Pieces that have blown you away recently

[André]

Alexander Brincken: Symphony No.4

http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2020/Jan/Brincken_orchestral_v1_TOCC0550.htm

Very interesting, thanks Jeffrey !

[vandermolen]

Very interesting, thanks Jeffrey !

Quite Brucknerian really André - you might like it.

[Mirror Image]

Cross-posted from the 'Listening' thread:

NP:

Kodály
Variations on a Hungarian folk song, "The Peacock"
BSO
Leinsdorf



WOW...!!!! The more I listen to this work, the more I'm blown away about it. The Dorati performance on Hungaroton I listened to earlier was great and this Leinsdorf performance turns it into a showpiece, which is a completely valid view of the work. It does contain many phenomenal musical passages that are colorful and just kind of bloom from all of the sections of the orchestra. I think both approaches work well and I'm now anxious to hear others in my collection.

[arpeggio]

Cipriani Potter (1792-1871):



What I find interesting about many of these obscure 18th and 19th century composers is that their symphonies rarely appeal to me but I find their concerti to be fascinating.  I really liked the Introduzioni e Rondo for Piano & Orchestra.

[Symphonic Addict]

Recently it's been these works thus far:


J. S. Bach: Toccata and Fugue, BWV 540, for organ in F major

Exquisite, rigurous, melodic, uplifting, glorious counterpoint. What a complete joy meant listening to this astounding piece.


Lili Boulanger: Psaume 129, for chorus and orchestra

The more I listen to this piece, the more I consider Boulanger's talent for writing eloquent, tension-laden, imposing and deep choral works a thing of a genius. There is a sort of poetic transcendence over the notes I find quite compelling and epic in a kind of way.


Corentin Boissier: Glamour Concerto, for piano and orchestra (from a recent Toccata release)

A young French composer who didn't feel scared by the idea about writing an utterly unhinbitedly opulent, epic, deliberately colourful and passionate piano concerto in the 21st century. Its title might sound a bit trivial for some, but this work does have personality, lyricism, depth enough, melodies, lush and full-blooded pathos. For listeners who are fond of unabashed Romanticism, it's a must listen.

He also has a channel on YouTube where he uploads videos of unsung and, most of the cases, unfairly neglected composers' music. I've discovered a good bunch of worthy pieces there. I think my tastes overlap with his very good.

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Lili Boulanger: Psaume 129, for chorus and orchestra

The more I listen to this piece, the more I consider Boulanger's talent for writing eloquent, tense-laden, imposing and deep choral works a thing of a genius. There is a sort of poetic transcendence over the notes I find quite compelling and epic in a kind of way.

Boulanger represents, for me, a fascinating crossroad between Fauré and Debussy. She's almost like the link between these composers. If I could prevent only one composer's death, it would be her's. We don't know what she would've sounded like at the height of powers, but going by what she composed before her passing, it would've been glorious.

[Symphonic Addict]

Boulanger represents, for me, a fascinating crossroad between Fauré and Debussy. She's almost like the link between these composers. If I could prevent only one composer's death, it would be her's. We don't know what she would've sounded like at the height of powers, but going by what she composed before her passing, it would've been glorious.

I couldn't disagree with you, John. I really regret her premature death.

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I couldn't disagree with you, John. I really regret her premature death.

Yes, indeed. I find her Pie Jesu to be incredibly poignant and touching, especially the performance conducted by her well-known sister:

https://www.youtube.com/v/sKR-eywonBk

[Roasted Swan]

Boulanger represents, for me, a fascinating crossroad between Fauré and Debussy. She's almost like the link between these composers. If I could prevent only one composer's death, it would be her's. We don't know what she would've sounded like at the height of powers, but going by what she composed before her passing, it would've been glorious.

+1 for everything you write.  I suspect she would have been one of the major French 20th century composers.  My absolute wish performance of anything that has yet to appear on CD is;



the sound is murky, the soprano often awful, the orchestral playing barely adequate but goodness Markevitch has the passionate measure of the main work and in the tenor Andre Mallabrera has the perfect lyric french voice.  The Chandos recording of Faust et Helene was such a disappointment with tenor Bonaventure Bottone comically (head-scratchingly) mis-cast.  In fact no-one comes close to Mallabrera who was a sadly under-recorded artist

[André]

Indeed, Mallabrera 'makes' the recording of Adolphe Adam's Si j'étais roi. A strong yet sweet and sappy voice.

[Mirror Image]

+1 for everything you write.  I suspect she would have been one of the major French 20th century composers.  My absolute wish performance of anything that has yet to appear on CD is;



the sound is murky, the soprano often awful, the orchestral playing barely adequate but goodness Markevitch has the passionate measure of the main work and in the tenor Andre Mallabrera has the perfect lyric french voice.  The Chandos recording of Faust et Helene was such a disappointment with tenor Bonaventure Bottone comically (head-scratchingly) mis-cast.  In fact no-one comes close to Mallabrera who was a sadly unrecorded artist

Yeah, I think she would've gone on to do some incredible things.

[Symphonic Addict]

Yes, indeed. I find her Pie Jesu to be incredibly poignant and touching, especially the performance conducted by her well-known sister:

https://www.youtube.com/v/sKR-eywonBk

I don't remember having heard this precious work before. What heartfelt piece and performance. Thanks for sharing it!

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I don't remember having heard this precious work before. What heartfelt piece and performance. Thanks for sharing it!

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Thank you for the posts, gents. I will check recordings of her works. 

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I have to say I'm blown away by Gubaidulina's Fachwerk for bayan, percussion and string orchestra. What a piece! It takes you on a music journey unlike anything I've quite heard before. The last three-four minutes or so is especially thrilling. I have been ambivalent about Gubaidulina's work for quite some time, but I think I've finally found my access point. As a result, I ended up buying some more recordings of her music.



https://www.youtube.com/v/BzA-yCxAf08

[Symphonic Addict]

I have to say I'm blown away by Gubaidulina's Fachwerk for bayan, percussion and string orchestra. What a piece! It takes you on a music journey unlike anything I've quite heard before. The last three-four minutes or so is especially thrilling. I have been ambivalent about Gubaidulina's work for quite some time, but I think I've finally found my access point. As a result, I ended up buying some more recordings of her music.



https://www.youtube.com/v/BzA-yCxAf08

A piece that goes to my must-listen list. I'll be patient to listen to it properly.

[Mirror Image]

A piece that goes to my must-listen list. I'll be patient to listen to it properly.

Always a good idea. With Gubaidulina's music, patience yields many rewards.

[Mirror Image]

Another Gubaidulina work that has blown me away from last night: Alleluja



As the case with Gubaidulina's music, it is incredibly moody and shrouded in shadow, but my goodness is it glorious. The instrumentation is mixed choir, boy soprano, organ and orchestra. This work would make a great concert coupling with some like Duruflé's Requiem for example. It would provide a remarkable contrast to this work. Anyway, what struck me about this Gubaidulina work is some of sheer brilliance of the orchestral writing, especially in climatic moments. It lasts around 35 minutes and the Kitajenko is the only recorded performance of it right now, but thankfully, it's well-played.

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Just a follow-up to my last post, Cesar (SymphonicAddict) you've got to hear this Gubaidulina work!

[Symphonic Addict]

Just a follow-up to my last post, Cesar (SymphonicAddict) you've got to hear this Gubaidulina work!

Don't hesitate, John. Both works sound like they are my cup of tea.