What are you listening 2 now?

[Florestan]

pleasant, but nothing to write home about

At least three quarters of all music ever written qualify. 

[vandermolen]

Prokofiev: Symphony No. 6



Not a good performance (sour playing) or recording (though listenable enough), but sticking with it to hear Martinon's interpretation.

Martinon's 6th Symphony is one of my favourite versions of that fine score (which I discovered on a Vox/Turnabout LP).

The new Ruth Gipps CD finally arrived yesterday and I have enjoyed it greatly, although, having only played it through once, I am listening again now. She has an easily recognisable and rather endearing style. The 3rd Symphony reminded me more of the charming 2nd Symphony than the more epic No.4. My only slight disappointment was on discovering that 'Death on the Pale Horse' was not part of a soundtrack to a Lee Van Cleef film. 

[Roasted Swan]

Martinon's 6th Symphony is one of my favourite versions of that fine score (which I discovered on a Vox/Turnabout LP).

The new Ruth Gipps CD finally arrived yesterday and I have enjoyed it greatly, although, having only played it through once, I am listening again now. She has an easily recognisable and rather endearing style. The 3rd Symphony reminded me more of the charming 2nd Symphony than the more epic No.4. My only slight disappointment was on discovering that 'Death on the Pale Horse' was not part of a soundtrack to a Lee Van Cleef film. 

You lookin' at me.........



"Death on the Pale Horse" slightly confused me (albeit for different reasons  ) - the liner says its inspired by this Blake image;



but that seems like a very dynamic forceful image and the Gipps is a rather muted static elegy

[vandermolen]

You lookin' at me.........



"Death on the Pale Horse" slightly confused me (albeit for different reasons  ) - the liner says its inspired by this Blake image;



but that seems like a very dynamic forceful image and the Gipps is a rather muted static elegy

[Harry]

"Death on the Pale Horse" slightly confused me (albeit for different reasons  ) - the liner says its inspired by this Blake image;
but that seems like a very dynamic forceful image and the Gipps is a rather muted static elegy

Funny, that was not my impression, but then we react all differently on music I guess.

[Harry]

Organ Works of the North German Baroque.
Volume IV.
Composers on this disc.
Martin Radeck, Arnold Matthias Brunckhorst, Johann Steffens, Daniel Erich, Christian Ritter, Johann Nicolaus Hanff.
Friedhelm Flamme, Organ.
Christian Vater Organ, 1722/23. St. Cosmas and St Damian, Bockhorn.
Pitch: A=468 Hz.
Temperament: Unequal.

One of the better recording by Friedhelm Flamme, and I do not say this lightly, for I was quite critical of some of his recordings. Flamme seems to have an intrinsic connection with this organ, for it sounds fluent, and has an authority in his interpretation of all these different composers which is quite convincing to say the least. The Organ is to my ears a beautiful instrument, with all the original pipes still in the case, so quite original which is not a given. In the 19th century a lot of fine organs were destroyed and robbed of its tin pipes for WW I. Not so with this organ, there simply was too much lead in them to be useable for the war industry.
I love the Mixture in the Hauptwerk, it gives a tiny bit to the music, but also the Principal 8', Untersatz 16' & Posaun 16' in the Pedal. This organ is well balanced and tuned. the acoustics of this Church added greatly to the excellent recording.

[Operafreak]

Haydn: Symphonie Nr.22 Es-Dur-Symphonie Nr.23 G-Dur-. Symphonie Nr.24 D-Dur-Symphonie Nr.25 C-Dur

Philharmonia Hungarica- Antal Dorati

[vandermolen]

Arthur Bliss: Meditations on a Theme of John Blow.
In a way this work reminds me of 'Job' by Vaughan Williams:

[Lisztianwagner]

Arnold Schönberg
Five Pieces for Orchestra

https://youtube.com/v/Pq23nWqq0es

Antal Dorati & London Symphony Orchestra. First listen to this particular recording, and I think, to the 1949 revision of the composition.....

[Roasted Swan]

Funny, that was not my impression, but then we react all differently on music I guess.

And THAT is the joy!

[Harry]

Dmitri Shostakovich.
Symphony No. 2 in B major, "To October-A Symphonic dedication".
London Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir, Bernard Haitink.
Symphony No. 10 in E minor.
London PO, Bernard Haitink.

Haitink is sublime in this repertoire, and brings out the intentions of the composer in a thoughtful and alert tempo. Not too fast or too slow, an ear for details which are sometimes missing in other interpretations. Haitink brings Shostakovich very close to the core of this music. The Decca recordings are very good, but a bit bright in the brass.

[Lisztianwagner]

On spotify:

Joseph Haydn
Symphony No.45 'Farewell'

[Spotted Horses]

Mozart Symphony No 38, Krips, Concertgebouw



After Norrington, the pendulum has swung too far the other way. There are some moments of arresting beauty here, and the elegance of the Concertgwbouw Orchestra's playing is impressive. There are things brought out here which are missed in the more kinetic performances, but in the end I want more momentum and rhythmic snap in Mozart.

I listened to brief samples of Bruggen and my impression is that it is the "just right" balance for me.

[Harry]

Antwerp Requiem. c. 1650.
Philippus van Steelant. (1611-1670).
Missa pro Defunctis a 6 voc, et 5 Instr. (c. 1650)
Miserere mei Deus 5 Voc & 5 Viol. cum 4 Voc, Ripien. (c. 1656)
Missa pro Defunctis 6 Voc. & 6 Voc. Ripien. (. 1656)

CantoLX
B'Rock Orchestra,  Frank Agsteribbe, Direction and Harpsichord.

This is beyond beautiful, almost etherical. Voices and instruments are evenly matched. Definitively top-notch material.
Also one of the best vocal discs I bought this year. Excellent recording.

[Traverso]

Codex Las Huelgas

Colorful sounds from days gone by.

[vandermolen]

Sir Arthur Bliss 'The Beatitudes' (1961)
I really need to get to know this work having read some laudatory comments about it recently (do I need the new Andrew Davis recording - that is the question?)
These late works by Bliss don't receive much interest but I think very highly of his last orchestral work - the Metamorphic Variations.

[Florestan]

Codex Las Huelgas

Colorful sounds from days gone by.

I was blown away by it recently. Music so pure and noble, in which simplicity is at the service of the profound. The perfect antidote to the madness around (and I'm not talking about the war only).

[Todd]

[Harry]

Lyrita-Celebrating 50 years devoted to British Music.
Volume II.
CD II.
Music by:
Elizabeth Maconchy-Music for Strings.
William Matthias-Sinfonietta.
E.J. Moeran-Rhapsody No. 2.
Hubert Parry-Symphonic Variations.
Alan Rawsthorne-Symphonic Studies.

[Karl Henning]

And THAT is the joy!

Verily.