Zelenka's Zenith

Started by Rinaldo, January 25, 2011, 05:06:56 PM

Previous topic - Next topic

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Print
Go Down Pages 1 2 3 4
User actions

Rinaldo

#40
April 28, 2016, 07:38:54 AM
Good news everyone! The Trio sonatas are being recorded by Collegium 1704. The ensemble seeks funding for the whole project via indiegogo and given their success with previous crowdfunded efforts (including Zelenka's Missa Divi Xaverii), it's gonna work out splendidly.

Quote from: Collegium 1704The collection of six sonatas by Jan Dismas Zelenka is composed – with the exception of third sonata that employ the violin – for a pair of oboes, bassoon, and basso continuo. In the context of Baroque chamber music, this represents a true rarity. Here, Zelenka elevates the sonata da camera to a genre of enormous technical difficulty for the performers, making especially great demands on the wind players, and the composer confronts his listeners with a most intimately personal statement. Zelenka's sonatas are exceptional works in the repertoire of Baroque chamber music, but because of their great difficulty, they appear only occasionally on concert programmes. Recordings of these sonatas are equally rare. The last complete recording of all six sonatas on historical instruments was made over twenty years ago (Ensemble Zefiro, 1993), so the new recording by Collegium 1704 is eagerly anticipated!

https://www.youtube.com/v/SU8IIiDpK4c

(they could still use someone to correct their Czenglish, though..)

Scion7

#41
April 28, 2016, 10:37:16 PM Last Edit: April 28, 2016, 10:43:50 PM by Scion7
Quote from: Rinaldo on April 28, 2016, 07:38:54 AM
(they could still use someone to correct their Czenglish, though..)
The English subtitles appear fine - what's the issue?
Anyway, more recordings of these pieces is welcome. 

from JANICE B. STOCKIGT's article in The New Grove:

"Extraordinary rhythmic invention (elements of which may be derived from Bohemian folk music) is characterized by asymmetrical groupings of bars, frequent use of triplets, concern with rhythmic proportions, patterns, and recurring rhythmic phrases. Harmonic motifs and sequences abound. Repeated shifts between parallel major and minor tonalities, chromaticisms emanating from the use of the passus duriusculus and concentrated harmonic progressions with amassings of suspensions (reminiscent of Lotti) frequently appear. A symbolic and programmatic background to the six sonatas (zwv181) has been sought in analytical studies (Reich, 1987)."


zwv181 - six sonatas (F, g, Bf, g, F, c), 2 ob (vn, ob in no.3), bn, bc, c1721–2, ed. C. Schoenbaum (Kassel, 1955–65), ed. W. Horn and W. Reich (Kassel, 1992–6); 182–5,

 





When, a few months before his death, Rachmaninov lamented that he no longer had the "strength and fire" to compose, friends reminded him of the Symphonic Dances, so charged with fire and strength. "Yes," he admitted. "I don't know how that happened. That was probably my last flicker."

Pat B

#42
May 09, 2016, 09:14:48 AM
Quote from: Rinaldo on April 28, 2016, 07:38:54 AM
Good news everyone! The Trio sonatas are being recorded by Collegium 1704. The ensemble seeks funding for the whole project via indiegogo and given their success with previous crowdfunded efforts (including Zelenka's Missa Divi Xaverii), it's gonna work out splendidly.

https://www.youtube.com/v/SU8IIiDpK4c

(they could still use someone to correct their Czenglish, though..)

Thanks for posting. I'm not joining the crowdfunding for a few reasons, but I'll probably buy it when it comes out. (The Zefiro recording, long OOP, is being reissued by Arcana, but I'm inclined towards the 1704).

If there's anything wrong with their Czenglish, I am not the person to fix it. When I was in Prague I asked a waiter, "Mluvíte anglicky?" His response was: "What?"

Scion7

#43
May 09, 2016, 11:52:05 AM
Some smashing covers from bygone days:



When, a few months before his death, Rachmaninov lamented that he no longer had the "strength and fire" to compose, friends reminded him of the Symphonic Dances, so charged with fire and strength. "Yes," he admitted. "I don't know how that happened. That was probably my last flicker."

HIPster

#44
May 16, 2016, 10:52:01 AM
Here's a link to the new Arcana reissue of the Trio Sonatas ~

[asin]B01E06Q9F4[/asin]
Wise words from Que:

Never waste a good reason for a purchase....  ;)

Eli

#45
June 28, 2016, 01:39:18 PM
Wondrous. Quite by accident clicked on a related YouTube video and this came up.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=U6pnDcHVNok

I've never heard anything like it! Who the hell is this guy? It's like a baroque Mozart.

Rinaldo

#46
June 28, 2016, 03:07:08 PM
Quote from: Eli on June 28, 2016, 01:39:18 PMI've never heard anything like it! Who the hell is this guy? It's like a baroque Mozart.

I had a similar reaction when I first heard the Missa votiva. I think we'll never figure out who the hell Zelenka was – too many 'plot holes' in his story.

Brian

#47
June 28, 2016, 03:11:35 PM Last Edit: June 28, 2016, 03:15:08 PM by Brian
Quote from: Eli on June 28, 2016, 01:39:18 PM
Wondrous. Quite by accident clicked on a related YouTube video and this came up.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=U6pnDcHVNok

I've never heard anything like it! Who the hell is this guy? It's like a baroque Mozart.
Welcome to the Zelenka fan club! Missa votiva was the first work by him that I heard, as well. He's an extraordinary baroque composer and so far everything I've heard by him has been worth hearing. There's a lot of great Catholic sacred music, like Missa Nativitatis Domini, and some of the chamber music is available in important recordings by great artists.

Contrary to Rinaldo's little joke, we know the outline of the composer's life; he was Czech but worked in Dresden...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jan_Dismas_Zelenka

The first 3 pages of this thread are a great resource for recommendations and YouTube links!

Eli

#48
June 28, 2016, 06:48:09 PM
There's an extraordinary moment in the video posted above at 6 minutes 34 seconds. It feels like a deviation, even though I heard it over and over I find it unexpected. I haven't studied music so I don't know what is happening but it feels like you're walking down the street and you are suddenly filled with such awe and gratitude that you get on your knees and quickly thank your creator, get up and continue.

Rinaldo

#49
June 29, 2016, 02:31:49 AM
Quote from: Eli on June 28, 2016, 06:48:09 PM
There's an extraordinary moment in the video posted above at 6 minutes 34 seconds. It feels like a deviation, even though I heard it over and over I find it unexpected. I haven't studied music so I don't know what is happening but it feels like you're walking down the street and you are suddenly filled with such awe and gratitude that you get on your knees and quickly thank your creator, get up and continue.

One of my favourite moments in the whole piece and Blažíková makes it truly magic.

Quote from: Brian on June 28, 2016, 03:11:35 PMContrary to Rinaldo's little joke, we know the outline of the composer's life; he was Czech but worked in Dresden...

True. But I'd still love to know more about him as a person. I wish he kept a diary.

Jo498

#50
June 29, 2016, 03:49:52 AM
The missa votiva is the most impressive of the 3-4 choral works by Zelenka I have heard. But the others are quite good as well. If one wants to get acquainted with the composers, the Trio sonatas and the missa votiva would be my first recommendations.

I love the Arcimboldo Cover!
Tout le malheur des hommes vient d'une seule chose, qui est de ne savoir pas demeurer en repos, dans une chambre.
- Blaise Pascal

Eli

#51
June 29, 2016, 11:15:18 PM Last Edit: June 29, 2016, 11:22:23 PM by Eli
My God it's been years since I've had such a reaction to music. I'm in total awe.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=nmHC6HtNEPU

It's so damn exciting and beautiful. It's like a musical porno between Mozart and Bach, with Vivaldi behind the camera urging them on.


I'm at the edge of my seat, a moment later I want to cry from beauty, but there's just no time for that.

Eli

#52
July 03, 2016, 01:17:55 PM
Quote from: Rinaldo on July 18, 2015, 12:37:07 AM
Listened to the Missa Omnium Sanctorum again and had to share the moment I've been looking for since hearing it live three years ago.

https://www.youtube.com/v/xdeNbMxVvYY
Heavenly

Scion7

#53
July 03, 2016, 05:29:12 PM
"musical porno"??   ::)

I think we can do a bit better than that, can we not?   $:)

Zelenka was contemporary with some of those composers and apparently working in his own niche, as non-influenced as was possible at that time by them.  He's a previously little-known talent who is finally coming into his own.
When, a few months before his death, Rachmaninov lamented that he no longer had the "strength and fire" to compose, friends reminded him of the Symphonic Dances, so charged with fire and strength. "Yes," he admitted. "I don't know how that happened. That was probably my last flicker."

Eli

#54
July 03, 2016, 06:51:15 PM
I've going through the rest of the Missa Votiva a few times, and it's nice, but I was hoping for more moments which I want to repeat 800 times. My favorite part is the Laudamus Te. I'll give it a few more listens and move on to another work of his.

Eli

#55
July 04, 2016, 08:18:31 PM
I've been trying more of Zelenka and it's can a big miss, nothing like the awe I felt for the first 15 minutes of the missa votiva. But this is quite nice! 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=TAY4cMlZ7m

Miserere in c minor. There's something creepy and beautiful in it. It gives me a similar chill like Mozart's Lacrimosa.


I'd appreciate suggesting for specific moments in the works of Zelenka which blow your mind!

Eli

#56
July 07, 2016, 06:57:52 PM
The Gloria in Excelsis from Missa dei filii is bliss!

Eli

#57
July 26, 2016, 07:17:08 PM
Zelenka cured my depression.

Scion7

#58
July 26, 2016, 08:09:23 PM
Quote from: Eli on July 26, 2016, 07:17:08 PM
Zelenka cured my depression.

That's good, but living in Tijuana, don't you have access to some really kickin' it  tequila?   ;D
A bottle of that should 'cure' about all your ailments ... for a while.
When, a few months before his death, Rachmaninov lamented that he no longer had the "strength and fire" to compose, friends reminded him of the Symphonic Dances, so charged with fire and strength. "Yes," he admitted. "I don't know how that happened. That was probably my last flicker."

Eli

#59
August 28, 2016, 07:40:56 AM
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=nmHC6HtNEPU

Just listen to the above clip and try to say it's not the best music ever written!  I'm 4 minutes your heart will swell, tears will be shed, you'll go into shock and hyperventalate, be overcome by exhilaration, and finish with a love and new appreciation for living.
Print
Go Up Pages 1 2 3 4
User actions