Dilettante Music

I grew up in inner-city Chicago surrounded by Spanish church music and hip-hop. At around 14, I couldn't sleep one day and turned on the local classical music station to soothe me to sleep. They were playing Dvorak's New World Symphony, and needless to say, soothing isn't how one would describe the work. I was enthralled, and have been ever since.

• Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus Clarinet Concerto in A major, K. 622
• Bach, Johann Sebastian Goldberg Variations, for keyboard (Clavier-Übung IV), BWV 988 (BC L9)
• Mendelssohn, Felix Octet for strings in E flat major, Op. 20
• Beethoven, Ludwig van Symphony No. 8 in F major, Op. 93
• Tchaikovsky, Pyotr Il'yich Symphony No. 6 in B minor ("Pathétique"), Op.74
• Strauss, Richard Don Quixote, fantastic variations for cello & orchestra, Op. 35 (TrV 184)
• Schubert, Franz Quintet for 2 violins, viola & 2 cellos in C major, D. 956 (Op. posth. 163)
• Copland, Aaron Symphony No. 3
• Stravinsky, Igor Agon, ballet for 12 dancers & orchestra
• Haydn, Franz Joseph Symphony No. 45 in F sharp minor ("Farewell"/"Candle"/"Letter B"), H. 1/45
• Handel, George Frederick Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56
• O'Connor, Mark Appalachia Waltz, version for string orchestra