Who Should I Discover?

[Sergeant Rock]

What 3-4 Brian Symphonies might you recommend, Sarge? Nothing obvious now!! I'll probably like the ones no one else does?

Well, start with No. 4 "Das Siegeslied." Nobody likes that one    Then 12, 14. 28 is cool and Stokowski (!) conducts the only performance. For something longer, 3 is great. If you don't mind a solo voice (baritone) try No.5 "Wine of Summer." It might be his most beautiful creation. My favorites, other than the Gothic, are 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 13, 14, 16, 32

Sarge

[snyprrr]

Saint-Saeins' Requiem is a beautiful 'off-beat' work and here I'm referring to as 'off-beat' because of it's still somewhat of a rarity on disc and I'm sure it's never performed. Another work worth looking into is La Muse et le Poete for cello and orchestra. This is another one of those works that has seemed to 'slip through the cracks' for whatever reason.

Bloch's orchestral oeuvre is great. Check out Hiver-Printemps, Poems of the Sea, Evocations, Baal Shem, Four Episodes, Suite for Viola and Orchestra, Violin Concerto, Concerto Grosso No. 1, Concerto Symphonique, etc. Lots of good stuff to explore here. For Ben-Haim, I'm still in the midst of discovering myself, but have been quite impressed with his Symphony No. 1, but I've heard little else so far.

I think that S-S cello bit is on an EMI (Conlon?) disc that has a bunch of shorter S-S pieces... frankly, his many 'Romances' get confusing! But, you know that disc? (very florid EMI cover)

I forgot that Bloch had that more ... avant?dissonant?modern?... '50s Late Style (like his whole generation)... I had the Koch disc with... I think... the 'Four Episodes' (there's a few Bloch Koch discs worth getting to know)... the 2 Concerti Grossi (is that right? haha)... those flute pieces. And then he has all the earlier stuff... and the stuff from the '40s... yes, loads of stuff from Bloch. I do like Bloch's music- but he seemed crabby!

[snyprrr]

Well, start with No. 4 "Das Siegeslied." Nobody likes that one    Then 12, 14. 28 is cool and Stokowski (!) conducts the only performance. For something longer, 3 is great. If you don't mind a solo voice (baritone) try No.5 "Wine of Summer." It might be his most beautiful creation. My favorites, other than the Gothic, are 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 13, 14, 16, 32

Sarge

Ha! Even I know to stay away from 4, haha!!

I think what confuses me about Brian and Myaskovsky is the dating of their works, but more so with Brian. Off the top of my head, I'd say that No. 10 was either '58, or '71... that's how confused about Brian I am! You seem to like the grouping 12-16.

So, is the EMI 2cd seems to be THE entry point into Brian? And then one of the choice Marco Polos? (we MUST use the Scientific Method when discovering new Composers, no?!) I will have to check that list I made in the Thread.

I think you might have me on the Brian. It's been brewing for some time.

[snyprrr]

I have been REALLY holding off on Taneyev: maybe it's the fear of turgidity?

[Sergeant Rock]

Ha! Even I know to stay away from 4, haha!!

I think what confuses me about Brian and Myaskovsky is the dating of their works, but more so with Brian. Off the top of my head, I'd say that No. 10 was either '58, or '71... that's how confused about Brian I am! You seem to like the grouping 12-16.

10 was composed in 1953-54.  And yes, I do like 12-16...and 17. I still struggle with the 20s but I like the teens 

So, is the EMI 2cd seems to be THE entry point into Brian?

I think so...and that's what I recommend to most people. But you're not most people 

Sarge

[Mirror Image]

I forgot that Bloch had that more ... avant?dissonant?modern?... '50s Late Style (like his whole generation)... I had the Koch disc with... I think... the 'Four Episodes' (there's a few Bloch Koch discs worth getting to know)... the 2 Concerti Grossi (is that right? haha)... those flute pieces. And then he has all the earlier stuff... and the stuff from the '40s... yes, loads of stuff from Bloch. I do like Bloch's music- but he seemed crabby!

There's many Bloch recordings out there. Bloch is difficult composer to pigeonhole, so I won't bother trying to figure out where he belongs, but I do think he's worth exploring. There are many gems scattered throughout his oeuvre.

[pjme]

Have you tried Matthijs Vermeulen? Symphonies 2,3 and 4 may appeal to you.



Peter

[Mirror Image]

Have you tried Matthijs Vermeulen? Symphonies 2,3 and 4 may appeal to you.



Peter

Good luck finding that set for a decent price.

[snyprrr]

Have you tried Matthijs Vermeulen? Symphonies 2,3 and 4 may appeal to you.



Peter

Good- haven't tried him yet. Great pick!

All the choices so far have had that certain snobbish quality i was looking for- oy! we are soooo spoiled here, haha!! Give me more truffles!! And champagne!!

[Artem]

Roberto Gerhard

But you probably know his very well already.

[Mirror Image]

How about some Kancheli...nah...just kidding.

[snyprrr]

10 was composed in 1953-54.  And yes, I do like 12-16...and 17. I still struggle with the 20s but I like the teens 

I think so...and that's what I recommend to most people. But you're not most people 

Sarge

I listened to half of 14- yes, I liked how it started, I can tell why you like it. And half of 29 with Stokowski- the sound is obviously so-so, but, again, music I'd characterize as 'Ballet Fantasy'? Yea, that's kind of the Brian I'd like to hear more of- hey, even the craggier bits...

Roberto Gerhard

But you probably know his very well already.

That was two years ago- everything left is just too expensive.

[snyprrr]

How about some Kancheli...nah...just kidding.

And yes,... no, haha,... yea, I went through the Kancheli thing in the mid-'90s. Yea, he can be a problem, aye aye aye.

[snyprrr]

It seems Discovery Season is winding down. Wow, what a heady few months?

It turns out that the Italians were on the menu: Malipiero, Maderna, Ghedini,... with a little Pendereclki, Schnittke, Gerhard, Holliger, and Lutoslawski, so, it was barely a DISCOVERY Season, but, the Maderna came as a complete shock, and the new works I've heard by all have been quite exciting.

I had String Quartets by Lachnemann, Sciarrino, Holliger, Rihm, and Feldman awaiting in the wings, but they will have to wait for the Fall Season, which seems appropriate.

What did YOU discovery during Discovery Season?

[Artem]

Hosokawa

I've got 5-6 of his cds and i'm in the process of absorbing them.

[bwv 1080]

Christopher Fox?

[Moonfish]

Emma Peel!!!

[springrite]

Igor Markovitch, as a composer.

If you are not familiar with his as a composer, suffice to say that in his late teens and early twenties, he was considered the next BIG star, the new enfant terrible after Stravinsky. But he soon opted to focus on conducting instead. Everything I have heard are marvellously inventive.


Another I would recommend is Heinz Holliger, as a composer. 

[Moonfish]

Hmm,

What about Andrea Tarrodi?

http://www.andreatarrodi.com/works/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9-Y-qdmIQI

[springrite]

Emma Peel!!!

Peel Emma!