After seeing Death in Venice the other week I have been listing to his no5 to death on youtube, has made me ordered Mahler Cd extracts from his ten symponies he conducted.

Today I watched Immortal Beloved biopic about Beethoven and made me order both soundtracks which includes his best and well known.

Last week saw Clockwork Orange which of course is more Beethoven.

It's amazing how movies can introduce you to beauitful music, I wish more people in the 20's appreciate it and sneer at it. Just because it's not in Top40 and never be in Album chart does not mean it is shit and even Prog Rock is influenced by Classical Music.

Mahler no5 is the dogs bollocks love to death just builds and builds.

Mahler no 5 is fantastic totally agree.

I think if you like that you would probably enjoy other "Romantic " Composers like Brahms and Elgar. Brahms symphonies are equally full of light and shade and emotion. Elgars Serenade for Strings and Enigma Variations are both expansive and tuneful - and his Cello Concerto is a moving piece of music.

Alongside Mahler - Brahms and Elgar - I like much of the Baroque stuff - including Bach's Brandenburg Concertos which are very "up" and much of the other baroque composers like Vivaldi etc.

As you may have read before I find the choral music of the SIXTEEN incredibly relaxing and good for meditation or prayer. Their Music For Inner Peace is on offer at amazon for less than £4 including delivery and it is a superb introduction to their work etc.

Good to hear you are enjoying some beautiful music that is often overlooked these days - though as you rightly point out films and adverts draw heavily,

just ask Andrew Lloyd Webber..he's been 'inspired' by classical music for years

And best of all; Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto as used in Brief Encounter - probably the finest melody ever written.

By strange co-incidence the Rachmaninov theme came on the radio as I was composing this message.

Other favourite classics include:

1. GREIG, Piano Concerto, 2nd mvmt
2. ELGAR, Salut d'Amour
3. MENDELSSOHN, Symphony #4, 2nd mvmt
4. SCHUMANN, Dreaming
5. SHOSTAKOVITCH, Jazz Suite #1
6. SCHUBERT, Impromtu in A flat.
7. VILLA LOBOS, Bachianas Brasileiras #5, Aria
8. LITOLFF, Scherzo
9. LISZT, La Campanella
10. KREISLER, Shon Rosmarin
11. TCHAIKOVSKY, Serenade for strings
12. SCHUBERT, Impromptu in G flat op 90 #3
13. SCHUBERT, Piano trio in E flat
14. BEETHOVEN, Tempest Sonata, 3rd movement
15. DVORAK, Symphony no. 8, 3rd movement
16. DARIO MARIANELLI, Dawn ( written for a movie )
17. SCHUBERT, Impromtu in B flat

Youtube them, starting with the Greig here:

Enjoy!

Best Wishes,
Jim