anyone recommend any orchestral pieces?

[Flammable]

I find that listening to orchestral pieces calmes me and makes me more focused. I've been listening to The Nutcracker and am wondering if there are any other pieces out there that I should listen to.

 

[Howard]

You could do what a lot of people do and start with Beethoven's symphonies.

 

[Tiamat]

I'm a huge fan of Rachmaninoff, specifically Reference Recordings RR-96 is one of my go-to CDs for romantic-era orchestral pieces.

 

[LongCoolMother]

for something more contemporary, anything by aaron copland. appalachian spring.

 

[Ika]

I love love love Jean Sibelius and to a slightly lesser extent, Hector Berlioz. Sibelius' tone poems (my favorites of which are Finlandia and En Saga) are absolutely awesome. Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique is also a pleasure to listen to.

 

[AmberClad]

Originally posted by: Tiamat
I'm a huge fan of Rachmaninoff, specifically Reference Recordings RR-96 is one of my go-to CDs for romantic-era orchestral pieces.

You know what frustrates me about classical music? How every piece is named something like Adagio/Fugue/Concerto/etc No. ___ in ___ Minor/Major.

Anyways, after searching for a bit, I finally found the piece I was looking for, personal favorite of mine: Rachmaninov's Vocalise (OP - there should be some orchestral versions of it out there somewhere)

 

[MadAmos]

when I am in the mood for something calming I like William Ackerman and Michael Hedges Ackerman
Hedges

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: Flammable
I find that listening to orchestral pieces calmes me and makes me more focused. I've been listening to The Nutcracker and am wondering if there are any other pieces out there that I should listen to.

You are likely to really enjoy Berlioz' Symphony Fantastique. Brilliantly orchestrated and exciting.

I also highly recommend Mahler's 5th symphony.

 

[StevenYoo]

try Dvorak's 9th symphony "New World" movement 4: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yctfXIqugXc

 

[spaceman]

the violin?