Music Discovery
CLASSICAL
Centuries of composition across orchestras, chamber ensembles, and solo instruments. Every conductor and label pressed something you have not heard yet.
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Discover ClassicalFrequently Asked
What classical music is good for sampling?▾
Library music and film scores — rather than concert classical recordings — are generally the most useful sample sources for producers. Italian library labels like CAM, RCA Italiana, and Flipper Music pressed orchestral music specifically for use in film and TV, with no intent of wide commercial release. These records are now prized sample sources.
Can you legally sample classical recordings?▾
Yes, but carefully. Even if a musical composition is in the public domain (pre-1928 in the US), the master recording itself has its own copyright. A 1965 recording of a Beethoven symphony is in the public domain as a composition but the recording still requires master clearance. Always clear before commercial release.
What classical labels have the best records for producers?▾
For producers, the most useful classical labels are: Deutsche Grammophon and EMI Classics for orchestral recordings, Columbia Masterworks for mid-century American classical, and any Italian or French library music label from the 1960s–1970s. These labels pressed music with large ensembles in acoustically excellent studios.