Romantic/Late-Romantic obscure descriptive music.

[Scriptavolant]

I would like to explore the ground of Late-Romantic (say: 1850-1920) descriptive music, particularly the lesser known, mainly orchestral music of course.
Have you got any recommendations?

[bhodges]

One of my favorites is Zemlinsky's Die Seejungfrau (The Mermaid) (1902-03), and there are a number of fine recordings of it around (e.g., Conlon and Chailly).

If you are amenable to vocals, two other Zemlinsky works are also gorgeous:

Eine florentinische Tragödie (A Florentine Tragedy), one-act opera for tenor, baritone, soprano and orchestra (1915-16)
Lyrische Symphonie, for soprano, baritone and orchestra (1922-23)

--Bruce

[Scriptavolant]

One of my favorites is Zemlinsky's Die Seejungfrau (The Mermaid) (1902-03), and there are a number of fine recordings of it around (e.g., Conlon and Chailly).

If you are amenable to vocals, two other Zemlinsky works are also gorgeous:

Eine florentinische Tragödie (A Florentine Tragedy), one-act opera for tenor, baritone, soprano and orchestra (1915-16)
Lyrische Symphonie, for soprano, baritone and orchestra (1922-23)

--Bruce

Thanks! Zemlinsky is a name I've always been interested in, so to start I've put his Lyrische Symphonie on the download list.

[val]

Scriptavolant
I would like to explore the ground of Late-Romantic (say: 1850-1920) descriptive music, particularly the lesser known, mainly orchestral music of course.
Have you got any recommendations?

LISZT:  Prometeus, Heroide Funebre

BRUCKNER: Helgoland

RACHMANINOV: THe Isle of the Dead

SCRIABIN: Prometeus

[The new erato]

Reger: Bøcklin Suite (preferably on Chandos). Contains der Toteninsel (Isle of the dead) as one of its movements, interesting alternative to Rachmaninov.

[Grazioso]

Another vote for Die Seejungrau, a terribly under-appreciated, quasi-Straussian tone poem of grand proportions, filled with beautiful melodies and lush colors.

Novak's Lady Godiva is another great one from that era.

[pjme]

Well, there's an enormous amount of music to be discovered. Orchestras were created, concerthalls built..and the composers kept on writing.
Here are a few composers & compositions I like ( but some CD's may take some effort to find) :


Paul Gilson : Klara/Etcetera Flemish Connection VI
Orchestral Works : The sea ( La mer) , a ballet suite "La captive"
Flemish Radio Orchestra, Timora Rosler, Brassband Buizingen Martyn Brabbins
(Bestelnummer KTC 4017)

Sturdy late Romantic - withlots of Russian influences and a hint of very early Impressionism.


In the same series you can find now 4 Cd's with a good selection of Belgian composers from the late 19th/early 20th century. I recommend the works by Lodewijk De Vocht ( he pulls all the emotional stops), Lodewijk Mortelmans ( refined, quite dark) and the very rare "Symfonische proloog "William Ratcliff" by Frank van der Stucken ( an American conductor/composer of Belgian origin who worked with the Cincinatti Orch.) - it is a big ( ca 25 mins.) symphonic poem à la Liszt/Wagner.
See :http://www.klara.be/html/fs_cds.html
Further : Joseph Suk, Vincent d'Indy, Chabrier, Florent Schmitt....On CPO there's a wealth of forgotten German composers  to be explored ( ask Harry!)

More later...
Peter