Chamber music from the United Kingdom

Started by Lethevich, April 30, 2011, 11:11:46 AM

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springrite

Lots of good stuff I could mention, but my current infatuation is with the Simpson "Haydn Variation" Quartet. Great work!
Do what I must do, and let what must happen happen.

Lethevich

That Simpson quartet is the only one of his that I could claim to have a (very) strong preference towards, it's such a towering piece of writing, very dramatic and inventive.

The Hyperion website has clips for anyone interested (it has many short variation movements meaning that you can sample very extensively compared to normal).

http://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/al.asp?al=CDA66127
Peanut butter, flour and sugar do not make cookies. They make FIRE.

Luke

The 5 Tippett Quartets are obviously the core of his chamber output and span his entire working life, from very early to very late. They are wonderful, craggy, adventurous, free-flying pieces, enormously taxing on the performers - these aren't just 'good English chamber music', they are simply some of the finest and most important quartets of the 20th century.

However, mention has to be made of the same composer's Sonata for Four Horns, which, though 'minor' when put alongside the string quartets is an absolute gem, a perfect little jewel of a piece, one of the best and most attractive introductions to later Tippett. He was a composer who threw caution to the wind, one who took risks and sometimes faltered; but in the Horn sonata every single thing comes off wonderfully.

Grazioso

All hail mighty Bax! While he's best known for his orchestral works, he composed a large body of chamber music throughout his career, often for unusual ensembles. So in addition to string quartets and violin sonatas, we get a septet, octet, and nonet; a haunting viola sonata; a goodly number of works for clarinet, oboe, flute, and/or harp; and more. Some excellent recordings of this fine music on Hyperion, Chandos, and above all Naxos, who have covered a large portion of the works.

A couple recommendations:



There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact. --Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

madaboutmahler

I love a lot of British chamber music, but perhaps my favourite British chamber piece is Vaughan Williams' Piano Quintet. I really believe it to be one of his most excellent pieces besides the symphonies! Really wonderful!
Does anyone here know this work?

[asin]B0015D20H2[/asin]

Daniel
"Music is ... A higher revelation than all Wisdom & Philosophy"
— Ludwig van Beethoven

J.Z. Herrenberg

#25
The string quartets of Daniel Jones sound interesting, too:


http://www.theclassicalshop.net/Details.aspx?CatalogueNumber=CHAN%209535


Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything. -- Plato

cilgwyn

#26
I second that!
Hey,Daniel Jones is now on THREE separate threads!!!
Thanks Johan.

Brahmsian

Quote from: J. Z. Herrenberg on September 03, 2011, 12:19:06 PM
The string quartets of Daniel Jones sound interesting, too:


http://www.theclassicalshop.net/Details.aspx?CatalogueNumber=CHAN%209535




Yes, I agree!  I think they are pretty good!  I could not believe my library had a copy of these.

cilgwyn

Must be a good library? The last time I went in mine it was mostly Classic FM stuff. And they used to be so good. Incidentally,it's deleted now,so make the most of it!

DavidRoss

Quote from: J. Z. Herrenberg on September 03, 2011, 12:19:06 PM
The string quartets of Daniel Jones sound interesting, too:
Do they include helicopters?
"Maybe the problem most of you have ... is that you're not listening to Barbirolli." ~Sarge

"The problem with socialism is that sooner or later you run out of other people's money." ~Margaret Thatcher

J.Z. Herrenberg

Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything. -- Plato

cilgwyn

I could put them on when the Police helicopter's overhead!

Brahmsian

Quote from: cilgwyn on September 03, 2011, 02:43:17 PM
Must be a good library? The last time I went in mine it was mostly Classic FM stuff. And they used to be so good. Incidentally,it's deleted now,so make the most of it!

Our downtown library in particular has a very extensive classical music CD and DVD library.  Good way for me to explore some of the music without burning my pocket book!   :)

Lethevich

Quote from: madaboutmahler on September 03, 2011, 11:47:33 AM
I love a lot of British chamber music, but perhaps my favourite British chamber piece is Vaughan Williams' Piano Quintet. I really believe it to be one of his most excellent pieces besides the symphonies! Really wonderful!
Does anyone here know this work?

Love it. Is it just me, or does it feel like it's in two parts to anybody else - the introduction melting by into the second, then the slow movement into the finale?

Quote from: J. Z. Herrenberg on September 03, 2011, 12:19:06 PM
The string quartets of Daniel Jones sound interesting, too:

http://www.theclassicalshop.net/Details.aspx?CatalogueNumber=CHAN%209535

THIS PRODUCT IS CURRENTLY ONLY AVAILABLE AS AN MP3

wat
Peanut butter, flour and sugar do not make cookies. They make FIRE.

snyprrr

V-W's SQ No.2 has a modal character I might almost call the Crusades,... a stern nobility, not quite as generous as Hindemith?

Bridge PT No.2, natch.




The new erato

Quote from: cilgwyn on September 03, 2011, 03:22:33 PM
I could put them on when the Police helicopter's overhead!
Did The Police really use helicopters on some of their discs?

Luke

Quote from: The new erato on September 04, 2011, 12:44:20 AM
Did The Police really use helicopters on some of their discs?

Remember, every step you take, they are watching you. And that's how.

[I'm refraining from any puns about Sting operations..]

cilgwyn

That line sounds very topical these days.