V/A: Instant Expert

All You Need To Know About Classical Music.

Who really wrote Mozart’s Requiem? Why does everyone stand for the Hallelujah Chorus? What’s the enigma in the Enigma Variations? Why is there no ‘Earth’ in The Planets? How do you pronounce ‘Saint-Saëns and ‘Dvořák’? And what did Verdi eat on the day before he died?

Instant Expert contains all you need to know about classical music – a 4 CD set with two accompanying booklets that provide an informative and entertaining introduction to the great composers and the music that made them famous. The music featured takes the listener on a comprehensive tour of the great works of the western classical tradition, from Gregorian Chant and Allegri’s Miserere to contemporary works by Philip Glass and Nigel Westlake – and much, much more in between. The accessible, informative notes are written by ABC Classic FM’s popular presenter Guy Noble.

This is essential for anyone wanting to “get into” classical music, or for the avid listener keen to learn new facts and discover new works!

TRACKLISTING:

CD1

1. Plainchant – Benedicta sit
2. ALLEGRI – Miserere mei (excerpt)
3. PACHELBEL – Canon in D major
4. MONTEVERDI – Pur ti miro
5. PURCELL – Thy hand, Belinda… When I am laid in earth
6. BACH – Brandenburg Concerto No. 3: I. Allegro
7. BACH – The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book I: Prelude No. 1 in C major, BWV846
8. VIVALDI – Spring: I. Allegro
9. RAMEAU – Acte IV: Scène 1: Lieux funestes
10. HANDEL – Messiah: Hallelujah!
11. MOZART – Clarinet Concerto: Adagio
12. MOZART – Requiem: Lacrimosa
13. HAYDN – String Quartet in G major Op. 77: Menuetto & Trio
14. BEETHOVEN – Symphony No. 5: I. Allegro con brio

CD2

1. BEETHOVEN – ‘Moonlight’ Sonata: I. Adagio sostenuto
2. BEETHOVEN – Ode to Joy
3. ROSSINI: William Tell – Overture (excerpt)
4. SCHUBERT – Erlkönig (The Erl-King), D328
5. SCHUBERT – ‘Trout’ Quintet: IV. Theme and Variations
6. BERLIOZ – Symphonie fantastique: IV. March to the Scaffold
7. SCHUMANN – Kinderscenen: VII. Träumerei
8. CHOPIN – Prelude in D-flat, Op. 28, No. 15 ‘Raindrop’
9. VERDI – Va’, pensiero (Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves)
10. MENDELSSOHN – Violin Concerto: III. Allegretto non troppo – Allegro molto vivace
11. LISZT: Liebestraum in A-flat, S541 No.3
12. WAGNER – Lohengrin: Treulich geführt (Bridal Chorus)
13. MUSSORGSKY – Boris Godunov: Coronation Scene
14. GRIEG – Peer Gynt: Morning Mood
15. TCHAIKOVSKY – Swan Lake: Dance of the Little Swans

CD3

1. STRAUSS II – Frühlingsstimmen (Voices of Spring)
2. BRAHMS – Violin Sonata No. 2: III. Allegretto grazioso (quasi Andante)
3. SAINT-SAENS – Symphony No. 3 in C minor ‘Organ’: IIb. Maestoso – Allegro
4. SATIE – Gymnopedie No. 1
5. FAURE – Requiem: Pie Jesu
6. DVOŘÁK: ‘New World’ Symphony: II. Largo (excerpt)
7. MAHLER – ‘Resurrection’ Symphony No. 2: Urlicht
8. ELGAR – ‘Enigma’ Variations: IX. Nimrod
9. RIMSKY-KORSAKOV – Flight of the Bumble-Bee
10. SIBELIUS – Finlandia
11. DEBUSSY – Clair de lune
12. STRAVINSKY – The Rite of Spring: Part I (Adoration of the Earth): Introduction
13. HOLST – The Planets: Mars
14. PUCCINI – O mio babbino caro

CD4

1. VAUGHAN WILLIAMS – The Lark Ascending (excerpt)
2. SCHOENBERG – ‘Walzer’ from Five Piano Pieces, Op. 23
3. RAVEL – Boléro (excerpt)
4. RACHMANINOFF – Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini: 18th variation
5. PROKOFIEV – Romeo and Juliet: Montagues and Capulets
6. BARBER – Adagio for Strings
7. ORFF – O Fortuna
8. RODRIGO – Concierto de Aranjuez: I. Allegro con spirito
9. BRITTEN – A Ceremony of Carols III. There is no Rose
10. COPLAND – Rodeo: Corral Nocturne
11. SHOSTAKOVICH – Symphony No. 8: II Allegretto
12. STRAUSS – Four Last Songs: I. Frühling
13. CAGE – 4’33”: I.
14. PÄRT – Pari intervallo
15. GLASS – Opening
16. EDWARDS – Maninyas: Ecstatic (3rd movt)
17. WESTLAKE – Antarctica: III. Penguin Ballet

Instant Expert is available now.