Feb. is "What the hell, I'll give it a try" month!

[ElliotViola]

Great idea!

This month I am going to endeavour to actually listen to Mahler, Bruckner, Delius, Schoenberg and John Rutter.

Oh, and Before Daniel Hogan destroys me for having ne'er given Mahler my time, I quite like his work, just have never sat down to properly listen to it!

Also, if anyone out there dislikes Mozart, the Piano Quartet in G Minor is a great starting point for a work with personality IMHO, a rather striking work: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1ylhsp8rZ8

[Karl Henning]

. . . Mahler, Bruckner, Delius, Schoenberg and John Rutter.

♫ One of these things is not like the others,
One of these things just doesn't belong . . . .

[mc ukrneal]

♫ One of these things is not like the others,
One of these things just doesn't belong . . . .

I assume you mean Schoenberg of course!    Am I the only one on these forums who doesn't have an allergy to Rutter?

[Karl Henning]

I assume you mean Schoenberg of course!    Am I the only one on these forums who doesn't have an allergy to Rutter?

(* chortle *)

Just as a point of information, this is no auto-pilot: we sang a short Rutter thing just this Sunday morning past.  And it was someone else who carped that its chief virtue was, that at least it was short.

You can find the odd piece which is actually good; but there's scads of boilerplate, and some people won't find the effort to find the rare good bit worthwhile.

[Brahmsian]

Oh no, I like Beethoven's SQs. Much, much more than any of his orchestral works. Someone told me that their favorite Beethoven was the chamber music and I'm starting to understand why.

Must have been some nut. 

[ElliotViola]

♫ One of these things is not like the others,
One of these things just doesn't belong . . . .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6b0ftfKFEJg

[springrite]

I weep to think that the name may be Henning . . . .

It is a name known to most people who don't know anything about classical music.

[mc ukrneal]

(* chortle *)

Just as a point of information, this is no auto-pilot: we sang a short Rutter thing just this Sunday morning past.  And it was someone else who carped that its chief virtue was, that at least it was short.

You can find the odd piece which is actually good; but there's scads of boilerplate, and some people won't find the effort to find the rare good bit worthwhile.

I picked up a disc of his work on Naxos last year at one of the various label sales, and I have to say that I quite enjoy it. I don't think it is boilerplate, though it has clear references (in my mind anyway) to other composers (Walton immediately comes to mind in some of it, for example). But it is fashionable to dislike him, Jenkins, and a few others. I guess this is not the right place for this discussion exactly, but I feel there are a number of people (not referencing anyone here) who simply jump on the bandwagon of vitriol without really trying to understand the music. I'll also be the first to admit, that there can be a certain 'sameness' to the sound that I find wearying sometimes (particularly in the choral sound). As a result, I tend to listen to pieces at a time (rather than the whole disc).

EDIT: HEre, for example, is a piece I quite like and can listen to repeatedly: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlKNQBOeQqQ

[Fafner]

It is a name known to most people who don't know anything about classical music.

Oh, this is a quiz!

Does the name belong to a man?

[Karl Henning]

I picked up a disc of his work on Naxos last year at one of the various label sales, and I have to say that I quite enjoy it. I don't think it is boilerplate, though it has clear references (in my mind anyway) to other composers (Walton immediately comes to mind in some of it, for example). But it is fashionable to dislike him, Jenkins, and a few others. I guess this is not the right place for this discussion exactly, but I feel there are a number of people (not referencing anyone here) who simply jump on the bandwagon of vitriol without really trying to understand the music. I'll also be the first to admit, that there can be a certain 'sameness' to the sound that I find wearying sometimes (particularly in the choral sound). As a result, I tend to listen to pieces at a time (rather than the whole disc).

EDIT: Here, for example, is a piece I quite like and can listen to repeatedly: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlKNQBOeQqQ

Thanks, Neal. Thought we should take it elsewhere : )

[Brahmsian]

It is a name known to most people who don't know anything about classical music.

Mozart, Beethoven, Bach?

[Brian]

Not sure yet. I'll probably revisit some Holmboe or Messiaen. Both of these composers have given me a lot of trouble.

Are you allowed to spend on books? Since Sunday I've been reading essays by Holmboe, and aside from being filled with interesting thoughts and insights, they're making me very eager to hear his music. You get a direct, honest look at his writing process, as well as a discussion of various ways of listening and his appreciations of fellow composers like Nielsen and Haydn.

[Karl Henning]

Looks good, Brian.

[Mirror Image]

Are you allowed to spend on books? Since Sunday I've been reading essays by Holmboe, and aside from being filled with interesting thoughts and insights, they're making me very eager to hear his music. You get a direct, honest look at his writing process, as well as a discussion of various ways of listening and his appreciations of fellow composers like Nielsen and Haydn.

I can buy books, sure. I've just devoted myself to not buying any CDs, although as I ruled out that birthday and Christmas money doesn't count. Thanks for the recommendation.

[springrite]

Mozart, Beethoven, Bach?

You are batting .667 at the moment.

[DavidW]

Vaughan Williams Oboe Concerto was my I'll give it a try this month.  Yup it's good.

[Opus106]

You are batting .667 at the moment.

And is this -- http://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php/topic,21401.msg692622.html#msg692622 -- what one would call a home run?

[Opus106]

Vaughan Williams Oboe Concerto was my I'll give it a try this month.  Yup it's good.

One of my favourite works. Welcome back #621, Dave.

[Brian]

Vaughan Williams Oboe Concerto was my I'll give it a try this month.  Yup it's good.

Hey, welcome back!

[Wakefield]

Vaughan Williams Oboe Concerto was my I'll give it a try this month.  Yup it's good.

'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. For this son... he was lost and is found.