Who Should I Discover?

[snyprrr]

Krenek pops to mind,... but, eh,... I'm not sure I'm in the mood this year. I was thinking about that CPO Box of Sallinen. Whom do you think I should discover this year? (eh- not like I'd really be "discovering" Krenek, so, maybe someone rarer than that?)

[Ken B]

Krenek pops to mind,... but, eh,... I'm not sure I'm in the mood this year. I was thinking about that CPO Box of Sallinen. Whom do you think I should discover this year? (eh- not like I'd really be "discovering" Krenek, so, maybe someone rarer than that?)

The Sallinen box is excellent.
Lotsa good Rota out there.
Stephen Albert.

[Sergeant Rock]

Whom do you think I should discover this year?

Havergal Brian, of course.

Sarge

[Sammy]

Weinberg, assuming you haven't discovered him yet.  I have no idea of the composers you are already familiar with.

[snyprrr]

Havergal Brian, of course.

Sarge

That's funny- that's probably what was on my mind to begin with, Ha! My recent Malipiero binge has actually set me up for Brian, hasn't it?

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

[Mirror Image]

Perhaps it's time to re-access the music of Saint-Saens? It seems he gets the short end of the stick in most cases, but there's a lot to enjoy in his music and once he gets under your skin, it's hard to shake loose of those pesky earworms that make his music so infectious.

Or you could check out some Jewish composers like Ben-Haim and Bloch. Not sure how much you've heard of either composers' music, but they're definitely worth looking into.

[snyprrr]

Weinberg, assuming you haven't discovered him yet.  I have no idea of the composers you are already familiar with.

No harm fishing!

Actually, I have a problem with Weinberg. The Cello Concerto gives me those Myaskovsky chills, and I seem to recall a Trumpet Concerto whose slow movement gave me the chills, but much else has been too aggressive for me- the Piano Quintet, SQ 12,... I think I sampled some SQs from the Danel Cycle (though, they make anything sound like buttah!) but I was just like eh... I'm just over DSCH & Co., I don't know.

What three Weinberg's would you recommend? What's his "Shostakovich 5th" or something like that? (like, his Big Hit or wotnot)

[Daverz]

Riisager

[asin]B0016IV1W6[/asin]

[snyprrr]

Perhaps it's time to re-access the music of Saint-Saens? It seems he gets the short end of the stick in most cases, but there's a lot to enjoy in his music and once he gets under your skin, it's hard to shake loose of those pesky earworms that make his music so infectious.

Or you could check out some Jewish composers like Ben-Haim and Bloch. Not sure how much you've heard of either composers' music, but they're definitely worth looking into.

Thanks!

I've already been through my Saint-Saens "phase" (you know, in college,... just once... uh...), so, I certainly give him his credit. I highly regard his 2 SQs, and there are some sweet recordings (I like the Medici, but others are good too- Miami comes with a Faure bonus!). I also highly regard his Late Sonatas, most of his Late Music has a melancoly to it. So, sure...

Any off-beat S-S works to recommend?


Also been through the discovery of Bloch's Piano Quintet No.1, wow, that was a powerful experience! And the 2 Violin Sonatas,... and the SQ No.1,... all those visionary works from the '20s. Haven't ventured into the Orchestral music. at ALL... whaddaya say?

Ben-Haim I have on the Hyperion disc of Bloch Violin Sonatas... a very nice 'sotto voce' movement in there...


Again, nice choices!

[Daverz]

No harm fishing!

Actually, I have a problem with Weinberg. The Cello Concerto gives me those Myaskovsky chills, and I seem to recall a Trumpet Concerto whose slow movement gave me the chills, but much else has been too aggressive for me- the Piano Quintet, SQ 12,... I think I sampled some SQs from the Danel Cycle (though, they make anything sound like buttah!) but I was just like eh... I'm just over DSCH & Co., I don't know.

What three Weinberg's would you recommend? What's his "Shostakovich 5th" or something like that? (like, his Big Hit or wotnot)

I have to admit that I have not warmed to the Weinberg String Quartets yet.  It was probably too much music at once, though.

I'd suggest the Symphonies 4 & 5 (on Chandos), the Violin Concerto and Violin Concertino, and some of the music for viollin and piano.

[asin]B00GWXEWOE[/asin]

[snyprrr]

Riisager

[asin]B0016IV1W6[/asin]

ok, I'll bite!

I've only heard the name... mid-century?... what celebrity does he most (musically) resemble? (which also brings up Langaard- but I've heard a tiny bit there and I'm just not sure if looney Strauss music is what I'm looking for)

[Mandryka]

Krenek pops to mind,... but, eh,... I'm not sure I'm in the mood this year. I was thinking about that CPO Box of Sallinen. Whom do you think I should discover this year? (eh- not like I'd really be "discovering" Krenek, so, maybe someone rarer than that?)

Lachenmann, Birtwistle, Cage.

Anyway, these are composers I'm thinking of "discovering" My latest find is a wonderful CD of Cage's organ music played by Gary Verkade.

The other guy who's on my back boiler is Ben Johnston -- the quartets. But the early ones (which I'm assured are the more interesting) are proving hard to find.

[Daverz]

ok, I'll bite!

I've only heard the name... mid-century?... what celebrity does he most (musically) resemble? (which also brings up Langaard- but I've heard a tiny bit there and I'm just not sure if looney Strauss music is what I'm looking for)

Benzin is a neo-classical ballet in the Pulcinella mold.  His music tends to be very cheeky.  The other two works are more adventurous in their sonorities.

[snyprrr]

I have to admit that I have not warmed to the Weinberg String Quartets yet.  It was probably too much music at once, though.

I'd suggest the Symphonies 4 & 5 (on Chandos), the Violin Concerto and Violin Concertino, and some of the music for viollin and piano.

[asin]B00GWXEWOE[/asin]

Interesting...

I guess he doesn't have one of those Classic Russian Cello Sonatas... I mean, surely it would be famous if he had one? So, I'm am curious about the VSs- DSCH only wrote his at the end of his career- I wonder if these are more 'Russian' sounding... hmm... I'll look in to those, and 4&5 and the VC, thanks!

[snyprrr]

Benzin is a neo-classical ballet in the Pulcinella mold.  His music tends to be very cheeky.  The other two works are more adventurous in their sonorities.

Swedish? cheeky? lolz!!

[Daverz]

Swedish? cheeky? lolz!!

Danish.  And how could he not be cheeky with a name like Knudåge Riisager.

[snyprrr]

Lachenmann, Birtwistle, Cage.

Anyway, these are composers I'm thinking of "discovering" My latest find is a wonderful CD of Cage's organ music played by Gary Verkade.

I was going to try Lachenmann's... what is it? 'The Matchstick Girl' Opera? on ECM... and ALSO Holliger's 'Cinderella'?, also on ECM... I hear both are just the most desolate things one could imagine- I might need heavy winter music next year!

For you, I'd perhaps try one of the THREE! 'Complete String Quartets'- the JACK, the Arditti, or the Stadler (probably anyone will do here). I have yet to try ANY Orchestral Lachenmann, but EVERYONE recommends the ECM disc with '....something... Rand'... it's cheap.

Birtwistle I might be coerced to try whatever the "main" cd everyone's recommending.;.. apparently you have to be careful which recording of his you get (as far as fperformances), but isn't there a Decca 2cd re-issue that everyone loves?

[snyprrr]

Danish.  And how could he not be cheeky with a name like Knudåge Riisager.

I'm sure it sounds like 'Bill' in Danish, ha!

I remember going to the Tivoli in Copenhagen- ice cream cones- "mommy, what are those women over there?"

[Mirror Image]

Thanks!

I've already been through my Saint-Saens "phase" (you know, in college,... just once... uh...), so, I certainly give him his credit. I highly regard his 2 SQs, and there are some sweet recordings (I like the Medici, but others are good too- Miami comes with a Faure bonus!). I also highly regard his Late Sonatas, most of his Late Music has a melancoly to it. So, sure...

Any off-beat S-S works to recommend?


Also been through the discovery of Bloch's Piano Quintet No.1, wow, that was a powerful experience! And the 2 Violin Sonatas,... and the SQ No.1,... all those visionary works from the '20s. Haven't ventured into the Orchestral music. at ALL... whaddaya say?

Ben-Haim I have on the Hyperion disc of Bloch Violin Sonatas... a very nice 'sotto voce' movement in there...


Again, nice choices!

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.

[snyprrr]

Lots of interesting ideas!