Pieces that have blown you away recently

[Mirror Image]

Today I was blown away by Shchedrin's Cello Concerto, "sotto voce concerto". What a brooding and haunting work. I'm starting to understand what makes Shchedrin's music so unique to him and it can be found in his treatment of not only the musical material but also the why it's constructed. It has some of lingering sadness you hear in a work of his like Concerto for Orchestra No. 5, "Four Russian Songs".

[T. D.]

Yesterday watched (live, Zoom) a super performance of Rzewski's Which Side Are You On? by Conrad Tao. I previously knew nothing about Tao, but I definitely want to hear more from him.

[Mirror Image]

Another Shchedrin work that has blown me away: Russian Photographs.

[arpeggio]

This shows how one can change.

It has been decades since I have tried to listen to Boulez's Le marteau sans maître.  The last time I tried to listen to it, it entered my left ear, rattled around my brain and left by the right ear.

I am listening to the following new recording:




This time my ear get's it.  What a fascinating work.  Maybe I am finally hearing a decent performance.

[Mirror Image]

I have been blown away by Eshpai's Symphony No. 4. What a composer! I remember several years ago I bought six recordings of Eshpai's music and none of them have been disappointing. I believe it was through Jeffrey (Vandermolen) that I discovered this composer's music. I'm such a Russophile in terms of their musical heritage (not their political one), so I'm rather surprised I hadn't discovered Eshpai earlier.

[TheGSMoeller]

Copland: Appalachian Spring - Complete Score
I feel as if I've heard this work maybe 100 times, in full or at least parts of it. My high school even performed it one year in marching band. I know this work. Rather I know the suite of Appalachian Spring, which I do enjoy, but certainty never at a level higher than enjoy. And embarrassingly it's taken me decades to get to the complete version, but I just had the thrill of hearing this piece for the first time, again! Even though there is only about a difference of 10 minutes of music between the complete score and suite, I feel that added time draws the tone of the work to a darker, more expansive atmosphere. The biggest revelation though was how the variations of the shaker tune "Simple Gifts" differs compared to the suite. First, the theme is slowly introduced by the violins rather than the chirpy clarinet, this affect was more fluid to my ears, and a lovelier introduction to the section. And the final variation, the slower-climactic variation, of Simple Gifts is separated from the previous variations. Those minutes of separation made that climactic variation more impactful, more meaningful to me than in the suite.

I've never been a big listener of Copland, I've always found his best music to be in his quieter, more lyrical moments of Quiet City, or Corral Nocturne, but the complete score of Appalachian has really opened my ears to something new.

And for reference I listened to MTT/SFS on RCA, a great performance.

[Mirror Image]

Copland: Appalachian Spring - Complete Score
I feel as if I've heard this work maybe 100 times, in full or at least parts of it. My high school even performed it one year in marching band. I know this work. Rather I know the suite of Appalachian Spring, which I do enjoy, but certainty never at a level higher than enjoy. And embarrassingly it's taken me decades to get to the complete version, but I just had the thrill of hearing this piece for the first time, again! Even though there is only about a difference of 10 minutes of music between the complete score and suite, I feel that added time draws the tone of the work to a darker, more expansive atmosphere. The biggest revelation though was how the variations of the shaker tune "Simple Gifts" differs compared to the suite. First, the theme is slowly introduced by the violins rather than the chirpy clarinet, this affect was more fluid to my ears, and a lovelier introduction to the section. And the final variation, the slower-climactic variation, of Simple Gifts is separated from the previous variations. Those minutes of separation made that climactic variation more impactful, more meaningful to me than in the suite.

I've never been a big listener of Copland, I've always found his best music to be in his quieter, more lyrical moments of Quiet City, or Corral Nocturne, but the complete score of Appalachian has really opened my ears to something new.

And for reference I listened to MTT/SFS on RCA, a great performance.

Good to see you've come around to Appalachian Spring, Greg. Which, IMHO, is one of Copland's masterpieces. What do you think of the original version for chamber ensemble? For me, I love both versions for different reasons. Also, if you haven't seen MTT's Keeping Score on Copland, then check it out:

https://www.youtube.com/v/Ix2xIl2XVro

My affection for this work goes all the way back to when I was a kid in the 80s. I remember hearing this work performed on PBS as some sort of a special event, I can't recall what the occasion was, but I remember being rather enchanted with it's loveliness and beauty.

Special edit: I also heard Copland's Rodeo or, the movement from Rodeo, Hoe-Down, in a 'Beef, It's What's For Dinner' commercial. I may be misremembering what the actual commercial was.

Edit No. 2: Okay, I remembered correctly.

https://www.youtube.com/v/tviyAIS9c_U

[Karl Henning]

This shows how one can change.

It has been decades since I have tried to listen to Boulez's Le marteau sans maître.  The last time I tried to listen to it, it entered my left ear, rattled around my brain and left by the right ear.

I am listening to the following new recording:




This time my ear get's it.  What a fascinating work.  Maybe I am finally hearing a decent performance.

Très cool!

[Karl Henning]

Copland: Appalachian Spring - Complete Score
I feel as if I've heard this work maybe 100 times, in full or at least parts of it. My high school even performed it one year in marching band. I know this work. Rather I know the suite of Appalachian Spring, which I do enjoy, but certainty never at a level higher than enjoy. And embarrassingly it's taken me decades to get to the complete version, but I just had the thrill of hearing this piece for the first time, again! Even though there is only about a difference of 10 minutes of music between the complete score and suite, I feel that added time draws the tone of the work to a darker, more expansive atmosphere. The biggest revelation though was how the variations of the shaker tune "Simple Gifts" differs compared to the suite. First, the theme is slowly introduced by the violins rather than the chirpy clarinet, this affect was more fluid to my ears, and a lovelier introduction to the section. And the final variation, the slower-climactic variation, of Simple Gifts is separated from the previous variations. Those minutes of separation made that climactic variation more impactful, more meaningful to me than in the suite.

I've never been a big listener of Copland, I've always found his best music to be in his quieter, more lyrical moments of Quiet City, or Corral Nocturne, but the complete score of Appalachian has really opened my ears to something new.

And for reference I listened to MTT/SFS on RCA, a great performance.

Excellent!

[Symphonic Addict]

I was utterly impressed by the Double Concerto for oboe and harp by Lutoslawski. This is a unique creation. Once again, this composer, to my ears, manages to conjure up some bizarre soundscape that is just mesmerizing. I find his style engrossing to say the least. The oboist must be a thoroughly skilled musician to play this, there are passages of sheer craziness. All in all, what a discovery!

[Mirror Image]

I was utterly impressed by the Double Concerto for oboe and harp by Lutoslawski. This is a unique creation. Once again, this composer, to my ears, manages to conjure up some bizarre soundscape that is just mesmerizing. I find his style engrossing to say the least. The oboist must be a thoroughly skilled musician to play this, there are passages of sheer craziness. All in all, what a discovery!

Very cool, Cesar. I like so much of Lutosławski's music. His attention to color and texture are out-of-this-world. What do you think about his compatriot's music, Panufnik?

[Symphonic Addict]

Very cool, Cesar. I like so much of Lutosławski's music. His attention to color and texture are out-of-this-world. What do you think about his compatriot's music, Panufnik?

I'm not too familiar with his music, John, but in terms of originality, Lutoslawski leads by a wide margin IMO. What works do you recommend by Panufnik? I've heard his symphonies and string quartets so far.

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I'm not too familiar with his music, John, but in terms of originality, Lutoslawski leads by a wide margin IMO. What works do you recommend by Panufnik? I've heard his symphonies and string quartets so far.

One of the most moving works from Panufnik, IMHO, is Autumn Music. The CPO recording does this work full justice, IMHO. I've heard a few that don't quite get the balances right.

[Symphonic Addict]

One of the most moving works from Panufnik, IMHO, is Autumn Music. The CPO recording does this work full justice, IMHO. I've heard a few that don't quite get the balances right.

Thank you, John. That will be a reason to revisit his music.

[Mirror Image]

Thank you, John. That will be a reason to revisit his music.

My pleasure, Cesar. I hope you enjoy this work as much as I have.

[vandermolen]

I have been blown away by Eshpai's Symphony No. 4. What a composer! I remember several years ago I bought six recordings of Eshpai's music and none of them have been disappointing. I believe it was through Jeffrey (Vandermolen) that I discovered this composer's music. I'm such a Russophile in terms of their musical heritage (not their political one), so I'm rather surprised I hadn't discovered Eshpai earlier.

I'm glad that you're enjoying Eshpai's music John and thumbs up for Shchedrin's Cello Concerto as well.

[Mirror Image]

I'm glad that you're enjoying Eshpai's music John and thumbs up for Shchedrin's Cello Concerto as well.

Yes, indeed. I really need to get back to listening to Eshpai, because there's still a good bit I haven't heard from my collection (all of those Albany releases for example).

[DaveF]

Walton: Variations on a theme by Hindemith - Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Andrew Litton.  I don't know how I've missed out on this one - was vaguely aware that it used the theme from the finale of the Mathis symphony, but no more.  The opening, while not presenting the theme at all in the way Hindemith does, nevertheless manages in its orchestration to sound exactly like him.  And every variation that follows seems to be similarly brilliantly orchestrated.

[kyjo]

Walton: Variations on a theme by Hindemith - Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Andrew Litton.  I don't know how I've missed out on this one - was vaguely aware that it used the theme from the finale of the Mathis symphony, but no more.  The opening, while not presenting the theme at all in the way Hindemith does, nevertheless manages in its orchestration to sound exactly like him.  And every variation that follows seems to be similarly brilliantly orchestrated.

Yes, a very fine work. One of many examples of Walton's genius!

[arpeggio]

There are several works on the CD that are new to me.

The Ewazen Celestial Dances was the one the blew me away.

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