Topic: Alfred Schnittke (1934-1998)

[Maciek]

Isn't it about time we had an Alfred Garyevich Schnittke thread?

Post your thoughts, recommendations and everything else Schnittke-related here!

Cheers,
Maciek

[Maciek]

Oh, and here are 2 threads from the old forum (if you're aware of any more, please do post them!):

Schnittke's Progress
Schnittke Symphony recommendation needed

Maciek

[Drasko]

Piano Quintet is absolutely quinte(t)ssential

[SonicMan46]

Oh, and here are 2 threads from the old forum (if you're aware of any more, please do post them!):

Schnittke's Progress
Schnittke Symphony recommendation needed

Maciek - I was about to check the old forum, myself, but thanks for the links - that first one has a lot of recommendations (I was posting back then in Oct '05!) - DavidW & Paulb had quite a few posts, then.

For those interested in this composer, I would first suggest looking at those old threads linked - there are plenty of excellent recommendations already - but additional ones will be greatly appreciated -    Dave

[Don Giovanni]

I have his Concerto grosso - it's an enjoyable yet crazy work.

[Choo Choo]

The Requiem !!!!!  

[Maciek]

I have his Concerto grosso - it's an enjoyable yet crazy work.

Which one?

(I mean which one do you have - all the ones I've heard are enjoyable and crazy .)

[Don Giovanni]

Oh! The first concerto grosso. I'm not sure how crazy it is compared to the rest of Schnittke's output.

[BachQ]

Isn't it about time we had an Alfred Garyevich Schnittke thread?

Post your thoughts, recommendations and everything else Schnittke-related here!

I love the Requiem . . . . . .

[karlhenning]

His dad's name was Gary?

[Drasko]

His dad's name was Gary?

Hopefully not Грязный Гарри 

[karlhenning]

Hopefully not Грязный Гарри 

Crikey, that's funny!

And, check PM!

[edward]

His dad's name was Gary?

Yes. Schnittke's father was a Volga German, and his mother a Russian Jew.That--plus his spending some of his teens in the Russian sector of Vienna--might explain a lot of the cultural cross-cutting in his work.

[karlhenning]

I have trouble thinking of Gary as a German name, too, Edward! :-)

[Danny]

The only piece I have of Schniike (Piano Quintet) gives me the creeps.  I love it, but it is certainly a rather macabre piece for my taste.

[BachQ]

The only piece I have of Schniike (Piano Quintet) gives me the creeps.  I love it, but it is certainly a rather macabre piece for my taste.

"Macabre" can describe much of Schnittke's works, including portions of the Requiem ( ) . . . . . . .

[Danny]

"Macabre" can describe much of Schnittke's works, including portions of the Requiem ( ) . . . . . . .

A macabre requiem.......................I must hear!

[bwv 1080]

The 3rd SQ & the 5th Symphony are probably my favorite AS works.  Minnesang, sort of a medieval vocal pastiche is a very cool choral work as is the Choir Concerto

[Maciek]

OK, here I go exposing myself: I've never heard the Quintet (I think)!

Of course, I'll try to change that as soon as possible (what does that mean exactly? it means: not very soon but hopefully sooner than that ).

At least I have the Trio... What a relief.

[Choo Choo]

A macabre requiem.......................I must hear!

Macabre, yes ... in places.  Certainly highly dramatic.  A Dies Irae that's shouted angrily.  And highly eclectic (e.g. a full rock'n'roll drumkit in the Credo.)  But it's also a sincere lament for the death of the composer's mother, and that comes across too.  Much beautiful music.  My personal preference would be for the BIS recording, as slightly less ragged than e.g. the Classico/Tim one - but either is fine.

And then there's Symphony No.2 "St Florian".  The Bruckner connection is extremely tenuous - but, oddly, I have found it to make a more fitting Finale to the unfinished Bruckner #9 than some others (such as Bruckner's own Te Deum, - or, indeed, the several "completions" in existence.)  Rozhdestvensky is your man here:  Polyansky doesn't seem (to my ears) to achieve the same sorts of resonances.