A visitor from Unsung Composers !

[cjvinthechair]

Hello - I've been advancing my musical education massively on 'Unsung Composers', & came across this similar looking (at least!) classical site quite by chance, so thought I'd sign up, as I still love many 'sung' Romantic, late Romantic (& occasionally even later) composers.
I'm afraid my actual contribution will be minimal, as I only know what I like, not why ! But I hope you won't mind me browsing & picking up a little insight as I go.
So, hi - and a Happy Christmas to all !              Clive.

[bhodges]

Hello Clive, and welcome. Lots of interest in "unsung composers" here, too, so I hope you enjoy yourself. 

--Bruce

[mc ukrneal]

Welcome! I think you'll find a little bit of everything here.

[Hollywood]

Hi there Clive. Greetings from Beethoven and Mozart's Vienna! Welcome to the forum. 

[madaboutmahler]

Welcome Clive!

as I only know what I like, not why !

I hope what you like includes Mahler! 

[cjvinthechair]

Many thanks for taking the trouble to respond !
1) In my limited time on the site, found a few 'steers' towards some unsung composers already. There's so much beautiful, neglected music out there, couldn't hope to discover it all in several lifetimes, but....will keep plodding on.
2) Remember fondly my only visit to Vienna, over a New Year some while back. Loved the Saengerknaben, of course, oh, and the wine in Grinzing, but must come clean & say it's only very occasional pieces by Mozart and Beethoven that stir me in the slightest . Well, that's one member shan't hear from again !
3)Love Mahler - seen all except 7th Symphony live in the last 2 years. Very much into most of the composers you mention, not least Novak amongst my recent 'unsung' finds.
Look forward to reading & learning from all the experts on the site.     Thank you for the welcome !

[madaboutmahler]

3)Love Mahler - seen all except 7th Symphony live in the last 2 years. Very much into most of the composers you mention, not least Novak amongst my recent 'unsung' finds.
Look forward to reading & learning from all the experts on the site.     Thank you for the welcome !

I think we are going to get along well!
Lucky you - I've seen some great Mahler performances live, but only of 1, 4, 5, 6 and 9. Still waiting for the oppurtunity to see no.2, 7 and 9 live. I have no.3 booked for next May. Which are your favourites of his symphonies? Mine would be 6,7 and 9. Glad that you like Novak as well - not many people have heard of him, so I am glad to have met someone who has! 'Lady Godiva' is a favourite work of mine.

Looking forward to hearing more from you in your GMG future!

[cjvinthechair]

Mahler favourite - No. 2, but I love the song cycles too.
Other Czech composers I've appreciated recently, apart from the obvious Janacek, Martinu, Smetena & now of course Novak( De Profundis & In the Tatras latest I've heard), are Fibich, Foerster, Kabelac, Kalliwoda, Ostrcil & Suk.
You might try any of those you may not have come across, as otherwise our tastes seem similar !           Cheers.                     Clive.

[madaboutmahler]

Mahler favourite - No. 2, but I love the song cycles too.
Other Czech composers I've appreciated recently, apart from the obvious Janacek, Martinu, Smetena & now of course Novak( De Profundis & In the Tatras latest I've heard), are Fibich, Foerster, Kabelac, Kalliwoda, Ostrcil & Suk.
You might try any of those you may not have come across, as otherwise our tastes seem similar !           Cheers.                     Clive.

Mahler 2 - great choice!
Martinu is another favourite of mine - especially for pieces such as the symphonies 4+5. Novak, being more of a recent discovery, I still have to explore more into, but I am really enjoying his music so far. Lady Godiva was so so beautiful! Janacek, Smetena, Suk are also composers who I love very much. The others you mention though I know little of, if anything of, so shall go and look into them soon. Thanks Clive!

Looking forward to crossing paths again here on GMG!

[Hollywood]

2) Remember fondly my only visit to Vienna, over a New Year some while back. Loved the Saengerknaben, of course, oh, and the wine in Grinzing, but must come clean & say it's only very occasional pieces by Mozart and Beethoven that stir me in the slightest . Well, that's one member shan't hear from again !

Glad to hear that you enjoyed your trip to Vienna, Clive. You are allowed not to care too much for Beethoven and Mozart's music, but then again there are quite a few Romantic composer's music that doesn't rock my world either. 

[Willoughby earl of Itacarius]

Welcome to the forum Clive. Be aware of the guy that swings the "Mahler Hammer"

[madaboutmahler]

Welcome to the forum Clive. Be aware of the guy that swings the "Mahler Hammer"

Don't worry Harry - he is a fan of Mahler so he is safe!
It's people like MI and Bobster that need to be aware!

[cjvinthechair]

Mr. Harry - thanks for your warning; don't think 'Madaboutmahler' & I are going to come to blows over favourites !
Holland - my favourite country for concert visits, but it's only in the last 12/18 months that some of the names on the Concertgebouw walls are beginning to mean anything to me - Diepenbrock (now an established favourite !), Wagenaar, Zweers & others compare very favourably with some of my 'unsung' heroes from elsewhere....perhaps Langgaard & Myaskovsky currently to the fore.
Which are your Dutch(& other) favourites ?

Cheers.                    Clive.

[Karl Henning]

Don't worry Harry - he is a fan of Mahler so he is safe!

"Hi! I hope you're a fan of Mahler! You couldn't have guessed that from my ID, could you have?!" : )

[cjvinthechair]

Glad to hear that you enjoyed your trip to Vienna, Clive. You are allowed not to care too much for Beethoven and Mozart's music, but then again there are quite a few Romantic composer's music that doesn't rock my world either. 

Thanks for your tolerance ! Still smarting from trying to learn Missa Solemnis for our choir this year - complete contempt for the frailties of his singers, Herr Beethoven !
Sure we've got a few composers/works in common somewhere along the line...maybe we'll discover a bond after all ?!    Cheers.       Clive.

[Conor71]

Welcome Clive - as an Aussie I like your Avatar! 

[Karl Henning]

You've earned a pint, Clive: singing the Missa solemnis is not for the faint of heart!

[J.Z. Herrenberg]

Holland - my favourite country for concert visits, but it's only in the last 12/18 months that some of the names on the Concertgebouw walls are beginning to mean anything to me - Diepenbrock (now an established favourite !), Wagenaar, Zweers & others compare very favourably with some of my 'unsung' heroes from elsewhere....perhaps Langgaard & Myaskovsky currently to the fore.

Welcome, Clive! I am Dutch, too, and also active on the Unsung Composers site, though GMG is my 'home base'. Of Dutch composers my favourites are Dopper, Vermeulen and Orthel. And only Dopper has made it to the Concergebouw walls - he was second conductor there, when Mengelberg 'ruled'...


Here is a recent (bad) pic of me with Dopper's name...

[Mirror Image]

Welcome aboard, Clive! I enjoyed your message and hope you read my reply. I look forward to conversing with you more in the future. Hope you enjoy your time here on GMG.

[cjvinthechair]

You've earned a pint, Clive: singing the Missa solemnis is not for the faint of heart!

One pint ? It's enough to turn anyone into a raging 'alky' !
Had a quick peek at your music blog - all way too advanced for me of course, but noticed mention of a cantata in progress. Would love to hear something of that when it's done !
Cheers.           Clive.