Welcome to The Basic Repertoire

What is The Basic Repertoire?

The Basic Repertoire a list of essential works by classical composers over the ages. These compositions are considered the best of the best, and they give a good example of musical styles and techniques, as well as displaying the talents of the various composers. Many of the composers, such as Bach, Strauss, Mozart and Chopin are familiar to most people. But there are also many essential works by other less well-known composers, from Mahler to Chabrier and Copland to Holst. You may recognize their music without knowing who was the composer.

The BasicRepertoire selections range from the 16th Century up thru the 1950’s. There are a wide variety of forms the music takes, although symphonic pieces tend to be stressed more that chamber works or solo pieces. However, all of these works are important in building a well-rounded classical collection. BACK TO TOP

So, what exactly is the purpose of this website?

It can be a daunting experience to find a classical recording among the very large catalog of available CDs. Even if you know of a particular work you want, such as Vivaldi’s ‘Four Seasons’, you are faced with literally hundreds of recordings. Which is better, the original or modern instrument version, digital or analog recording, or which conductor with what orchestra? BasicRep.com tries to help by narrowing the choices down to the best recordings and the best prices. All the works are currently available, andI list recommended versions, plus in many cases some budget and bargain priced alternatives.
Building a classical collection can be expensive, so many people are hesitant to spend upwards of $20 on a composer they have never heard. However, there are many acceptable recordings available for under $10 or even under $5. The investment is minimal, and you may be rewarded with finding a new work that you enjoy. BACK TO TOP

How do you choose the selections and CDs?

BasicRep.com selects the recommended recordings using several criteria. I personally own most of the recommended recordings, and therefore can give firsthand recommendations. The other recommended recordings are by conductors and orchestras that have a history of bringing the most out of that composer’s works, or have received awards for technical and performance excellence. BasicRep.com also includes a selection of budget and bargain recordings. These CD's are great for exploring new works and composers, but I cannot guarantee the quality of the performances or recording.

The BudgetLine and BargainBin selections are value-priced CDs. Many of the BudgetLine selections are also firsthand recommendations, and can be recognized by their recommendation in the summary preceding the works. These are usually priced under $10 per CD or under $18 for a 2 CD collection. Otherwise, the recordings are usually nice but older recordings.

The BargainBin selections are very inexpensive recordings, mostly under $7. The selections are from currently available recordings, and are chosen by conductor, recording label, age of the recording, etc. While the quality and performances may not always be at good as the recommended recordings, they should be good ways to sample different composers and works. If you purchase one of these recordings and find it unacceptable, please contact us at reviews@basicrep.com and we will reevaluate our choices. BACK TO TOP

Where can I buy the selections?

After you find a work you want, trying to find the CD can also be a difficult proposition. That is why all of the works are linked to CDUniverse or Amazon.com so you can listen to selections from the recordings and even purchase the recordings online. Also, each listing has the record label and the catalog number in case you want to find the CD at your local music store.
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How do I give my own reviews or recommend a selection?

The Basic Repertoire is here for you to use and interact with. We would appreciate your input on our selections. Please contact us at reviews@basicrep.com if you have the following to offer:

A review of a listed recording
An alternate recommended, budget or bargain recording
An original biography of a composer
A history of one of the BasicRepertoire works or recordings
An experience with a work or recording that you would like to share
An ‘if you like this work try this other work’ suggestion
You find that a listed work is not available or a link is broken - these things happen :)
A disagreement with one of our selections, or if you find a CD unacceptable in some way

Email us at reviews@basicrep.com and send us your opinions and suggestions.
We may add your information to our site if it is useful to our other users. BACK TO TOP

What is the difference between digital and analog recordings?

Digital recordings are the norm for recordings over the past decade. They are recorded using equipment that offers superior range of sound with little distortion and background noise. Older recordings may be analog, which is similar to recording with a cassette deck, but with better quality. While the sound quality may still be exceptional, a limited dynamic range and background noise may be more prevalent.
There are some stellar analog recordings and some bad digital recordings, so there is no absolute 'better' method. Most analog recordings have been digitally remastered, which preserves the sound of the original master tapes. If a recording has obvious hiss or reduced sound quality, we will note it when practical. BACK TO TOP

How do I contact you?

You can email us at info@basicrep.com with any questions, ideas or comments. We will read all emails and try to answer you as soon as possible.

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