Muncybob:
An inexpensive way to find out what you prefer is to listen to the radio. Most large cities have a classical or fine arts music FM station - a public radio station - often connected to a local university and generally around 88 - 92 Mhz. Many of these stations post their playlist on their website. Jot down the time of day that you heard the work and look it up on the playlist. Most folks that I know who have developed a passion for fine arts music later in life have employed this method.
Several guides are a good place to start for classic performances - my recomendation is the Gramophone annual guide. Less comprehensive than the Penguin annual guide but, in my opinion, a better place to start.
By 'classical' music I am assuming that you mean everything from Bach to Berg. Keep in mind that there are different, somewhat arbitrary divisions. A more narrow definition would classify Bach and contempories as Baroque, include mainly Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven as Classical, with Beethoven transitioning into Romantic - followed by Schubert, Bruckner, etc, and with Shostakovich, Berg, and others representing modern or 20th century genres. My guess, given your stated likes, is that you will prefer, at least at first, Baroque, Classical, and Romantic to 20th Century.
You may also want to take a sampling of (1)orchestral, (2) chamber, and (3) instrumental performances (i.e. (1) symphonies and concertos, (2) string quartets and piano trios, (3) piano and violin sonatas). Also consider choral and opera (although a full opera may be daunting at first - highlights are perhaps a better way to begin).
A couple things to keep in mind about collecting classical music that is somewhat different than how popular music is typically collected (although not alltogether different than collecting Jazz - one can never have enough takes on a Gershwin tune). (1) Generally, one ends up with several performances of a composer's work by various performers. For eg. I have roughly 20 performances of Beethoven's 3rd symphony. (2) While a given work can certainly be enjoyed in the first, second, or third listen, the real pleasure comes in becoming extremely familiar with the work.
A nice series of DVD's that may be of use to you are those done by Michael Tilson Thomas - he is a brilliant conductor and the DVD's include performances as well has his and members of the San Fransisco symphony, musings on given works.
The above is essentially an intellectual treatment of music - one which most collectors of classical music do engage in. However, there is also a visceral aspect to listening to fine arts music - not analytical - more of a zen like approach - rewarding in a different way and largely separate from the intellectual treatment. Both are valuable.
Good luck.
An inexpensive way to find out what you prefer is to listen to the radio. Most large cities have a classical or fine arts music FM station - a public radio station - often connected to a local university and generally around 88 - 92 Mhz. Many of these stations post their playlist on their website. Jot down the time of day that you heard the work and look it up on the playlist. Most folks that I know who have developed a passion for fine arts music later in life have employed this method.
Several guides are a good place to start for classic performances - my recomendation is the Gramophone annual guide. Less comprehensive than the Penguin annual guide but, in my opinion, a better place to start.
By 'classical' music I am assuming that you mean everything from Bach to Berg. Keep in mind that there are different, somewhat arbitrary divisions. A more narrow definition would classify Bach and contempories as Baroque, include mainly Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven as Classical, with Beethoven transitioning into Romantic - followed by Schubert, Bruckner, etc, and with Shostakovich, Berg, and others representing modern or 20th century genres. My guess, given your stated likes, is that you will prefer, at least at first, Baroque, Classical, and Romantic to 20th Century.
You may also want to take a sampling of (1)orchestral, (2) chamber, and (3) instrumental performances (i.e. (1) symphonies and concertos, (2) string quartets and piano trios, (3) piano and violin sonatas). Also consider choral and opera (although a full opera may be daunting at first - highlights are perhaps a better way to begin).
A couple things to keep in mind about collecting classical music that is somewhat different than how popular music is typically collected (although not alltogether different than collecting Jazz - one can never have enough takes on a Gershwin tune). (1) Generally, one ends up with several performances of a composer's work by various performers. For eg. I have roughly 20 performances of Beethoven's 3rd symphony. (2) While a given work can certainly be enjoyed in the first, second, or third listen, the real pleasure comes in becoming extremely familiar with the work.
A nice series of DVD's that may be of use to you are those done by Michael Tilson Thomas - he is a brilliant conductor and the DVD's include performances as well has his and members of the San Fransisco symphony, musings on given works.
The above is essentially an intellectual treatment of music - one which most collectors of classical music do engage in. However, there is also a visceral aspect to listening to fine arts music - not analytical - more of a zen like approach - rewarding in a different way and largely separate from the intellectual treatment. Both are valuable.
Good luck.