to appeal to the beginning user:

Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 2

Mozart: Serenade No. 13, "Eine Kleine Nachtmusik", K. 525

Beethoven: Symphony No 5 in Cm, Op. 67

Rossini: any recording of his overtures; he wrote a couple of great operas, but he wrote LOTS of great overtures

Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 13 in C-sharp minor, Op. 27, No. 2

Chopin: Waltz No. 6 in D-flat, Op. 64, No. 1 (the "Minute" waltz), and Waltz No. 7 in C-sharp minor, Op. 64, No. 2

George Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue

These are sometimes called "warhorses" by classical music lovers, and some classical music lovers are tired of hearing them. As far as I'm concerned, they are truly great music, and a good introduction to classical music for the beginner.

Happy listening.

Mozart/Beethoven/Frank Ticheli/Samuel R. Hazo/David Hollsinger

Many people find that Baroque music is their doorway into classical music. It is tuneful and has an obvious beat just like pop music. You could check out some of the major composers (Handel, Bach, Vivaldi, Telemann, etc.) but I would suggest going to amazon.com and searching under "Baroque favorites". There may be some duplication among the discs offered, but compilation discs often are inexpensive so you can afford to order two or more and explore their contents. When you find a work or composer whose music you enjoy, then explore more music by that composer or purchase an entire work by him.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_3_17?url=se...

You can also search for "Classical Favorites" and do the same thing...find which composers or compositions interest you , then do more exploring.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_18?url=se...

My personal favourite is Bach, his Badenerie, lovely piece of music if you are in the mood for "light" music. Beethoven's Pastoral Symphony is very good as well.

If you are into rock as well, there are a lot of Symphonic Rock/Metal bands, who have interesting (yet very good) music. In that area I'd recommend a japanese band called Versailles.

I recommend beginning on youtube so you don't waste your time. Okay, so here's how I got into classical... I saw my piano teacher play Piano concerto no. 2 by Rachmaninoff... and within 4 years i learned it BUT that music got me going.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Il1kIPkN3HQ&feature...

The other people put a lot of effort, but i'd be too lazy to go through all of that.

Then we have Mozart staples. Get the album from Amadeus. Easy. Chopin? get the album from "the pianist" ta da!

Then you have Tchaikovsky piano concerto no.1 good piece, pretty epic.

one of my closer friends- he didn't really listen to classical but he loved this piece

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPTe1xMB9Uk

here's how you listen- you put it on loud then go do dishes or clean your room then you'll hear the amazing music and be like WOW and there you go.

Liszt was really showy, so I recommend getting into him. Here's a list of staple composers:

Medieval: Palestrina, Hildegarde of Bingen

Baroque: Bach, Handel, Telemann, Vivaldi

Classical: Mozart, Haydn, Schubert

BEETHOVEN --->transition from classical to romantic Brahms

Romantic: Chopin, Liszt, Schumann, Wagner, Puccini (Verdi, Rossini those darn italians) Mahler

then post romantic: Rachmaninoff, Tchaikovsky, Scriabin, Mussorgsky

Prokofiev, Debussy, Faure, Satie, Ives, Gershwin, Saint Saens (carnival of the animals), grieg

20th century: annoying **** like philip glass or john cage

And then from then on, total crap (in the classical world)

Bach's mass in b minor is INCREDIBLE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d32x9DAuKsc

The first mozart piece I learned was mozart k. 545. mozart's music is the most acessible. I go by this quote:

Beethoven teaches you what it's like to be beethoven, mozart teaches you what it's like to be human and bach teaches you what it's like to be the universe.

it's overwhelming- even to me and i can sit down and list off at least 100 composers and 10 each of their works. but i'm glad. more for me to listen to.

okay so it was still too much, but the youtube should make it easier. Go to the library first. If you're up north they probably have cds, if you live in the south where no one pays taxes, go to youtube and then be cheap get the albums on amazon..

A series I recommend most highly and how I super got into music is this stuff that's like "Mozart for your mind" "Mozart for morning" "Bach for breakfast" "Beethoven for book lovers" "Chopin for champagne" Liszt for lovers" etc etc. They're really good and they make music accessible without dumbing it down.

If you do choose to listen to classical, you are now on a wonderful voyage!!!

Begin with Hans Zimmer. His music is extremely inspiring, very dramatic, and almost addictive to listen to.

Then you grow to appreciate other composers more. Like beethoven, and mozart.