the first time i heard this piece i immediately pictured myself walking down the aisle at my wedding to it. the entire middle (gravement) section is some of my favorite counterpoint ever written with FIVE(!!!) independent lines perfectly fitting together

fav recording: peter hurford (1978)

anyone who thinks the toccata and fugue in d minor is bach's "scariest" has clearly never heard the fantasia from this one

fav recording: michel chapuis (1988)

known as the "little" fugue, this is such an expertly crafted piece and is the perfect introduction to the fugue as a compositional technique!

fav recording: michel chapuis (1986)

the famous "new world symphony" inspired by dvořák's time in the US. very brass-heavy which is ALWAYS a good thing. i also got to play parts of this symphony with a community orchestra in high school!

fav recording: alsop + baltimore symphony (2008)

depicts the experience of an american tourist in paris and is such a fun listen! the middle section is especially memorable for me, representing homesickness with a slow and bluesy trumpet solo

fav recording: levine + chicago symphony (1981)

probably gershwin's most famous work, it is a jazz-influenced piece that depicts early-20th-century new york city. the opening clarinet glissando is one of THE most famous moments in all of music

fav recording: levine + chicago symphony (1981)

can you tell i was a band kid? this piece has so many awesome moments for every section of the ensemble. i never had the chance to perform it with a group but that has never stopped me from playing along with the recording!

fav recording: hazo + midwest wind ensemble (2012)

mozart was commissioned to write a requiem mass by a 'mysterious stranger' and he died before he could finish it. that initially made this stick with me but it would have done that anyway because it is SO beautiful. every movement is gorgeous but my favorite has to be the confutatis just from that scene in 'amadeus' (one of my all time favorite movies!)

fav recording: von karajan + vienna philharmonic (1987)

subtitled "a latin fantasy" which i find very appropriate! another one i had the opportunity to play myself and it is so much fun

fav recording: kim + siena wind (2006)

inspired by italian stained-glass windows, each movement tells a different story. i was first introduced to the second movement through hebron high school's 2021 marching band show and it ended up sticking with me. i listened to the full piece afterward and loved the entire thing but that movement will always be my favorite!

fav recording: lópez cobos + cincinnati symphony (1994)

one of the most terrifying pieces i have ever heard, it was shostakovich's suicide note. it certainly is not an easy listen but it is so incredible and emotional

fav recording: st. lawrence string quartet (2006)

this being one of my favorite pieces is a little ironic since it was basically written to please. the finale sounds triumphant but if you know the background, it feels like someone is beating you with a stick demanding you to be happy (especially in the recording below, the ending is played agonizingly slowly)

fav recording: sanderling + berlin symphony (1977)

the rite of spring is EASILY my all-time favorite piece! depicts an ancient pagan ritual culminating in a sacrificial dance to the death to please the gods of spring. i have listened to it so many times and have memorized the entire thing from start to finish. as a bassoonist i was initially drawn to it because of the opening solo but one full listen showed me there is so much more to it than just that. every movement is a masterpiece on its own and there is never a boring moment, i seem to hear something new every time i listen. it is so brutal and terrifying and beautiful all at once

if you have never heard it, PLEASE do yourself a favor. i even wrote a sort-of listening guide for it that points out all of my favorite moments which you can follow along with here! <3

fav recording: bernstein + new york philharmonic (1958)

another one of my all-time favorites! depicts the russian shrovetide fair and tells the story of a love triangle between three puppets. the introduction is one of the best examples of tone painting i have ever heard and the rest of the piece has so many contrasting sections and themes representing different characters or groups

fav recording: muti + philadelphia orchestra (1982)

more traditional than stravinsky's other famous ballets but still an amazing listen. tells the story of a prince who allies with the titular firebird to defeat an evil sorcerer, and it has some of his best melodies especially in the berceuse and finale. i actually got to play both of those movements with a community orchestra in high school too!

fav recording: dudamel + los angeles philharmonic (2026)