Open Your Box 13: Classical Musings

Although it would be difficult to guess based on this blog, I've actually been playing the cello for most of my life. It seems like No Doubt and The Cardigans swayed me towards the pop world right around the time I started playing, and made my sights set on strictly modern music. While my music collection is easily 99% contemporary music, I do have some space on my hard drive for a few of my favorite classical pieces, some of which I grew to love by playing and eventually memorizing. Of these, Faure's "Elegie" and Camille Saint-Saens' "The Swan" are my favorite slow songs for the cello, while Boccherini's cello concerto and Squire's "Tarantella" are among my picks for best fast piece. Alongside those, Bach's solo cello suites have always been an obvious pick, the popular prelude to the first suite being my favorite. Here are the ones I had recordings of below, alongside some great classical works not made for the cello. Debussy's well-known "Clair de Lune" for piano is essential, as is George Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue." As a bonus, check out the uplifting orchestral version of The Beatles' "Hey Jude" featured in the beginning of The Royal Tenenbaums. For those of you who aren't that into classical music, start with The Beatles' cover, then ease into "Clair de Lune" and Gershwin for an introduction that would appeal to almost anyone.

Yo-Yo Ma, "Cello Suite #1 in G - Prelude" (Bach) [YSI] (from the album Classic Yo-Yo)
Yo-Yo Ma with Phillipe Entrement and Gaby Casadesus, "The Carnival Of The Animals - The Swan" (Saint-Saens) [YSI] (from the album Portrait of Yo-Yo Ma)
Alexis Weissenberg, "Suite Bergamasque: 3. Clair De Lune" (Debussy) [YSI] (from the soundtrack album The Darjeeling Limited)
George Gershwin, "Rhapsody In Blue" [YSI] (from the soundtrack album Fantasia 2000)

Bonus:
Mutato Muzika Orchestra, "Hey Jude" (The Beatles Cover) [YSI] (from the soundtrack album The Royal Tenenbaums)

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