Saturday Symphony

[Bogey]

Well, I always enjoy having a "listening resolution" at the start of each year and sometimes I even stick to them for a few months.

This year, my resolution for classical music is to listen to a performance of a symphony each Saturday that I have not spun in a while, preferably over a year.  After a full listen each week, I hope to have time to return to one of the movements and give that a second listen to top it off.

Installment #1:



Symphony No.1

I chose this one because Brahms is on and off my listening radar, but since I am continuously returning to his music, I wanted to kick it into gear again.  I have found this first symphony of his to be the most accessible to me so I started from the top.  Also, I am considering a Böhm recording of this composition and wanted to revisit it before I pulled the trigger.  The revisit only solidified my intent to place the order. 

However, there was some downside with this cd.  The sound of this recording was a bit thick and muddied, but I have come to expect that somewhat from HvK recordings, and for that matter, many of the symphony DG recordings I am starting to revisit  (ie Bernstein's Mozart with the VPO).  As for the performance, it seemed fairly passionate, but I much prefer my 1951 Furtwängler on the Music & Arts label which seems slower and a bit more defined.  (I would have to check the timings, but I am listening to the first movement of the Furtwängler as I type and it seems less rushed to me.)

As for the movement that I took in again after a full listen, I went with the second.   The BPO's strings under HvK are always at their best when not at a fast pace.....gorgeous.

Well, this Furtwängler of the 1st is now on the third movement, and I have no desire to pop it out.  Might as well let it play through.  Feel free to join the Saturday Symphony listening thread, or just post thoughts on the listening you read about here.

[Bulldog]

Last year was the only time I had a "listening resolution".  It was to really dig into Stravinsky's music; didn't happen. 

[Brahmsian]

My 'listening resolution' is to start back up my music log.  Also, each month I will pay special attention to composers birth/death months. 

For January, I'm focusing on listening to a lot of Mozart and Schubert (both born in January).

[Gurn Blanston]

Last year was the only time I had a "listening resolution".  It was to really dig into Stravinsky's music; didn't happen.

This year I determined to listen to some new (to me) composers from this side of the Great Divide (1900). So far, I have had Bartok & Bax. That's a good start.



----------------
Now playing:
Laurence Jackson (Violin) / Ashley Wass  (Piano) - Bax Sonata in F for Violin & Piano 1st mvmt - Molto moderato

[DavidRoss]

This year I determined to listen to some new (to me) composers from this side of the Great Divide (1900). So far, I have had Bartok & Bax. That's a good start.

Did the earth just shift on its axis?     (That is a good start!)

I like the idea, Bill--"Symphony Saturday."  Once a week revisiting many of those recordings I've heard once or twice but haven't taken off the shelf since.  The only weekly tradition I now observe is to hear baroque music on Sunday morning.  Telemann's already queued up for the morrow!

[Bogey]

Did the earth just shift on its axis?     (That is a good start!)

I like the idea, Bill--"Symphony Saturday."  Once a week revisiting many of those recordings I've heard once or twice but haven't taken off the shelf since.  The only weekly tradition I now observe is to hear baroque music on Sunday morning.  Telemann's already queued up for the morrow!

That has been my wife's run for a year or so now, David.  She usually just streams baroque on the main level, while I garner some of it, but occasionally grab a listen to other eras in the basement.

[Scarpia]

Well, I always enjoy having a "listening resolution" at the start of each year and sometimes I even stick to them for a few months.

This year, my resolution for classical music is to listen to a performance of a symphony each Saturday that I have not spun in a while, preferably over a year.  After a full listen each week, I hope to have time to return to one of the movements and give that a second listen to top it off.

My first installment:



I chose this one because Brahms is on and off my listening radar, but since I am continuously returning to his music, I wanted to kick it into gear again.  I have found this first symphony of his to be the most accessible to me so I started from the top.  Also, I am considering a Böhm recording of this composition and wanted to revisit it before I pulled the trigger.  The revisit only solidified my intent to place the order. 

However, there was some downside with this cd.  The sound of this recording was a bit thick and muddied, but I have come to expect that somewhat from HvK recordings, and for that matter, many of the symphony DG recordings I am starting to revisit  (ie Bernstein's Mozart with the VPO).  As for the performance, it seemed fairly passionate, but I much prefer my 1951 Furtwängler on the Music & Arts label which seems slower and a bit more defined.  (I would have to check the timings, but I am listening to the first movement of the Furtwängler as I type and it seems less rushed to me.)

As for the movement that I took in again after a full listen, I went with the second.   The BPO's strings under HvK are always at their best when not at a fast pace.....gorgeous.

I have that set, had it originally on LP, and it is clearly my least favorite among Herbie's efforts.  The winds and brass are muffled, giving a string-dominated sonority that is not appropriate for Brahms.  There is some wonderful string playing (what stands out in my mind is the second movement of the 4th symphony) but overall disappointing.  I find the Karajan 2nd from the 80's to be remarkable, as well as the 4th from the 60's (astonishingly slow tempo in the first movement, which works remarkably well).  There are also some old Karajan recordings of Brahms from the Walter Legge era on EMI, but I haven't had a chance to listen.  Other than those, I generally look else where for my favorite Brahms symphony recordings.
 

[Bogey]

Yup.  Listenable,.....but too many other options to suspect that this is the one to have.

[Scarpia]

Yup.  Listenable,.....but too many other options to suspect that this is the one to have.

I am somewhat mystified why DG has released the 70's cycle in so many forms, but has never released the 60's cycle as a set.  I have all four symphonies from the 60's cycle, picked up as odds and ends, but it take some looking to find them.  The sound is better than the 70's version.

[mahler10th]

This will prove to be an interesting post.  I'll be watching weekly.  I might even have a go at posting a Saturday Symphony myself.  Listening wholly to a Symphony on a Saturday is likely to be a wholly satisfying practice.
My favourite Brahms, yes, the very Herr Johannes Brahms, that fellow whom I have a personal issue with for single handedly destroying the carreer of...hang on, sorry....eh...There is something I think Brahms himself would like in Antal Dorati's old take on Mercury.  I like the rawness and power Dorati brings, and Brahms desired frontspiece for concert posters - a shillouette of him with a GUN inside his head - seems to be well reflected in Doratis boiling touch on the symphonies.

[Bogey]

This will prove to be an interesting post.  I'll be watching weekly.  I might even have a go at posting a Saturday Symphony myself.  Listening wholly to a Symphony on a Saturday is likely to be a wholly satisfying practice.
My favourite Brahms, yes, the very Herr Johannes Brahms, that fellow whom I have a personal issue with for single handedly destroying the carreer of...hang on, sorry....eh...There is something I think Brahms himself would like in Antal Dorati's old take on Mercury.  I like the rawness and power Dorati brings, and Brahms desired frontspiece for concert posters - a shillouette of him with a GUN inside his head - seems to be well reflected in Doratis boiling touch on the symphonies.

Great to see you posting, John.  How is the F1 season shaping up?

[mahler10th]

Great to see you posting, John.  How is the F1 season shaping up?

LOL.    The Season starts in March!
What are you lining up for this Saturdays Symphony then?  Something that was released last December six years ago sometime during May in about three years time?

[Bogey]

Week #2 Installment:



Symphony No. 5

Really enjoyed this one.  The two highlights for were the second (Alegro marcato) and the third (Adagio) movements.   Both made think of Hitchcockian settings.  The second movement had me picturing Strangers on a Train while the third movement pushed me at point to scenes from the stairwell in Vertigo.  In any case, I chose to listen to the second movement twice due to the "dubious" piano that I heard flash in and out toward the start of the movement....brilliant!

I also took in Symphony No.1.  I thought at first I had a Solti Haydn disc, but when I went to check it was already over.

[DavidRoss]

Nice choice, Bill.  I like the 1st quite a bit and think it's underrated by those who think music after a certain date must be "difficult" or novel to be good.  And the 5th is one of my faves in the symphonic repertoire.

Hmmm...wife has just left for lunch with friends.  What shall I choose?  Something rarely heard, perhaps only once since acquiring it?  Ah!  How about:

[asin]B000001489[/asin] ?

[Bogey]

Nice choice, Bill.  I like the 1st quite a bit and think it's underrated by those who think music after a certain date must be "difficult" or novel to be good.  And the 5th is one of my faves in the symphonic repertoire.

Hmmm...wife has just left for lunch with friends.  What shall I choose?  Something rarely heard, perhaps only once since acquiring it?  Ah!  How about:

[Bogey]

Week #3 Installment:



Symphony No. 6

Sibelius said about this symphony, "The shadows lengthen...."  Thought it would be a decent line up with my flu(?) riddled body.  Even with a slight headache, this one came across and wrapped me up like a warm blanket.  The liner notes also discussed the "haze" of this effort.  I am one to champion the other end of the spectrum in that "clarity" carries the day from my point of view.  Just my take.  As for the repeated movement this week, that was given to the last movement.  The pacing just grabbed me tonight.  Deep, even with the light winds, but not overpowering.  The strings almost had a BPO/HvK sound to them in this final movement, and that never hurts.

Your rec of this set many moons ago still pays dividends to my ears, David.  I raise my hot cup of Earl Grey to you.

[DavidRoss]

And I raise my cuppa Chai to you, Bill!  Today, as already noted elsewhere, I turned my attention to Bruckner's 8th, by Jochum and the SKD.  In short, there are moments of beauty and the adagio is lovely, but there's too much bombastic brass and repetitive Wagner worship in the rest to please me.

[RJR]

My 'listening resolution' is to start back up my music log.  Also, each month I will pay special attention to composers birth/death months. 

For January, I'm focusing on listening to a lot of Mozart and Schubert (both born in January).

Today is Mozart's birthday. How about the Clarinet Quintet to celebrate? Or K595.

[RJR]

I raise my hot cup of Earl Grey to you.

Whose blend?

[karlhenning]

Today is Mozart's birthday. How about the Clarinet Quintet to celebrate?

But, it's not a symphony . . . .