Music Chat: 10 Great Pieces That Really Won't Change Your Life One Bit!

Inspired by the Classic FM Radio website's incredibly weird and stupid list of "10 pieces of classical music that will 100% change your life," here is my list of 10 equally wonderful (and in a couple of cases far superior) works that will do no such thing--thank goodness--but they will give you immense pleasure all the same:
1. Ravel: Mother Goose (complete ballet)
2. Martinu: Nonette
3. Gillis: Symphony No. 5 ½
4. Rota: La Strada (Suite)
5. Hindemith: Symphonic Dances
6. Shostakovich: Suite for Variety Orchestra
7. Debussy: Children’s Corner
8. Converse: Flivver Ten Million
9. Haydn: Fantasia/Capriccio in C major
10. Dvorak: Serenade for Winds in D minor

[@Bachback]

One cheer for Classic FM. The station draws millions of people, including my wife, to classical music. Not a minor achievement. The Hurwitz list is delightful.

[@dennischiapello3879]

One of your funniest (and on point) videos. But let's not kid ourselves (as you would say)--you were given great material to work with! And seriously, I would welcome a list of pieces that might change my day, or even an afternoon.

[@henrygingercat]

Classic fm is a commercial radio station in the UK somewhat notorious for its DJs being unable to pronounce the composers' names and aimed at an audience one notch up from that of André Rieu. Nobody here takes it seriously.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Well, I can't pronounce them either, but I hear you.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

@@neilharris1972 Now be nice. Actually, I find the contrasting opinions interesting. And it was still a stupid list.

[@henrygingercat]

@@neilharris1972 And why, dare I ask, have you not listened to it in years?

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

@@neilharris1972 Actually no, because it's a lie. I don't believe that "more is good no matter what." I think realistic expectations are important. Stupidity like that probably turns off as many as it turns on.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

@@neilharris1972 Well, we disagree there. I think that most newbies listening to that music will be turned off forever because it's a terrible list, no matter what they call it.

[@RichardGreen422]

The "Truly this was the son of God" chorus is so beautiful, that it has made me question my skepticism, if only temporarily. That. to me, qualifies as life-changing. OTOH, it is about one minute out of a four-hour work, so....

[@ulisesdemostenes7074]

From what piece is that? St. Matthew's Passion?

[@RichardGreen422]

@@ulisesdemostenes7074 yes

[@MrMazzada]

Unbelievable. This is one of the funniest videos I have ever seen. You are well proving your point Dave, a critic must be an enterteiner, above all.

[@edfromlongisland2623]

Thanks for your list! I'm going shopping!

[@charlescoleman5509]

Music doesn't change lives. It enhances them.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Well said!

[@johnmontanari6857]

Here's a list we'll never see: 10 pieces that make me sound really smart by claiming to love them even though I'd actually prefer listening to my old Genesis albums. (Scout's honor, as you were naming your list and I was imagining mine, I thought of the "La Strada Suite.")

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

I'm working on it...

[@johnmontanari6857]

@@albertbauli Indeed. Not to blow smoke, but that’s why I appreciate DH as a critic. He reminds me of my favorite critic of anything, Robert M. Parker, Jr., founder of the Wine Advocate. For Parker, if it tastes bad, it *is* bad, regardless of price or prestige. So why drink it if it doesn't provide pleasure? The analogies to music are manifold.

[@Jack-dt9nu]

Sorry Dave but Mahler 2 did change my life because it was my gateway drug, a random channel hop to an LSO broadcast. Never looked back!

[@gerhardohrband]

Thanks for the great list! What do you think about Claude Boling's Suite for Flute and Jazz Trio?

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

It's adorable.

[@martinhaub2602]

One work that changed my life (for the better): Joseph Canteloube's Bailero. I still recall vividly the first time I encountered it some 50 years ago; transformative.

[@hendriphile]

Maybe not life-changing, but I do recall my 1st exposure to it some 45 years ago at Summer CES in Chicago, Richard Shahinian's room where he provided food, a place to sit, and (what was at the time) out-of-the-way but fascinating music... he played the Frederica von Stade recording.

[@ukdavepianoman]

Same here - I heard Frederica von Stade sing it 45 years ago or so and was completely transfixed

[@heatherharrison264]

I love it when the overly pompous voices within this community get roasted. There is a lot of great music in the Classic FM list, but as Dave's list shows, there is a lot more to music than what the Classic FM list represents, and I think Dave's list has a range of styles that is guaranteed to be lacking in the usual top 10 lists that are geared toward the bombastic and/or the morose. (Don't get me wrong - I enjoy bombastic and morose, but I like other things too.) Humor is especially underappreciated, and I'm glad to see it here. I have half of the pieces in Dave's list. Now, I think it is time to seek out the other half. Hopefully, Presto Music has them available for download, as I have no room for physical media.

[@ahartify]

There is only one composer listed by Classic FM who could change my life now and that would be Max Richter. I would make a pact with myself never to listen to his music again.

[@bernardley4540]

Norman Lebrecht wrote a book entitled "Mahler: Ten Symphonies that changed the world." Did this nonsense start there?

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Lebrecht was never even that original.

[@jackdolphy8965]

Reminds me of what Hemingway said in response to What is the message in …? EH said “If you want a message go to Western Union. If you want a good story read one of my books.” You do the translation to music.

[@richardscrimger3969]

Max Richter? Really? I rather like some of his filmic stuff but the Vivaldi is not his best work

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Yes, really.

[@curseofmillhaven1057]

I'd add Walton's Facade Suites, Britten's Matinees Musicales & Soirees Musicales, Boccherini Guitar Quintet IV ' Fandango', Telemann: Concerto polonois (love his double and triple concertos much more entertaining than Bach!), Debussy Reflects dans l'eau, Grainger's Sherpherd's Hey and Shostakovich Suite No.1 for Jazz Band (the Foxtrot is a remarkable mixture of the comic, the absurd sliding Hawaiian guitar?, and the slightly ominous).

[@matthewbbenton]

FM’s list sounds like the 10 pieces they make the most money from if you buy the recording through their Amazon affiliate links.

[@GeorgeFrideric71]

Classic FM has been an abomination. The commercialisation of art, the bowdlerisation of art.

[@mauricegiacche4776]

FYI Riccardo Muti’s recording of Nino Rota’s film music is THE BEST! Similarly, Chailly’s recording of the Jazz Suite is a real treat.

[@RobertJonesWightpaint]

Classic FM is a joke - they don't know what they're talking about, and if you want to be really annoyed, listened to their station - hype, advertising, jokey, ridiculous. They annoy me!

[@ukdavepianoman]

Pieces that HAVE changed my life (all 20th century it seems) in no particular order: 1) Stravinsky Rite of Spring 2) Britten Peter Grimes 3) Schoenberg PC 4) Canteloube Bailero (F von Stade) 5) Reich Music for 18 Musicians 6) Reich Different Trains 7) Peter Maxwell Davies Symphony 1 8) Prok PC 2 9) Tippett Fantasia on Theme of Corelli 10) Janacek Sinfonietta 3 others that I couldn't fit into the list: Berg VC, Messaien Turangalila Symphony, Rach PC 3 Pieces that I love but have had not changed my life one bit (there are undoubtedly others): Grieg PC, Tchaikovsky PC 1, Ravel Bolero, Gorecki Symphony 3

[@johnmontanari6857]

Also way high on my list: Rota's Nonet. Telemann's Alster-Ouverture. Hahn's Piano Concerto. Grainger's Lincolnshire Posy. Tchaikovsky's Souvenir de Florence. And the cheekiest piano work ever, Rossini's Assez de momento: danson.

[@AlexMadorsky]

What a fun list! Many of the works you’ve named are among my favorites, particularly Gillis 5 1/2. No need to claim every piece of music has fundamentally altered my very being, or unearths the true nature of the universe. Sometimes simply enjoying oneself is enough.

[@kanpette]

Gillis was completely new to me. Currently listening to Symphony "x" (The Big D), so much fun!

[@whistlerfred6579]

Music frequently gives me pleasure (even when dealing with dark or gloomy topics), and has provided enrichment from time to time, but none of the pieces, or most other music for that matter, has yet to 100% change my life. Although some has 100% wasted a chunk of my life, so I suppose that could be life-changing...

[@robertcurry7664]

This had me howling! Your talent for exposing pomposity and banality is unmatched! Yes…what a thoroughly ridiculous statement…when you noted Elgar’s inclusion because it was an English magazine, I nearly wet myself! I remember a similar instance (quite possibly Classic FM again), with a list, claiming to be the “greatest” sopranos of all time…(totaling 15 or 20 , if memory serves)…Emma Kirkby was in there somewhere…quite highly placed, I think…the mind boggles…thanks for the introduction to a handful of new (to me) works. I’ve noted them and look forward to checking them out. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🥰

[@The_Jupiter2_Mission]

I wish Opera would change my life but all it really does is assist me to change my seat to the unsold expensive ones with a better view a minute before the curtain goes up.

[@PolymathCrowsbane]

The Elgar Cello Concerto is probably on the list for one reason: Jacqueline duPre. Besides the good performance, it’s the underlying tragic story that makes it “life changing.” In that sense, it’s like the Ferrier/Patzak Lied von der Erde, where the extramusical associations outweigh the merits of the recordings.. Truth in in advertising: two of my favorite recordings in college were these two (though, to be fair, the girl I was dating at the time loved the duPre recording, so I think I can be excused).

[@robkeeleycomposer]

Wot, no BRUCKNER? :-)

[@lowe7471]

Great, great list, Dave, and excellent commentary on the reason we listen to great music. And the Ravel can indeed change your life if you've been keeping young children all day and need to regain something resembling a brain...

[@martinhochbaum8936]

Love your list, Dave...please allow me to include Gounod's Petite Symphony...for me charming is fun, and isn't that what your list is all about?

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Yep.

[@michaelanderson9179]

I tend to cut Classic FM Magazine a little slack as it's a very good entry-level magazine for those just starting to dip their toe into the classical music scene - as I was about twenty years ago. Yeah, they have their biases (surprise - Vaughan Williams tops the all-time Hall of Fame *again* for the 27th time!), but it has a certain naïve "Yay for classical music!" spirit that just seems nice compared to the more snooty fare (I'm looking at you, Gramophone...) That said, I do think that listicles like this do tend to dumb-down a little *too* much...

[@OmidDadgari]

We really need such a list of forgotten gems. Thank you.

[@markzacek237]

Fantastic list, Dave! If the overriding criterion is delight, Mendelssohn’s Octet must be on a shortlist. Do you know of any other piece where the performers and audience collectively want to throw their hats in the air at the end?

[@rsmickeymooproductions4877]

Classic FM do a thing called the "hall of fame" where the public vote for their favourite piece. The Lark Ascending nearly always gets the No.1 spot.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

That's what happens when you play it every fifteen minutes.

[@pelodelperro]

I'd add to Dave's list Stravinsky's Dumbarton Oaks. Delightful and joyous.

[@raymondcox6063]

Classic FM is a music station for those who like to be dumbed down, really. They have a rather narrow range of music and keep playing the same pieces over and over. Not only that, it annoys me as they play just odd movements of most works unless it's a piece which is just a few minutes in total. True, it has introduced many to classical music, which is the best part about it I guess.

[@The_Story_Teller-di4jo]

Funny thing about the popular piece from Shostakovich and the Suite for Variety Orchestra.I never checked this out, although I've heard it so many times - it sounds so Italian and so Fellinesque - I always assumed it would have been written by someone like Nino Rota or Ennio Morricone or Nicola Piovani.... Stunning and emotional work. I absolutely ❤ it ! Have a beautiful day David and thank you for pointing this one out.

[@sbor2020]

Classic FM - the banality of evil, or at least irritating banality.

[@caleblaw3497]

My list of 10 pieces that changed my life: 1) Chopin Ballade #1 2) Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto #2 3) Mahler Symphony #5 4) Tchaikovsky Symphony #6 5) Brahms German Requiem 6) Brahms Symphony #4 7) Bruckner Symphony #7 8) Beethoven Symphony #6 9) Bruch Violin Concerto #1 10) Sibelius Symphony #5

[@BryanHalo123]

I own Hindemith's Symphonic Dances, but never played them. I am now playing them and have to thank you for totally changing my afternoon.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Thanks for listening and giving them a chance!

[@eliecanetti]

sounds life changing to me, at least, considering your afternoon was part of your life.

[@KBMars]

So true. Gotta include Peter and the wolf, introduced me to music, then Beethoven S5, pictures at an exhibition (the Tomita version), the sorcerer's apprentice. Later Brahms PC1, Haydn (anything) and thanks to you Dvorak S5.

[@wagnerbaseballgloverepair6853]

Nonet No. 2, H374 for those not sure.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Right!

[@violadamore2-bu2ch]

Lists are good for people who have little exposure and don't know where to start or continue.

[@exori3583]

Love the channel! Buuuut I can commend the classic FM list for what it is trying to do here. I don’t think it’s a bad list for someone who has no point of reference to classical music at all, and for those people, connecting with a piece of music for the first time really can be transformative. Ironically, it was probably Classic FM (and the ‘smooth/relaxing classical’ aesthetic) which put me off getting into classical music for so long.. During university I came across the Takács recording of the Bartok string quartets and I had never heard anything like it. It was the first recording of classical I connected with and it opened the door to this world for me. 10 years later I can honestly say that set of CDs did change my life. Of course, personally I much prefer your list which is sheer magic, some of which I didn’t know - so thank you!

[@ccgrueter]

Perhaps you could consider a video about the 10 most emotionally draining pieces of music?

[@hannahj8910]

My hot take: they probably asked each of their staff members "which piece of classical music transformed the way you think about classical music?" Hence, we got a list with no continuity.

[@epergne]

Recently I've been buying CDs of "great pieces" that definitely won't change your life but are fun nonetheless. They are things that have been on the periphery of my music awareness all my life but I had never bought them or even heard them. In all cases Naxos served me well with great recordings: Ippolitov-Ivanov "Caucasian Sketches", Leopold Mozart "Toy Symphony", Shchedrin "Carmen Suite", Witt "Jena Symphony" (I remember seeing the 'Beethoven" "Jena Symphony" when I was a kid, and then I didn't see it anymore. I learned why later on.) Anyway, thanks for the great content.

[@daviddorfman320]

Love the recommendations of entertaining music I might not have heard of, as well as the occasional warnings of toxic recordings. What I really need is a Public Service Announcement, Ear-worms Ahead, that I should ignore at my peril. Ones I would suggest include: Pachelbel's Canon Scherzos from Dvorak's symphonies 6 and 7 Ravel's Bolero Scherzo from Bruckner 8 (I can't get the peeling of church bells out of my head) I am entertained by the entire performance but driven crazy by endless cycling of the snippet.

[@samlaser1975]

St Matthew Passion is a piece that I love listening to -in small doses. It doesn't change my life. But it nearly changed my wife!

[@johnwright7557]

Lots of pleasure, indeed! Being a Hindemith fan, I’m ashamed that I do not know his Symphonic Dances. Guess what will be next on my CD to buy list! The Haydn Capriccios are both great and there is a terrific CD on Onyx with capriccios by both Haydn and Ligeti! Talk about fun listening. The disc also includes Ligeti’s Piano Concerto and two of Haydn’s, performed by Shai Wosner and the Danish NSO under Nicolas Collon (for the concertos).

[@ER1CwC]

This reminds me of my favourite music professor from college, who is now a close friend. He did his dissertation on twelve tone music, but now works primarily on Neopolitan opera. His reason? - “ I like pretty melodies.” As for me, the Callas/De Sabata recording of Puccini’s shabby little shocker changed my life.

[@mancal5829]

Number 5, your favorite! These guys are really on to something! P.D. Nice tip on the Children's Corner ;)

[@albertbauli]

By Bach the chaconne or the Goldberg variations might change your life. They did for me.

[@theosalvucci8683]

Any traditional view of spiritual transformation with which I'm familiar asserts that such transformations are always completed in joy. None of the pieces on that list evoked happiness. I guess happy is more important than sad, despite that we need to endure both. Thank you for mentioning the music from La Strada, talking about music that is happy, sad, and poignant. You the man, Hurwitz.

[@Steve_Stowers]

This video changed my life!! Or at least, it put a smile on my face.

[@jasonquinlan731]

The authors of this list just wanted to be in one of your videos Dave. That's the only rationale for its existence.

[@anthonycook6213]

I just got re-acquainted with the Children's Corner Suite last night, and will vouch for your recommendation.

[@joshuafruend3348]

What a great video and discussion, Mr. Hurwitz! Although I absolutely adore many of the pieces in Classic FM’s list, I’d agree that they haven’t “changed my life”. I am curious, though, would you perhaps be willing to discuss your thoughts on Louis Moreau Gottschalk? As a pianist, I think he’s fabulous, but incredibly underrated and unknown.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

At some point I'd like to. He's great fun, I agree.

[@cartologist]

There’s also Thomas Tallis’s Spem in Alium and Vaughan William’s Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis.

[@pocoapoco2]

I'm surprised you didn't include anything by Peter Schickele.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

No you aren't.

[@michaelmiller641]

I've taken a note if those, and I will be listening to those, Thanks Dave!

[@moviedave2001]

Mozart Requiem... There are so many great requiems out there that were actually finished. I wish they would stop schlepping the Mozart.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Me too.

[@mikkelclemmensen1135]

Thank you so much, this made my day! Can I persuade you to do a Max Richter-special - that is giving his work the full Hurwitz-treatment? I know, it will be a gruelling task. Fifteen minutes will do. Mikkel, Copenhagen, Denmark

[@mikkelclemmensen1135]

I'm so sorry. Just found your brilliant video on Richter from some days ago. I'm in stitches. Please do another one. Mikkel, Copenhagen, Denmark

[@providence51]

Your witty and humorous video first thing in the morning, California time, is most appreciative. I hope more people view it because your suggestions are fantastic and are very enjoyable thanks Elaine

[@gartenkauz2152]

I listened to the Nonette, but I quit after the first movement. Too many notes that sound wrong or at least odd. How do you call this style?

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

You'll understand when you grow up. Have patience.

[@joaofernandoalmeida1493]

Thank you so much for this really funny and needed video!!

[@no_Ray_bang]

This was a fun one

[@Wolfcrag85]

Speaking of Martinu's Nonet, how does the version in Hyperion compares with the competition? Thank you.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Just as good.

[@Wolfcrag85]

@@DavesClassicalGuide Thank you very much for the input. At this moment, I'm torn between the Dartington Ensemble (Hyperion) and Ensemble Wien-Berlin (DG), both of which seem the most readily available.

[@kylejohnson8877]

LOL. Classic FM’s list is indicative of the current obsession in the classical music world with pieces that are excessively lofty, spiritual, tragic, monumental, etc. God forbid a piece of music be life-affirming, fun, or tuneful! Your list is much better! Also, I’m so sick of the Elgar cello concerto being the “token work” of English classical music. That piece gets played to death while hundreds of other fine works by English composers never see the light of day.

[@SR009s]

I get what you're saying, but at the same time, the list was all about music that is "life-changing". Isnt lofty, spiritual and monumental the exact type of music you'd imagine would have that affect? How many peoples lives have been 'changed' by fun or tuneful pieces?

[@kylejohnson8877]

@@SR009s Maybe not “changed”, but my life has been significantly bettered by fun/tuneful/optimistic music. Can’t say the same for the St. Matthew Passion….

[@SR009s]

@@kylejohnson8877 that's fair, and i do actually agree to some extent. I guess this is the beauty of personal preference; whilst I admittedly didn't love every second, the St. Matthew Passion is still probably the single most profound work I've heard yet.

[@robertdandre94101]

i go really back in my life for tell you what is what make me love classical music....ok my mother playing each week 2 or 3 times the piano concerto no 5 by beethoven with brendel and metha ( she love that)....but when i have 13 years old ( 1970)...i see at tv the movie ''the magnificent rebel'' ( le génial révolté) movie on the life of beethoven by walt disney with karlheinz bohm....that change my life...no...but that open for me this wonderful world of music,i want to know what this composer i see at tv do it after the fifth symphonies ,the moonligth sonatas etc......of course my first records and my first music book is beethoven...my first record...? ''sinfonia'' by waldo de los rios ( beethoven 9 arrangment...! ) ...and after.....neverending story....

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

You mean it wasn't Gorecki's Third or Vivaldi Recomposed? I'm shocked.

[@jeffreycarter6455]

I had the same experience with "The Magnificent Rebel" I was in 4th grade at the time, I think around 1962, and even though my Dad would play classical music records it was that movie that really turned me on to it. Not long after that I got Serkin's playing sonatas 8, 14 and 23 and it was off to the races after that. I thought it was neat when I found out who Karlheinz Bohm's father was.

[@robertdandre94101]

@@DavesClassicalGuide mr Hurwitz...this Works was not composed on 1970....!!!

[@Delius1958]

👍🏻😎🤗

[@eddie0lutetia]

Classic FM has indeed some daft rankings. The Classic FM radio station here in the UK generally doesn’t play more challenging stuff, so they tend to serve up a pastiche of classical music which is boring and repetitive. However, Classic FM is probably a sort of gateway drug for many people, who then might go to concerts (where they get to listen to more interesting music), buy music and support musicians and the industry. If it gets people into classical music, I’m all for it

[@nihilistlemon1995]

Mahler 2 changed my life , it cured my insomnia!

[@johnanderton4200]

Piece that transformed my life: Sibelius Symphony #6. How different our stories are.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

What did you transform into, an iguana?

[@patrickcrowley9523]

I think Sibelius transformed Rene Lebowitz into an iguana.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

@@patrickcrowley9523 LOL!

[@geoffradnor9357]

It was the last movement of his 2nd symphony that started my life with classical music.

[@johnanderton4200]

@@geoffradnor9357 Same movement hooked me on the composer (in 1982) and led me to explore everything he wrote

[@dickwhite977]

I agree about the silly list. But more classical over the airwaves must be good. Don’t look down your noses at peoples musical tastes. The mystery is what causes them.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Naturally everyone is welcome to their own taste, but to have the St. Matthew as an appetizer, followed by the "Pathétique as an entrée, with the Mozart Requiem for dessert, and perhaps the Gorecki 3rd as a side salad or dinner roll, is quite a meal. Of course, there's always the Elgar Cello Concerto as the after dinner mint.