Ben Folds picks classical music favorites

Ben Folds' new album, So There, not only features eight new pop songs recorded with contemporary classic ensemble yMusic. The album, out today, also boasts the debut recording of his three-movement Concerto for Piano and Orchestra, recorded with the Nashville Symphony at Nashville's Grand Victor Sound studio, better known as the historic RCA Studio A. In keeping with the tone of his new album, Folds recommends some of his favorite classical recordings.

Maurice Ravel/Budapest String Quartet, String Quartet in F Major: II. Assez vif - Très rythmé

This is a record to listen to once a week.

Arnold Schoenberg/Berliner Philharmoniker Herbert von Karajan, Verklärte Nacht, Op.4 - Arr. String Orch. (Second Vers. 1943): 2. Molto rallentando

I associate it so closely with the poem, that I hear the word even when they are not there.

Ludwig van Beethoven/Takács Quartet, String Quartet No.15 in A minor, Op.132: 1. Assai sostenuto – Allegro

As Lil Wayne would say, "This is how you build the beat."

Johann Sebastian Bach/Glenn Gould, Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Aria, Variation 1, & Variation 2

What can be said? A beautiful melody.

Charles Ives/Joel Sachs/Cheryl Seltzer/Continuum, 3 Quarter-Tone Pieces: Allegro

Somewhere in the middle of the piece you forget about the tuning weirdness.

Marvin Hamlisch, Solace - The Sting/Soundtrack Version (Orchestra Version)

Someone might I suggest I put down the pipe, but I hear Debussy.

Sergei Rachmaninoff/Van Cliburn/Kirill Kondrashin, Piano Concerto No. 3 in D Minor, Op. 30: Finale: Alla breve

I love the tempo and the drama of this particular recording.

György Ligeti/Yuja Wang, 6 etudes pour piano, premier livre: Etude n 4-Fanfares

Purely bad-assed. You wouldn't think the repeated scale would be so difficult. But put the accents in and give that a shot, kids.

Gabriel Kahane/yMusic, Song

My favorite band!

Chilly Gonzales, Freudian Slippers

Melody above all else. Brains and heart. Loves me some Chilly.