What are you listening 2 now?

[Karl Henning]

But Philo is right: the Hiroshima connection was something Penderecki came up with only after hearing an actual performancehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Threnody_to_the_Victims_of_Hiroshima

TD
Puccini's version of the California Gold Rush, with Birgit Nilsson, Joao Gibin, and Andrea Mongelli as Minnie, Johnson and Rance.

Thanks for doing my sleuthing for me. I felt sure the connection with the catastrophe was an afterthought. 

[hopefullytrusting]

My comment wasn't intended as a criticism. People have different views on this that inform their listening, reading etc. and that's fine.

While it's certainly interesting to know that in this case the title came wholly after the composition, composer's choosing titles are in my view trying to influence the way their work is received. There are plenty of examples of composers changing their mind about these things, including the less poetic question of whether or not to call something a 'symphony'.

Listening to Chopin's Piano Sonata No. 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-XhROuRDBY

[JBS]

Time for Achille-Claude

[Madiel]

Listening to Chopin's Piano Sonata No. 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-XhROuRDBY

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but unfortunately they don't specify in which language.

[Que]

Lighter fare from Scotland. Certainly has its charm, though.

Rapier-like ?

[Re: Telemann/Imaginarium Ensemble]

I guess so! 

[Madiel]

Today's non-randomized Schumann piano trial:



I rather liked this one. Some fast fiery playing but also some very gentle romantic movements. So far the two 'Schumann and the Sonata' volumes have been my favourite in the Uhlig survey (out of 4 listened to).

Time to plan the next round in my little system... some pianists insist on making things difficult by having 2-CD volumes from time to time, but I have strategies!

[steve ridgway]

Murail: Désintégrations

Some great synthesised sounds in this piece .

[Harry]

Johann Sebastian Bach 1685 – 1750
Cello suites, transcribed by Bach, Transposed by Hopkinson Smith, the other suites are transcribed by Hopkinson Smith.
Hopkinson Smith THEORBO & LUTE.
GERMAN THEORBO JOËL VAN LENNEP.
13-COURSE LUTE BY JOËL VAN LENNEP.
13-COURSE LUTE BY NICO VAN DER WAALS.
CD1-RECORDED IN OCTOBER 2012 AT THE MC2, GRENOBLE (FRANCE)
CD2-RECORDED 1980, CHURCH OF SAINT-LAMBERT-DES-BOIS (YVELINES, FRANCE) AND IN 1992 IN BEINWIL ABBEY(CANTON SOLOTHURN, SWITZERLAND).

The Cello Suites done on the Lute! It changes the music, but not in bad way, it rather adds a dimension to it, of gentleness, and less introverted, playful and easily approachable. There is more happiness and light in the music, and all this is responsible for the fact that it sinks in easily, and feels as if it was actually written for the Lute, well Bach certainly transcribed it, and Smith made it all eminently work. An impressive feat I must say. I like it very much, which was the reason why I played both discs in one go. Perfectly recorded, and the instruments Smith is using are of the very likable sort, never oppressive, but weaving its way into perfect harmony.

Addendum: On the back cover CD 1 the Suite No 1 is followed by another Suite 1 which should be 2 of course.

[pjme]

beautiful arrangement by the London quartet

Poulencs original. Charles d'Orléans little prayer si just so beautiful!

Priez pour paix, douce Vierge Marie,
Reine des cieux, et du monde maîtresse,
Faites prier, par votre courtoisie,
Saints et saintes, et prenez votre adresse
Vers votre Fils, requérant sa hautesse
Qu'il lui plaise son peuple regarder,
Que de son sang a voulu racheter,
En déboutant guerre qui tout dévoie;
De prières ne vous veuillez lasser:
Priez pour paix, le vrai trésor de joie.

Pray for peace, sweet Virgin Mary,

Queen of heaven, and mistress of the world,
Have prayers, by your courtesy,
To all saints, and take your address
To your Son, requesting his highness
That it pleases him to look upon his people,
Which with his blood he wished to redeem,
By dismissing the war which perverts everything;
Do not tire of prayers:
Pray for peace, the true treasure of joy.

[Madiel]

Mozart: Piano Concerto no.13 in C



Marvellous, especially the 1st movement. And I'm not even up to the "great" piano concertos yet. Arguably Mozart's finest genre.

[Traverso]

Bach

[foxandpeng]

Kalevi Aho
Symphony 7, 'Hyonteissinfonia'
Osmo Vanska
Lahti Symphony Orchestra
BIS


And on we go!

Dung beetles, Mayflies and Grasshoppers for the win, I guess. What initially felt ephemeral and excessively comedic, has quickly grown on me.

The more I hear this, the more I like it.

[pjme]

Sangen has some glorious moments - especially when sung by a youthfull (1984) Anne Sofie von Otter.  

[Madiel]

Mozart - Bach: Preludes and fugues for string trio, K.404a



Well this is rather fascinating. The fugues are Mozart's arrangements for string trio of fugues by either JS Bach or WF Bach. A couple of the preludes are also JS Bach, the others are currently thought to be original Mozart.

Quite substantial and very listenable.

EDIT: It turns out he also arranged some Bach fugues for string quartet. That's K.405.

[foxandpeng]

Kalevi Aho
Symphony 4
Osmo Vanska
Lahti Symphony Orchestra

I've resolved the Holmboe resonances in Aho. There aren't any.

Carry on!

[Madiel]

Kalevi Aho
Symphony 4
Osmo Vanska
Lahti Symph

I've resolved the Holmboe resonances in Aho. There aren't any.

Carry on!

    

[Papy Oli]

Foccroulle playing some Trio Sonatas by JS Bach.

Good afternoon.

  

[Madiel]

Right. Let's do K.388.

[Harry]

Josef Schelb.
Orchestral Music.
Volume I.
See for details front cover.
Recorded on 12 December 2014 in the Weinbrenner Saal, Kurhaus, Baden-Baden.



Ignored by most be seen and heard by me. This is a harsh statement I guess, but Schelb's music got no attention at all, not from the critics and listeners alike. He came, he saw, and disappeared. So it was and so it still is. I am a staunch admirer of this composer. For me he produces superb music, wrought with all the emotions I consider necessary. His masterly build up scores is something to be admired, and dare I say it, to be cherished. Still he is again forgotten. Performance and sound are excellent.

[Iota]

Schnittke: Piano Quintet, Op. 108

A work that seems completely barren of hope. An unbroken pitch black despair rules throughout its wounded (and indeed wounding) course until the final movement, when a nursery rhyme-like tune starts to gently ring out on the high notes of the piano. The strings however come back in, unrelentingly grinding their teeth until the very last seconds, when suddenly they coalesce in perfect consonance with the notes of major chord that the piano has continued playing in its melody. Its a powerful and striking moment of release for sure, but easy listening this piece is not.