What are you listening to now?

[Daverz]

Wow Daverz, that is some awesome Sunday listening! How is the Vienna Berlioz?

It's pretty good.  I think the Lelio is probably the reason to buy this, but I haven't listened to that yet.

[Irons]

If you want another surprising Mozart gem, try the 12 Variations in E major on the French song "La belle Françoise", KV 353. The innocuous title is just as misleading as KV 563's.

I do not know it. Thanks for tip.

[vandermolen]

Hymne à la Justice from this set:



I like the sense of urgency that opens this work, and the subsequent struggle throughout. Needless to say it's excellent.

Great set Cesar. I especially like symphonies 3 and 4 and the darkly moving Chant Funebre.

[Irons]

This is now streaming on Qobuz in the UK.

The transfers were done by the same people who did the transfers of the Juilliard Quartet box. So far I've only listened to some of the Schumann and I'd say that while it's perfectly listenable, it's not quite as good as the amateur transfer which I have already. It may be that the same transfer values that were applied in the Juilliard box are applied here.

If anyone wants my transfers they can PM me.

I have the Schumann quartets. The most surprising issue by the New Music String Quartet is early English music. A record that I often play as something different and refreshing. Is it included in your download?

[Irons]

Actually, I forgot to mention that Symphony 5 is the only other symphony I like by Stanford, other than Symphony 3 'Irish' and Irish Rhapsody No.4 and PC No.2.

Is it fair to say that Stanford and Parry were great teachers (VW, Holst etc) but not great composers? I have this theory that the greatest composers were never great teachers and second-rate composers were often great teachers. The problem with great composers, or artists for that matter, is that they tended to suffocate their students originality and produce puppets of themselves. Overgeneralised of course but I think that there is a basis of truth in it.

I think you are absolutely right Jeffrey. Probably not the best analogy but the most successful football managers were pretty average players and "star" players generally fail to make it as managers. Frank Howes made the point that English music has more to thank of Parry and Stanford then Elgar and Vaughan Williams.

[Mandryka]

I have the Schumann quartets. The most surprising issue by the New Music String Quartet is early English music. A record that I often play as something different and refreshing. Is it included in your download?

Yep, I have transfers of them playing that English music, some early Mozart, a Haydn quartet, Medelssohn op 13 and the Schumann.

I also have the recordings commercially available through Bartok Records in America, with Beethoven, Bartok, Berg and Costella.

[Traverso]

Bach

Violin Concertos

[vandermolen]

I think you are absolutely right Jeffrey. Probably not the best analogy but the most successful football managers were pretty average players and "star" players generally fail to make it as managers. Frank Howes made the point that English music has more to thank of Parry and Stanford then Elgar and Vaughan Williams.

Actually I think that your football analogy is spot on Lol. Mourinho (whatever your views on him) was not a great player as far as I know and star players were often indifferent managers (Bobby Charlton compared to the less talented Jack Charlton, who was a much more successful manager). It works with painters as well. The teachers of the Impressionists like Gleyre are not much remembered as artists and very dominant painters like Jaques Louis David and J.A.D Ingres produced hardly any great painters amongst their students (in fact Ingres was the only pupil of David who equalled him in stature).

[Papy Oli]

Good morning all,

Trying to give the Arnold cycle full chronological attention, after some random incomplete attempts on various symphonies.

Arnold - symphony no.1 ((Penny)

A magnificent work! What did you think of it?

Really liked the Lloyd 4 Kyle, like most of his symphonies actually. Only 3 &10 didn't work for me or left me underwhelmed.

[Christo]

Good morning all,

Trying to give the Arnold cycle full chronological attention, after some random incomplete attempts on various symphonies.

Arnold - symphony no.1 ((Penny)

Wish you a safe journey & hope you'll keep us informed about your findings! 

[Papy Oli]

Wish you a safe journey & hope you'll keep us informed about your findings! 

Hi Christo

I already love the Penny 9 (which made me purchase the cycle thereafter) and the slow Arnold's own 4th. I'll see how the rest goes.

[Traverso]

 John Bull

[ritter]

Some relatively minor Stravinsky works, but in which you can still detect the composer's strong personal voice: Scènes de ballet, Bluebird - Pas de Deux and Le baiser de la fée. CD 5 of this set:

[asin]B000PTYUQG[/asin]
I've known these recordings fro some 40 yeras now, and have a soft spot for them (tinged with a bit of nostalgia--very fitting with the music, I might add  ).

[vandermolen]

Good morning all,

Trying to give the Arnold cycle full chronological attention, after some random incomplete attempts on various symphonies.

Arnold - symphony no.1 ((Penny)


Really liked the Lloyd 4 Kyle, like most of his symphonies actually. Only 3 &10 didn't work for me or left me underwhelmed.

Good morning Olivier! I tend to agree with you about Lloyd. Arnold's No.1 is one of my favourites of his cycle (basically the odd numbered ones + No.6. Arnold's own recording of Symphony 1 is much slower than all the others.

[vandermolen]

Symphony No.3 - one of the great 20th Century symphonies IMO.
I'm sorry that Andrew Davis didn't go on to record the complete cycle. 2 'Grave' and 6 'Semplice' are my other favourites:

[Traverso]

Schumann

Kreisleriana Op.16
Novelettes  Op.21 - Nos 1&2
Papillons     Op.2

[ritter]

Spurred by vandermolen's and Biffo's exchange in the "Favourite 20th/21st century pieces" poll, revisiting (about a month after I last listened to it) Edgar Varèse's Arcana (preceded by Offrandes). Robert Craft conducts.

[asin]B079VD4L73[/asin]

[vandermolen]

Stale Kleiberg:
His String Quartet No.3 is one of the most immediately appealing and, in places moving, contemporary string quartets. I'd imagine that it would appeal to admirers of Vasks for example. 'Do You Believe in Heather?' Is a very poetic and beautiful song cycle. I was so impressed by this composer's 'Bell Reef Symphony' that I emailed him and he sent a very nice reply and then two CDs, including this lovely discovery, of his music. Strongly recommended:

[vandermolen]

Live Fantastique:



Some fun Kabalevsky:

[asin] B07QN8PWF6[/asin]

Harpsichord concertos:

[asin] B07R3L7N86[/asin]



Very pleasant, though I haven't gotten to the Nyman yet.

...the Nyman is nice in a poppy way.  The most substantial work here is the Kalabis, and for that you should probably get the Supraphon with his wife Zuzana Růžičková playing harpsichord.

Finn Mortensen: Symphony No. 1

[asin] B0062Z20IW[/asin]

I actually have a physical copy of this one.  0:)
A fine symphony.

How did you enjoy the Kabalevsky CD? I especially like Symphony No.1

[Daverz]

How did you enjoy the Kabalevsky CD? I especially like Symphony No.1

Other than "yeah that sounds like Kabalevsky if you take away the cheeky tunes", it'll take me a couple more listens to make up my mind about them.