Tomaso Albinoni

Wikipedia (1671-1750) [Italian. Baroque period.]
If you're just gonna listen to one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s53N-dSHJTA


There's one piece by Albinoni that lots of people will recognize -- the Adagio in G minor, which only existed as a sonata fragment until it was discovered by Remo Giazotto. He originally claimed to have arranged the work from the Albinoni sketch, but later changed his story and said that it was an original work by him. Still, credit for the piece generally falls to Albinoni, with Giazotto living as an asterisk in the history books...

Adagio in G minor: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuh3WyfVL2M (This is Herbert von Karajan's slow but lovely take on this piece, clocking in at almost 12 minutes. See also this version, which is under 9 minutes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s53N-dSHJTA)

Albinoni spent most of his time writing operas, but he is now mostly remembered for his instrumental music. He was also the first Italian composer to write concertos for oboe, which were part of his 12 Concerti a cinque.

Oboe Concerto 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjgndGuy77o
Oboe Concerto 8: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6PojkUPozg

Baroque chamber music!

String Quintet op 2 no 6: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fS600cRhEg4

Maurice Ravel

Wikipedia (1875-1937) [French. Modern period.]
If you're just gonna listen to one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqAlMItkV44

Orchestral Music. Okay, most folks with some awareness of classical music (or figure skating) will know or have heard Bolero. Ravel himself considered Bolero a piece with "no music in it," and was surprised by its popularity. He'd probably freak out if he knew that most people see this as his biggest contribution to classical music.

Bolero
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVhZ1KKtI60

Pavane pour une Infante Defunte
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqAlMItkV44

Ravel also wrote two piano concertos -- one was commissioned by Paul Wittgenstein (brother of philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein), who lost his right arm during World War I, and is composed for left hand only - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ENNXLb3pXI (Hamelin). The other piano concerto is a part of the standard repertoire: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bq1ueeJucA8 (Argerich)

Piano Music. Ravel was a master at orchestration, but his piano pieces are amazing...

Jeux d'eua (Water Fountain)
[Listen to how her flowing technique sounds like a golden fountain...]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_36x1_LKgg (Argerich)

Miroirs (excerpt)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XEklGdRT6c (Richter)

Gaspard de la nuit (1 - Ondine)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BonP-ilIxwg (Argerich)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_-1qMPDf-A (Thibaudet - if you like to watch sheet music while it's being played)

Chamber Music.

String Quartet
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehQMe57TPPM&feature=results_video&playnext=1&list=PLBCB3A150545F2B6D (Hagen Quarter)