Do you like the Symphonies of Bax?

Started by Simula, July 31, 2016, 09:03:22 AM

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vandermolen

#80
October 05, 2016, 07:06:26 AM
Quote from: PerfectWagnerite on October 05, 2016, 06:46:24 AM
I think Bax's style lends itself very well to his tone poems. In fact taken as a whole I think his tone poems rank right up there with those of the very best like Strauss, Dvorak, Liszt etc.. I just don't know where he is going with most of his symphonies. I like 3 and 5 somewhat as I think they sound more structured than the others.
Interesting. I think that no.4 is more like a collection of tone poems which may be part of its appeal to me. 3 and 5 rank very highly too.
"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

#81
October 06, 2016, 10:13:38 AM
Quote from: 71 dB on October 02, 2016, 01:42:20 PM
Yeah, #5 is next, maybe tomorrow?  ;)

So, did you listen to Symphony 5? We (I) need to know!
8)
"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).

71 dB

#82
October 06, 2016, 01:57:19 PM
Quote from: vandermolen on October 06, 2016, 10:13:38 AM
So, did you listen to Symphony 5? We (I) need to know!
8)

No! My computer booted when I opened Spotify and I haven't tried since.  ???
Spatial distortion is a serious problem deteriorating headphone listening.
Crossfeeders reduce spatial distortion and make the sound more natural
and less tiresome in headphone listening.

My Sound Cloud page <-- NEW July 2025 "Liminal Feelings"

vandermolen

#83
October 06, 2016, 02:18:03 PM
Quote from: 71 dB on October 06, 2016, 01:57:19 PM
No! My computer booted when I opened Spotify and I haven't tried since.  ???

Thanks for update. Hope it gets sorted out.
"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).

71 dB

#84
October 10, 2016, 04:02:04 AM
Quote from: vandermolen on October 06, 2016, 02:18:03 PM
Thanks for update. Hope it gets sorted out.

Finally listened to the fifth. I felt it is the weakest one so far, a disappointment after the stronger fourth.
Spatial distortion is a serious problem deteriorating headphone listening.
Crossfeeders reduce spatial distortion and make the sound more natural
and less tiresome in headphone listening.

My Sound Cloud page <-- NEW July 2025 "Liminal Feelings"

vandermolen

#85
October 10, 2016, 10:07:04 AM
Quote from: 71 dB on October 10, 2016, 04:02:04 AM
Finally listened to the fifth. I felt it is the weakest one so far, a disappointment after the stronger fourth.
Which version did you hear?
No.6 is considered the greatest my many so I look forward to hearing what you think.
I'm not giving up with this!
8)
"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).

Sergeant Rock

#86
October 10, 2016, 11:03:18 AM Last Edit: October 10, 2016, 11:37:26 AM by Sergeant Rock
Quote from: vandermolen on October 10, 2016, 10:07:04 AM
I'm not giving up with this!
8)

He liked 4 and at least part of 2 so I'm relatively content  :)

Sarge
the phone rings and somebody says,
"hey, they made a movie about
Mahler, you ought to go see it.
he was as f*cked-up as you are."
                               --Charles Bukowski, "Mahler"

71 dB

#87
October 10, 2016, 04:16:33 PM
Quote from: vandermolen on October 10, 2016, 10:07:04 AM
Which version did you hear?
No.6 is considered the greatest my many so I look forward to hearing what you think.
I'm not giving up with this!
8)
Naxos cycle.
Quote from: Sergeant Rock on October 10, 2016, 11:03:18 AM
He liked 4 and at least part of 2 so I'm relatively content  :)

Sarge
Yeah, 4 was okay.
Spatial distortion is a serious problem deteriorating headphone listening.
Crossfeeders reduce spatial distortion and make the sound more natural
and less tiresome in headphone listening.

My Sound Cloud page <-- NEW July 2025 "Liminal Feelings"

vandermolen

#88
October 10, 2016, 09:52:27 PM
Quote from: 71 dB on October 10, 2016, 04:16:33 PM
Naxos cycle.
Yeah, 4 was okay.
I'm sorry that you didn't hear the Raymond Leppard version of Symphony 5 on Lyrita. It is IMHO by far the best version. However No.6 is the best in the Naxos cycle so fingers crossed.
"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

#89
October 10, 2016, 09:53:17 PM
Quote from: Sergeant Rock on October 10, 2016, 11:03:18 AM
He liked 4 and at least part of 2 so I'm relatively content  :)

Sarge

Good point Sarge!
:)
"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).

71 dB

#90
October 11, 2016, 01:35:19 AM
Quote from: vandermolen on October 10, 2016, 09:52:27 PM
I'm sorry that you didn't hear the Raymond Leppard version of Symphony 5 on Lyrita. It is IMHO by far the best version. However No.6 is the best in the Naxos cycle so fingers crossed.

This is why I get frustrated on this board sometimes. Questions like "Do you like the Symphonies of Bax?" makes me feel inferior and unsure of myself. I try to fix it by listening to his symphonies (even if I don't like them that much) and then I am told I am listening to the wrong performances. Yes, I am the guy how does everything wrong. 

I am a total Bax newbie at this point and I listen to the symphonies so I can say I have heard them and to see if Bax is my cup of tea (doesn't look that way at this point). I have never been a "performance whore" and I believe the Naxos cycle is good enough, because those discs aren't from the beginning years of Naxos label, when the label was more hit and miss.

Of course you mean only good and I thank you for the recommendation. If Bax hits me hard someday, I know which fifth to get.

Spatial distortion is a serious problem deteriorating headphone listening.
Crossfeeders reduce spatial distortion and make the sound more natural
and less tiresome in headphone listening.

My Sound Cloud page <-- NEW July 2025 "Liminal Feelings"

vandermolen

#91
October 11, 2016, 02:11:17 AM Last Edit: October 11, 2016, 02:20:28 AM by vandermolen
Quote from: 71 dB on October 11, 2016, 01:35:19 AM
This is why I get frustrated on this board sometimes. Questions like "Do you like the Symphonies of Bax?" makes me feel inferior and unsure of myself. I try to fix it by listening to his symphonies (even if I don't like them that much) and then I am told I am listening to the wrong performances. Yes, I am the guy how does everything wrong. 

I am a total Bax newbie at this point and I listen to the symphonies so I can say I have heard them and to see if Bax is my cup of tea (doesn't look that way at this point). I have never been a "performance whore" and I believe the Naxos cycle is good enough, because those discs aren't from the beginning years of Naxos label, when the label was more hit and miss.

Of course you mean only good and I thank you for the recommendation. If Bax hits me hard someday, I know which fifth to get.
Coincidentally I was listening to the Naxos recording of Symphony 6 when I saw this posting. I think that this performance is excellent, possibly the best version.
The last thing I wanted to do is make you feel inferior - so I'm very sorry for having done so, even unintentionally. I have no monopoly of wisdom on this topic or any other - just a view which is mine only. When I was at university in the 1970s it came back to me that another student (one who actually,unlike myself, studied music) told a friend of mine 'never listen to Jeff (ie me) when he talks about classical music as he talks nonsense.'

PS I still want to know what you think of symphonies 6 and 7!
:)
"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).

71 dB

#92
October 11, 2016, 02:27:36 AM
Quote from: vandermolen on October 11, 2016, 02:11:17 AM
Coincidentally I was listening to the Naxos recording of Symphony 6 when I saw this posting. I think that this performance is excellent, possibly the best version.

That is good to hear! I look forward to it.  ;)

Quote from: vandermolen on October 11, 2016, 02:11:17 AMThe last thing I wanted to do is make you feel inferior - so I'm very sorry for having done so, even unintentionally. I have no monopoly of wisdom on this topic or any other - just a view which is mine only. When I was at university in the 1970s it came back to me that another student (one who actually,unlike myself, studied music) told a friend of mine 'never listen to Jeff (ie me) when he talks about classical music as he talks nonsense.'

Sorry, I was a bit too dramatic. I'm good here.  :) I am of course grateful for the help and hints.

Quote from: vandermolen on October 11, 2016, 02:11:17 AMPS I still want to know what you think of symphonies 6 and 7! :)

I will keep you informed, of course.  0:)
Spatial distortion is a serious problem deteriorating headphone listening.
Crossfeeders reduce spatial distortion and make the sound more natural
and less tiresome in headphone listening.

My Sound Cloud page <-- NEW July 2025 "Liminal Feelings"

vandermolen

#93
October 11, 2016, 03:43:47 AM
Quote from: 71 dB on October 11, 2016, 02:27:36 AM


I will keep you informed, of course.  0:)
Excellent!
:)
"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).

71 dB

#94
October 12, 2016, 01:01:19 AM
Wow, just finished listening to Symphony 6 on Spotify (David Lloyd-Jones) and what a pleasant surprise! I find this symphony superior to 1-5. If I found those earlier symphonies more or less boring, the sixth has a mesmerizing character. Don't know about the last symphony (yet), but this looks like a disc to get.  :P
Spatial distortion is a serious problem deteriorating headphone listening.
Crossfeeders reduce spatial distortion and make the sound more natural
and less tiresome in headphone listening.

My Sound Cloud page <-- NEW July 2025 "Liminal Feelings"

vandermolen

#95
October 12, 2016, 04:03:31 AM
Quote from: 71 dB on October 12, 2016, 01:01:19 AM
Wow, just finished listening to Symphony 6 on Spotify (David Lloyd-Jones) and what a pleasant surprise! I find this symphony superior to 1-5. If I found those earlier symphonies more or less boring, the sixth has a mesmerizing character. Don't know about the last symphony (yet), but this looks like a disc to get.  :P
Delighted to hear this!  :)
I had a feeling that you might like the turbulent No.6. Many find it to be the greatest of the cycle, where Bax finally works out his demons! No.7 is sometimes seen as an anti-climax and evidence of Bax's declining interest. However, it has the most beautiful Epilogue - a true farewell to his musical muse (that wasn't very well expressed  ::)) which I find very moving - hope you enjoy it and many thanks for feeding back. Your post has inspired me to play it again later.
"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).

71 dB

#96
October 12, 2016, 07:20:24 AM
Quote from: vandermolen on October 12, 2016, 04:03:31 AM
Delighted to hear this!  :)
I had a feeling that you might like the turbulent No.6. Many find it to be the greatest of the cycle, where Bax finally works out his demons! No.7 is sometimes seen as an anti-climax and evidence of Bax's declining interest. However, it has the most beautiful Epilogue - a true farewell to his musical muse (that wasn't very well expressed  ::)) which I find very moving - hope you enjoy it and many thanks for feeding back. Your post has inspired me to play it again later.

Your feelings serve you well it seems.  ;) I would not call the symphony "turbulent" myself, but mesmerazing and interesting. I can take one more symphony by Bax even if it is an anti-climax. Thanks for your support, hints and patience!
Spatial distortion is a serious problem deteriorating headphone listening.
Crossfeeders reduce spatial distortion and make the sound more natural
and less tiresome in headphone listening.

My Sound Cloud page <-- NEW July 2025 "Liminal Feelings"

aligreto

#97
October 12, 2016, 07:56:30 AM
Success at last; well done guys  8)

vandermolen

#98
October 13, 2016, 12:23:13 AM Last Edit: October 13, 2016, 12:37:19 AM by vandermolen
Quote from: aligreto on October 12, 2016, 07:56:30 AM
Success at last; well done guys  8)
:)

Symphony 7 was premiered in Carnegie Hall in 1939 and dedicated to 'The People of America'.
"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

#99
October 13, 2016, 11:02:45 AM
Quote from: 71 dB on October 12, 2016, 07:20:24 AM
Your feelings serve you well it seems.  ;) I would not call the symphony "turbulent" myself, but mesmerazing and interesting. I can take one more symphony by Bax even if it is an anti-climax. Thanks for your support, hints and patience!
Actually having listened to the Lloyd-Jones recording again tonight I think that your description is more apt. Also, I think that it is the finest version of all. I have recordings of Symphony 6 by Bostock, Del Mar, Handley, Lloyd-Jones and Thomson and Lloyd-Jones is now my favourite - it has a magical quality to it. Also, the recording is terrific - that brass at the opening and it has a rhythmic drive unlike any other version. So thank you for making me reappraise this symphony. And, oh yes, you have to get the CD.  8)
[asin]B00008IHW3[/asin]
"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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