Topic: David Matthews(1943-)

[André]

Like some other Dutton disks now OOP, the Matthews 1,3,5 Symphonies disk is available on iTunes 

Matthews has all his symphonies recorded except No.8 and most of his orchestral and chamber works, but we are still waiting for Toccata to finish the cycle of his SQs (noise of fingers drumming on table).

I don’t do itunes. I need the physical cd... .

The 8th has been recorded on the Signum label. It’s on my wishlist for a coming purchase:

[vandermolen]

I don’t do itunes. I need the physical cd... .

The 8th has been recorded on the Signum label. It’s on my wishlist for a coming purchase:

I also need the physical CD - my wife keeps telling that I could have my whole collection on an 'iPod' and could then chuck all the hard copies out 
I liked the new Matthews CD but not as much as his Symphony No.6

[J]

I also need the physical CD - my wife keeps telling that I could have my whole collection on an 'iPod' and could then chuck all the hard copies out 
I liked the new Matthews CD but not as much as his Symphony No.6

Nos. 3 & 6 are the two I listen to.  After much repetition the others just don't engage me nearly as much.

[vandermolen]

Nos. 3 & 6 are the two I listen to.  After much repetition the others just don't engage me nearly as much.

Yes, this is my experience as well Greg.

[foxandpeng]

I also need the physical CD - my wife keeps telling that I could have my whole collection on an 'iPod' and could then chuck all the hard copies out 
I liked the new Matthews CD but not as much as his Symphony No.6

Space means I have to keep my collection digital. We don't have a small house, but when we factor in a ridiculous level of books (us), craft supplies and art objects (not me), and associated items (mostly not me, but us), CDs are 'objecta non grata' (yeah, I know) when digital is possible.

Matthews is on the list. With Lloyd. And Sawyers (to whom I have started to listen already).

[kyjo]

Space means I have to keep my collection digital. We don't have a small house, but when we factor in a ridiculous level of books (us), craft supplies and art objects (not me), and associated items (mostly not me, but us), CDs are 'objecta non grata' (yeah, I know) when digital is possible.

Matthews is on the list. With Lloyd. And Sawyers (to whom I have started to listen already).

Oh, you haven’t explored Lloyd yet? Great treasures await you, my friend! He’s become one of my very favorite composers.

[vandermolen]

Oh, you haven’t explored Lloyd yet? Great treasures await you, my friend! He’s become one of my very favorite composers.

There are some fine Lloyd works, especially symphonies 3,4,7,8,11 and 12, PC No.1 'Scapegoat' and PC No.3.

[kyjo]

There are some fine Lloyd works, especially symphonies 3,4,7,8,11 and 12, PC No.1 'Scapegoat' and PC No.3.

I would add the 5th and 6th symphonies (which I prefer to the 3rd, 11th, and 12th, though those have great moments) Symphonic Mass, and Cello Concerto. The 4th and 7th are his undoubted masterworks.

[kyjo]

On the topic of David Matthews, I enjoyed his recent 9th Symphony from this recording very much:

Colorful and accessible music in the great British symphonic tradition.

[Brian]

On the topic of David Matthews, I enjoyed his recent 9th Symphony from this recording very much:

Colorful and accessible music in the great British symphonic tradition.

I listened to the Ninth (and Eighth) for the first time ever this afternoon and 9 might based on that one listening be in my personal top two or three symphonies by living composers. I need to listen to the rest of the Matthews cycle, clearly. Nine is structured really interestingly - starting so simply and happily, building to such power and emotion, and then an ending which is almost really really exciting but then pulls back slightly to be emotional instead.

I tweeted at the conductor, Kenneth Woods, that I think Matthews is the best living writer of fast music for orchestra. This might not be the case on reflection (Kalevi Aho and Gabriela Lena Frank come to mind now) but wait, no, maybe it is true.

[foxandpeng]

Oh, you haven’t explored Lloyd yet? Great treasures await you, my friend! He’s become one of my very favorite composers.

There are some fine Lloyd works, especially symphonies 3,4,7,8,11 and 12, PC No.1 'Scapegoat' and PC No.3.

I would add the 5th and 6th symphonies (which I prefer to the 3rd, 11th, and 12th, though those have great moments) Symphonic Mass, and Cello Concerto. The 4th and 7th are his undoubted masterworks.

Thanks, all. Good to have some thoughtful recommendations for starting points. As soon as I have got past my initial exploration of Philip Sawyers, whose Symphony #1 is proving to be very rewarding (despite my not understanding serialism well, but enjoying the music itself as intuitively as I am able), I will be moving on to some George Lloyd. And David Matthews. It has been really good to see people here prodding Matthews, because there is an advantage in reading the comments of those who are more capable before I get there.