Past Purchases (CLOSED)

[Karl Henning]

I'd call this an overreaction to an innocuous comment.

Let's go back to the video-tape.

This:

It's not any matter of may taking offense to it, John.  I don't care one way or another, for myself.

As I indicated in my post (which you strangely misread as a matter of my "taking offense") I thought right away of there being new members this week.  Maybe they both like Bach (Bach write a lot of great music, which has given many people in the world joy for hundreds of years, it's not a stretch to imagine so).  Your post makes you look very poorly.  I am surprised that you still don't twig that.

Was a response to this:

It's a joke, Karl. Sorry you took offense to it.

So I think this is more two chaps discussing the matter, not an overreaction to an innocuous comment.

[Mirror Image]

Pfffffffffffffft Bach, what a hack

I did think of you when I saw that Vine set! So far it's quite enjoyable, but he is obviously influenced by Stravinsky, of whose style I am not the greatest fan. Interesting that it was recorded at the Sydney Town Hall, not the Opera House. The sound is slightly reverberant for my taste. I noted that they got in Tim Handley to produce the later symphonies, so look forward to seeing hearing how he handles the sound of the hall.

This is good to hear, eyeresist. I hear a lot of influences in Vine's music but his style is completely his own I think. Carl Vine is also a nice guy. I'm friends with him on Facebook. He was quite surprised I knew his music. He's not used to getting messages from fans who live in the Southern United States evidently.

[eyeresist]

Let's go back to the video-tape.

So I think this is more two chaps discussing the matter, not an overreaction to an innocuous comment.

Let's rewind a bit further! Your original reaction -

That should certainly give the newbies a flattering impression of you, John, and a nice sense of the level of discourse on GMG.

I don't know, maybe MI overreacted to this. The question is whether it was uttered with a friendly chuckle, or with an expression of prune-faced wowserism. See, this is why we need emoticons!



(After typing this, it occurred to me that most here would not have heard of "wowserism" before. It's an Australian word, from "wowser", meaning a fun-hating moralist (CJ Dennis: "Wowser: an ineffably pious person who mistakes this world for a penitentiary and himself for a warder").)

[Brian]

Carl Vine is also a nice guy. I'm friends with him on Facebook. He was quite surprised I knew his music. He's not used to getting messages from fans who live in the Southern United States evidently.

Now that is cool.

[Mirror Image]

Now that is cool.

Yeah, it's not everyday you get to talk to a composer Vine's stature.

[jlaurson]

Thanks for posting the covers.  It's the first time I noticed that the conductor goes with a different orchestra for the concertos.  Did that work out well?  I haven't heard the concertos set yet.

I think the concerto discs works especially well. So the switch of orchestras was at least no detriment.

[eyeresist]

I can't afford it, but anyway.... Ordered from HMV jp:

[ASIN]B002JP9HTO[/ASIN] PENDERECKI : The choral works of  [5 CD] / Wit, et al. (Naxos)
An amazing bargain!

[ASIN]B004TWOXGC[/ASIN] PROKOFIEV : Piano sonatas 1-9 etc. [4 CD] / Raekallio (Ondine)
Essential.

[ASIN]B000EDWM2M[/ASIN] NIELSEN : Symphonies 1-6 [3 CD] / Kuchar (Brilliant)
These symphonies are a nut I'm still trying to crack.

[mc ukrneal]

I can't afford it, but anyway.... Ordered from HMV jp:
[ASIN]B004TWOXGC[/ASIN] PROKOFIEV : Piano sonatas 1-9 etc. [4 CD] / Raekallio (Ondine)
Essential.

I've heard some really good things about this. Let us know what you think when you get to it.

[Karl Henning]

Let's rewind a bit further! Your original reaction -
I don't know, maybe MI overreacted to this. The question is whether it was uttered with a friendly chuckle, or with an expression of prune-faced wowserism. See, this is why we need emoticons!

Not all posts are at fortissimo or even forte; mine was a plain mezzo-piano. So the absence of an emoticon was itself significant.

(After typing this, it occurred to me that most here would not have heard of "wowserism" before. It's an Australian word, from "wowser", meaning a fun-hating moralist (CJ Dennis: "Wowser: an ineffably pious person who mistakes this world for a penitentiary and himself for a warder").)

Interesting that a new folksie term has emerged, down your way.  In the US (and especially New England) we should lilely just say Puritan.

HL Mencken once wrily defined a Puritan as Someone who has a sneaking suspicion that someone, somewhere, is having a good time.

[North Star]

I can't afford it, but anyway.... Ordered from HMV jp:

[ASIN]B004TWOXGC[/ASIN] PROKOFIEV : Piano sonatas 1-9 etc. [4 CD] / Raekallio (Ondine)
Essential.

That's a great box, Raekallio is superb in the sonatas and smaller pieces, too.

[Que]

.[asin]B0037W391K[/asin]

Many thanks to Geo Dude for the tip!

Q

[Karl Henning]

.[asin]B0037W391K[/asin]

Many thanks to Geo Dude for the tip!

Q

Ooh, dirt cheap, too . . . fiercesome temptation.

[Geo Dude]

.[asin]B0037W391K[/asin]

Many thanks to Geo Dude for the tip!

Q

You can thank me by posting your thoughts on it in the Bach on the Harpsichord thread when you get it!

[Elgarian]

As I indicated in my post (which you strangely misread as a matter of my "taking offense") I thought right away of there being new members this week.  Maybe they both like Bach (Bach write a lot of great music, which has given many people in the world joy for hundreds of years, it's not a stretch to imagine so).  Your post makes you look very poorly.  I am surprised that you still don't twig that.

This is indeed exactly the point, Karl, and not just for new members. I was reading through this thread myself and was startled by how easily a sudden off-putting and unnecessary note of sourness is capable of changing what, moments ago, was a pleasure, into something repellent.

It's not a matter of wanting to establish the thought police, or of elevating the great composers into saints, or of stifling contentious comment. Heck, I find Bach difficult myself, and there's no reason why I can't say that, or even (if I so wanted) to explain why. No Bach devotees are likely to protest. (They may shake their heads in sorrow and pity, but they won't object.) It's the sour tone that spoils things; often followed by the indefensible defence that 'it was just a joke' - or the equivalent. The effect is to make me (and not merely innocent new members) want to switch off my computer and find a more attractive occupation instead. Which indeed is what I shall now do.

[Karl Henning]

Ah, but a brief Alan sighting!  I think I must dig up some Elgar-playing Bean to compensate . . . .

[kishnevi]

That's a great box, Raekallio is superb in the sonatas and smaller pieces, too.

I have that on back order with Arkivmusic. 

Ooh, dirt cheap, too . . . fiercesome temptation.

(Puts on the voice of Mephistopheles.  Or perhaps Kundry?)
Give in to temptation!

[Mirror Image]

Just bought this:

[asin]B000007NG2[/asin]

[Mirror Image]

Landed today:

[asin]B000AV6238[/asin]

[Mirror Image]

Surprised I didn't own this in my Tippett collection already so I bought it:

[asin]B00005NIF8[/asin]

And bought this recording of Montsalvatge who is a composer completely new to me:

[asin]B000004647[/asin]

You can read about Montsalvatge here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xavier_Montsalvatge

[Geo Dude]

I should have learned my lesson quite some time ago. There are composers you simply don't poke fun of without getting a tongue lashing from the "veteran" members and those are Bach, Beethoven, and Mozart. You must also remember, it's certainly okay for everybody else to poke fun of the composers that I admire.

Are some of your favorites fading, perhaps? 


More seriously, I do think there's a tendency toward touchiness caused by some members (not you) not being cautious enough with their words to distinguish 'I don't like composer X' from 'composer X sucks'.