What are you listening to now?

[Mirror Image]

Plus, it excludes the ones I listen to least! I wonder why no 8th or 9th?

I have no idea why Haitink didn't finish this cycle. He should go back to Berlin, conduct, and record the 8th and 9th just so we can have a complete cycle!

[Que]

Lassus' Canticum Canticorum - Leonardo García Alarcón, cond.

I think so, yes. The other two recordings I've got are strong, and this at the very least stands along side them and warrants owning an additional recording.

I'll keep an eye out for that recording, which recordings fo you already have of Lassus' Canticum Canticorum?

My morning listening is a new Lassus addition:

[asin]B000026302[/asin]

The "four languages" in the title (Vier Sprachen) refers to a combined presentation of Latin motets, Italian madrigals, French chansons and German Lieder.
Each genre comes in six with an 8-part dialogue. This ensemble does awesome Lassus IMO.

Q

[lisa needs braces]

Just wow @ the "la malinconia" section of LvB's opus 18 No.6, 4th movement. It 100% sounds like something from the late quartets. It's a very dissonant, long and bleak opening section which then leads to the rest of the movement -- a hilariously incongruous allegretto (there's the feeling of whiplash as you're suddenly transported from darkness to joviality that can't help but come off as parodic given what instantly preceded it.) Just now appreciating how strange that opening section is...

Here it is:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbRZw_ACuKo

[SimonNZ]

I'll keep an eye out for that recording, which recordings fo you already have of Lassus' Canticum Canticorum?

Embarrassing brain-fart moment: I was thinking of the Palestrina recordings.

[Que]

Embarrassing brain-fart moment: I was thinking of the Palestrina recordings.

That's a easily understable, same happened to me before....

Anyway, just finished the Viersprachendruck recording - loved it!
Though it clocks only at 50 minutes, but I guess that comes with the concept of recording this single collection .

Q

[Florestan]

Last night, two first listens



Atmospheric, expressive, passionate and quite hummable. Loved it.



If you like Chopin at his most brightest and dance-like, the Strauss family, Offenbach, Moreau Gottschalk, Scott Joplin, Juventino Rosas and Ernesto Lecuona, then this peach is right up your alley. I enjoyed it immensely. Still three discs to go, yummy! Neal, in case you don't have it already, don't hesitate!

[San Antone]

Brahms : Op. 117

[NikF]

Barber: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra - Takezawa/Slatkin/St Louis Symphony Orchestra.

[asin]B000003FYD[/asin]

Having attended a performance of the violin concerto yesterday afternoon, I thought I'd have another listen at home today.

[San Antone]

Dipping into this excellent set

[North Star]

Dipping into this excellent set

Nice! Some Brahms for me, too.

Nänie, Op. 82
Warsaw Philharmonic Choir & Orchestra
Antoni Wit
[asin]B006BBVMC2[/asin]

[Wakefield]

Brahms, Franck & Debussy: Cello Sonatas
Victor Julien-Laferrière, cello
Adam Laloum, piano



Excellent interpretation, great liner notes, lovely sound quality. 

[San Antone]

Nice! Some Brahms for me, too.

Nänie, Op. 82
Warsaw Philharmonic Choir & Orchestra
Antoni Wit

I have always enjoyed Brahms but since I have been reading the Jan Swafford biography (2012), I have been re-listening to most of his chamber and symphonic works and listening for the first time some of the vocal works like the one you mention.  In the process, my affection for his music has grown exponentially.  I can now say unreservedly that Brahms is among my top five composers.

[Karl Henning]

I have always enjoyed Brahms but since I have been reading the Jan Swafford biography (2012), I have been re-listening to most of his chamber and symphonic works and listening for the first time some of the vocal works like the one you mention.  In the process, my affection for his music has grown exponentially.  I can now say unreservedly that Brahms is among my top five composers.

Sweet.  I mean to read the Swafford bios of both Brahms and Ives one of these days.

What is your evaluation of the Brahms bio?

[San Antone]

Sweet.  I mean to read the Swafford bios of both Brahms and Ives one of these days.

What is your evaluation of the Brahms bio?

I am enjoying it quite a bit.  Swafford quotes extensively from letters (to and from Brahms) and offers some abbreviated musical analysis of the major works.  In the process, he paints a complete picture of Brahms the man, friend, and composer and contrasts him within the context of the period and other composers, e.g. Wagner, Liszt, and Bruckner.   

[Mirror Image]

Now:





Listening to the 4th. Quite impressive (so far).

[Brian]

Harmonies...

[Madiel]

Brahms, Franck & Debussy: Cello Sonatas
Victor Julien-Laferrière, cello
Adam Laloum, piano



Excellent interpretation, great liner notes, lovely sound quality. 

And a nice front cover. Don't forget the cover. Well hello, boys. Adam, more specifically, if he's on the left.

(Given the commentary that runs on female musicians here sometimes, I'm going to run with my current mood of ogling.)

[Spineur]

An afternoon with Takemitsu

Some of the best Takemitsu CD's I have.  The guitar album has twelve songs of the Beatles adapted by Takemitsu.  Really cool.

[aligreto]

Suites for Military Band:

First Suite in E flat
Second Suite in F
A Moorside Suite
Hammersmith

[aligreto]

Aside: that's got to be THE coolest Karajan cover ever!

A very young von Karajan obviously.
I always admired how smartly he was dressed.