Havergal Brian.

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

I am very glad MI has confirmed what all the others before him have written - that the Brabbins Gothic is stunning. I must be patient...

[Karl Henning]

O dread pedantry...

[Rabbity Baxter]

I am very glad MI has confirmed what all the others before him have written - that the Brabbins Gothic is stunning. I must be patient...

I listened to it yesterday in fact. And I quite agree about the quality -- really miles ahead of other versions.

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

I listened to it yesterday in fact. And I quite agree about the quality -- really miles ahead of other versions.

Very good. And wow, that's a long time ago I have seen you here on GMG... Welcome back!

[Dundonnell]

To be very pedantic indeed I doubt very much that half the performers were Welsh. Mainly Engish I think. Same nationality as the composer unless Stoke is now classed as East Wales

You will be telling me next that the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra are "English" too

[John Whitmore]

You will be telling me next that the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra are "English" too

Never heard of 'em

[Mirror Image]

Point 1: Try Mahler 6. Point 2: Make sure to download the Schmidt/LSO and Curro/Brisbane performances. Both free. Both excellent in their different ways. One for the superlative world class playing, the other for its guts, drive and excitement. Don't forget Boult either. Basically just get all of 'em!!

I'm not big on downloading. I'm very much happy with my CDs, but quite honestly, I don't see how Brabbins performance could be improved upon. I think he had the proper vision of this work and he nailed the essence of the work or at least for me he did. By the way, I've heard Mahler's 6th many, many times, but quite honestly I'm not much of a Mahler fan. I like Havergal Brian's music much more than Mahler's.

Anyway, I don't need another Gothic in my collection, because Brabbins really hit this one out of the park. As I said, I can't imagine anyone bettering this performance.

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

Anyway, I don't need another Gothic in my collection, because Brabbins really hit this one out of the park. As I said, I can't imagine anyone bettering this performance.

Though it is always instructive to hear different performances, I think Brabbins does the work full justice. There are a few moments where I'd wish he'd slowed down just a bit, but that's nitpicking. On the night itself I was struck by the immense onward momentum and never before had I felt the centrality of the (wonderfully sung!) a capella passage In te Domine speravi so strongly. If he had dragged I wonder if that passage would have moved me as much as it did and does. So - enjoy the Brabbins!

[Mirror Image]

Though it is always instructive to hear different performances, I think Brabbins does the work full justice. There are a few moments where I'd wish he'd slowed down just a bit, but that's nitpicking. On the night itself I was struck by the immense onward momentum and never before had I felt the centrality of the (wonderfully sung!) a capella passage In te Domine speravi so strongly. If he had dragged I wonder if that passage would have moved me as much as it did and does. So - enjoy the Brabbins!

Yes, I'm all for comparing different performances (I do own 26 recordings of Ravel's Daphnis et Chloe ), but with the Gothic and Brian, in general, there's not much to choose from. But where I'm getting at is I don't want to download music. I want a commercial recording. I want something tangible in my hands --- a hard copy if you will. I think Brian's star has yet to shine, but I do hope Brabbins continues his foray into the Brian symphonies. Yes, that a cappella passage, which I never paid much attention to, really hit me as something special too. I love the way Brabbins then weaved the orchestra in and out of the chorus. Some phrases really being punctuated and emphasized for emotional impact. I was truly impressed with his conducting all the way through.

[cilgwyn]

Oh, I hope cilgwyn forgives my moronic error! Long live the Welsh!

I forgive you Mirror Image. Cymru am byth & all that!

[Sergeant Rock]

Though it is always instructive to hear different performances, I think Brabbins does the work full justice. There are a few moments where I'd wish he'd slowed down just a bit, but that's nitpicking.

Not really nitpicking. As you and I have discussed before, I think his rush through the climactic moment of the Vivace ruins it (ruins it for me anyway). Boult blows it too, although for a different reason. Lenard, then, will remain my Gothic of choice. He nails that moment, the "stride from one end of the tonal universe to the other in a split second" ...to quote MacDonald.

Sarge

[John Whitmore]

Yes, I'm all for comparing different performances (I do own 26 recordings of Ravel's Daphnis et Chloe ), but with the Gothic and Brian, in general, there's not much to choose from. But where I'm getting at is I don't want to download music. I want a commercial recording. I want something tangible in my hands --- a hard copy if you will. I think Brian's star has yet to shine, but I do hope Brabbins continues his foray into the Brian symphonies. Yes, that a cappella passage, which I never paid much attention to, really hit me as something special too. I love the way Brabbins then weaved the orchestra in and out of the chorus. Some phrases really being punctuated and emphasized for emotional impact. I was truly impressed with his conducting all the way through.

I'm totally with you on this one which is why I only use high quality downloads (256 or 320 kbps) and then burn them onto CDs so that I can hold them and stick them into my CD player. I'm not into listening on the computer or via headphones. I only use the computer for editing. All my listening is through speakers - it's the only way you can get a true stereo image after all. You could do this and make extra Brian CDs for a few pence each. It's enabled me to put 5 Gothics on my shelf, all of them with their special moments and flaws. Have I converted you in any way?

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

Not really nitpicking. As you and I have discussed before, I think his rush through the climactic moment of the Vivace ruins it (ruins it for me anyway). Boult blows it too, although for a different reason. Lenard, then, will remain my Gothic of choice. He nails that moment, the "stride from one end of the tonal universe to the other in a split second" ...to quote MacDonald.

Sarge

I can't disagree. Another moment is the penultimate chord of the Judex. Brabbins is a funny conductor in that he has everything under tight control, but when he lets rip he sometimes does so too enthusiastically...

[petrarch]

Point 2: Make sure to download the Schmidt/LSO and Curro/Brisbane performances. Both free. Both excellent in their different ways. One for the superlative world class playing, the other for its guts, drive and excitement. Don't forget Boult either. Basically just get all of 'em!!

The excerpts I have heard of the Gothic have piqued my ear. I would like to listen to it in full before I get it on CD. Where can I download those performances? Looking forward to become another Brian convert .

Thanks all,
Paulo

[Sergeant Rock]

Looking forward to become another Brian convert .

You won't be allowed into the hallowed inner circle unless you meet the prerequisites:

"...average age about 70, bald scalp and lanky shoulder-length white hair, hanging limply in the latest Benjamin Franklin style; thick glasses, and showing a few conditions that had been cured by the turn of the last century..."

If you meet one or more of those criteria, you're in.

Sarge

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

The excerpts I have heard of the Gothic have piqued my ear. I would like to listen to it in full before I get it on CD. Where can I download those performances? Looking forward to become another Brian convert .

Thanks all,
Paulo

Nice hearing from you! Look in your Inbox here.

You won't be allowed into the hallowed inner circle unless you meet the prerequisites:

"...average age about 70, bald scalp and lanky shoulder-length white hair, hanging limply in the latest Benjamin Franklin style; thick glasses, and showing a few conditions that had been cured by the turn of the last century..."

If you meet one or more of those criteria, you're in.

We don't all aspire to your look.

[Karl Henning]

We don't all aspire to your look.

Well, if you change your mind, and feel like donning period costume, you'd make a great tour guide here in Boston, Johan . . . .

[Sergeant Rock]

We don't all aspire to your look.

Sarge

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

Well, if you change your mind, and feel like donning period costume, you'd make a great tour guide here in Boston, Johan . . . .

[Karl Henning]

Don't rush the decision . . . come visit, and we'll go on the duck tour together : )