Sorabji's Sandcastle

Lethevich · September 11, 2007, 02:35:46 AM

There looks to be something remarkable on the horizon in Sorabji land: a new Opus Clavicembalisticum recording by Jonathan Powell (who has given some acclaimed live performances while preparing for it), possibly on Altarus records. It may finally put to rest the issues people keep bringing up when recommending a recording of the work (the Madge/BIS in particular gets a lot of mud slung at it). This sort of makes up for Kevin Bowyer having to postpone the organ symphony no.2 premiere/recording due to (I think) ill health.

I am aware that this topic will die very quickly, as a) Sorabji fans are even less cool than Havergal Brian fans and b) unlike Brian, Sorabji doesn't even attract much mockery - just deadly silence

Josquin des Prez · September 13, 2007, 11:40:38 AM

Links only work for one file. $:-\$

karlhenning · September 13, 2007, 11:46:14 AM

Quote from: Lethe on September 11, 2007, 02:35:46 AM
a) Sorabji fans are even less cool than Havergal Brian fans

I'll never believe that!

Drasko · September 13, 2007, 01:26:54 PM

Great, thanks

Have to admit not really giving much thought to Sorabji so far but this fairly sizable chunk of music looks like an opportunity to rectify that. It'll take some time to get all that from rapidshare but why not.

Lethevich · September 13, 2007, 02:28:16 PM

I've downloaded and listened to all of them since I made the post and must mention that there are a couple of crackles, but considering it's live, the clarity is very nice. I forgot the total strangeness of his sound world a little until they refreshed my memory - I found the OC first part so ridiculous that I had to listen to it two segments. I haven't really encountered anything like it before - not atonal, but dense and initially bewildering in a way comparable to some Schoenberg. The eclectic and eccentric sound world is also a bit like Messiaen, but instead of the spiritual, colourful playfulness of that composer, Sorabji can just be overpowering and occasionally oppressive. The most unusual thing is that it all has some kind of inner logic that keeps me listening. Truly weird...

The recent BIS disc of Etudes may be the best ever way to get into his work. The first quarter of the etudes collection (which would occupy around 7 CDs in total, apparently) are actually short pieces, his only sub-five minute ones that I am aware of (although with so much unperformed, I can hardly say that with confidence).

Quote from: Josquin des Prez on September 13, 2007, 11:40:38 AM
Links only work for one file. $:-\$

Hmm, I checked them again and all of them seem to be working okay for me - I can upload a couple somewhere else if you like (perhaps Mediafire)? It'll take a while as I don't have a super fast upload, but it's not bad enough to not want to do it at all.

Edit: Hope you like them too, Drasko.

Lethevich · September 13, 2007, 03:28:04 PM

Lethevich · September 14, 2007, 03:49:39 AM

"The quickkey you provided for file download was invalid. This is usually caused because the file is no longer stored on Mediafire. This occurs when the file is removed by the originating user or Mediafire."

Well, I am fricking cursed. I suppose the site thought I was spreading copyrighted material and pressed their Big Red Button. How irritating

Drasko · September 14, 2007, 04:59:01 AM

Quote from: Lethe on September 14, 2007, 03:49:39 AM
"The quickkey you provided for file download was invalid. This is usually caused because the file is no longer stored on Mediafire. This occurs when the file is removed by the originating user or Mediafire."

Well, I am fricking cursed. I suppose the site thought I was spreading copyrighted material and pressed their Big Red Button. How irritating

Just tried some other mediafire links, none work, so you're not cursed 0:) it seems they have some problems.

edit: it works now

Josquin des Prez · September 14, 2007, 07:14:07 AM

Everything works fine now. How about uploading the rest then?

Fascinating stuff. Of course, i'm already acquainted with Sorabji but i never heard the OC before. Is he going to record the whole work?

Lethevich · September 14, 2007, 07:25:16 AM

Oh phew, it looks like it was just a blip on MediaFire's part. I wonder why they didn't use a "Under Maintenance" warning rather than "FILES DELETED", it was a bit scary

I'll up the other three now.

Quote from: Josquin des Prez on September 14, 2007, 07:14:07 AM
Is he going to record the whole work?

Yep, the recent live performances of it are apparently in preperation for a full recording. He's recorded some other Sorabji CDs for Altarus recently (two are very recent - the label looks to be stepping up production or something), so I assume it may appear on there, despite Ogdon's recording also being on that label - I imagine they may be seeking to supercede it, which is very likely given the quality of his interpretations versus Ogdon (plus more modern sound).

Kullervo · September 14, 2007, 07:38:36 AM

I'd like to listen to him, but I can't even say his name!

greg · September 14, 2007, 07:44:05 AM

so if someone ever asks me "what is the hardest piano piece ever?" it's safe to say "Sorabji's Opus C" right?
(well, of course length is the main factor

)

Lethevich · September 14, 2007, 07:47:33 AM

Quote from: Corey on September 14, 2007, 07:38:36 AM
I'd like to listen to him, but I can't even say his name!

Fortunately I have yet to even try to say it out loud - the joy of ordering CDs online instead of in shops

(plus very few friends with similar interests, of course)

Quote from: greg on September 14, 2007, 07:44:05 AM
so if someone ever asks me "what is the hardest piano piece ever?" it's safe to say "Sorabji's Opus C" right?
(well, of course length is the main factor )

I guess so. These things can't really be "proven", as anybody can write a long piece, whether good or bad. The main thing that distinguishes OC as unusually difficult must be that it isn't a minimal or repetetive piece. It's dense as hell AND long.

Kullervo · September 14, 2007, 12:03:10 PM

He's of Indian descent, so I'm guessing the j in Sorabji is not silent, and therefore should be pronounced "Sor-ahb-jee". Can anyone confirm this?

mikkeljs · June 17, 2009, 07:29:46 AM

I´m starting to explore this composer, and I decided to play one of his unperformed pieces one day! Perhabs the 5th sonata...I will try at least! Does anyone have any Sorabji scores, to make a copy? It´s a bit expensive for me as a student to buy them.

greg · June 17, 2009, 02:57:00 PM

I have 4 different Sorabji scores, but not the 5th sonata.

mikkeljs · June 17, 2009, 11:32:25 PM

Quote from: Bahamut on June 17, 2009, 02:57:00 PM
I have 4 different Sorabji scores, but not the 5th sonata.

wow

Which ones? Is it possible to make a pdf scan? I would be very thankful if I could get them!

greg · June 18, 2009, 01:46:41 PM

I have them all in pdf already- Piano Sonata 1, Opus C, 2 Piano Pieces, and Etudes 1-18 of the 100 Transcendental Etudes. PM if interested.

mikkeljs · June 28, 2009, 02:19:32 PM

I have just got The 5th sonata OPUS ARCHIMAGICUM, and Symphonic nocturne as a copy of the manuscript. Very difficult to read! In the 5th sonata there are up to 7 staffs pr line. I just played the beginning of all the movements, and I was so moved by all of it!

This is like the tradition of Liszt, Chopin, Scriabin, brought directly and perfectly into the atonal!

Tomorrow morning, the first thing I will do after break first is to start learning first mvt of the 5th sonata!

Lethevich · June 28, 2009, 02:36:21 PM

Great news! You will also have the honour of becoming one of the (probably less than) 100 people in the world who play Sorabji

Sorabji's Sandcastle

karlhenning

Drasko

Drasko

Kullervo

greg

Kullervo

greg

greg