What are you listening to now?

[ritter]

In memoriam Gunther Schuller

Seven Studies on Themes of Paul Klee (1959)
Minneapolis Symphony
Doráti

I didn't know Gunther Schuller had passed away on Sunday. R.I.P. I must confess I'm absolutely ignorant about is music, and am eager to explore it. I see the Seven Studies... are included in the Sony "Masterworks of 20th Century" box (conducted by Leinsdorf). Would you say this is a good place to start, Karl?

THREAD DUTY:

Earlier today, Schoenberg's orchestration of Bach's St. Anne prelude and fugue, and Boulez's Livre pour cordes (hat tip to EigenUser) and Fanfare for the 80th birthday of Sir Georg Solti, from this set:



I found Schoenberg's take on the Bach rather appealing this time around...actually, I now think it's quite spectacular...

...and now:



Alfredo Casella: Missa solemnis pro pace, op. 71 - Vocal soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of the Teatro La Fenice, Isaac Karabtchevsky (cond.)

[Moonfish]

Now:



Listening to En Saga, Op. 9. Great performance from Gibson/Scottish NO.

Enticing! Is this a re-issue of Gibson's recordings with the Scottish NO?

[Mirror Image]

Enticing! Is this a re-issue of Gibson's recordings with the Scottish NO?

Yep, a remastered reissue. Superlative performances as well. I've owned this set for three years now.

[listener]

LISZT: The Late Pieces    vol. 11 in the Leslie Howard series on Hyperion
lots of tonally obscure ones, 30 tracks in all
and "The American Virtuoso"   music by GRAINGER, MacDOWELL, BEACH, GERSHWIN, GOTSCHALK, and Teresa CARMELO
Alan Feinberg, piano

[Moonfish]

Tchaikovsky: Symphony No.4           BBC SO/Sargent      (live, BBC Proms Sept 5, 1964)

A very enjoyable rendition of the 4th from the BBC Proms!

[Moonfish]

Shostakovich: Symphony No. 8            Pittsburgh SO/Jansons

I am quite impressed with Jansons in this recording. Shostakovich's Eight is suddenly gaining favor in my eyes. The haunting 4th movement is fantastic!  I used to associate Shostakovich with chaos, but this performance  (and the 10th symphony) are changing my mind. Great music!

[aligreto]

Wagner: Die Walkure / Solti....

[ritter]

Yes! I love the Liturgies! One of those pieces that I obsess over (even if it does sound like Faure meets martians ).

What an apt description of the piece! 

[San Antone]

LISZT: The Late Pieces    vol. 11 in the Leslie Howard series on Hyperion
lots of tonally obscure ones, 30 tracks in all

Good one.  One of these days I just might buy that huge box.

[Moonfish]

Wagner: Die Walkure / Solti....

Seems like your house will shake and thunder this evening, Aligreto!       Your listening choice reminds me that I need to embark on some opera projects soon. Strauss definitely looms on the horizon!

[Todd]

Some occasionally pterodactyl-sized rhopalocera, a superb Arabesque, an idiosyncratic and mostly successful Carnaval, and a superb Ghost Variations.

[Ken B]

Mozart
Quintet for some wind and string quartet, K581
Melos Ensemble
From the Icon box

(Recorded 1964, Karl)

[Moonfish]

Gade: Symphony No.3         Stockholm Sinfonietta/N. Järvi

[asin] B0034YLW88[/asin]

[Mirror Image]

Now:



Listening to Månerenen (Moon Reindeer) op. 57. Wonderfully atmospheric ballet. Haven't heard any Riisager in quite some time.

[Moonfish]

Berg:
Chamber Concerto for Piano and Violin with 13 Wind Instruments
3 Pieces for Orchestra
5 Orchesterlieder nach Ansichts-kartentexten von Peter Altenberg

Barenboim/Gawriloff/Lukomska/BBS SO/Boulez

I'm not so sure if Berg is my cup of tea, but I will get my brain exposed to "it"..."the other"..... *help*

[San Antone]

[Mirror Image]

Berg:
Chamber Concerto for Piano and Violin with 13 Wind Instruments
3 Pieces for Orchestra
5 Orchesterlieder nach Ansichts-kartentexten von Peter Altenberg

Barenboim/Gawriloff/Lukomska/BBS SO/Boulez

I'm not so sure if Berg is my cup of tea, but I will get my brain exposed to "it"..."the other"..... *help*

I wouldn't think the Second Viennese School would be up your alley, Peter. As much as I like say Berg's Three Pieces for Orchestra, I find a lot of Berg/Schoenberg/Webern to be emotionally stilted. It's creepy, eerie music, but I'm not sure I can get on with this kind of music any longer. I need something that has more variety and a wider emotional template. It's fine every now and again, but I would never make a habit of listening to this music, especially nowadays.

Thread duty:



Listening to Symphony No. 8 in D minor. Such an incredible work.

[Karl Henning]

I didn't know Gunther Schuller had passed away on Sunday. R.I.P. I must confess I'm absolutely ignorant about is music, and am eager to explore it. I see the Seven Studies... are included in the Sony "Masterworks of 20th Century" box (conducted by Leinsdorf). Would you say this is a good place to start, Karl?

Honestly, this is the only composition of his I know;  arguably a minor work, but well made and thoroughly engaging.

[Karl Henning]

I found Schoenberg's take on the Bach rather appealing this time around...actually, I now think it's quite spectacular...

Glad you like it now!  Yes, I think very well of Schoenberg's arrangements.

[Moonfish]

I wouldn't think the Second Viennese School would be up your alley, Peter. As much as I like say Berg's Three Pieces for Orchestra, I find a lot of Berg/Schoenberg/Webern to be emotionally stilted. It's creepy, eerie music, but I'm not sure I can get on with this kind of music any longer. I need something that has more variety and a wider emotional template. It's fine every now and again, but I would never make a habit of listening to this music, especially nowadays.

Thread duty:



Listening to Symphony No. 8 in D minor. Such an incredible work.

Yeah, the RVW 8 seems very, very attractive in comparison at this point in time (at the end of Berg's Chamber Concerto atm).  It is definitely not up my alley, but I still like to ponder Berg's creations. In addition, it makes me appreciate what I usually listen to. Even Shostakovich seems serene in comparison.   0:)