John Kinsella (born 1932)

Started by vandermolen, February 12, 2015, 12:59:30 PM

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vandermolen

#80
March 23, 2021, 12:56:23 PM
Quote from: aligreto on March 23, 2021, 06:12:45 AM
Kinsella: Cello Concerto [Prieto/Prieto]





Well it finally arrived!

I really like this work. It is intense, atmospheric, and emotionally powerful and exciting. I like the relationship between the cello and the orchestra in the first movement. I also like the scoring and the musical language as well as the power and the intensity of the music. Prieto gets a wonderful tone from his instrument particularly in the lower registers. It practically growls. The intensity, drama and excitement are further enhanced with the tempo increase of the second movement. The scoring for the orchestra, which has a greater voice in the second movement, is wonderful in places with singing woodwinds and brass. Prieto plays with great passion and vibrancy throughout. The work is also tautly directed yet allowed to flow with the requisite forward momentum; the work unfolds very naturally. It is a very fine work indeed.
This encourages me to listen to this work again - buried somewhere in my collection.  ::)
"Courage is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm" (Churchill).

'The test of a work of art is, in the end, our affection for it, not our ability to explain why it is good' (Stanley Kubrick).

aligreto

#81
March 25, 2021, 04:22:43 AM
Quote from: vandermolen on March 23, 2021, 12:56:23 PM
This encourages me to listen to this work again - buried somewhere in my collection.  ::)

Definitely worth another listen, Jeffrey.

vandermolen

#83
November 11, 2021, 09:48:51 AM
"Courage is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm" (Churchill).

'The test of a work of art is, in the end, our affection for it, not our ability to explain why it is good' (Stanley Kubrick).

André

#84
November 11, 2021, 12:04:36 PM
 :o. That's really, really sad. His was such a compelling, original voice...

vandermolen

#85
November 11, 2021, 01:32:07 PM
Quote from: André on November 11, 2021, 12:04:36 PM
:o. That's really, really sad. His was such a compelling, original voice...
Totally agree André
Just listened to the 4th Symphony 'The Four Provinces'. I found the final epic return of the 'prevailing wind' motto theme, at the end of the symphony, to be particularly moving and poignant this evening.
"Courage is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm" (Churchill).

'The test of a work of art is, in the end, our affection for it, not our ability to explain why it is good' (Stanley Kubrick).

foxandpeng

#86
November 11, 2021, 02:41:51 PM
Quote from: vandermolen on November 11, 2021, 01:32:07 PM
Totally agree André
Just listened to the 4th Symphony 'The Four Provinces'. I found the final epic return of the 'prevailing wind' motto theme, at the end of the symphony, to be particularly moving and poignant this evening.

Always appreciative of your measured perspectives.

Thank you.
"A quiet secluded life in the country, with the possibility of being useful to people ... then work which one hopes may be of some use; then rest, nature, books, music, love for one's neighbour — such is my idea of happiness"

Tolstoy

foxandpeng

#87
November 11, 2021, 04:08:08 PM
Listening to Symphony #5 for the second time today. I'm not entirely sold on symphonies with vocal sections, but this is growing on me. As with most folk probably, the Marco Polo 3 & 4 was my entry point to Kinsella, but there is a great deal to like about everything else I've poked so far.

Sad that it has taken Kinsella's death to send me his way.
"A quiet secluded life in the country, with the possibility of being useful to people ... then work which one hopes may be of some use; then rest, nature, books, music, love for one's neighbour — such is my idea of happiness"

Tolstoy

Symphonic Addict

#88
November 11, 2021, 05:16:11 PM
Terrible news indeed. He was one of my favorite living composers, and certainly my favorite living symphonist. His last work in that form is terrific.
The current annihilation of a people on this planet (you know which one it is) is the most documented and at the same time the most preposterously denied. The terror IS REAL!

Symphonic Addict

#89
November 11, 2021, 05:17:42 PM
Quote from: foxandpeng on November 11, 2021, 04:08:08 PM
Listening to Symphony #5 for the second time today. I'm not entirely sold on symphonies with vocal sections, but this is growing on me. As with most folk probably, the Marco Polo 3 & 4 was my entry point to Kinsella, but there is a great deal to like about everything else I've poked so far.

Sad that it has taken Kinsella's death to send me his way.

Yes, I'm not fond of symphonies with vocal parts or narration either, but this one is a clear exception. Glad you're enjoying his symphonies. As far as I am concerned, I haven't heard any dull one by him.
The current annihilation of a people on this planet (you know which one it is) is the most documented and at the same time the most preposterously denied. The terror IS REAL!

vandermolen

#90
November 11, 2021, 10:26:50 PM Last Edit: November 12, 2021, 10:43:56 PM by vandermolen
I was alerted to him by a Gramophone review of the Marco Polo CD featuring symphonies 3 and 4, which compared his music to that of Lilburn and Tubin, two of my favourite composers. I played that CD over and over again (and played it again last night). I wrote to Kinsella (c/o RTE Dublin). I phoned RTE first (Kinsella had a distinguished career there for many years, as Head of Music, before taking early retirement to concentrate exclusively on composing) and they encouraged me to write and said that they'd forward my letter to him. I received the most lovely reply - the nicest I have ever received from a composer. He then arranged for me to be sent two CDs of music by Irish composers, which was very kind of him. My brother once met an Irish musician who described Kinsella as 'a hopeless administrator but lovely man' which made me smile.
"Courage is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm" (Churchill).

'The test of a work of art is, in the end, our affection for it, not our ability to explain why it is good' (Stanley Kubrick).

vandermolen

#91
November 11, 2021, 10:27:18 PM Last Edit: November 11, 2021, 11:11:24 PM by vandermolen
Quote from: foxandpeng on November 11, 2021, 02:41:51 PM
Always appreciative of your measured perspectives.

Thank you.
Thank you Danny!
:)
PS I like your Tolstoy quote.
"Courage is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm" (Churchill).

'The test of a work of art is, in the end, our affection for it, not our ability to explain why it is good' (Stanley Kubrick).

vandermolen

#92
November 11, 2021, 11:17:21 PM
The website of the Irish broadcaster RTE have a number of Kinsella articles:

https://www.rte.ie/search/query/john%20kinsella/
"Courage is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm" (Churchill).

'The test of a work of art is, in the end, our affection for it, not our ability to explain why it is good' (Stanley Kubrick).

aligreto

#93
November 12, 2021, 02:18:18 AM
Kinsella was a towering figure and a much regarded person in my country for a very long time. He will be a great loss and will be missed by very many people. Hopefully his wonderful musical legacy will live on and endure.

vandermolen

#94
November 12, 2021, 04:35:26 AM Last Edit: November 12, 2021, 04:37:57 AM by vandermolen
Quote from: aligreto on November 12, 2021, 02:18:18 AM
Kinsella was a towering figure and a much regarded person in my country for a very long time. He will be a great loss and will be missed by very many people. Hopefully his wonderful musical legacy will live on and endure.
I'm sure that it will Fergus.

I know that Johan (Christo), who is sadly still ill at the moment, will be sad by this news as he's a great admirer of Kinsella's music - he especially liked Symphony No.7 I recall.
"Courage is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm" (Churchill).

'The test of a work of art is, in the end, our affection for it, not our ability to explain why it is good' (Stanley Kubrick).

aligreto

#95
November 12, 2021, 05:37:44 AM
Quote from: vandermolen on November 12, 2021, 04:35:26 AM
I'm sure that it will Fergus.

I know that Johan (Christo), who is sadly still ill at the moment, will be sad by this news as he's a great admirer of Kinsella's music - he especially liked Symphony No.7 I recall.

I hope that Johan will get well soon and can rekindle and enjoy his admiration for Kinsella's music and whatever else he enjoys listening to.

vandermolen

#96
November 12, 2021, 10:49:41 PM
Quote from: aligreto on November 12, 2021, 05:37:44 AM
I hope that Johan will get well soon and can rekindle and enjoy his admiration for Kinsella's music and whatever else he enjoys listening to.
Me too Fergus. I've passed your kind message on to Johan. I'm sure that he will be pleased.

Now playing Kinsella's 6th Symphony.
"Courage is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm" (Churchill).

'The test of a work of art is, in the end, our affection for it, not our ability to explain why it is good' (Stanley Kubrick).

vandermolen

#97
November 13, 2021, 09:08:14 AM Last Edit: November 13, 2021, 09:19:48 AM by vandermolen
The blurb on the front of the booklet accompanying my CD of Kinsella's 6th and 7th symphonies quotes BBC Radio 3:
'[Kinsella is] the most significant Irish symphonist since Stanford.' Actually I think Kinsella is a much greater and more original symphonist than Stanford (despite my liking for Stanford's 'Irish Symphony') as well as being a much nicer person.
Now playing - Symphony No.7 (live performance) which I now consider one of his greatest works:

'
"Courage is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm" (Churchill).

'The test of a work of art is, in the end, our affection for it, not our ability to explain why it is good' (Stanley Kubrick).

aligreto

#98
November 16, 2021, 01:48:47 AM
Quote from: vandermolen on November 13, 2021, 09:08:14 AM
The blurb on the front of the booklet accompanying my CD of Kinsella's 6th and 7th symphonies quotes BBC Radio 3:
'[Kinsella is] the most significant Irish symphonist since Stanford.' Actually I think Kinsella is a much greater and more original symphonist than Stanford (despite my liking for Stanford's 'Irish Symphony') as well as being a much nicer person.
Now playing - Symphony No.7 (live performance) which I now consider one of his greatest works:

'

I think that is rather unfair to Stanford. These kind of comparisons can never really stand up due to different generations, evolved musical languages and musical idioms etc. I can understand the reference to originality but I wonder how financially successful Stanford would have been had he been more "radical" in his approach and not given his then conservative audience the type of music that they wanted. I am sure that there are some people out there who would still prefer to listen to the music of Stanford than that of Kinsella. I know of one personally [not me, by the way].

vandermolen

#99
November 16, 2021, 03:11:37 AM Last Edit: November 16, 2021, 03:19:43 AM by vandermolen
Quote from: aligreto on November 16, 2021, 01:48:47 AM
I think that is rather unfair to Stanford. These kind of comparisons can never really stand up due to different generations, evolved musical languages and musical idioms etc. I can understand the reference to originality but I wonder how financially successful Stanford would have been had he been more "radical" in his approach and not given his then conservative audience the type of music that they wanted. I am sure that there are some people out there who would still prefer to listen to the music of Stanford than that of Kinsella. I know of one personally [not me, by the way].
OT
I'm sure that you are right Fergus. I enjoy the 3rd and 5th Symphony (I have the Chandos boxed set of the symphonies and the Irish Rhapsodies) and the 4th Irish Rhapsody as well as the Piano Concerto No.2.  I played his 6th Symphony the other day 'In Memory of GF Watts' and found it to be a terrible bore. His antisemitism ('Of course you Jews can't write tunes', said to his student Arthur Benjamin, who greatly admired Stanford) I find very unappealing. He was clearly a great teacher.
"Courage is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm" (Churchill).

'The test of a work of art is, in the end, our affection for it, not our ability to explain why it is good' (Stanley Kubrick).
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