But sometimes it's hard to beat the great pieces of classical music that, sadly, too many people have never been exposed to. This is a musical category - calling it a genre doesn't do it justice - that is so huge, so varied, and lasting for too long a stretch of history to neatly categorize - or to narrow down to only fire great pieces.

Regardless, I gave it my best shot. Here, in no particular order, are five great pieces of classical music to enliven your Friday. //

DPDuq
11 days ago
For years, the Boston Symphony Orchestra would close out its summer season at Tanglewood with Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9. To hear that piece outdoors in one of the most idyllic settings is always a treat. I recall one year as the final measures of the final movement - chorus and orchestra - were thundering to the piece’s climax, the clouds (for the first time that day) suddenly parted and the sun came out. I turned to my friend and simply said, “Just kill me now - nothing will ever top this.”