Does anyone else listen to classical music?

[SheShriekedShrilly]

Because I really want to, but I can’t seem to find a way to do it on Spotify or Amazon that doesn’t end up with a random mix of tracks, when what I want to do is listen to a whole requiem, or a whole piece with all the movements in the right order.

I don’t really want to go back to CDs because then I’d have to find a place to store them. But I do really want to listen to more music, in the right order (there’s something viscerally annoying about getting in to the first movement and then it changing to something else).

Try YouTube

Smemorata - I had assumed that YouTube would be poor sound quality, but if it isn’t then that should work. I’m listening via an Echo linked to decent speakers, so I think I would notice really bad sound.

I listen to Classic FM sometimes when driving could that be an option?

I’ve found an app called IDAGIO that is pretty good. Trouble is I’m just listening on phone so doesn’t sound great.

There is a 'play - album x' command that helps for Alexa, is there something similar on Spotify? But fundamentally these services really aren't well set up for classical music. Feel your frustration! (Alexa, if I say 'play Bach', I don't mean include fucking synthesiser mashups meant for supermarket sound systems )

I use Google Play Music - it's pretty easy to play complete albums.

I want to listen to specific pieces (often ones I’m singing) so Classic FM doesn’t really work.

I’ll look into Idagio, I’ve never heard of that.

And I’m trying to make the album / playlist function on Spotify do what I want it to, but either I’m being stupid or it deliberately shuffles and won’t play things in the right order. I’ve had more luck on Amazon with the album function, but the range seems less good there, so I’ve been trying Spotify more recently.

I have Apple Music. It's brilliant for classical music. A bit pricey though.

I download complete albums from Apple Music- I think it's about £10/month for a subscription

Youtube generally works for me
Do have a look at BBC iplayer radio too, even if you don't want to listen to radio 3 as you want to hear specific pieces, often if you search you can find previous concerts

I’m testing out Idagio now, and will try Apple Music next if I can get a free trial.

And iPlayer is a good suggestion, I already use it for Radio 4 but I hadn’t realised that I could get specific pieces via concerts.

I use Spotify for this. You can turn off shuffle.

community.spotify.com/t5/iOS-iPhone-iPad/Can-t-turn-off-shuffle-play/td-p/726563

That's for iPhone but v similar on Android.

The Alexa app will pick up the setting from there (community.spotify.com/t5/Android/Spotify-is-auto-shuffling-through-alexa-app/td-p/4547739)

Of course you can do it on Spotify. You need to find your favourite recordings of a certain piece and then listen to that album.

For example. I like Itzhak Perlmans recording of Beethoven's Violin concerto. This is on an album on spotify in full, in order (then followed by a Mendelssohn suite).

Thanks, strong! That solves the issue if I get Spotify Premium and can then turn off shuffle. I just need to decide it its worth doing that, or stick with the free Idagio and live with the ads.

Deezer lets you choose whole pieces, too.

We do, but also listen to a bit of everything. We commonly listen to radio 6 which is fab. Husband plays guitar, piano, drums and trumpet so we have a house full of instruments and music is a big part of our lives.

If you listen via Spotify desktop (or web player I think) you can turn off shuffle without premium.

I listen to BBC Radio 3 every day. If the live show is not my taste then I go to the iPlayer radio. It has just about every kind of classical music throughout the week. The best presenters as well. Try it.

Try this-
There are lots of cheap CDs at car boots. If you have laptop and can play CDs, download them. Link up to decent speakers. Then, recycle your CDs.

Classical music needs to be listened to via the best speakers you can afford to hear best of the wide dynamic/acoustic of a symphony orchestra.

Go to concerts as well when you can.

Good listening
Steve

I said in my OP I didn’t want CDs as I don’t have anywhere to store them. And babysitting (lack thereof) means I don’t get to as many concerts as I’d like.

You’re assuming that I don’t know much about classical music. Whereas actually what I don’t know much about is the merits of different streaming services for listening to classical music - and previous posters were very helpful on that.

^^ was to Steve the Bassoonist.

I know it’s an overused expression - but mansplaining has just been defined!

I use Spotify and I haven’t come across your problem. But someone else set it up for me.....

SheShrieked Yes, Steve read your OP. Which is why he said burn them to your laptop then recycle them (charity shop, friends, bird scarers, coasters).

Shatners - ah, you’re right, and apologies to Bassoonist. He’s not to know I don’t have a laptop with a CD drive. I still didn’t particularly appreciate the unsolicited advice about concerts and speakers, though. As Bertrand said, it felt a bit mansplainy.

He’s not to know I don’t have a laptop with a CD drive

Who does??