Five "unsung" works everyone should hear

[madaboutmahler]

Another one from me....

Novak: Lady Godiva
Casella: Symphony 3
Simpson: Symphony 4
Taneyev: Oresteia Overture
Elgar: Dream Children

and Glazunov 4 And everyone needs to hear the finale of Taneyev 4, it's brilliant!

[mszczuj]

2nd set:

Raff: Symphony No.3 Im Walde
Faure: Piano Trio
Lyapunov: Hashish
Diepenbrock: Marsyas
Lutosławski: Preludes and a Fugue

[kyjo]

Another one from me....

Novak: Lady Godiva
Casella: Symphony 3
Simpson: Symphony 4
Taneyev: Oresteia Overture
Elgar: Dream Children

and Glazunov 4 And everyone needs to hear the finale of Taneyev 4, it's brilliant!

Agree with you about Taneyev 4-what a thrilling, majestic work! Nice list BTW. Casella's Symphony no. 3 is one of the greatest works of the 20th century IMO.

P.S. Have you heard Simpson's Ninth, Daniel? It is, without a doubt, his masterwork and a work of tremendous power.

[kyjo]

2nd set:

Raff: Symphony No.3 Im Walde
Faure: Piano Trio
Lyapunov: Hashish
Diepenbrock: Marsyas
Lutosławski: Preludes and a Fugue

The Diepenbrock work is indeed lovely. His Symphonic Suite from Elektra (which I listed) is an even more stunning composition IMO.

[Cato]

Agree with you about Taneyev 4-what a thrilling, majestic work!

Amen! 

And allow me one more time today to mention an "unsung" work which is definitely sung:

[asin]B00ARWDRVU[/asin]

[mszczuj]

The Diepenbrock work is indeed lovely. His Symphonic Suite from Elektra (which I listed) is an even more stunning composition IMO.

Alas, I can't stop thinking about other Elektra while listen to the Diepenbrock one.

[kyjo]

Alas, I can't stop thinking about other Elektra while listen to the Diepenbrock one.

It's the other way around for me!

[Lisztianwagner]

Another one:

Lumbye Kopenhagener Eisenbahn - Dampf Galopp
Hellmesberger Danse diabolique
Alkan Sonatine
Simpson Symphony No.7
Martucci Nocturne No.1 Op.70

[Mirror Image]

I'm also not sure what he's referring to by the "Meyer Mass". Could you please clarify, John?

Sure:



Krzysztof Meyer: Mass

[kyjo]

Sure:



Krzysztof Meyer: Mass

Thanks. I'm not familiar with any of Meyer's music and will have to acquaint myself with it soon! Love your Shosty avatar by the way. I better not see Schnittke back up there, though!

[Brian]

THE UNSUNG WORKS PROJECT: THE RESULTS

I decided to go through this thread and listen to a bunch of works I hadn't heard before. I started skimming around page 3-4, when it turned into "kyjo and Mirror Image just list all the post-romantic music they like." But I got through a lot of the suggestions. Here are my thoughts on the stuff I heard!

Again, if I previously knew a work, it's not included in this post.

1. Chavez: Horse Power Suite - Mirror Image
Entertaining ballet. Not the most memorable, but a fun listen.

2. Braga Santos: Symphony No. 2 - Mirror Image
Dull. Really did not like this symphony; formless, shapeless, like a big blob of not very interesting tunes.

3. Nielsen: Wind Quintet - springrite
Okay, I cheated; I had heard this piece once on an airline flight. It freaking rocks. So much fun.

4. Enescu: Suites for Piano 1 and 2 - Bulldog
Really astonished by how good this music was. Well above the neoclassical piano average.

5. Gade: Elverskud, Op. 30 - Bulldog
A diverting 45 minutes with some writing that felt "scenic," if that makes sense.

6. Ernesto Haelffter: Sinfonietta - Daverz
Wow! Just plain fantastic, truly imaginative scoring, witty, clever, really fun piece. I'm gonna seek out more E. Halffter now.

7. Douglas Moore: Symphony No. 2 - Daverz
Just kinda cutesy. Didn't seem to mean it.

8. Tubin: Sinfonietta on Estonian Motifs - Mirror Image
Fairly enjoyable, but I'm not sure I'll listen again.

9. Czerny: Symphony No. 6 - mc ukrneal
Pretty nice. Reminded me of Schubert, but without the easy tunes. A good symphony.

10. Novak: De profundis - kyjo
Godawful. I hated this piece. Way too serious, way too long, way too busy predicting doom and digging a bomb shelter. And I like Novak's music, too. This is just the Glenn Beck of Novak pieces.

11. Y.Skold: 2nd symphony - madaboutmahler
Pretty enjoyable symphony. Like Atterberg but slightly less. Great ending!

12. Leifs: Requiem - madaboutmahler
Frikkin amazing. Brilliant choral piece.

13. Vaughan Williams: Oboe Concerto - DavidW
Cute. So short. If I could only take one oboe concerto to a desert island it would be Martinu's.

14. Krzysztof Meyer: Mass - Mirror Image
I have this one playing now. Really enjoying it, actually.


---------------

AS FOR MY OWN "FIVE" CHOICES

Martinu - Oboe Concerto
Jean Cras - String Trio and/or Quintet for harp, flute, and strings
Carl Stamitz - Cello Concerto No. 2
Weinberg - Cello Concerto
Kalliwoda - Symphony No. 5
C.P.E. Bach - more or less his entire output
J.S. Bach - the cello suites played on a viola

Plus everything on this ass-kickingly awesome CD of contemporary string quartets:


(link goes to my review)
EDIT:
[asin]B00AKJ3QE8[/asin]

[kyjo]

THE UNSUNG WORKS PROJECT: THE RESULTS

I decided to go through this thread and listen to a bunch of works I hadn't heard before. I started skimming around page 3-4, when it turned into "kyjo and Mirror Image just list all the post-romantic music they like." But I got through a lot of the suggestions. Here are my thoughts on the stuff I heard!

Again, if I previously knew a work, it's not included in this post.

1. Chavez: Horse Power Suite - Mirror Image
Entertaining ballet. Not the most memorable, but a fun listen.

2. Braga Santos: Symphony No. 2 - Mirror Image
Dull. Really did not like this symphony; formless, shapeless, like a big blob of not very interesting tunes.

3. Nielsen: Wind Quintet - springrite
Okay, I cheated; I had heard this piece once on an airline flight. It freaking rocks. So much fun.

4. Enescu: Suites for Piano 1 and 2 - Bulldog
Really astonished by how good this music was. Well above the neoclassical piano average.

5. Gade: Elverskud, Op. 30 - Bulldog
A diverting 45 minutes with some writing that felt "scenic," if that makes sense.

6. Ernesto Haelffter: Sinfonietta - Daverz
Wow! Just plain fantastic, truly imaginative scoring, witty, clever, really fun piece. I'm gonna seek out more E. Halffter now.

7. Douglas Moore: Symphony No. 2 - Daverz
Just kinda cutesy. Didn't seem to mean it.

8. Tubin: Sinfonietta on Estonian Motifs - Mirror Image
Fairly enjoyable, but I'm not sure I'll listen again.

9. Czerny: Symphony No. 6 - mc ukrneal
Pretty nice. Reminded me of Schubert, but without the easy tunes. A good symphony.

10. Novak: De profundis - kyjo
Godawful. I hated this piece. Way too serious, way too long, way too busy predicting doom and digging a bomb shelter. And I like Novak's music, too. This is just the Glenn Beck of Novak pieces.

11. Y.Skold: 2nd symphony - madaboutmahler
Pretty enjoyable symphony. Like Atterberg but slightly less. Great ending!

12. Leifs: Requiem - madaboutmahler
Frikkin amazing. Brilliant choral piece.

13. Vaughan Williams: Oboe Concerto - DavidW
Cute. So short. If I could only take one oboe concerto to a desert island it would be Martinu's.

14. Krzysztof Meyer: Mass - Mirror Image
I have this one playing now. Really enjoying it, actually.


---------------

AS FOR MY OWN "FIVE" CHOICES

Martinu - Oboe Concerto
Jean Cras - String Trio and/or Quintet for harp, flute, and strings
Carl Stamitz - Cello Concerto No. 2
Weinberg - Cello Concerto
Kalliwoda - Symphony No. 5
C.P.E. Bach - more or less his entire output
J.S. Bach - the cello suites played on a viola

Plus everything on this ass-kickingly awesome CD of contemporary string quartets:


(link goes to my review)
EDIT:
[asin]B00AKJ3QE8[/asin]

Those are some pretty harsh words about the Braga Santos and the Novak! I also didn't like your comment about John and I listing all the "post-romantic" works we like. That's not true at all. I'm not stunned by every post-romantic work I hear, mind you. I've selected those that I believe are the most remarkable and, yes, stunning. I'm in a foul mood today, but just couldn't let that comment go unnoticed.....

BTW when listening to "unsung" music you have to have a more open mindset than you had when listening to a lot of those pieces, Brian.

[kyjo]

I realize a lot of people are probably tired of me constantly carrying the banner for "unsung" composers, and I'm perfectly OK with that. Of course, my very favorite composers are and always will be the acknowledged "greats" (Rachmaninov, Tchaikovsky, Mahler, Sibelius, Shostakovich, Bruckner etc.), but I will reiterate any chance I get that there are so many other composers who are sadly neglected compared to the "greats". Listening to "unsung" music properly all about two things: exposure and persistence. One thing that really p*sses me off is when listeners automatically dismiss a composer or a piece of music just because it isn't "popular" or "well-known" enough. I couldn't give less of a damn whether a composer or piece is "popular" or not. People just need to shut up and listen! IMO a lot of the pieces I listed, many people would enjoy if they only would give them a try. If they don't enjoy or connect with it, that's OK too, as long as they've given it a fair shake and don't harshly criticize it like Brian has. Opinions can always change upon further hearings, especially with 20th century music. Persistence is another big factor. Many listeners rely on their sometimes negative first impressions only to judge the quality of a particular work. You need to fully absorb and spend time with the music. Take a composer like Rubbra for instance. His music has very little surface appeal. It will take the average listener around 3 or 4 listenings to fully grasp the depth and purpose of his music. This comment (or should I say rant) isn't only directed towards Brian; it is meant for everybody here. Many people will keep on listening to only the acknowledged "greats" and/or keep on dismissing "unsung" music and all I can say to them is you're missing out on a lot!

Apologies for the rant! Hopefully someone has gotten something out of this!

[The new erato]

+1 for carrying the flag for unsungs. Keep on doing it. But I fail to see what is so harsh about Brian's criticism. He strongly disliked one work and gave his reasons for it, and was only moderately impressed with a few more. What's wrong with that?We are not talking gospel truth here, only personal opinions.

[kyjo]

+1 for carrying the flag for unsungs. Keep on doing it. But I fail to see what is so harsh about Brian's criticism. He strongly disliked one work and gave his reasons for it, and was only moderately impressed with a few more. What's wrong with that?We are not talking gospel truth here, only personal opinions.

"A big blob of not very interesting tunes" was Brian's reaction to Braga Santos 2. I mean, a better way to phrase his opinion would be "I found this symphony a bit overlong and I wasn't able to detect much memorable material". I'm not saying Brian's opinion is wrong (though I profoundly disagree with it), but he could have at least worded it a little less harshly. Brian is the first person I've met who's had a negative opinion of Braga Santos and I guess the shock his comment gave me got the better of me. It was his comment about John and I listing all the "post-romantic" works we like that really ruffled me, not his opinions of the music.

[Daverz]

"A big blob of not very interesting tunes" was Brian's reaction to Braga Santos 2. I mean, a better way to phrase his opinion would be "I found this symphony a bit overlong and I wasn't able to detect much memorable material". I'm not saying Brian's opinion is wrong (though I profoundly disagree with it), but he could have at least worded it a little less harshly. Brian is the first person I've met who's had a negative opinion of Braga Santos and I guess the shock his comment gave me got the better of me. It was his comment about John and I listing all the "post-romantic" works we like that really ruffled me, not his opinions of the music.

I find Symphony 2 pleasant enough.  In 1-3, he does some of the things that make me love 4 so much, but 4 is where it all seems to jell.

[kyjo]

I find Symphony 2 pleasant enough.  In 1-3, he does some of the things that make me love 4 so much, but 4 is where it all seems to jell.

I agree, no. 4 is his greatest symphony, but I view nos. 2 and 3 as being almost its equal.

[dyn]

i've also sort of skimmed this thread, less because it's mostly the same few people making lists and more because it's just that—lists.

If someone thinks that a particular piece is something "everyone" should hear, i want to know why—what is it that attracts you to this particular piece or composer? what emotions does it evoke in you? what sort of relationship do you have with the music? et cetera. i only see a few places where people try to express what makes these pieces great. elsewhere it's just... names. which often don't mean a whole lot to an unfamiliar listener.

[Daverz]

6. Ernesto Haelffter: Sinfonietta - Daverz
Wow! Just plain fantastic, truly imaginative scoring, witty, clever, really fun piece. I'm gonna seek out more E. Halffter now.

You might try this one:

[asin]B000050XAC[/asin]

Sonatina is actually a ballet.

7. Douglas Moore: Symphony No. 2 - Daverz
Just kinda cutesy. Didn't seem to mean it.

Not sure what you mean by that.

10. Novak: De profundis - kyjo
Godawful. I hated this piece. Way too serious, way too long, way too busy predicting doom and digging a bomb shelter. And I like Novak's music, too. This is just the Glenn Beck of Novak pieces.

I'm not even sure I've ever listened to this.  I would have mentioned one of the suites, either South Bohemian Suite or Slovak Suite.

[Daverz]

i want to know why—what is it that attracts you to this particular piece or composer? what emotions does it evoke in you? what sort of relationship do you have with the music? et cetera.

You should ask for your money back.