My Classical Top 3

Number 3: Symphonies

Symphonies are basically 4 movement composition that is meant for the whole orchestra. Certain composers have gotten creative (or plain smart alec) and alter it to 3 or 5 movement compositions. In general, the first and the last movement are lively and of moderate pace, while the second or sometimes third is a sombre/slow movement. The remaining piece is usually the shortestof the four, and more often than not dance-like/2-themed.

My personal favourite - Schubert's Symphony No. 4 - Tragic. An awesome piece (barring the slower second movement, that seemed to be longer than I would like), it's 1st and 4th movement seems like music created with mathematics, where all the notes are written as though it's under a standard formula. Yet the whole piece flow together so well.......A piece I can rely on for mental strength.

Number 2: Piano Concertos
My favourite musica instrument is the piano, and I plan to learn how to play one by 30 (yes, poor bloke like me didn't get musical training during my youth...sob sob). I have 2 years left........fingers crossed...

Back to Piano Concertos, it's usually a 3 movement composition for a piano(lead) and the orchestra with a grand/moderately paced 1st movement, which usually carries a theme that will be used (after a little evolution) for the whole piece. The 2nd movement is usually slow, though some composers have added twists to their 2nd movements with a short burst somewhere in the middle. The last movement is usually fast and furious, though some add a little slow tempo every now and then. Rarely do they have 4 movements, bar some creative/smart alecs. Oh, there's usually a cadenza (I hope I got that right) that allows the soloist(piano) to strut some skills. Usually this is the most technical part for the soloist, however some composers have intentionally written this part as well (others let the soloist improvise) to be 'not so difficult'.

Personal Favourite: A tie between Schumann Piano Concerto in A minor and Mozart's Piano Concerto No.20. Schumann's Concerto is great overall with a superbly written final movement (IMO). Unfortunately, I lack the musical affinity to describe it without doing injustice to the movement. Mozart's No.20 is one of the few 'dark/sonbre' concertos that he has written. All 3 movements are excellent, with many critics stating that the piece is ahead of its time.

Numero Uno: Overtures

Overtures usually are 1 movement compositions for the orchestra. Mostly written as introduction to plays or suites, some are also written for festivals or other personal occasions. Notable few (off the top off my head) 1812 Overture(Tchaikovsky), Overture "Father & Son" (Mendelsohn), Egmont Overture (Beethoven), Tragic Overture (Brahms) and Overture to Manfred (Schumann).

Personal Favourite: Overture to Manfred. The Overture was composed for a play where it's lead Manfred, eventually became insane. And the theme for the overture, IMO, does brink on insanity. The whole piece is extremely invigorating with it's climax (twice) comprise of a series of quickly played notes that (due to my poor musical knowledge) seemed impossible to compose.

There you have it...My personal favourites....