Building a Classical Music Collection

There has never been an easier or cheaper time to explore classical music. Almost every major work is available in many recordings, much of it at the tap of a screen. But classical music is organized differently from pop, and a little know-how goes a long way. This guide explains how to find what you want and build a collection that grows with your taste.

Why classical is different

In pop music, a song usually has one definitive recording. In classical music, the work and the recording are separate things: Beethoven's Fifth Symphony exists in hundreds of recordings by different orchestras and conductors, all playing the same score. So when you search, you need to think about three things:

• The composer - who wrote it, such as Beethoven.
• The work - what it is, such as Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67. Catalogue numbers like "Op. 67," "K. 525" for Mozart, or "BWV 1007" for Bach are the most reliable way to pin a piece down.
• The performers - the orchestra, conductor, soloist, or ensemble.

Pieces are also split into movements, which streaming services often list as separate tracks. Listen to the whole work in order - the movements are meant to be heard together.

Streaming

Streaming is the easiest way to start. The big general services carry huge classical catalogues, though their search can be clumsy with long titles and many performers. Specialist classical apps, such as Apple Music Classical, are built around composer, work, and performer, making it much easier to compare recordings, and some services offer high-resolution sound. Whichever you use, save works you like to your library and build playlists by composer, era, or mood.

CDs, box sets, and vinyl

Physical media still have real advantages for classical music: you own the recording, the sound quality is excellent, and the booklets often contain detailed notes and sung texts with translations. Record labels regularly reissue great recordings of the past in large, inexpensive box sets - a whole composer's symphonies, or a great conductor's recordings - which can be a remarkable bargain. Second-hand CDs are often very cheap, and public libraries frequently lend them. Vinyl has made a comeback too, though it is usually the most expensive way to collect.

Radio and free sources

Classical radio stations are a wonderful way to discover music you would never have chosen yourself, and many broadcast live concerts and offer programs online. You can also find free, legal recordings and scores of public domain music online, from archives of historic recordings to volunteer performances. Our guide to public domain sources explains where to look and what's free to use.

Choosing between recordings

When you find a work you love, try a second recording - you may be surprised how different the same piece can sound. Reviews in specialist magazines, and critics' comparative surveys of recordings, are excellent guides. Our guide to choosing a recording explains what varies between performances and what to listen for.

A starter collection

If you're starting from scratch, these twelve works make a superb foundation, covering the main eras and kinds of music:

1. Bach - Brandenburg Concertos
2. Vivaldi - The Four Seasons
3. Handel - Messiah
4. Mozart - Symphony No. 40 and Eine kleine Nachtmusik
5. Beethoven - Symphonies No. 5 and No. 7
6. Schubert - String Quintet in C major
7. Chopin - Nocturnes
8. Tchaikovsky - The Nutcracker
9. Dvořák - Symphony No. 9, "From the New World"
10. Debussy - Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune
11. Stravinsky - The Rite of Spring
12. Arvo Pärt - Spiegel im Spiegel

From there, follow your nose: more by the composers you like, then their contemporaries. Our best pieces for beginners and most famous pieces lists have plenty more ideas, and the music recommender can suggest something new.

Keep it organized

As your collection grows, organize it by composer rather than by performer, the way classical record shops always have. Note the recordings you particularly love, so you can come back to them - and so you can compare when you find a new one. The best collection isn't the biggest, but the one you keep listening to.