What are you listening 2 now?

[André]

Bach, JS - Solo Violin Sonatas & Partitas on lute w/ Hopkinson Smith and on guitar with Frank Bungarten - my afternoon's listening (this morning, sampled my 4 sets of these works on solo violin and posted in the thread dedicated to these pieces) - in all honesty I've always enjoyed (don't want to say preferred -  ) these works on 'plucked' instruments and probably pull these out for a listen more that the solo violin recordings, but just me.  Dave

 

I have the Hopkinson-Smith disc too, Dave, and love it to bits !  0:)

[Linz]

Back to this Schaller set CD4 and bruckner Symphony in D minor

[André]

[SonicMan46]

I have the Hopkinson-Smith disc too, Dave, and love it to bits !  0:)

Hi André - probably my favorite performance of these Bach solo violin works despite being played on a lute - my feelings the same! 

Now listening to Frank Bungarten doing the same works on the guitar - I'm in a 'plucking mode' so may pull out my Nigel North Bach box for our dinner music - these recordings are SO relaxing - Dave

 

[Bachtoven]

More plucking. He's a wonderful guitarist, and his instrument is fitted with moveable frets to play in different temperaments. in this case Kirnberger III devised by Bach's contemporary Johann Kirnberger. "Grgic quotes Kirnberger to the effect that 'each key has its own special degrees and intervals through which it receives its own character.'" It sounds great, but man, I'd imagine it would hard to get used to coming from straight frets!

[Symphonic Addict]

Thank you Cesar. Very nice (and sad) music. Significantly different from his other works, and very dark and introspective. This is a beautiful and novel composition.



I have a mixed feeling about these recordings. There are many memorable/aesthetic passages, but the music as a whole didn't soar much. Maybe I was just looking for something else. Still fun and enjoyable music though.

Glad you liked it. Sad, quite so indeed. The climaxes are really powerful, though!

As for the C-T disc, maybe our approaches to these works are different each other, perhaps even it has to do with our mood for the piece in question.

[Symphonic Addict]

I enjoyed the Vladigerov. Thanks for posting it Cesar.

Good to know, Jeffrey. A really poignant work. Shostakovich hailed the piece.

[listener]

RACHMANINOFF: original versions of Piano Concerto 1 and Piano Concerto 4
Alexander Ghidin, piano
Helsinki Philharmonic Orch.   Vladimir Ashkenazy cond,
PIZZETTI: Harp Concerto,  Symphony in A
RAI National S.O.   Damian Iorio cond.

[SonicMan46]

More plucking. He's a wonderful guitarist, and his instrument is fitted with moveable frets to play in different temperaments. in this case Kirnberger III devised by Bach's contemporary Johann Kirnberger. "Grgic quotes Kirnberger to the effect that 'each key has its own special degrees and intervals through which it receives its own character.'" It sounds great, but man, I'd imagine it would hard to get used to coming from straight frets!

Fascinating!    Available on Spotify, so will take a listen - thanks.  Dave

[Klavier1]

These two composers make interesting recording companions, and Piekut plays both magnificently. (Although for me, no one quite touches Horowitz for Vers la flamme.)

[Symphonic Addict]

These two composers make interesting recording companions, and Piekut plays both magnificently. (Although for me, no one quite touches Horowitz for Vers la flamme.)

Speaking of bizarre or eccentric, it could fit!

[Symphonic Addict]

Suk: Symphony in E major, Op. 14

Even though it has some traces of Dvorak, Suk's harmonic language points to have more piquancy and in a more late-Romantic affair. So beautiful and life-enhancing.

[Symphonic Addict]

Music based on places or nature:

Delius: Paris - The Song of a Great City
d'Indy: Jour d'été à la montagne
Hausegger: Natursymphonie
Nielsen: The Tower of Babel

[JBS]

From the Box
CD 29


These are not part of the well-known cycle, but instead recorded in 1957 for Pye, and just as good.

[JBS]

Turning to another box

Preludes
Book 1 recorded 1968
Book 2 recorded 1969

[Mirror Image]

First-Listen Sunday

Ginastera
Piano Quintet, Op. 29
Alberto Portugheis, piano
Bingham Quartet

[kyjo]

Bartok: Piano Quintet (B. Kelemen, V. Frang, violins; K. Kokas, viola; N. Altstaedt, cello; N. Lonquich, piano)



Lately I can't get enough of piano quintets - there's so many astounding works in this genre beyond the "usual suspects", and this one is no exception. I've seen some deride this early work as "derivative/conservative/etc" and I don't agree at all. Conservative in comparison to Bartok's later works, perhaps, but full of character, riotous energy (that finale!), inventive harmonies and textures, and permeated throughout with an unmistakable folksy stamp. Each movement becomes even more incredible than the previous one, and that's saying a lot considering the first movement is already pretty damn good! And to say nothing of this incredibly characterful and vigorous performance - I can't imagine it being bettered.


Dyson: Violin Concerto



This concerto suffers from a first movement that, while beautiful, is too long for its own good at over 20 minutes long. As in Tchaik's PC no. 1, the noble and captivating opening gesture never reappears later on! The highlight of the work IMO is the delicious, jig-like 2nd movement scherzo. Interestingly, I detected some occasional Brahmsian influences in the slow movement and finale. Overall, an endearing if rather uneven work.


Mozart: Symphony no. 39



A full-bodied, vigorous performance of this perennial masterpiece. My only gripe is the occasional harpsichord continuo line tinkling along in the background - is that really necessary in this music?


Raff: Suite for Piano and Orchestra



Sheer Raffish neo-baroque delight! The third movement Gavotte is an earworm if there ever was one!


Larsson: Symphony no. 2 and Barococo Suite



The 2nd is my favorite of Larsson's three symphonies, a sweeping work with an instantly memorable, sequential main theme that he (understandably) almost milks to death - it reappears as the basis of the thrilling, passacaglia-like (shades of Brahms 4!) finale. Sibelius' benevolent influence casts its spell over the bucolic central movement. The Barococo Suite shows a different side of Larsson - the witty neoclassicist/neobaroquist! It's an extremely entertaining work which slyly quotes works like Prokofiev's Classical Symphony and something by Mozart - it actually made me laugh out loud!

[kyjo]

Busoni: Turandot Suite (Orchestra Filharmonica della Scala/Muti)



It had been ages since I've heard this remarkably colorful and characterful suite! I'm really glad I decided to revisit it. I ought to give Busoni more attention!


Stenhammar: Symphony no. 2 (Gothenburg SO/N. Jarvi)



I consider the first movement and scherzo to have overall the most engaging music in this work - fresh, "organic", and vigorous stuff. The slow movement didn't do much for me, and I didn't feel as interested by the finale as I had in the past.


Larsson: Förklädd gud (God in Disguise, lyrical suite for mixed chorus, soloists and orchestra)



Oh, what a beautiful, bucolic, tuneful work this is!! It's like a cross between Nielsen (at his most pastoral) and Finzi, if such a thing can be imagined. Fortunately, the tracks with narration can be easily skipped.


Englund: Cello Concerto



I'm reminded of how great this work is! It has a quirky, occasionally malicious spirit not unlike Prokofiev, but with a folksy touch that is Englund's own. The themes are remarkable, and the writing for both cello and orchestra is superb. What more could you want?


Tubin: Symphony no. 5



Continuing on my Nordic traversal! The 5th seems to be Tubin's most "popular" work (if such a thing can be said), but I don't feel it to be quite as memorable as the 2nd, 4th, and 6th symphonies and some other works as his. That said, the Nielsenesque timpani duel at the conclusion of the first movement is really something else - it just kinda explodes onto the scene out of nowhere!

[kyjo]

Now playing: John Foulds Sonata for Piano and Cello - a lovely work and great late-night listening:

Pounds the table! One of my favorite cello sonatas. That tune in the last movement is remarkably beautiful!

[kyjo]

Grieg: String Quartet No. 1 in G minor

A memorable melody or passage after another one. And what energy it possesses, I adore that rustic touch Grieg stamps on it.

Oh, yes! I cherish all of Grieg's supremely melodious chamber music!