Rihm's Wolf Gang

[snyprrr]

Well, it is hard for me to enjoy much of my Rihm piano collection after what Siegfried Mauser did and was told by the judge at his trial.

DAS GRAPSCHER!!!???!!!?!?!?!?!!

Yikes! Didn't know about that!

I guess you'll have to fall back on...

jUDGE: "You may think you're as sexually attractive as James Bond, but you overrate yourself,... and aren't that hawt" (paraphrased)



His colleague says that the lady doth protest too much and took revenge because SM passed her up for a promotion? kitty kitty



The New World Order: If you have a penis in a position of power, WATCH OUT!!



Probably just as EZ to put k-porn on his computy...



As for me, Mauser has all of a sudden become more interesting to me... will have to dif out CDs and see if I can hear any perversions under the fingernails...

[SurprisedByBeauty]

DAS GRAPSCHER!!!???!!!?!?!?!?!!



jUDGE: "You may think you're as sexually attractive as James Bond, but you overrate yourself,... and aren't that hawt" (paraphrased)

His colleague says that the lady doth protest too much and took revenge because SM passed her up for a promotion? kitty kitty
The New World Order: If you have a penis in a position of power, WATCH OUT!!
Probably just as EZ to put k-porn on his computy...
As for me, Mauser has all of a sudden become more interesting to me... will have to dif out CDs and see if I can hear any perversions under the fingernails...

You know who the lady in question was?

No, actually, let me re-phrase that: You know the lady in question. At least you have a few records by her, I'd say. Decidedly a better musician than Mauser, for what it's worth.

[petrarch]

Got this in the mail yesterday. I loves me some fresh Rihm string quartets!

[asin]B072L2NL8B[/asin]

[snyprrr]

Got this in the mail yesterday. I loves me some fresh Rihm string quartets!

[asin]B072L2NL8B[/asin]

Instant chubby right thar!

I was able to resist getting that other Wergo SQ, but now, oy, ah, eek, what am I to do?? IGOR, SAVE ME!!

[snyprrr]

Got this in the mail yesterday. I loves me some fresh Rihm string quartets!

[asin]B072L2NL8B[/asin]

OUCH!! 47mins.

And I see the two early SQs are the featured attraction, with one new SQ and one new String Quintet, All pieces shortish. Mmmm... I'm losing a little bit of girth over those details...

But still, nice to see

[petrarch]

47 mins or not, it's a disc with Rihm SQs!

I think it has been 6 (!) years since my previous listening of the full set of Rihm SQs in chronological order (I think I posted about it at the time) and I have been itching to do it again. There's just something irresistible about those works. The difference is that nowadays I would include the two Wergo CDs for a total of 6 discs of Rihm SQ bliss .

[snyprrr]

47 mins or not, it's a disc with Rihm SQs!

I think it has been 6 (!) years since my previous listening of the full set of Rihm SQs in chronological order (I think I posted about it at the time) and I have been itching to do it again. There's just something irresistible about those works. The difference is that nowadays I would include the two Wergo CDs for a total of 6 discs of Rihm SQ bliss .

It was either 6 or 7 that I really liked, and either 6 or 7 that I found too long...

And all kinds of things begin to happen around 8-12...

I hear ya, though,... Rihm has a maddening effect like that, makes you want to binge...

Still, at 47mins., they could've given us sooomething... (if I were more inclined, I'm sure I would be right there with ya as to not caring about the timing)


Will we get a monstrous Masterpiece out of Rihm shortly?? Something new and unheard of??

[Mandryka]

What is Uber die Linie?  There seem to be a lot of pieces with the same title. What's he about, what's he trying to do?

So far I find it above recording so sprawling it's unpleasant, I'm trying to decide whether to put it to one side, or whether there are ideas in there worth pursuing. Part of the problem may be the spotify sound.

I got interested in it because one of my heros, Arne Deforce, played it -- alas no recording by him.

[petrarch]

What is Uber die Linie?  There seem to be a lot of pieces with the same title. What's he about, what's he trying to do?

It's a cycle. There is plenty about Rihm's use of cycles as a compositional approach in Knockaert's book. Specifically, Über die Linie is mentioned in a chapter devoted to how strong an influence the fine arts have on the composer, but not a lot beyond quoting the brief notes to Über die Linie VIII, here.

[Mandryka]

It's a cycle. There is plenty about Rihm's use of cycles as a compositional approach in Knockaert's book. Specifically, Über die Linie is mentioned in a chapter devoted to how strong an influence the fine arts have on the composer, but not a lot beyond quoting the brief notes to Über die Linie VIII, here.

Thanks

Klanschreibung I-III (...1987)

These three pieces equal about 90mins. of the best effects heavy Rihm. I don't know of any other piece that does what these do. And I think most everyone agrees, it's just a bygone conclusion at this point. Great stuff, black as night.

What is this?

(Very much enjoying the 7th quartet. Such a shame that Snyprr was eradicated.)

[Mandryka]

I'd always thought that Quartettstudie is in Rihm's  calm and fluid style, like violin and piano duo Anlitz. I'd previously known it through recordings by Ébène Quartet, and the Minguet Quartet, and I'd never found it particularly interesting.


Well I've just found this recording from Mivos Quartet and they give it relief, drama, and they fine more polyphonic interest too. I think it's rather good, even on Spotify (it's not available on Qobuz and I don't want to buy it because I'm not sure I'm interested in the other music on the CD.)

[Mandryka]

Knockaert's book.

What do you think of this book? I'm exploring Ciffre at the moment and so it has come up, I'm not sure whether there's too much technical analysis to be useful for me - I'm more interested in motivation, context, philosophy, consequences, reception etc.

[Mandryka]

Fremde Szenen is a set of three pieces for piano trio inspired in some way by Schumann. Here are the notes about it from the publishers

These three "essays" for piano trio have become classics of new chamber music since their premiere in the early 1980s. Rihm is fully aware of the "strangeness" or "foreignness" of his chamber-music "scenes," in particular that of the second Trio, which bears the title Charakterstück ["character piece"], reminding listeners of Schumann. The composer warns: "The foreign tongue speaks its very own language, no note is quoted – [the music] falls, plunges into the notes."

The history of the genre already seems to be apparent in the first Trio behind a veil, typical of Rihm's gestures – impulsiveness, characteristically obsessive repetitions and pensive, meditative moments. The "character piece" is replete with surprises; the composer is inviting listeners on a surreal journey.

The beginning of the third Trio is fragmentary, languorous, with silences between the fragments; tradition seems to have receded into the background. But it returns after about three minutes, with gestures and paraphrases perhaps more reminiscent of Beethoven and Brahms than Schumann. In the course of the work the music shifts about oddly as Rihm seems to be playing with tradition, steering the music into pathways which surprise and fascinate the listener.

When I first started to explore it I listened to this recording by The Beethoven Trio, and was disappointed. It felt too safe. After listening to Fremde Szenen II I actually went to Schumann's op 11 to see how he deals with impulsiveness in music, and I said to myself that Schumann is a much better composer that Rihm.

Well a few days ago I got this, and my opinion changed



Trio Jean Paul make Rihm sound a much more impulsive and incandescent composer, and all the better for it. I like it.

[Mandryka]

Akt und Tag for soprano and string quartet - 2006 and very original - includes a setting of William Blake's Day -  like it - the whole CD is full of interesting music.

The Sun arises in the East,
Cloth'd in robes of blood and gold;
Swords and spears and wrath increast
All around his bosom roll'd
Crown'd with warlike fires and raging desires.

[Mandryka]

I'm sensing that the music deserves a better performance and a better recording. Talking about Quartet 11. Neo-Schumann style music. Has he lost the plot?

Much better on second listening. Challenging music that demands attention, but may well reward it, we shall see.

[bhodges]

Fremde Szenen is a set of three pieces for piano trio inspired in some way by Schumann. Here are the notes about it from the publishers




When I first started to explore it I listened to this recording by The Beethoven Trio, and was disappointed. It felt too safe. After listening to Fremde Szenen II I actually went to Schumann's op 11 to see how he deals with impulsiveness in music, and I said to myself that Schumann is a much better composer that Rihm.

Well a few days ago I got this, and my opinion changed



Trio Jean Paul make Rihm sound a much more impulsive and incandescent composer, and all the better for it. I like it.

Thanks for these recent Rihm comments. I haven't heard any of his output for some time (after being knocked flat by Jagden und Formen -- but that's been awhile). All of these recordings look most interesting.

--Bruce

[Mandryka]

https://www.youtube.com/v/I6kCWoX6F38


The above is Rihm's third symphony I think. Is that what derde means? Anyway it's very interesting if you're in the mood for post Mahler inwardness, seriousness and grandeur. Is there a commercial recording? (The sound on YouTube is good.)

(Wow, listening to it was like Proust's Madeleine - all the way back to years and years ago when I would listen to stuff like Bruckner! There are some extraordinary Mahlerian moments.  The lads at Doneraueschingen must have hissed and booed!)

[Maestro267]

It could just be because that's a performance on the Youtube channel of a Dutch radio station that the video is called that.

[petrarch]

It is just the local translation of the name:

https://www.universaledition.com/wolfgang-rihm-599/works/3-symphonie-542

[Mandryka]

Yesterday I was sent back to Mahler and maybe even Bruckner; today I'm sent back to Hugo Wolff -- Das Rot.  Very nice but so 19th century!  But no way could anyone say, IMO, that this is just a well made pastiche, an exercise in style. It may well be partly that, but it's too good to be dismissed.