Classical & Orchestral Music | Film & Music

The classical sector is arguably the richest of all music genres in terms of choice. This sector is also particularly popular with collectors who may collect music or recordings for the sake of it or who may collect and listen to or use the titles they buy.

Types of classical and orchestral music
People buy classical and orchestral music for various reasons. A musician, for example, may look to buy sheet music for his or her favourite piece and a conductor of an orchestra may look to buy sheet music for each orchestra member. Many collectors also like to buy sheet music as well as/instead of actual recordings -- some buy certain types of music and some collect only works from certain composers, conductors, orchestras, performers or musical styles / genres.

For most people, however, the purchase here will be for listening purposes. If you are looking to buy music here then the first issue you need to think about is which format to buy. In general terms the majority of purchases here will now be in CD format. When it come to modern recordings, however, downloading from the Internet is becoming increasingly popular in this sector. It is still possible to buy a whole range of recordings in earlier formats such as cassettes, mini-disc and vinyl LPS. Some music buffs actually prefer to buy their music on vinyl still, as do many collectors. Some collectors will buy new recordings on CD whilst others collect antique LPs (and some combine the two!).

A key consideration here is the actual recording, who played in it and when it was made. Some music fans simply discover that they want to hear a Beethoven symphony and don't much mind which one they pick to start with. Others may be looking for a specific symphony to add to their collection. Many concert goers will look for a specific recording from a concert they attended which is a great reminder of a night at the opera, for example.

Fans of classical and orchestral music may well be rather particular. Some will only buy orchestral music recorded by a certain orchestra, some may buy opera recordings featuring specific opera singers and others may like to collect recordings of orchestral works with a well known conductor.

The fact is that no two classical and orchestral recordings will necessarily be the same. The recordings can be of the same piece of music but factors such as the venue, orchestra, performers and conductor can make each recording specifically different to the listener.

Buying classical and orchestral music second hand
It is becoming increasingly common to buy classical and orchestral music second hand. Some people simply sell on their CDs when they download them to a portable MP3 device, some people look to get rid of unwanted gifts and some people will sell vinyl recordings when they move over to CD format. So, there are various perfectly valid reasons why people sell this kind of music second hand.

The collector market in this sector is also flourishing -- especially when it comes to rare recordings such as early records, vinyl imprints and sheet music. Buying second hand is actually a great way to start a collection as there are still bargains to be had in this sector.

One of the key considerations when buying classical or orchestral music second hand is quality. It is important to check with the seller that the CD, cassette or record plays well and has no problems. Bear in mind that you cannot actually hear the recording until you get it at which point it may be too late if there is a problem.

So, firstly, ask the seller why they are selling -- a viable reason here could put your mind at rest. Ask them questions about the quality of the music. If buying a CD ask them if it has any scratches and if it plays OK. If buying a cassette ask if the tape is in good order and if the recording still plays well. With cassettes, also check that this is a legitimate copy rather than someone's attempt at recording from Radio 4! If buying vinyl ask if there are any scratches on the record and how it sounds when it is played. Do bear in mind here, however, that many people no longer have access to a turntable or cassette player so you may have to make the purchase in good faith if they are simply selling off unwanted titles from their collection.

One good way to assess overall and general quality is to ask the seller to provide a digital photo of the item so you can at least take a quick look before you commit to buying it. Don't forget to ask how they will despatch the music as well. A CD or cassette will simply fit into a padded envelope which should be sturdy enough for standard postage. But, valuable recordings, fragile old vinyl records and rare sheet music will almost certainly need special packaging and postage.