To build our Radio Fest playlist we asked some Nashville musicians and music lovers which piece of classical music they would play for someone who has never heard classical music before.

We weren’t just looking for a favorite – but a doorway into the world of classical music for the uninitiated. We were inspired by
this article from the New York Times in September, but we wanted to hear what Nashville had to say. And Music City did not disappoint.

If you missed any throughout the day, here they are in one collection. Enjoy, take a little time to think, and then send us your pick by calling 615-343-6886. It just might make it on the air.

Will Griffin, retired host of Live in Studio C on 91Classical

Joseph Haydn, from Concerto for Violin No. 1 in C, Adagio

It’s a piece that is so simple in its structure and so lovely that I just listened to it probably all summer after my senior year in high school…. it was just something I had to hear.”

Wu Fei, Guzheng Virtuoso

Ancient Chinese, The Ambush

“It opens up a lot of people’s mind about how something so old could sound so forward.”

Enrico Lopez-Yanez, Assistant Conductor, Nashville Symphony

Edward Elgar, from Enigma Variations, Nimrod

“It enraptures the listener and really is quite overcoming when you hear the orchestra play this beautiful theme.”

Paul Vasterling, Artistic Director of Nashville Ballet

Paul Hindemith, fromThe Four Temperaments, Choleric

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfBAuacklfA&index=5&list=PLSXTf-xTCIhpM2Zr9XQVxtjSjfULJIIln&t=0s

“It gives you chills and it gave me chills when I was a kid and before I saw the ballet for the first time.”

Paul Kwame, Director of the Fisk Jubilee Singers

William Walton, from Belshazzar’s Feast, movement III

“Whenever I listen to it it’s more like sitting in a movie. Sitting at the edge of my seat expecting the next thing to happen.”

Aalia Hanif, Flutist in the Nashville Symphony Accelerando Program

Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov, from Scheherazade, movement III

“While classical music holds its closest ties to the western world, this piece showcases a different part of the world – the middle east and south Asia. Finally finding a piece of music that related to my culture encapsulated both me and my family as we discovered a more personal connection to classical music – revealing the power of music and its universality.”

John Hoomes, Artistic Director of Nashville Opera

Giacomo Puccini, from La Boheme, ‘O soave fanciulla’

“It’s one of those moments that you just wait for. In opera and in music.”

Andrew Risinger, Organist, Nashville Symphony and West End United Methodist Church

Maurice Ravel, Jeaux d’Eau

“It’s as if he paints music with notes. Many, many notes. And it’s somewhat like hearing pointillistic art.”

Ann Patchett, Author of Bel Canto

Jacques Offenbach, from The Tales of Hoffmann, Barcarolle

“There are moments in Tales of Hoffmann that slay me every time, that I could just listen to forever.”

Mary Biddlecombe, Director of the Blair Children’s Chorus

Treasure Eckles, Violist in the Nashville Symphony Accelerando Program

Gustav Holst, from The Planets, Jupiter

“It just doesn’t get much better than that.” – Mary Biddlecombe

“It brought complete joy into my life, making me realize how wonderful music is.” – Treasure Eckles