Mostly unlikely Nationality of Composer in your Collection

[springrite]

Inspired by the composer nationality thread, what is the most surprising nationality in your collection? I mean most surprising in the sense that the country is not exactly known for producing composers of classical music.


For me, probably Cambodia (Ung) and Malta (Camillari).

[Karl Henning]

The US (small joke, there)

[Parsifal]

Recently added some music from Turkey (Saygun).

Regarding the U.S., if I had to give up one country represented in my classical music collection it would probably be the U.S.  I like some Barber and some Carter, but nothing I wouldn't sacrifice if necessary to keep my Saygun recordings.

[Sergeant Rock]

Inspired by the composer nationality thread, what is the most surprising nationality in your collection? I mean most surprising in the sense that the country is not exactly known for producing composers of classical music.

Kevin Volans, South Africa.

Sarge

[Parsifal]

Interesting.  We are opposite.  I could sacrifice all others and be happy with nothing but U.S. composers' music.

Mysterious.  Who are these American composers?  I can't think of one first-rate American composer, except for the ones that were chased out of Europe by the fascists.

[springrite]

First rate? Not my concern.

I like most of the music being written by living Americans - I look for new composers and am happily impressed with the quality of their work.  But as far as established composers, I very much enjoy Carter, Wuorinen, Rochberg, Perle, Babbitt, Bernstein, Block, Cage, Feldman, Gershwin ... the list is very long.

I'd be happy to have Carter, Perle and Feldman from that list on my listening schedule.

[Parsifal]

First rate? Not my concern.

I like most of the music being written by living Americans - I look for new composers and am happily impressed with the quality of their work.  But as far as established composers, I very much enjoy Carter, Wuorinen, Rochberg, Perle, Babbitt, Bernstein, Block, Cage, Feldman, Gershwin ... the list is very long.

As I mention, I like some Carter, and you left off Barber.  I didn't think of Block as American, I suppose he is.   But now we're off the topic. 

Turkey, I'm sticking with Turkey.

[springrite]

Turkey, I'm sticking with Turkey.

There are lots of turkeys in American music, you know.

[Sergeant Rock]

Gimme a break.

Oh boy! Are we playing James Bingo again?



Sarge

[Sergeant Rock]

Love it.

I posted the wrong card. Fixed now 

Sarge

[listener]

returning 'à nos moutons'
an opera in Basque by Usandizaga - Mendi Mendiyan
and two in Armenian by Tigranian - Anush and David Beg

[kyjo]

Egypt: Halim El-Dabh (1921-): Clytemnestra Suite and Symphony no. 3



Very enjoyable tonal music with an exotic twist.

[springrite]

Egypt: Halim El-Dabh (1921-): Clytemnestra Suite and Symphony no. 3



Very enjoyable tonal music with an exotic twist.

I'd be interested in that one! I am decidedly short on African or middle east composers, with only Turkey, Iran represented!

[kyjo]

I'd be interested in that one! I am decidedly short on African or middle east composers, with only Turkey, Iran represented!

It's a great disc, if you can find a copy (there are two decently-priced ones on US Amazon right now); MP3 albums of this disc seem more widely available. There are also a few other discs of El-Dabh's music which I'm not familiar with.

Another "unusual nationality composer" whose music I have in my collection is Lebanese composer Bechara El-Khoury (1957-), who moved to Paris in 1979. Some of his music is inspired by the tragic events that occurred in his homeland during the Lebanese Civil War (he also wrote a piece in memory of the 9/11 victims). Naxos recorded three discs of his powerful orchestral music which I recommend highly to collectors of tonal modern music:

[Mirror Image]

Turkey, South Africa, Canada, and Iran all have found ways into my collection.

[kyjo]

Iran

I'm guessing that country is represented in your collection by Bezhad Ranjbaran (1955-), whose spectacularly exotic Persian Trilogy and passionately romantic Cello Concerto are in my collection. If it isn't him, I don't know of any other Iranian/Persian composers whose music has been recorded!

[Mirror Image]

I'm guessing that country is represented in your collection by Bezhad Ranjbaran (1955-), whose spectacularly exotic Persian Trilogy and passionately romantic Cello Concerto are in my collection. If it isn't him, I don't know of any other Iranian/Persian composers whose music has been recorded!

Yep, that's him. The Persian Trilogy is indeed the recording I own (Falletta/LSO on Delos). Don't own the Cello Concerto recording on Albany. So much music, so little time.

[kyjo]

Yep, that's him. The Persian Trilogy is indeed the recording I own (Falletta/LSO on Delos). Don't own the Cello Concerto recording on Albany. So much music, so little time.

Thought so! Apparently, Ranjbaran has composed a symphony, which I'd kill to hear!

I also have this disc which strangely couples the only works by a Kazakh composer on disc (as far as I'm aware), Erkegali Rakhmadiev's (1932-) Violin Concerto and two brief tone poems, with Martinu's Rhapsody-Concerto for viola! The Rakhmadiev VC is an interesting work which sounds like an updated version of the Khachaturian VC.

[Mirror Image]

Thought so! Apparently, Ranjbaran has composed a symphony, which I'd kill to hear!

I also have this disc which strangely couples the only works by a Kazakh composer on disc (as far as I'm aware), Erkegali Rakhmadiev's (1932-) Violin Concerto and two brief tone poems, with Martinu's Rhapsody-Concerto for viola! The Rakhmadiev VC is an interesting work which sounds like an updated version of the Khachaturian VC.

I'll have to check out Rakhmadiev's music. It seems like I've passed by this recording years ago as the cover art looks very familiar. Thanks for the recommendation.

I should mention I'm quite interested in lesser-known composers but I'm finding that many of them deserve not to be heard again. Of course, there are always exceptions: Braga Santos, Casella, Schreker, Rubbra, etc.

[kyjo]

I'll have to check out Rakhmadiev's music. It seems like I've passed by this recording years ago as the cover art looks very familiar. Thanks for the recommendation.

I should mention I'm quite interested in lesser-known composers but I'm finding that many of them deserve not to be heard again. Of course, there are always exceptions: Braga Santos, Casella, Schreker, Rubbra, etc.

You're welcome Judging from the pieces on that CD, Rakhmadiev is far from a negligible composer, but a Braga Santos, Casella, Schreker or Rubbra he is not. As most of you probably know already, I explore tons of really obscure music, especially from the late-19th and 20th centuries and most of it orchestral. I'd say, of all this music I've explored, approximately 30% of it is a real find, 55% of it is eminently worthwhile and enjoyable but not stunning, 10% of it is just "meh", and 5% of it I would never imagine returning to. Whatever the case, collecting obscure music has been one of the most exciting experiences of my life