Havergal Brian.

[Mirror Image]

I'm about to start some serious Brian listening again. Hence why I changed my avatar back.

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

And lovely it is, too.

[springrite]

The tough project for me would to convert Kimi...

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

The tough project for me would to convert Kimi...

There's your New Year's resolution.

[Mirror Image]

And lovely it is, too.

Yeah, this is a cool picture and I actually converted it to black-and-white from the original. I think it looks better. I actually did the same thing with your avatar as well.

I'm hoping all of my Brian recordings that I ordered get here before Christmas, but that's a mighty big wish.

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

I sometimes wonder what it is that can attract some listeners so strongly to this composer... For me - the sense of adventure, the feeling your are inside someone's brain-space... Brian may not have his heart on his sleeve, but he certainly welcomes you inside his mind.

[John Whitmore]

Yeah, this is a cool picture and I actually converted it to black-and-white from the original. I think it looks better. I actually did the same thing with your avatar as well.

I'm hoping all of my Brian recordings that I ordered get here before Christmas, but that's a mighty big wish.

Santa detests Brian so you might just come a cropper.

[Mirror Image]

I sometimes wonder what it is that can attract some listeners so strongly to this composer... For me - the sense of adventure, the feeling your are inside someone's brain-space... Brian may not have his heart on his sleeve, but he certainly welcomes you inside his mind.

Some people wear their hearts on their sleeves in other ways. It doesn't have to be an overt emotionality in the music, in my opinion, for it to be considered 'heart on sleeve.' This said, I don't think Brian is a cold composer at all. Quite the contrary actually.

[springrite]

Santa detests Brian so you might just come a cropper.

All because Mrs. Claus is a Brianite? Geez, come on Santa!

[Mirror Image]

Santa detests Brian so you might just come a cropper.

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

Some people wear their hearts on their sleeves in other ways. It doesn't have to be an overt emotionality in the music, in my opinion, for it to be considered 'heart on sleeve.' This said, I don't think Brian is a cold composer at all. Quite the contrary actually.

I think Brian's emotional gamut is very very wide. But I always get the sense that Brian is able to remain in control. His heart belongs to his head. Which I like.

[Mirror Image]

I think Brian's emotional gamut is very very wide. But I always get the sense that Brian is able to remain in control. His heart belongs to his head. Which I like.

Yes, a wide array emotions inhabit his music.

[springrite]

His heart belongs to his head. Which I like.

*bingo!*

[cilgwyn]

My heart belongs to Daddy!

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

My heart belongs to Daddy!

Your candour does you credit.

[Mirror Image]

I will be revisiting Symphonies Nos. 2, 3, 4, & 18 over the course of tonight and tomorrow as I finally have all of my Brian recordings together. They were scattered throughout my collection.

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

I will be revisiting Symphonies Nos. 2, 3, 4, & 18 over the course of tonight and tomorrow as I finally have all of my Brian recordings together. They were scattered throughout my collection.

One caveat: the Naxos 2 is one of the less satisfactory performances (final movement comes off best). A better recording is the restored one with Mackerras on Klassic Haus.


http://klassichaus.us/Brian%3A-Symphony-No--2.php

[John Whitmore]

One caveat: the Naxos 2 is one of the less satisfactory performances (final movement comes off best). A better recording is the restored one with Mackerras on Klassic Haus.


http://klassichaus.us/Brian%3A-Symphony-No--2.php

Ditto No.3
http://klassichaus.us/Brian%3A-Symphony-No--3.php

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

Ditto No.3
http://klassichaus.us/Brian%3A-Symphony-No--3.php

Agreed. But The Hyperion Third isn't as bad.

[calyptorhynchus]

Glad people are coming on board, and appreciation of Brian is growing, but it's a pity there aren't any new recordings in the pipeline for next year (as far as we know).

On another note, it's now almost two years since I discovered this forum and through it the BBC recordings of Brian (before that I only had the published CDs).

Thanks everyone for your erudite and of entertaining comments, thanks to John W for his scepticism :-)

Happy Christmas and New Year!