Favorite newish tonal orchestral works

jowcol · April 10, 2010, 03:57:06 PM

I've really enjoyed Jennifer Higdon's Cityscape and Concerto for Orchestra. That is "newish"..

The new erato · April 10, 2010, 10:22:46 PM

The Sallinen symphony cycle is wonderful, like some kind of Sibelius for the post war generation.

Let me put in a strong plug for the Australian (really Tasmanian) Peter Sculthorpe.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0MhMmO9jvw

The string quartets (on Tall Poppies) are wonderful, vol 3 got a really strong recommendation in the last issue of International Record Review, and this double disc set at reduced price is really wonderful:

including the beautiful requiem wih at strangely beautiful part for the didgeridoo.

Teresa · April 10, 2010, 11:33:26 PM

Quote from: jowcol on April 10, 2010, 03:57:06 PM
I've really enjoyed Jennifer Higdon's Cityscape and Concerto for Orchestra. That is "newish"..

I greatly enjoy Jennifer Hidgon's Telarc SACD as well. Some modern tonal works I've discovered are:

CHIHARA, PAUL (1938-
The Tempest: Ballet in two Acts (1980)
LeRoux, The Performing Arts Orchestra - Reference Recordings
CONNESSON, GUILLAUME (1970-
Cosmic Trilogy (1997-2009)
Denève, Royal Scottish National Orchestra - Chandos
DAUGHERTY, MICHAEL (1954-
Bells for Stokowski (2001)
Junkin, University of Texas Wind Ensemble - Reference Recordings
Bizarro for Winds and Percussion (1993)
Metropolis Symphony for Orchestra (1993)
Zinman, Baltimore Symphony - Argo / Decca
Niagara Falls for Organ, Winds and Percussion (1997)
Preston, Junkin, Dallas Wind Symphony - Reference
Sunset Strip (1999)
Llewellyn, North Carolina Symphony - BIS
GANDOLFI, MICHAEL (1956-
The Garden of Cosmic Speculation (2003)
Spano, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra - Telarc
HIGDON, JENNIFER (1962-
Blue Cathedral (2000) from album "Rainbow Body"
City Scape (2002)
Concerto for Orchestra (2002)
Spano, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra - Telarc
MEIJ, JOHAN DE (1953-
Casanova for Cello and Symphonic Winds (2000)
Raclot, Orchestre D'harmonie L'air - Passions Districlassic
Extreme Make-over: Metamorphosis on a Theme by Tchaikovsky (2005)
Meij, Osaka Symphonic Band - Cryston/Octavia Records
Symphony No. 1 "The Lord Of The Rings" (1987)
Jolly, Ensemble Vents et Percussion de Québec - Atma
Symphony No. 3 "Planet Earth" (2006)
Windy City Overture
Meij, Osaka Symphonic Band - Cryston/Octavia Records

matti · April 11, 2010, 12:55:54 AM

Not really "newish", but something worth sampling if you're not familiar with this composer. Aarre Merikanto, his output is not large - another Finn whose creativity went down the drain at early age, not alcohol but morphine in his case.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmPSe9wURQQ&feature=related

Edit: Another youtube lnk, I'm not too sure about the quality of the music, it s tame compared to early Merikanto, but the video footage is special, idyllic scenes from the summer of 1939, just before Europe went kaboom.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9tivoK2NQ8&feature=related

vandermolen · April 11, 2010, 02:09:07 AM

John Kinsella symphonies 3 and 4 are favourites - especially No 3, in the spirit of Tubin and Lilburn.

listener · April 12, 2010, 09:22:25 PM

Looks like no mention yet of Alan Hovhaness (1911 - 2000) and his 67 Symphonies, American with a distinct Armenian flavour. The often recorded Symphony no.2, "The Holy Mountain" is a good place to start, and if whale songs incorporated into the work are of interest, "...and God Created Great Whales"

And a two-piano piece that I heard many years ago stays in the memory, "Mihr, for two pianos imitating an orchestra of kanoons". (The Bartok "Sonata for 2 Pianos and Percussion" was also on the programme.)

vandermolen · April 13, 2010, 03:23:12 AM

Quote from: listener on April 12, 2010, 09:22:25 PM
Looks like no mention yet of Alan Hovhaness (1911 - 2000) and his 67 Symphonies, American with a distinct Armenian flavour. The often recorded Symphony no.2, "The Holy Mountain" is a good place to start, and if whale songs incorporated into the work are of interest, "...and God Created Great Whales"

And a two-piano piece that I heard many years ago stays in the memory, "Mihr, for two pianos imitating an orchestra of kanoons". (The Bartok "Sonata for 2 Pianos and Percussion" was also on the programme.)

It occurred to me that there was no mention of Hovhaness yet. I think that his Symphony No 2 is 'Mysterious Mountain' - my favourite is No 50 'Mount St Helens' - a spectacular work that I would not want to be without.

Teresa · April 13, 2010, 03:39:04 AM

Quote from: vandermolen on April 13, 2010, 03:23:12 AM
It occurred to me that there was no mention of Hovhaness yet. I think that his Symphony No 2 is 'Mysterious Mountain' - my favourite is No 50 'Mount St Helens' - a spectacular work that I would not want to be without.

I am also a fan of Alan Hovhaness and Mount St. Helens is my favorite work by him. He has written a lot of beautiful works, however Mount St. Helens is the most violent and exciting I've heard from him, however even this has an underlying beauty. I don't know how he does it but it is very effective.

Brian · April 13, 2010, 06:01:51 AM

Quote from: vandermolen on April 11, 2010, 02:09:07 AM
John Kinsella symphonies 3 and 4 are favourites - especially No 3, in the spirit of Tubin and Lilburn.

Just listened to and enjoyed Kinsella's Third - a lot of work for the poor bassoonist - but I liked it quite a bit! Clearly now I need to work backwards to Lilburn.

vandermolen · April 13, 2010, 08:43:04 AM

Quote from: Brian on April 13, 2010, 06:01:51 AM
Just listened to and enjoyed Kinsella's Third - a lot of work for the poor bassoonist - but I liked it quite a bit! Clearly now I need to work backwards to Lilburn.

Glad you liked it. No 4 is good too- the turbulent return of the prevailing wind motto theme at the end, I find oddly moving. Lilburn 1 and 2 are excellent, very sibelian but also like VW, Bax and Moeran. There is a fine Naxos recording with the NZSO.

vandermolen · April 13, 2010, 08:44:37 AM

Quote from: Teresa on April 13, 2010, 03:39:04 AM
I am also a fan of Alan Hovhaness and Mount St. Helens is my favorite work by him. He has written a lot of beautiful works, however Mount St. Helens is the most violent and exciting I've heard from him, however even this has an underlying beauty. I don't know how he does it but it is very effective.

Yes, you are right - I love the gentle opening of the Symphony - a lovely moment.

listener · April 13, 2010, 08:47:20 AM

Quote from: vandermolen on April 13, 2010, 03:23:12 AM
It occurred to me that there was no mention of Hovhaness yet. I think that his Symphony No 2 is 'Mysterious Mountain' - my favourite is No 50 'Mount St Helens' - a spectacular work that I would not want to be without.

"Mysterious Mountain" is correct.
Nice recording on RCA by Reiner with 2 Stravinsky works: Song of the Nightingale and The Fairy's Kiss: Divertimento