What are you listening to now?

[Florestan]

Avrohom is a resident of New York State;  he wrote the alto flute/clarinet duet Bárðarbunga dreymir undir ísnum (Bárðarbunga dreams beneath the ice)

Why the Icelandic title?

[Karl Henning]

Why the Icelandic title?

Av is an amateur volcanologist.  He writes:

The 10th in a series of one-movement compositions entitled Fantasy Piece, generally for solo instrument, which exploit the materials of its openings in free development such as its base title implies. They are normally brief pieces, between 5 and 10 minutes duration. The present work, a duo for clarinet in A and alto flute, is exceptional but only to the extent that is not a solo piece. The fifth in the series is, by the way, a one-movement work for large symphony orchestra, and was written as a memorial to Bernard Herrmann. The present work's Icelandic title means Bárðarbunga dreams under the ice.  Bárðarbunga is one of the largest underwater volcanoes in Iceland, presently (12/2017) in a state of perilous quiescence. Lullabies for sleeping volcanoes are not exactly the usual sort of fare – so the present work ought properly to be considered unusually anomalous. The composer has had a lifelong interest in geology and volcanology – and Iceland is, of all the places on Earth, the ideal location for such study. One might say it was inevitable that such a piece as this would eventually be written, all things considered.

[Florestan]

Av is an amateur volcanologist.  He writes:

The 10th in a series of one-movement compositions entitled Fantasy Piece, generally for solo instrument, which exploit the materials of its openings in free development such as its base title implies. They are normally brief pieces, between 5 and 10 minutes duration. The present work, a duo for clarinet in A and alto flute, is exceptional but only to the extent that is not a solo piece. The fifth in the series is, by the way, a one-movement work for large symphony orchestra, and was written as a memorial to Bernard Herrmann. The present work's Icelandic title means Bárðarbunga dreams under the ice.  Bárðarbunga is one of the largest underwater volcanoes in Iceland, presently (12/2017) in a state of perilous quiescence. Lullabies for sleeping volcanoes are not exactly the usual sort of fare – so the present work ought properly to be considered unusually anomalous. The composer has had a lifelong interest in geology and volcanology – and Iceland is, of all the places on Earth, the ideal location for such study. One might say it was inevitable that such a piece as this would eventually be written, all things considered.

Most illuminating, thanks. For a moment, I thought "Oh, no, not another fancy title just for the sake of it!" 

Is the performance available somewhere?

[Karl Henning]

Most illuminating, thanks. For a moment, I thought "Oh, no, not another fancy title just for the sake of it!" 

Is the performance available somewhere?

Of "our" duet?—

http://www.youtube.com/v/1H6O4OSTmJY

[Florestan]

Of "our" duet?—

http://www.youtube.com/v/1H6O4OSTmJY

Beautiful. Thank you.

[Karl Henning]

Thanks for listening.

[Florestan]

Thanks for listening.

I really liked it --- and the whole idea of lullaby for a volcano. Nice.

[Karl Henning]

Revisiting this, myself 

http://www.youtube.com/v/1H6O4OSTmJY

[Harry]

Vincent Lubeck, Complete Organ and Harpsichord Music, CD I.
Manuel Tomadin, plays on the Van Hagerbeer/Schnitger organ, (1646-1725) in the Grote Sint-Laurenskerk, Alkmaar, The Netherlands.

Lubeck for me is a great composer in terms of his organ works. And he found in Tomadin a wonderful organist to express the many gorgeous details of this well composed music. Tempi are a bit slow at times, but detail emerges even better.  My most favorite piece on this disc must be the Chacon in A, Lub WV 20. I think it to be one of the most sublime piece in organ literature. And then this unique organ, which holds 90% of it original pipes and belongs to the top instruments in Europe. You cannot go wrong with this instrument.....

[Zeus]

I think I'll make today a Pizzetti day...

Pizzetti: Canti della stagione alta
Robert Schumann Philharmonie, Oleg Caetani
Naxos/Marco Polo

[asin] B00000J8Y1[/asin]

Pizzetti: Chamber Music
Leila Rásonyi et al.

[asin] B003NA7FV6[/asin]

Pizzetti: Symphony, Harp Concerto
Bassani, Orchestra Sinfonica Nazionale della RAI, Iorio

[asin] B06XWTF2HN[/asin]

That symphony was commissioned to celebrate the 2600th anniversary of the accession of the first Emperor of Japan, by the way.  It sounds like it.

I've had these discs in my collection for some time, and I have been very favorably impressed.

Today, however, I am getting blown away!

[Karl Henning]

And why not begin with CD 1?

[asin]B017UBR61W[/asin]

[Mahlerian]

Walton: Cello Concerto
Gregor Piatigorsky, Boston Symphony Orchestra, cond. Munch


Copland: Piano Concerto
Aaron Copland, New York Philharmonic, cond. Bernstein
[asin]B0000027J9[/asin]

[Kontrapunctus]

It's going to take me a long time to form an opinion.  In the meantime, here's a Musicweb review:

http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2018/Jul/Shostakovich_sys_4835220.htm

Thanks. After I posted it, I found the complete recording on Youtube and sampled it (Mostly No.11). It is less caustic than Mravinsky's, but it certainly intense enough and has excellent sound. It's on sale at Presto Classical--might have to pick it up.

[Traverso]

Beethoven - Schubert octet

[Zeus]

Hör, Kristenhait!
Ensemble Leones, Marc Lewon
Christophorus

[asin] B00WJ5UQ9Y[/asin]

[Kontrapunctus]

I just bought a hi-res FLAC of this and started with the 11th--wow! It might not be quite as scalding as Mravinsky's, in which the Leningrad Phil plays as if their lives depended on it (perhaps they did...), but it is plenty intense on its own. Superb sound, and man, those bass drum eruptions will give your woofers a workout!

[Zeus]

Lassus: Prophetiae Sibyllarum, etc
Ensemble De Labyrintho
Stradivarius

[asin] B000N4SA3M[/asin]

I have no idea how I chose this particular performance of this music.  I'm guessing that somewhere it was recommended.

Ah yes, Gio!

[Mandryka]

I have never thought about the OB in that way except once, when i listened to Hans Christoph Becker-Foss' recording. He does indeed play some of the chorale preludes attacca. I can not from the top of my head recall others.

I'm enjoying Hans Christoph Becker-Foss play Orgelbuchlein, and it is suite like -- where we differ is that I think there are many other recordings which are also suite like!

[Mandryka]

Vincent Lubeck, Complete Organ and Harpsichord Music, CD I.
Manuel Tomadin, plays on the Van Hagerbeer/Schnitger organ, (1646-1725) in the Grote Sint-Laurenskerk, Alkmaar, The Netherlands.

Lubeck for me is a great composer in terms of his organ works. And he found in Tomadin a wonderful organist to express the many gorgeous details of this well composed music. Tempi are a bit slow at times, but detail emerges even better.  My most favorite piece on this disc must be the Chacon in A, Lub WV 20. I think it to be one of the most sublime piece in organ literature. And then this unique organ, which holds 90% of it original pipes and belongs to the top instruments in Europe. You cannot go wrong with this instrument.....

This chacon is a very rare piece of music on record as far as I can see, the only other person I can remember hearing play it is Berben.

[aligreto]

Wagner: Tristan Und Isolde, Act 1 [von Karajan]