Why is CPR Classical essential to you?

October 2, 2017

Last month, CPR Classical celebrated Labor Day with 60 hours of Essential Classics - our choices of the most important pieces from all musical eras.

We've prepared a complete list of the music played -- all 60 hours! Use it to learn more about the music CPR thinks is essential. A more detailed list - with artist and record information - is here.

These were our picks - now we want to hear from you!

Call our comment line and tell us Why CPR Classical is essential in your life -and- What are your essential pieces.

Call 303-952-7840

Leave your message by Sunday, October 8 and we may use your voice to invite others to join you as a supporter during the Fall Membership Campaign.

Here is the list of Essential Classics, sorted by era. Again, click here to download the full list.

Composer Last	Title, Catalog No., Opus	Record Co.	Label#
PRE-BAROQUE
Allegri, Gregorio	Miserere	Decca	2260102
Byrd, William	Mass for 5 voices	Harmonia Mundi	906102
Byrd, William	Mass for 5 voices	Harmonia Mundi	906102
BAROQUE
Bach, Johann Sebastian	Toccata & Fugue, BWV 565	EMI	95424
Bach, Johann Sebastian	Mein Jesu, BWV 487	Naxos	572050
Bach, Johann Sebastian	Orchestral Suite #3, BWV 1068	Colorado Spotlight	Colorado Spotlight
Bach, Johann Sebastian	Goldberg Variations, BWV 988	Sony	38479
Bach, Johann Sebastian	Little Fugue, BWV 578	DG	1903202
Bach, Johann Sebastian	Sleepers Awake, BWV 645	Decca	466465
Bach, Johann Sebastian	Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1: Prelude & Fugue, BWV 846	London	414388
Bach, Johann Sebastian	Cantata #140 "Sleepers Awake", BWV 140	LOiseau	417616
Bach, Johann Sebastian	Cantata #140 "Sleepers Awake", BWV 140	LOiseau	417616
Bach, Johann Sebastian	Orchestral Suite #3, BWV 1068	Colorado Spotlight	Colorado Spotlight
Bach, Johann Sebastian	Goldberg Variations, BWV 988	Sony	38479
Bach, Johann Sebastian	Lute Suite #4: Prelude, BWV 1006a	EMI	54905
Bach, Johann Sebastian	Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring, BWV 147	Sony	60680
Bach, Johann Sebastian	Mein Jesu, BWV 487	Naxos	572050
Bach, Johann Sebastian	Concerto for 2 Violins, BWV 1043	Decca	12490
Bach, Johann Sebastian	Sheep May Safely Graze, BWV 208	Sony	93927
Bach, Johann Sebastian	Brandenburg Concerto #6, BWV 1051	DG	423116
Biber, Heinrich	Sonata #4	Colorado Spotlight	Colorado Spotlight
Biber, Heinrich	Sonata #4	Colorado Spotlight	Colorado Spotlight
Corelli, Arcangelo	Trio Sonata #1, Op 4/1	Harmonia Mundi	901342
Corelli, Arcangelo	Trio Sonata #1, Op 4/1	Harmonia Mundi	901342
Handel, George Frideric	Arrival of the Queen of Sheba, HWV 67	DG	429390
Handel, George Frideric	Saul: Symphony (Harp Solo), HWV 53	ATMA	2541
Handel, George Frideric	Xerxes: Largo, HWV 40	OUR	220602
Handel, George Frideric	Messiah: Hallelujah Chorus, HWV 56	Harmonia Mundi	901928
Handel, George Frideric	Keyboard Suite #5: Air, HWV 430/4	Decca	472572
Handel, George Frideric	Music for the Royal Fireworks, HWV 351	Sony	63073
Handel, George Frideric	Xerxes: Largo, HWV 40	OUR	220602
Handel, George Frideric	Messiah: Hallelujah Chorus, HWV 56	Harmonia Mundi	901928
Handel, George Frideric	Saul: Symphony (Harp Solo), HWV 53	ATMA	2541
Handel, George Frideric	Harp Concerto, HWV 294, Op 4/6	VirginClss	61304
Handel, George Frideric	Concerto grosso #2, HWV 320, Op 6/2	Harmonia Mundi	907228
Pachelbel, Johann	Canon & Gigue	Alia Vox	9820
Pachelbel, Johann	Canon & Gigue	Alia Vox	9820
Scarlatti, Domenico	Keyboard Sonata, K 380	Analekta	3163
Scarlatti, Domenico	Keyboard Sonata, K 380	Analekta	3163
Telemann, Georg Philipp	Viola Concerto, TWV 51:G9	Chandos	593
Telemann, Georg Philipp	Viola Concerto, TWV 51:G9	Chandos	593
Telemann, Georg Philipp	Concerto for Four Violins, TWV 40:201	Colorado Spotlight	Colorado Spotlight
Vivaldi, Antonio	4 Seasons: Summer, RV 315, Op 8/2	Sony	711013
Vivaldi, Antonio	Concerto "La Notte", RV 439, Op 10/2	Harmonia Mundi	902190
Vivaldi, Antonio	4 Seasons: Summer, RV 315, Op 8/2	Sony	711013
CLASSICAL
Beethoven, Ludwig van	Fur Elise, WoO 59	Philips	412227
Beethoven, Ludwig van	Symphony #2: II Larghetto, Op 36	Sony	754254
Beethoven, Ludwig van	Leonore Overture #3, Op 72a	DG	435617
Beethoven, Ludwig van	Piano Concerto #4, Op 58	Sony	37762
Beethoven, Ludwig van	Symphony #8: II Allegretto scherzando, Op 93	EMI	95445
Beethoven, Ludwig van	Piano Sonata #14 "Moonlight", Op 27/2	Arabesque	6677
Beethoven, Ludwig van	String Quartet #13: V Cavatina, Op 130	Valley Entertainment	15244
Beethoven, Ludwig van	Piano Sonata #8 "Pathetique": II Adagio, Op 13	RCA	60356
Beethoven, Ludwig van	Symphony #5, Op 67	DG	447400
Beethoven, Ludwig van	Symphony #3 "Eroica", Op 55	Bis	1516
Boccherini, Luigi	String Quintet #5: Minuet, G 275, Op 11/5	EMI	57555
Gluck, Christoph	Orfeo & Euridice: Dance of the Blessed Spirits	EMI	95429
Haydn, Joseph	Trumpet Concerto, HOB 7e:1	Sony	37846
Haydn, Joseph	String Quartet "Largo", HOB 3:79, Op 76/5	London	425467
Haydn, Joseph	The Creation: The Heavens are Telling, HOB 21:2	Telarc	80397
Haydn, Joseph	Symphony #93: II Largo cantabile, HOB 1:93	Nimbus	5200
Haydn, Joseph	Symphony #94 "Surprise", HOB 1:94	London	448531
Haydn, Joseph	Symphony #104 "London": IV Finale: Spiritoso, HOB 1:104	Philharmonia Baroque	2
Hummel, Johann	Trumpet Concerto, S 49	EMI	16213
Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus	Piano Sonata #16, K 545	RCA	60709
Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus	Clarinet Concerto: II Adagio, K 622	EMI	88576
Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus	Symphony #41 "Jupiter", K 551	Telarc	80139
Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus	Piano Concerto #21, K 467	DG	439941
Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus	Symphony #40, K 550	DG	429731
Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus	Requiem: Lacrimosa, K 626	Decca	4757486
Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus	Requiem, K 626	Telarc	80128
Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus	Requiem, K 626	Telarc	80128
Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus	Clarinet Concerto: II Adagio, K 622	EMI	88576
Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus	Ave verum corpus, K 618	EMI	70853
Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus	Eine kleine nachtmusik, K 525	Decca	4758052
Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus	Serenade "Gran Partita", K 361	Decca	4780316
Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus	Clarinet Concerto, K 622	Bis	1893
ROMANTIC
Barber, Samuel	Adagio for Strings, Op 11	Chandos	7039
Bartok, Bela	String Quartet #5: I Allegro, Sz 102	Decca	455297
Bellini, Vincenzo	Norma: Casta Diva	EMI	67830
Berlioz, Hector	Rob Roy Overture, H54	London	421193
Berlioz, Hector	Symphonie fantastique: IV March to the Scaffold, Op 14	Telarc	80271
Bizet, Georges	Carmen: Habanera	EMI	65579
Bizet, Georges	Carmen: Intermezzo	Telarc	80224
Bizet, Georges	Symphony	Teldec	77309
Bizet, Georges	Carmen: Intermezzo	Telarc	80224
Bizet, Georges	L'Arlesienne: Suite #1	Naive	5130
Bizet, Georges	Carmen: Seguidilla	Telarc	80703
Borodin, Alexander	String Quartet #2: Nocturne	DG	435757
Borodin, Alexander	In the Steppes of Central Asia	Sony	63076
Borodin, Alexander	String Quartet #2: Nocturne	DG	435757
Brahms, Johannes	Symphony #1, Op 68	Naxos	557428
Brahms, Johannes	Academic Festival Overture, Op 80	Naxos	557428
Brahms, Johannes	Wiegenlied, Op 49/4	Decca	2032902
Brahms, Johannes	Symphony #3: III Poco Allegretto, Op 90	DG	427602
Brahms, Johannes	Symphony #4, Op 98	DG	457706
Brahms, Johannes	Intermezzo, Op 119/2	Philips	411137
Brahms, Johannes	Variations on a Theme of Haydn, Op 56a	Pentatone	5186307
Brahms, Johannes	Violin Concerto: III Allegro giocoso, Op 77	Pentatone	5186066
Bruch, Max	Violin Concerto #1, Op 26	EMI	64922
Bruckner, Anton	Symphony #4 "Romantic": III Scherzo, WAB 104	Philips	442040
Chopin, Frederic	Piano Sonata #2 "Funeral March", B 128, Op 35	Decca	4410
Chopin, Frederic	Nocturne #8, B 96, Op 27/2	Vanguard	1551
Chopin, Frederic	Fantaisie-Impromptu, B 87, Op 66	DG	4776555
Chopin, Frederic	Nocturne #2, B 54/2, Op 9/2	Hyperion	67831
Chopin, Frederic	Etude #1, Op 10/1	Harmonia Mundi	907505
Chopin, Frederic	Prelude #15 "Raindrop", B 107, Op 28/15	EMI	17626
Chopin, Frederic	Etude #5 "Black keys", B 57/1, Op 10/5	Sony	61885
Chopin, Frederic	Waltz "Valse Brillante" #1, B 94, Op 34/1	EMI	58513
Delibes, Leo	Lakme: Flower Duet	EMI	57555
Dvorak, Antonin	Symphony #9 "From the New World": IV Allegro, B 178, Op 95	Naxos	570714
Dvorak, Antonin	Symphony #7: II Poco adagio, B 141, Op 70	Channel	30010
Dvorak, Antonin	Cello Concerto, Op 104	Sony	67173
Dvorak, Antonin	Romance, Op 11	RCA	63591
Dvorak, Antonin	Symphony #8, B 163, Op 88	Naxos	572112
Dvorak, Antonin	Humoresque #7, Op 101/7	DG	1531202
Dvorak, Antonin	Symphony #9 "From the New World", B 178, Op 95	Seattle Symphony	1006
Elgar, Edward	Enigma Variations, Op 36	EMI	55001
Elgar, Edward	Violin Concerto: II Andante, Op 61	Canary	6
Elgar, Edward	Chanson de matin, Op 15/2	Chandos	24135
Elgar, Edward	Pomp & Circumstance March #1 "Land of Hope and Glory", Op 39/1	London	417719
Faure, Gabriel	Pelleas & Melisande: Sicilienne, Op 78/80	Vanguard	1239
Faure, Gabriel	Berceuse, Op 16	EMI	54882
Franck, Cesar	Violin Sonata, M 8	EMI	56815
Franck, Cesar	Panis angelicus	Decca	5193
Franck, Cesar	Panis angelicus	Decca	5193
Glazunov, Alexander	The Seasons: Petit Adagio, Op 67	Ondine	938
Glazunov, Alexander	The Seasons: Petit Adagio, Op 67	CPR	10
Glinka, Mikhail	Russlan & Ludmilla: Overture	Philips	442011
Granados, Enrique	Danza Espanola #5 "Andaluza", H142, Op 37/5	APM	65642
Grieg, Edvard	Peer Gynt Suite #2: Arabian Dance, Op 55/2	Intersound	2802
Grieg, Edvard	Piano Concerto, Op 16	Decca	1079202
Grieg, Edvard	Peer Gynt: Morning Mood, Op 46/1	X5	105
Grieg, Edvard	Peer Gynt: Solveig's Song, Op 55/4	Reference	99
Grieg, Edvard	Peer Gynt Suite #2: Arabian Dance, Op 55/2	Intersound	2802
Grieg, Edvard	Peer Gynt Suite #2, Op 55	London	425857
Kreisler, Fritz	Liebesleid	DG	449923
Kreisler, Fritz	Liebesleid	DG	449923
Liszt, Franz	Piano Concerto #1, S 124	DG	415061
Liszt, Franz	Les Preludes, S 97	Sony	66834
Mahler, Gustav	Symphony #5: IV Adagietto	DG	445486
Massenet, Jules	Thais: Meditation	RCA	61700
Mendelssohn, Felix	Hebrides Overture "Fingal's Cave", Op 26	Decca	4781525
Mendelssohn, Felix	Symphony #3 "Scottish": III Adagio, Op 56	Warner Classics	62769
Mendelssohn, Felix	Symphony #4 "Italian", Op 90	Sony	61843
Mendelssohn, Felix	Violin Concerto, Op 64	Decca	460976
Mussorgsky, Modest	Night on Bald Mountain	DG	7182
Mussorgsky, Modest	Pictures at an Exhibition	DG	2588502
Ponchielli, Amilcare	La Gioconda: Dance of the Hours	Decca	4780096
Puccini, Giacomo	Madame Butterfly: Un bel di	Telarc	80260
Puccini, Giacomo	Manon Lescaut: Intermezzo	DG	429494
Puccini, Giacomo	Turandot: Nessun Dorma	Sony	509248
Rachmaninoff, Sergei	Piano Concerto #2: I Moderato, Op 18	Decca	1811702
Rachmaninoff, Sergei	Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini: Variation 18, Op 43	Sony	46715
Rachmaninoff, Sergei	Piano Concerto #2, Op 18	Sony	36722
Rachmaninoff, Sergei	Piano Concerto #3, Op 30	Sony	64384
Rimsky-Korsakov, Nikolay	Tsar Saltan: Flight of the Bumblebee	London	417301
Rossini, Gioachino	Barber of Seville: Overture	DG	439515
Rossini, Gioachino	Thieving Magpie: Overture	EMI	54091
Rossini, Gioachino	Semiramide: Overture	London	414407
Rossini, Gioachino	William Tell: Overture	RCA	65844
Saint-Saens, Camille	Carnival of the Animals: Aquarium	EMI	70872
Saint-Saens, Camille	Carnival of the Animals: The Swan	EMI	57052
Schubert, Franz	Piano Trio "Notturno", D 897, Op 148	Analekta	9770
Schubert, Franz	Ave Maria, D 839, Op 52/6	London	460400
Schubert, Franz	Piano Quintet "Trout", D 667	London	460034
Schubert, Franz	Impromptu, D 935/3, Op 142/3	Avie	2157
Schumann, Robert	Three Romances, Op 94	Delos	3235
Sibelius, Jean	Finlandia, Op 26	Sony	61698
Smetana, Bedrich	The Moldau	Philips	416382
Strauss, Johann II	Blue Danube Waltz, Op 314	EMI	17626
Strauss, Johann II	Emperor Waltz, Op 437	Seraphim	69095
Strauss, Johann II	Tales from the Vienna Woods, Op 325	Telarc	80504
Strauss, Richard	Till Eulenspiegel's Merry Pranks, Op 28	VirginClss	61460
Tarrega, Francisco	Memories of the Alhambra	EMI	70872
Tchaikovsky, Peter	Swan Lake Ballet Suite, Op 20a	Decca	7341
Tchaikovsky, Peter	Romeo & Juliet Fantasy-Overture: Love Theme	Decca	473596
Tchaikovsky, Peter	Sleeping Beauty: Suite, Op 66a	Decca	466379
Tchaikovsky, Peter	1812 Overture, Op 49	Mariinsky	503
Tchaikovsky, Peter	Romeo & Juliet Fantasy-Overture: Love Theme	Decca	473596
Tchaikovsky, Peter	Andante Cantabile, Op 11	DG	437952
Tchaikovsky, Peter	Piano Concerto #1, Op 23	Colorado Spotlight	Colorado Spotlight
Wagner, Richard	Siegfried Idyll	London	410111
Wagner, Richard	Tannhauser: Overture	Accentus	102
Wagner, Richard	Tristan & Isolde: Prelude & Liebestod	DG	4778773
Wagner, Richard	Siegfried Idyll	London	410111
Wagner, Richard	The Valkyries: Ride of the Valkyries	Erato	26388
IMPRESSIONISTIC
Debussy, Claude	Pelleas et Melisande: Suite, L 65	DG	471332
Debussy, Claude	String Quartet, L 85, Op 10	Hyperion	68061
Debussy, Claude	Prelude #2: Voiles, L 117	Cd Baby	129839
Debussy, Claude	Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun, L 86	DG	435766
Debussy, Claude	Prelude #8: La fille aux cheveux de lin, L 117	Onyx	4057
Enescu, George	Roumanian Rhapsody #1, Op 11	RCA	6213
Ravel, Maurice	Pavane for a Dead Princess	EMI	8501
Satie, Erik	Gymnopedies #s 3 & 1	Decca	466710
Vaughan Williams, Ralph	Fantasia on "Greensleeves"	DG	419191
CONTEMPORARY
Adams, John	Short Ride in a Fast Machine	Nonesuch	79144
Adams, John	Violin Concerto	Signum	468
Adams, John	The Chairman Dances	Nonesuch	79144
Adams, John	Lollapalooza	Nonesuch	79607
Albeniz, Isaac	Suite Espanola: Sevilla, Op 47/3	EMI	56730
Albeniz, Isaac	Suite Espanola: Granada, Op 47/1	Decca	470477
Anonymous	Oh, Shenandoah	ACC	122
Barber, Samuel	Adagio for Strings, Op 11	Decca	468506
Bates, Mason	Mothership	BMOP	1045
Bernstein, Leonard	Candide: Overture	DG	459552
Bernstein, Leonard	On the Town: II Lonely town	Sony	60559
Bernstein, Leonard	Candide: Overture	Sony	63085
Boulanger, Nadia	Three pieces for Organ	Naxos	8573524
Brittelle, William	Future Shock	New Amsterdam	38
Britten, Benjamin	Simple Symphony, Op 4	DG	423624
Britten, Benjamin	Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra, Op 34	EMI	55394
Canteloube, Joseph	Songs of the Auvergne: Bailero	EMI	64249
Copland, Aaron	Rodeo	Bis	2164
Copland, Aaron	El Salon Mexico	Bis	2164
Copland, Aaron	Appalachian Spring	DG	427335
Delius, Frederick	On hearing the 1st Cuckoo In Spring, RT VI/19/1	Naxos	570364
Dukas, Paul	Sorcerer's Apprentice	Decca	2562702
Durufle, Maurice	Requiem: Sanctus, Op 9	DG	459365
Falla, Manuel de	La Vida Breve: Spanish Dance #1	London	417891
Falla, Manuel de	Seven Popular Spanish Songs: Cancion	EMI	164712
Gershwin, George	Prelude for Piano: Gershwin Melody #17	Musicole	4
Gershwin, George	An American in Paris	RCA	68931
Gershwin, George	Porgy & Bess: Summertime	London	460567
Glass, Philip	Glassworks: Closing	Sony	90394
Glass, Philip	Koyaanisqatsi: Koyaanisqatsi, Organic, Cloudscape, Resource	Nonesuch	79506
Glass, Philip	Glassworks: Facades	EMI	64249
Greenstein, Judd	Four on the Floor	Sono Luminus	92212
Grofe, Ferde	Grand Canyon Suite: On the Trail	Delos	3104
Holst, Gustav	The Planets: Jupiter, The Bringer of Jollity, Op 32	Denver Brass	8837
Khachaturian, Aram	Spartacus: Adagio of Spartacus & Phrygia	Philips	442011
Lauridsen, Morten	O magnum mysterium	RCM	19605
Lauridsen, Morten	Dirait-on	Reference	110
Lauridsen, Morten	O Magnum Mysterium	Kantorei	2000
Lauridsen, Morten	O Magnum Mysterium	Kantorei	2000
Pann, Carter	The Mechanics: Six from the Shop Floor: Flywheel	Blue Griffin	367
Part, Arvo	Magnificat	ACC	121
Part, Arvo	Spiegel im spiegel	Koch	7762
Piazzolla, Astor	Libertango	Sony	63122
Prokofiev, Sergei	The Love for 3 Oranges: March, Op 33	Newport	85551
Prokofiev, Sergei	Peter & the Wolf, Op 67	Sony	60175
Ravel, Maurice	Une barque sur l'ocean	Denon	71798
Ravel, Maurice	Kaddish	Centaur	2537
Ravel, Maurice	Une barque sur l'ocean	Denon	71798
Ravel, Maurice	Bolero	DG	427644
Rodrigo, Joaquin	Concierto de Aranjuez: II Adagio	Sony	33208
Rodrigo, Joaquin	Concierto de Aranjuez: II Adagio	DG	2003902
Shaw, Caroline	Partita for 8 Voices: Allemande	New Amsterdam	41
Shostakovich, Dmitri	Gadfly: Romance, Op 97	RCA	6603
Sibelius, Jean	Swan of Tuonela, Op 22	Ondine	930
Stravinsky, Igor	Violin Concerto	Sony	89649
Thompson, Randall	Alleluia	Cygnus	4
Turina, Joaquin	Serenata, Op 87	Claves	9215
Vaughan Williams, Ralph	Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis	Sony	62645
Vaughan Williams, Ralph	Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis	Sony	62645
Villa-Lobos, Heitor	Bachianas Brasileiras #5: Aria	EMI	74249