What are you listening 2 now?

[Symphonic Addict]

The 7th is cast in 7 severe, gloomy slow movements, and to my surprise I did like it. The 8th was dedicated to the Queen Elizabeth II and it is in the same mood. I was expecting something more sunny given the dedication, but Davies didn't show any trace of light in the work whatsoever. Could it perhaps be a musical portrait of the queen's personality?

[Der lächelnde Schatten]

Now playing this digital download --- Walton Symphonic Suite: Troilus & Cressida (Arr. Palmer)

[brewski]

From 1967, Ormandy and Philadelphia in this menu, a fascinating glimpse into a time when there weren't many recordings of any of these.

Berg: Lulu Suite
Schoenberg: Theme and Variations
Webern: Im Sommerwind
Webern: Three Pieces for Orchestra

[Symphonic Addict]

Too much narration. I can't stand it when it is too intrusive as in this work. Alas.

[Der lächelnde Schatten]

Too much narration. I can't stand it when it is too intrusive as in this work. Alas.

This is my problem with so much of Weill's music, too. I mean it would've been nice if there was a way to bypass the narration or if the record labels would include the narrated text only in the booklets and leave it out of the performance. This was my main issue with the new recording of Delius' Hassan on Chandos. I mean the narration is separately tracked, but it is still a pain in the you know what to listen to and find pleasure in it. Thank goodness for the Handley performance!

[JBS]

CD 3

K311/284c in D major
K330/300h in C major
K331/300i in A major

[Der lächelnde Schatten]

Now playing Bridge Three Idylls



Followed by Britten Three Divertimenti

[Symphonic Addict]

This is my problem with so much of Weill's music, too. I mean it would've been nice if there was a way to bypass the narration or if the record labels would include the narrated text only in the booklets and leave it out of the performance. This was my main issue with the new recording of Delius' Hassan on Chandos. I mean the narration is separately tracked, but it is still a pain in the you know what to listen to and find pleasure in it. Thank goodness for the Handley performance!

I wholeheartedly concur (the composer in question is Henze, though). When the narration makes brief and few interventions in the work, it's passable, but when it goes on for too long, I lose patience and interest in the music.

Thanks for the advice on that Hassan recording. One to skip.

[Der lächelnde Schatten]

I wholeheartedly concur (the composer in question is Henze, though). When the narration makes brief and few interventions in the work, it's passable, but when it goes on for too long, I lose patience and interest in the music.

Thanks for the advice on that Hassan recording. One to skip.

Oh yes, I knew you were listening to Henze. I just mentioned Weill as someone who wrote a lot of works with narration that I could easily do without.

[Symphonic Addict]

Oh yes, I knew you were listening to Henze. I just mentioned Weill as someone who wrote a lot of works with narration that I could easily do without.

Sorry, my bad. I've taken a look at several of Weill's pieces and their forces and yes, they suffer from the same problem, sadly.

[Der lächelnde Schatten]

Now playing Alwyn Three Winter Poems

[steve ridgway]

R. Strauss - Metamorphosen

[Der lächelnde Schatten]

R. Strauss - Metamorphosen

Lovely! Such an exquisite piece and great seeing you listen to Strauss.

[Der lächelnde Schatten]

I forgot to ask you, @Symphonic Addict, how are you enjoying your traversal of Henze's music? He's a composer I need to circle back around to at some juncture.

[Der lächelnde Schatten]

Now playing Enescu String Quartet No. 2

[steve ridgway]

Takemitsu - Green

[Symphonic Addict]

I forgot to ask you, @Symphonic Addict, how are you enjoying your traversal of Henze's music? He's a composer I need to circle back around to at some juncture.

The exploration of his orchestral works has paid fruitful dividends so far. There's a strong sense of eloquence and some bizarre and haunting elements in the music that have caught me.

Lately I've felt that I've been more open to music I initially considered tough or impenetrable. Something that has helped me is to understand or assimilate the music on its own terms and not being too dependant on certain factors like melody. Textures, sonorities, timbres have much relevance too.

[Der lächelnde Schatten]

The exploration of his orchestral works has paid fruitful dividends so far. There's a strong sense of eloquence and some bizarre and haunting elements in the music that have caught me.

Lately I've felt that I've been more open to music I initially considered tough or impenetrable. Something that has helped me is to understand or assimilate the music on its own terms and not being too dependant on certain factors like melody. Textures, sonorities, timbres have much relevance too.

Absolutely. Melody isn't the only criteria for enjoyment of music or, at least, for me this is the case. There's a lot of music I love that actually has no melody at all. I'm thinking, in particular, of textural works like Ligeti's Atmosphères or Scelsi's Uaxuctum for example.

[steve ridgway]

Wagner - Tristan Und Isolde Prelude And Love-Death

[steve ridgway]

Ives - Set No. 9 Of Three Pieces For Chamber Orchestra