Reddit reviews The 50 Greatest Pieces of Classical Music

I got this on amazon for 5 bucks, it was a great pickup. They have tons of different collections of the top 50 or top 100 songs from different eras or composers. For a 5 spot, it's absolutely worth picking up and diving in to classical music.

Start with pieces you might already know: Mozart's Eine Kleine Nachmusik, Beethoven's 5th Symphony, etc. London Symphony's 50 Greatest Pieces of Classical Music is a great place to start (although heavy on the romantic era): https://www.amazon.com/50-Greatest-Pieces-Classical-Music/dp/B002WMP162

I found that the lightbulb went off for me when I understood the forms (sonata, rondo, theme/variations, scherzo, etc.). Being able to recognize the themes in sonata form, for example, made me feel grounded in the piece. Without that understanding, I felt lost and didn't understand what the composer was doing.

The Raft of the Medusa

Not only because its a stunning piece of art, but it has some connotations to the event of being set adrift into an endless void, in the hope of finding aid. The sense of loss and madness, the yearning to live, the desire and power of the human spirit to survive in tumultuous circumstances. It's all there.

One album, well that would have to be THIS compilation of great pieces of classical music. No modern album could do our planet justice. Sure, there are more recent choices, but there's such a range of emotion and feelings you get from classical music, it would be a great place to start any new music collection for a world.

As for a book, I think a heavily, I'm talking HEAVILY edited and modernized rendition of the Old Testament would be the best. I'm not particularly religious, and I'd hate to think the words would divide people in the future as they have on Earth, but I think streamlining it and keeping it simple, and regarding it as a work of fiction would make for a really good story. At its root, there are tons of lessons about mankind, faith, and the human condition that can be gleaned from the Old Testament. Not to mention the influence that those stories have had upon cultures all over the world. I mean, think... the tree of life, creation, the deluge, exodus, the tower of Babel, David and Goliath.... Could you imagine a world without those lessons and metaphors in some form? Just keep those crazy sequels starring Jesus and Muhammad far away from me!

50 Greatest Pieces of Classical Music

This classical album will ensure that you have 50 amazing songs to listen to. :D

Find a decent album with several composers and listen to it a few times. Then pick a few favorite pieces and look into the composer to learn more about them and hear more of their music.

Myself, I like Beethoven. Immortal Beloved was a pretty interesting film.