Introduction to classical music #6: labels.

I am certain that it happened to you at some point to enter in a record store with the idea of buying a classical CD out of simple curiosity, without any precise idea. But how do you find your way among those hundreds of discs? You flip through the composers you know one by one and examine each CD? Of course not. I believe that the best way to do it is to go towards the end of the classical section, immediately after the last composer. This is the beginning of the Miscellaneous section, where you'll usually find operas and, mostly, the compilations.

This section is the ideal spot for the beginner or the casual buyer, or for those who have already a preferred instrument or style in classical music; by the way, I noticed that the piano is often the preferred instrument for the neophytes, probably because we are already accustomed to hear it in pop music, jazz, rock'n'roll…

Three pieces of advice.
You can thus browse at your ease in the classical section, but I would like to offer you here some advice, if you ever decide to buy a compilation:

• do not buy a CD where all the pieces are unknown to you; be certain to have at least two or three pieces that you know of, so you will not to be completely disappointed by what you will buy.
• never pay too much for a compilation! It's useless and, anyways, compilations are generally extracts from other discs, which means that they don't cost a lot to produce.
• avoid compilations or box-sets that look like a chocolate box, and that sell for the price of a blank CD. These recordings often offer bad sound quality (they can be old), and, usually, they come from labels which are not real classical music labels.

Dominant and specialized labels.
There are lots of classical music labels, but I would say that there are around ten labels that are dominant (you see several of them on this page); the other labels are usually specialized labels.

The dominant labels grab the greatest market shares, but Naxos is the true dominating label, partly because of the price of their CD's, which are generally a third of the price of the other dominant labels.

As for the specialized labels (see a list here,) they are usually a little more expensive, because they are targeted at a smaller audience. The specialized labels often specialize in particular styles, like baroque or ancient music, in audiophile recordings or in particular instruments.

In my opinion, there are very few occasions that justify paying a lot of money for a classical CD; it can happen if you order or find a CD for a very particular version of a piece, or if it is the only recording of the piece you were seeking. But that rarely happens, and those to which it happens are usually great music lovers.

If you get more and more interested into classical music, limit yourself to the dominant labels, and try to buy, as much as possible, budget line CD's. Budget line CD's are older recordings which are sold at approximately half the price of recent CD's. These recordings, which are not always digital, are most of the time versions of known artist and leaders which are reliable.

You'll notice that the more you will listen to classical music, the more you will know it and appreciate it. You'll also will end up recognizing artists, labels and discover new music. And don't forget that there is a way to consume classical music without ruining yourself.

Next time, I will talk to you about the famous basic repertory in classical music, among other things.

See you next time!