music-for-boys

Heroic themes, bold orchestrations, and manly melodies—perfect antidotes to anyone tempted to think that “classical music” is just sentimental and relaxing. The works on this list go well beyond being simply loud. Yes, you will find a healthy dose of crash/bang (what boy doesn’t like that?), but the music is varied, nuanced, and virtuous (from the Latin vir meaning “man”).

The selections are listed in chronological order based on the date of their composition, but you can take them in any order you wish.

The links are, in most cases, to an entry in our weekly series “Friday Performance Pick” and you will find a short discussion of the piece at the link. Each link includes a video performance that meets our criteria of (1) being well played, (2) being well recorded, and (3) posted by someone who owns the rights to the performance.

Gabrieli, Canzona per Sonare N. 4

Date: 1608 / Late Renaissance
Italy (Venice)
Brass
Friday Performance Pick 284

J.S. Bach, Brandenburg Concerto No. 4

Date: c. 1720 / Late Baroque
Germany
Chamber Orchestra
Friday Performance Pick 283

J.S. Bach, Fugue in G Major “Gigue”

Late Baroque
Germany
Pipe Organ
Friday Performance Pick 116

Rameau, Les Sauvages

Date: 1735 / Late Baroque
France
Orchestra / Harpsichord
Friday Performance Pick 109

(Harpsichord version at the link)

Mozart, Overture to Abduction from the Seraglio

Date: 1782 / Classical
Austria
Orchestra
Friday Performance Pick 279

Beethoven, Cello Sonata No. 3 (3rd Movement)

Date: 1808 / Classical
Austria
Cello / Piano
Friday Performance Pick 23

Rossini, William Tell Overture

Date: 1829 / Classical
Italy
Orchestra
Friday Performance Pick 155

Glinka, Ruslan and Ludmilla Overture

Date: 1842 / Romantic
Russia
Orchestra
Friday Performance Pick 133

Wagner, Ride of the Valkyries

Date: 1856 / Romantic
Germany
Orchestra
Friday Performance Pick 316

Wagner, Siegfried’s Horn Call

Date: 1871 / Romantic
Germany
Horn
Friday Performance Pick 16

Rimsky-Korsakov, Capriccio Espagnol

Date: 1887 / Late Romantic
Russia
Orchestra
Friday Performance Pick 208

Strauss, Don Juan

Date: 1888 / Late Romantic
Austria
Orchestra
Friday Performance Pick 280

Mahler, Symphony No. 7 (Finale)

Date: 1905 / Late Romantic
Austria
Orchestra
Friday Performance Pick 226

Igor Stravinsky, Fireworks

Date: 1909 / Late Romantic
Russia
Orchestra
Friday Performance Pick 11

Holst, The Planets – Mars

Date: 1914 / Late Romantic
England
Orchestra
Friday Performance Pick 286

Respighi, The Pines of Rome

Date: 1924 / Late Romantic
Italy
Orchestra
Friday Performance Pick 200

Prima, Sing, Sing, Sing

Date: 1936 / Jazz 
America
Big Band
Friday Performance Pick 74

Kabalevsky, Overture to Colas Breugnon

Date: 1938 / Modern
Russia
Orchestra
Friday Performance Pick 245

Noble, Cherokee

Date: 1938 / Modern
England
Big Band
Friday Performance Pick 169

Prokofiev, Romeo and Juliet – “Dance of the Knights”

Date: 1938 / Modern
Russia
Orchestra
Friday Performance Pick 117

Rodrigo, Concierto de Aranjeuz

Date: 1939 / Modern
Spain
Guitar / Orchestra
Friday Performance Pick 172

(More movements at the link)

Copland, Fanfare for the Common Man

Date: 1942 / Modern
America
Orchestra
Friday Performance Pick 282

Shostakovich, Festive Overture

Date: 1947 / Modern
Russia
Orchestra
Friday Performance Pick 261

L. Bernstein, Overture to Candide

Date: 1956 / Modern
America
Orchestra
Friday Performance Pick 141

E. Bernstein, Theme from The Magnificent Seven

Date: 1960 / Modern
America
Orchestra
Friday Performance Pick 281

Peterson, 8 Bar Boogie Blues (Improvisation)

Modern
America
Piano
Friday Performance Pick 90

Burritt, Fandango 13

Date: 2014 / Modern
America
Percussion
Friday Performance Pick 3