What were you listening to? (CLOSED)

[Brian]

First impressions is that this piece keeps you on your toes...lots of twists and turns... more engaged by the 5th than I was by the 1st.

The Fifth is certainly much more "Prokofievy".    And you're right ... maybe cranking it up on headphones isn't a good idea  . I had the pleasure of hearing the Symphony for the first time ever last year at a live concert - when I got back to my room searched for recordings and found that this Kuchar one was within fifteen seconds of each movement's timing at the concert I'd just been to. (Yes, I counted...) It was like the real thing!

I just listened to Penderecki's Eighth Symphony on Naxos. Don't know how many folks have heard this work, but it's a piece for mezzo, soprano, baritone, choir, and orchestra, and it's very ethereal, mystical. The way the piece ends is this: a triangle is struck, and then the choir begins to go up, and up, quietly, quietly, to the very top of their vocal range, as quietly as possible, and then abruptly stop - a mysterious ending to be sure! And right as they stopped singing, somebody in the next room flushed a toilet.

The effect was HILARIOUS.  Dare I call it performance art??

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

I just listened to Penderecki's Eighth Symphony on Naxos. Don't know how many folks have heard this work, but it's a piece for mezzo, soprano, baritone, choir, and orchestra, and it's very ethereal, mystical. The way the piece ends is this: a triangle is struck, and then the choir begins to go up, and up, quietly, quietly, to the very top of their vocal range, as quietly as possible, and then abruptly stop - a mysterious ending to be sure! And right as they stopped singing, somebody in the next room flushed a toilet.

You told this very well, Brian - the flushing really came as a surprise. 

[Keemun]

[Brian]

You told this very well, Brian - the flushing really came as a surprise. 

Heh, it was a surprise to me too. 

Current listening:



What a piece! I don't know how people can listen to just the suite...

[greg]

I just listened to Penderecki's Eighth Symphony on Naxos. Don't know how many folks have heard this work, but it's a piece for mezzo, soprano, baritone, choir, and orchestra, and it's very ethereal, mystical. The way the piece ends is this: a triangle is struck, and then the choir begins to go up, and up, quietly, quietly, to the very top of their vocal range, as quietly as possible, and then abruptly stop - a mysterious ending to be sure! And right as they stopped singing, somebody in the next room flushed a toilet.

The effect was HILARIOUS.  Dare I call it performance art??

knowing Penderecki, he probably arranged for the toilet to be brought onstage....

[Brian]

Yes, again. Delightful!

Just listening to this - what a surprise it is to hear all the swear words restored to their proper place! 

[Kullervo]

[karlhenning]

What a piece! I don't know how people can listen to just the suite...

It is a beauty!

[Brian]

LISZT | B minor sonata and Dante sonata
Claudio Arrau - live

[Kullervo]

[Bogey]

Rachmaninov Symphony No. 1 and "The Rock" (Fantasy for Orchestra) Op. 7
Slatkin/St. Louis Symphony
MMG/Vox

Good morning, Bill! Beautiful music, that!

Interesting pieces Karl.  I have never given them an attentive listen until today.  I only have the Slatkin recording of these pieces mentioned above and not sure if this recording is up to snuff, even without having heard another.  There were moments when the music gets suddenly too light at times.  Also, Slatkin tends to go overboard with the use of the triangle in the recordings I have of him.  A lot of "ding!" to be had.  Most of the time this works, but not so much here.  Like I said, I do not have another recording to compare this one with, but there were numerous times, especially during the 4th movement of No. 1 where I kept thinking, "Wow, that bit could have sounded incredible in the right hands."  Still solid, but definitely a piece where other recordings need to be explored. 

I have 2 and 3 under Slatkin as well and plan to spin these in the next few days.

[Bonehelm]

How's Ma in that, Keemun?

[Bogey]

How's Ma in that, Keemun?

Nande ya nen?
I'll toss in here.  I usually find Ma to be my third or fourth choice for most recordings where he has recorded the material.  Here, he is my first.

[Brian]

I have 2 and 3 under Slatkin as well and plan to spin these in the next few days.

Just put Slatkin's Second on ... liking it well enough so far (just past the climax of the first movement), but the recording seems to slight the winds and bass in places. I don't want to say too much to influence your listening when you play it, but will say I like being able to hear the recurrence of that idea which is played immediately after the English horn solo first time round, the second time round. Most recordings bury it in the excitement. [Apologies for poor sentence structure.]

By the way, love the avatar. 

EDIT: Oh, now I see the caption! Why thank you sir!

[Bogey]

Just put Slatkin's Second on ... liking it well enough so far (just past the climax of the first movement), but the recording seems to slight the winds and bass in places. I don't want to say too much to influence your listening when you play it, but will say I like being able to hear the recurrence of that idea which is played immediately after the English horn solo first time round, the second time round. Most recordings bury it in the excitement. [Apologies for poor sentence structure.]

By the way, love the avatar. 

EDIT: Oh, now I see the caption! Why thank you sir!

Just pulled No. 2 off the shelf and with great anticipation, will give it a spin tomorrow morning.  As for the avatar, I used this one some time ago at the old GMG....the Lt. is definitely a "styler".

[Brian]

As for the avatar, I used this one some time ago at the old GMG.

Remember that - twas my first thought upon seeing it. 

[George]

LISZT | B minor sonata and Dante sonata
Claudio Arrau - live

Is that the Orfeo disc?

Whadaya think?

[Bonehelm]

Nande ya nen?
I'll toss in here.  I usually find Ma to be my third or fourth choice for most recordings where he has recorded the material.  Here, he is my first.

Hmm that's saying something. Thanks for letting me know.

[Harry]

Heh, it was a surprise to me too. 

Current listening:



What a piece! I don't know how people can listen to just the suite...

Indeed good music and a fine recording.

[Harry]

A Deux Fleustes Esgales
Flute music from divers French Composers arranged by Michael Blavet.
Jean Pierre Pinet & Valerie Balssa, Flutes. (Period instruments)
ZigZag Recording 2000.
2 cd's.

Music for two Flutes! Boring? Not a bit, not if it is performed as beautiful as here, by two experts in the field. The arrangements are done in taste, and well executed. and the recording catches the softness of the traversó's. Restful music, and perfect for the morning. Found this in the great sale of JPC for 8,00 euro's a bargain.