Pieces that have blown you away recently

[arpeggio]

I have always liked the music of Walter Piston,

The following is a recording of works of Piston that I was unfamiliar with:

[asin]B097YVGSGB[/asin]

My favorite was the Divertimento for Nine Instruments

Note: I have just discovered the Boston Modern Orchestra Project.  I am now going to go broke purchasing these recordings.

[arpeggio]

Eshpai: Symphony no. 2 Praise to Light (1962)



https://youtu.be/0XSIcvaQ_qs


OMG!!! I really ought to start paying more attention to this composer!! This riveting symphony is in two substantial movements: the first strongly rhythmic and almost American-sounding, and the second beginning with an extraordinarily atmospheric and melancholic passage featuring Russian folk instruments (?) followed by a viscerally exciting, toccata-like section which is capped off by an affirmative, anthem-like coda. It's all scintillatingly orchestrated and given a throughly involved performance here by the USSR Large Symphony Orchestra under Konstantin Ivanov. Great stuff!

Awesome 

This is another example of tonality is not dead (I still love many atonal works).

P.S. One of the reasons I hate this thread that I started.  I have been listening to his music and I became obsessed with it.  I just ordered all of the Albany Recordings.

[Mirror Image]

I have always liked the music of Walter Piston,

The following is a recording of works of Piston that I was unfamiliar with:

[asin]B097YVGSGB[/asin]

My favorite was the Divertimento for Nine Instruments

Note: I have just discovered the Boston Modern Orchestra Project.  I am now going to go broke purchasing these recordings.

Oh man, Gil Rose and the BMOP have done some great things! Many fascinating releases and the performances are generally excellent.

[Pizzicato-Polka]

I'm aware this album is quite known because it's recent and got much attention on top lists, but still, it's just insane how much this one track from it got stuck in my head! The first 30 seconds replay in my brain at random moments through the whole day, and each time they do, I just want to listen to the whole thing again...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETVvtRonoPs



All of it is amazing, of course, but it's truly a perfect beginning if I ever saw one.

[vandermolen]

Anna Clyne: 'Dance' for Cello and Orchestra

[André]

I listened to the 7th symphony for the first time a couple of weeks ago and found it rather harsh and heavy going, with a kind of disconnect between the rare lyrical, bittersweet passages and the more agitated, sometimes explosively dissonant ones. Over time I started to feel it becoming more organic. On the 4th hearing the work's structure and its various components made total sense. I can now appreciate its mastery.

In this work I find the same kind of conflict between beauty and ugliness that is found in the symphonies of Arnold and Kancheli, both also prone to juxtaposition of lyricism and anger (Arnold), consonant and explosive paragraphs (Kancheli). Lajtha was writing in the aftermath of the Budapest Insurrection and his emotions were still running high. There is no resolution in this symphony. It ends with a sharp, defiant cry of protest. The pain and rawness still startle 65 years after the work was written.

[Mirror Image]

This:

NP:

Walton
String Quartet in A minor
Gabrieli String Quartet



Outstanding!

[DavidW]

I used to own a cd that coupled Elgar and Walton for their SQs.  That was the only Walton I owned, but it could hold its own against Elgar, which is no mean feat.

[Mirror Image]

I used to own a cd that coupled Elgar and Walton for their SQs.  That was the only Walton I owned, but it could hold its own against Elgar, which is no mean feat.

Cool, Dave. Could it be this recording with The Britten Quartet?

[Mirror Image]

I listened to the 7th symphony for the first time a couple of weeks ago and found it rather harsh and heavy going, with a kind of disconnect between the rare lyrical, bittersweet passages and the more agitated, sometimes explosively dissonant ones. Over time I started to feel it becoming more organic. On the 4th hearing the work's structure and its various components made total sense. I can now appreciate its mastery.

In this work I find the same kind of conflict between beauty and ugliness that is found in the symphonies of Arnold and Kancheli, both also prone to juxtaposition of lyricism and anger (Arnold), consonant and explosive paragraphs (Kancheli). Lajtha was writing in the aftermath of the Budapest Insurrection and his emotions were still running high. There is no resolution in this symphony. It ends with a sharp, defiant cry of protest. The pain and rawness still startle 65 years after the work was written.

Interesting, Andre. I've known about this composer for years, but I haven't heard a note of his music. I suppose I should change this soon.

[Roasted Swan]

Cool, Dave. Could it be this recording with The Britten Quartet?

The Britten Quartet recording is superb (but I like just about all of their discs - I'm sorry they didn't last longer as an ensemble...)

[Mirror Image]

The Britten Quartet recording is superb (but I like just about all of their discs - I'm sorry they didn't last longer as an ensemble...)

Yeah, I like this quartet's playing a lot. I have their Britten SQ cycle and it's superb. I probably need to seek this Elgar/Walton disc out, too. As I'm completely head-over-heels in love with the Walton.

[André]

Interesting, Andre. I've known about this composer for years, but I haven't heard a note of his music. I suppose I should change this soon.

Lajtha has some devoted followers here at GMG.

[DavidW]

Cool, Dave. Could it be this recording with The Britten Quartet?

I don't recognize that cover so maybe not.  I think there was a boat on the cover.  Which I know is a bit vague.

[Mirror Image]

I don't recognize that cover so maybe not.  I think there was a boat on the cover.  Which I know is a bit vague.

Not really vague as there aren't many recordings with this SQ coupling that have a boat on the cover. Anyway, I narrowed it down to the reissue of the recording I asked you about earlier:

[DavidW]

Aha!  Yeah that is it!  You did it MI.  A terrific recording.

[Mirror Image]

Aha!  Yeah that is it!  You did it MI.  A terrific recording.

I bet it's a good one. The Britten Quartet were fantastic.

[arpeggio]

I have just discovered the symphonies of the 18th century composer of Franz Richter:

[asin]B09T76F3KP[/asin]

CPO does a great job of recording works of obscure composers.

[kyjo]

I listened to the 7th symphony for the first time a couple of weeks ago and found it rather harsh and heavy going, with a kind of disconnect between the rare lyrical, bittersweet passages and the more agitated, sometimes explosively dissonant ones. Over time I started to feel it becoming more organic. On the 4th hearing the work's structure and its various components made total sense. I can now appreciate its mastery.

In this work I find the same kind of conflict between beauty and ugliness that is found in the symphonies of Arnold and Kancheli, both also prone to juxtaposition of lyricism and anger (Arnold), consonant and explosive paragraphs (Kancheli). Lajtha was writing in the aftermath of the Budapest Insurrection and his emotions were still running high. There is no resolution in this symphony. It ends with a sharp, defiant cry of protest. The pain and rawness still startle 65 years after the work was written.

Thanks for sharing your impressions, André. I've only listened to this symphony once and recall it being a rather powerful and disconcerting work. Lajtha was a truly individual and significant composer and doesn't deserve to be overshadowed by his compatriots Bartok and Kodaly.

[kyjo]

Yeah, I like this quartet's playing a lot. I have their Britten SQ cycle and it's superb. I probably need to seek this Elgar/Walton disc out, too. As I'm completely head-over-heels in love with the Walton.

Yep, Walton's String Quartet in A minor (no. 2) is a fantastic work - rhythmically edgy and full of vitality. I also love his Violin Sonata (roughly contemporary with the quartet) and early Piano Quartet. Must admit I haven't listened to his unnumbered first string quartet yet.