Vaughan Williams's Veranda

[Iota]

Is there some kind of optical illusion I and vandermolen are missing? I see a sleeping baby very clearly on the cover of the Hickox's No.6 on Chandos, in Roasted Swan's post before mine. Or perhaps two covers were released?

While he's being mentioned, I'll say that I'm not sure I've ever heard a Hickox recording of British music, that I didn't like. The time may come of course, but thus far I've always found his approach a sensitive/illuminating/enjoyable one. Though  admittedly I know only a fraction of the pieces and recordings that most on this thread seem to, so have had less opportunity to come across a bad apple. 

[foxandpeng]

Just an FYI, some of the symphonies not released in the Hickox Chandos cycle were conducted and recorded in concert.  I love his Symphony No. 9 for example, but can't seem to find it at the moment, but they are out there.  You might consider those concert performances as supplements to completing the cycle.

Thank you, relm1 - I will keep a look out for them!

As far as my humour, PD and Jeffrey, I'm afraid that I find myself far more amusing than my wife did 

[vandermolen]

You are absolutely right about the covers - RVW 6&8 was always a "night scene" image and the original Delius Mass of Life was a rather annoyed looking baby which was latterly changed for something more mundance.

There's definitely a baby on that VW cover image!

[vandermolen]

Thank you, relm1 - I will keep a look out for them!

As far as my humour, PD and Jeffrey, I'm afraid that I find myself far more amusing than my wife did 

My wife often says: 'You think that you're such a wit don't you?' after I've repeated the same joke for the 15th time.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Is there some kind of optical illusion I and vandermolen are missing? I see a sleeping baby very clearly on the cover of the Hickox's No.6 on Chandos, in Roasted Swan's post before mine. Or perhaps two covers were released?

While he's being mentioned, I'll say that I'm not sure I've ever heard a Hickox recording of British music, that I didn't like. The time may come of course, but thus far I've always found his approach a sensitive/illuminating/enjoyable one. Though  admittedly I know only a fraction of the pieces and recordings that most on this thread seem to, so have had less opportunity to come across a bad apple.

Um, I was at least one of the other ones who said that all I saw was a pier (thinking that it was foggy, but just nighttime or?).  Are we talking about the same cover?  This is the one that's on my hybrid SACD version:



PD

[foxandpeng]

Um, I was at least one of the other ones who said that all I saw was a pier (thinking that it was foggy, but just nighttime or?).  Are we talking about the same cover?  This is the one that's on my hybrid SACD version:



PD

Yep  Definitely a depressing baby face, with nose and lips visible on the pier.

Yuk.

[foxandpeng]

My wife often says: 'You think that your such a wit don't you?' after I've repeated the same joke for the 15th time.

Hehe. My wife again reminds me that it wasn't funny yesterday, either.

[Iota]

Um, I was at least one of the other ones who said that all I saw was a pier (thinking that it was foggy, but just nighttime or?).  Are we talking about the same cover?  This is the one that's on my hybrid SACD version:



PD

Yes indeed, that's the same cover, and I see a sleeping baby on it, with closed eyelids aligning perfectly with the horizon. 

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Yep  Definitely a depressing baby face, with nose and lips visible on the pier.

Yuk.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

Is there some kind of optical illusion I and vandermolen are missing? I see a sleeping baby very clearly on the cover of the Hickox's No.6 on Chandos, in Roasted Swan's post before mine. Or perhaps two covers were released?

While he's being mentioned, I'll say that I'm not sure I've ever heard a Hickox recording of British music, that I didn't like. The time may come of course, but thus far I've always found his approach a sensitive/illuminating/enjoyable one. Though  admittedly I know only a fraction of the pieces and recordings that most on this thread seem to, so have had less opportunity to come across a bad apple.

Boy, you two, I'm certainly not seeing any baby!

PD

[Roasted Swan]

Is there some kind of optical illusion I and vandermolen are missing? I see a sleeping baby very clearly on the cover of the Hickox's No.6 on Chandos, in Roasted Swan's post before mine. Or perhaps two covers were released?

While he's being mentioned, I'll say that I'm not sure I've ever heard a Hickox recording of British music, that I didn't like. The time may come of course, but thus far I've always found his approach a sensitive/illuminating/enjoyable one. Though  admittedly I know only a fraction of the pieces and recordings that most on this thread seem to, so have had less opportunity to come across a bad apple.

Ha!  Proves how (un)carefully I looked at the cover of the Hickox 6&8.  Never noticed the "dreamer" before.  Not sure I'd be much good as a witness anytime......

[Karl Henning]

My wife often says: 'You think that your such a wit don't you?' after I've repeated the same joke for the 15th time.

(* chortle *)

[Karl Henning]

Just wanted to say how much I have been enjoying this new release - a piano duet version of the 1920 edition of A London Symphony. I'm really glad that it features the 1920 version, which retains the intensely poetic final sections which the composer later (and mistakenly IMO) excised. Also the piano and organ version of Finzi's beautiful 'Eclogue' is well worth hearing. I've played this CD several times already:

Listening now.

[vers la flamme]

Took me a long time to see it, but yeah, the baby is there. Very odd design choice...

[vandermolen]

Hehe. My wife again reminds me that it wasn't funny yesterday, either.

OT
My nephew's wife tells us that she can't wait for their children to reach adolescence so that they realise that their dad is not nearly as funny as he thinks he is.

[Biffo]

Ha!  Proves how (un)carefully I looked at the cover of the Hickox 6&8.  Never noticed the "dreamer" before.  Not sure I'd be much good as a witness anytime......

I can now see the baby in the background. I missed it completely when I first looked at my copy of the CD. At a first glance I thought there was the back of a polar bear's head at the end of the pier but that didn't make sense. The face shows up more clearly (but not very) on the back cover.

[Roasted Swan]

Just wanted to say how much I have been enjoying this new release - a piano duet version of the 1920 edition of A London Symphony. I'm really glad that it features the 1920 version, which retains the intensely poetic final sections which the composer later (and mistakenly IMO) excised. Also the piano and organ version of Finzi's beautiful 'Eclogue' is well worth hearing. I've played this CD several times already:

Just completed listening to this new disc.  Beautifully performed/engineered/presented in typical Albion Records' top-notch manner.  The more I hear the 1920 version the more it impresses me - somehow the structure balances better with the extended finale/epilogue.  Very well played here BUT the plainness of the 2 piano adaption misses out so much of the textural beauty of the orchestral version.  Also, not sure that the actual arrangement (NOT the performance) is that sophisticated - functional rather than revelatory.  Like you I thought Eclogue a complete success both as performance and arrangement....

[vandermolen]

I can now see the baby in the background. I missed it completely when I first looked at my copy of the CD. At a first glance I thought there was the back of a polar bear's head at the end of the pier but that didn't make sense. The face shows up more clearly (but not very) on the back cover.

It was the nose in the middle of the image which was the give-away for me 

[vandermolen]

Just completed listening to this new disc.  Beautifully performed/engineered/presented in typical Albion Records' top-notch manner.  The more I hear the 1920 version the more it impresses me - somehow the structure balances better with the extended finale/epilogue.  Very well played here BUT the plainness of the 2 piano adaption misses out so much of the textural beauty of the orchestral version.  Also, not sure that the actual arrangement (NOT the performance) is that sophisticated - functional rather than revelatory.  Like you I thought Eclogue a complete success both as performance and arrangement....

I'm delighted that you enjoyed it as well. The CD gave me much more pleasure than expected, especially because when I ordered it I had assumed that it would be the 1936 edition and not the 1920 one, which I much prefer. The Finzi was indeed a bonus - one of my 'Discs of the Year' I expect.

[foxandpeng]

It was the nose in the middle of the image which was the give-away for me 

And the hor-eye-zon.

*Bad-um, tish*