What are you listening to now?

[Mandryka]

et coloribus

There are some questions which you never get a satisfactory answer to all your life. Why did he say "et coloribus?" Is he talking about colour tastes (in which case why single it out?) Or colour judgements (colour blindness), which makes it a strange dictum?

[Mandryka]

Suzie leblanc has a fine voice but to me she sounds like an Edwardian primary schoolteacher from Surrey. Napper and Little know how to play viol, but as is often the case with them, their interpretations are  poetic here  -- I'm quite enjoying what they do.

[Florestan]

There are some questions which you never get a satisfactory answer to all your life. Why did he say "et coloribus?" Is he talking about colour tastes (in which case why single it out?) Or colour judgements (colour blindness), which makes it a strange dictum?

"He"? Who is this "he" you're taking about?

[Ghost of Baron Scarpia]

Reger Cello Sonata No 4 again, Gerhardt.

[asin]B0012Y1HIC[/asin]

Some interest, particularly in the second (scherzo) and final movements, but not blown away. Does anyone here who is familiar with these works think I'm just listening to the wrong recording?

[Mandryka]

"He"? Who is this "he" you're taking about?

Cicero maybe, I seem to remember from school that he said it.  Or maybe I'm mixing it up with "Homo sum, humani nihil a me alienum puto"

[aligreto]

Nielsen: Symphony No. 3 [Blomstedt]





The first movement is a powerful, atmospheric and exuberant affair which really has punch, great forward drive and presence. The contemplative and meditative mood generated in the second movement is a wonderful contrast to that of the first. I like those plaintive woodwinds. I also like the handling of the vocalists here. The somewhat quirky, scherzo-like third movement is very well portrayed with great energy and momentum. The big opening theme of the final movement is portrayed with gusto and intensity and the build up to the ultimate conclusion and finale is steady and spirited.

[aligreto]

Is that actually the pressing you have?  If so, congrats!

Yes it is. Thank you.

[aligreto]

For a moment I got excited about a Dvorak piece I'd never heard before. 

Obviously not; just lack of attention to detail on my behalf 

[aligreto]

I did! And I thought I purchased a cassette deck! Eight track is a fitting name as the sound is interrupted by a clunk eight times. The cartridges were about four times the size of cassettes. Horrible things. I have made some bad hi-fi choices over the last half century but I think eight track was the worst!

Best forgotten about so.

[aligreto]

The art cover may lead one to expect something jolly and colourful. It is not. These are works for strings only and are almost all deadly serious in tone. Lest that sound like a thumbs down, it is not either. In fact it's one of the most impressive discs of Kinsella's music I've heard.

The 9th symphony is a major work. I was reminded of other dark works like Britten's Sinfonia da Requiem, Shostakovich's 14th (minus the vocals), Sibelius 4th, Arnold's 9th, but in a very concentrated, elliptic way - it is in 7 continuous sections lasting 31 minutes. The central slow movement is among the most desolate, barren musical utterances I can think of. It's also amazingly beautiful.

The other works on the disc have been carefully chosen to follow in that direction while providing welcome contrast to the main offering. The small orchestra (19 strings, with a slight bias toward the lower voices) play splendidly and is very well recorded. Stunning quality all around.

Very interesting. I do not have that CD. I must track it down. Cheers André.

[JBS]

Cicero maybe, I seem to remember from school that he said it.  Or maybe I'm mixing it up with "Homo sum, humani nihil a me alienum puto"

A quick look online says Terence came up with "Homo sum, etc."  I thought it was Horace, myself.  Now I know better.

As to de gustibus...

Origin uncertain; likely of non-classical origin,[1] particularly due to the grammar. An alternative, more recent form: de gustibus et coloribus non est disputandum ("There's no arguing about tastes and colors.") originated in French literature in the early 19th century.

The sentiment behind the phrase is much older though. Plutarch reports that when Cæsar was dining at his friend Valerius Leo's in Milan, his host served up asparagus dressed in muron rather than olive oil. When his friends complained, Cæsar rebuked them:

'ἤρκει γὰρ,' ἔφη, 'τὸ μὴ χρῆσθαι τοῖς ἀπαρέσκουσιν· ὁ δὲ τὴν τοιαύτην ἀγροικίαν ἐξελέγχων αὐτός ἐστιν ἄγροικος.'
'Surely,' said [Cæsar], 'it were enough not to eat what you don't like; but he who finds fault with ill-breeding like this is ill-bred himself.' – Plut. Cæs. 17.6[2]

From https://en.m.wiktionary.org/wiki/de_gustibus_non_est_disputandum

[Sergeant Rock]

Reger Variations and Fugue on a Theme of Johann Adam Hiller op.100, Järvi conducting the Concertgebouw




Sarge

[Sergeant Rock]

Debussy - Jeux (Dutoit, Montreal)

https://www.youtube.com/v/OXSWFlwX9a4

First, or possibly second listen to this work, and ---

--- Sarge, count me in as Pro. I like it very much.

Glad you like it. You don't often see eye to eye with me (me a card carrying member of the gloom and doom brigade )

Sarge

[André]

Very interesting. I do not have that CD. I must track it down. Cheers André.

Bought direct from the ICO web store. Very affordable  .

[Sergeant Rock]

I've also drifted more towards the pro side. A few listenings to Ansermet's recording softened me up and the slower tempo of the Shui record brought it home.

Still not decisively in the pro column?

Sarge

[aligreto]

Symphony No. 3 [Abravanel]





This is a fine performance and the slow movement, which is one of my favourite Sibelius movements, is reproduced very well here. The final movement is also a robust performance.

[aligreto]

Bought direct from the ICO web store. Very affordable  .

Thanks again André 

[Ghost of Baron Scarpia]

Still not decisively in the pro column?

Sarge

Yes, I'll commit to decisively pro.

[Sergeant Rock]

Hi Madiel - well, I sent Anna Stegmann an email yesterday and she responded today

Thanks for sharing that email, Dave. Put a smile on my face: Babell bath 

Sarge

[Sergeant Rock]

Yes, I'll commit to decisively pro.

Excellent!

Sarge