What are you listening to now?

[Coopmv]

Now playing CD2 of the following set.  The Concentus Musicus Wien and the Stockholm Chamber Choir performed this very English Oratorio quite admirably ...

[TheGSMoeller]

Kats-Chernin: Wild Swans;  Piano Concerto No. 2 (Ian Munro-piano)
Ola Rudner - Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra


[asin] B000A2H3EO[/asin]

[TheGSMoeller]

Kats-Chernin: Ornamental Air for Basset Clarinet and Orchestra
Michael Collins, Basset Clarinet and Conductor - Swedish Chamber Orchestra

An amazing work, touches upon many genres, including Jazz. The opening and closing movements are electric and brimming with life. A brilliant part for the soloist with the orchestral accompaniment just as involved in the overall presentation. Highly recommended.



[asin] B00A8QBFRS[/asin]

[Coopmv]

Now playing CD3, the last CD of the following set ... 

[Rinaldo]

For the night:

[asin]B00004VLJ8[/asin]
I love this guy, what a tapestry of sound. The way he builds up the intensity in Vortex temporum? Oh man. Taléa is finishing right now, I'll be playing it one more time and then

[asin]B00092ZB6M[/asin]
to wrap up the day.

[Mirror Image]

Kats-Chernin: Ornamental Air for Basset Clarinet and Orchestra

So what's going on with you and Kats-Chernin? I've heard some negative things about her music, but I've also read many positives. How would you describe it?

[Johnll]

Glad you like it.  They don't get much coverage. Opinions have varied around here about the merits of his approach, but Schoonderwoerd definitely taking things to another level with his small period ensemble angle!

BTW Also on my shopping list is the recent reissue of the Weil/Immerseel recordings - reportedly very good (safe for the Emperor?).

d very enjoyable!

[asin]B009EJSU32[/asin]

Q

Thanks for the comments re Schoonderwoerd Q and Rinaldo. I could not get his Beethoven but I was able to find his recordings of Mozart's piano concertos 18-21. Certainly a different take from Perahia and very enjoyable!

[Gold Knight]

Franz Schubert--Symphony No.9 in C Major, D 944 {"Great"}, featuring the Nikolaus Harnoncourt led Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra.
Anton Bruckner--Symphony No.7 in E major {Ed: Haas}, performed by the Berliner Philharmoniker under Herbert von Karajan.

[TheGSMoeller]

So what's going on with you and Kats-Chernin? I've heard some negative things about her music, but I've also read many positives. How would you describe it?

From what I've heard (that being about 5-6 pieces) Kats-Chernin offers a mixed bag when it comes to a distinct style. For example, Wild Swans (originally a ballet) sounds like a mix between a film score to a Tim Burton children's movie and New Age. Ornamental Air for Basset Clarinet and Orchestra sounds like a homage to the mid-20th Century composers like Copland, while merging in some Jazz and Folk music. The Piano Concerto No.2 carries a more contemporary feel, more dissonance and a much less clear direction in regards to chord progression.

The two concertos are strong works, more distinctive than Wild Swans. Swans overall feels a bit aimless, but has some lovely melodies and moments along with interesting instrumentation including extensive use of a solo, and wordless soprano voice.

I can see where the criticism might come from, I don't think her music is breaking any boundaries (although that is not too important) and may not sound wholly original, but it's never crude or boorish. It seems Kats-Chernin has a broad imagaination and coveys that in her music. In many cases you might even have a melody or two stuck in your head after the music has ended, which is always pleasant. 

Ornamental Air for Basset Clarinet and Orchestra is quite phenomenal though, it kept me on the edge of my seat during my entire first listen. Kets-Chernin creates a busy and exciting atmosphere early on in this piece and maintains it throughout.

Here's a sample...

The lovely Eliza's Aria from Wild Swan (probably Kats-Chernin most well known bit of music because it's been featured on commercials), this is the best clip I could find with the best sound, but it's an arrangement for Violin and Piano, not the original Orchestral version. The wordless soprano voice normally performs what the violin plays here, and the orchestral version is filled with pizzicato strings and percussion that do add a more magical effect.

http://www.youtube.com/v/vQPrXthf-r0

[listener]

another installment in the Rubinstein CHOPIN box
Polonaises 3-5: op.40/2, 44, 53  Preludes op. 28/1-15
and MESSIAEN:  L'Ascension (organ) and Le Banquet Célèste
Messiaen at the organ of Église de la Trinité

[mahler10th]

Brahms
Symphony 4
Carlos Klieber
BRSO

Good old Carlos.

[Fafner]

Good morning and lovely sunny Sunday!


George Onslow - Symphonies Nos. 2 & 4
Philharmonie Hradec Králové, Jean-Francois Leger



I really like Onslow's music. Sort of Beethoven lite.

[Marc]

Another Bach organ music disc I gave a go.

It's nice/OK I guess, but definitely not appealing in the way Felix Friedrich's recital did.

Really?

That sounds like Krapp to me!

Seriously: I think Friedrich is very nice, but I find Krapp more appealing.

(Really? Yes, really.)

This might well be a first listen.

The overture to Così fan tutte

Really?

Mozart's opera's are like bread and butter to me. Così has got lots of beautiful ensembles, too. Check 'em out!

[Que]

Really?

That sounds like Krapp to me!

Seriously: I think Friedrich is very nice, but I find Krapp more appealing.

(Really? Yes, really.)

Really?

I don't know, once he started heavily plodding through the excerpts form the Organ Mass, I gave up. I didn't find it that revealing.
I guess you guys appreciate Bach (also) more in the old way... 

What about Friedrich? Lively, articulate and charming. Not serious/solemn enough?


Anyway, talking of solemnity - I started the new day with this old favourite:

[asin]B000XCXG60[/asin]

Q

[Marc]

I don't know, once he started heavily plodding through the excerpts form the Organ Mass, I gave up. I didn't find it that revealing.
I guess you guys appreciate Bach (also) more in the old way... 

What about Friedrich? Lively, articulate and charming. Not serious/solemn enough?

Well, you're definitely right with your assumption that I'm able to endure more various Bach approaches when it comes to his organ oeuvre. But I also have to say that I do not recall real heavily plodding with Krapp.
Friedrich can be a bit restless in his playing, but I certainly don't dislike him, don't get me wrong. But somehow his style, combined with not-entirely-my-favourite (Trost) organ of Altenburg, makes me slightly nervous.

À chacun son goût, n'est-ce pas?

Topic duty: finishing my listening to Mahler 9 with Haitink (Concertgebouw/studio). Thanks to Octave (Mahler thread) I have a fully orchestrated early Sunday morning. The 4th movement is just beautiful.

[Octave]

Wow, you are making me think I have occult powers of influence.   
Next I will be getting you jam out on Everly Brothers.    Clean-cut murder ballads for your Sunday!



Thanks again for that Mahler/Haitink input.

[Que]

Well, you're definitely right with your assumption that I'm able to endure more various Bach approaches when it comes to his organ oeuvre. But I also have to say that I do not recall real heavily plodding with Krapp.
Friedrich can be a bit restless in his playing, but I certainly don't dislike him, don't get me wrong. But somehow his style, combined with not-entirely-my-favourite (Trost) organ of Altenburg, makes me slightly nervous.

À chacun son goût, n'est-ce pas?

Bien sûr!
I actually quite like the Trost organ, some might find it too "light". Bach liked the organ too...


Thread duty:

[asin]B000E1JNZS[/asin]

Early (late 16th century) Germanic harpschord music by the brothers Hans Leo Hassler & Jacob Hassler.
Léon Berben plays the Franciscus Patavinus Harpsichord (1561) from the collection of the Deutsches Museum, Munich.

More about the recording HERE.

Q

[jlaurson]

Getting ready for Parsifal season...


R. Wagner / E. Humperdinck
Parsifal
arranged for Piano four hands
Gramola
German link - UK link
Recorded on a Bayreuthean piano in Bayreuth, for a little extra pseudo-authenticity. Liner notes claim it is arranged for four-handed piano... but it turns out to be performed on a regular, three-legged instrument.
(Europe only, so far.)

[Rinaldo]

Morning (actually, noon) everyone!

[Sergeant Rock]

Bruckner String Quintet F major played by the Sonare Quartet




Sarge