What are you listening 2 now?

[Papy Oli]

Bantock - Overture to a Greek tragedy (Oedipus at Colonus) first listen to the work
Holbrooke - The Birds of Rhiannon  first listen to the composer

[asin]B000R3BRAW[/asin]

[Mirror Image]

I like everything about this recording, from the cover art to the performance.  Excellent addition to the Bernstein catalog.

If pressed to say which work Symphony No. 2 resembles, I'd say the Gershwin Piano Concerto in F.  I wonder why Bernstein chose "symphony" instead of "concerto"?

I suppose to get away from notions of traditional titles like Violin Concerto or Piano Concerto? The Age of Anxiety, Serenade, and Halil are all concerti in all but a name, but, at the end of the day, what's in a name anyway? It was Bernstein's choice to give these titles to these works. I would also guess that Bernstein didn't really look at any of these works as traditional concerti in the first place, so calling them something else was more appropriate or befitting.

[San Antone]

[San Antone]

I suppose to get away from notions of traditional titles like Violin Concerto or Piano Concerto? The Age of Anxiety, Serenade, and Halil are all concerti in all but a name, but, at the end of the day, what's in a name anyway? It was Bernstein's choice to give these titles to these works. I would also guess that Bernstein didn't really look at any of these works as traditional concerti in the first place, so calling them something else was more appropriate or befitting.

"Symphony No. 2" is as traditional as you can get.  Just sayin' ...

[SonicMan46]

Buxtehude, Dietrich (1637-1707) - Trio Sonatas w/ performers below; John Holloway is just marvelous on the violin - some reviews attached; and there is a third volume (which I can listen to via Amazon Prime or Spotify, so will do rather than a purchase - might just put all three volumes into a playlist, the music is quite good!).  Dave

 

[Papy Oli]

Rootham - Symphony No.1

[asin]B000R3BRAW[/asin]

[Mirror Image]

"Symphony No. 2" is as traditional as you can get.  Just sayin' ...

Well sure, but it still has a subtitle and a lot of listeners know the title The Age of Anxiety rather than Symphony No. 2. Perhaps Bernstein was carrying on in the fashion of Szymanowski (and others) who wrote his Symphony No. 4 with the subtitle Symphonie concertante. Walton also composed a Sinfonia concertante. There's probably some other examples. Also, and this is most important, the fact that Bernstein did consider this work a 'symphony' should be a good enough reason not to question it.

For further reading:

https://leonardbernstein.com/works/view/16/symphony-no-2-the-age-of-anxiety

[San Antone]

Well sure, but it still has a subtitle and a lot of listeners know the title The Age of Anxiety rather than Symphony No. 2. Perhaps Bernstein was carrying on in the fashion of Szymanowski (and others) who wrote his Symphony No. 4 with the subtitle Symphonie concertante. Walton also composed a Sinfonia concertante. There's probably some other examples. Also, and this is most important, the fact that Bernstein did consider this work a 'symphony' should be a good enough reason not to question it.

For further reading:

https://leonardbernstein.com/works/view/16/symphony-no-2-the-age-of-anxiety

Thanks for the link, interesting reading - but I still find it odd that he does not address the obvious question (which begs itself, IMO).

TD

[steve ridgway]

Time for some Scelsi.

[asin] B0000AKPNX[/asin]

[Mandryka]

https://www.youtube.com/v/6mymWYonUUs

Solemn and sentimental, with some pointless and ugly dynamic variation.  JSB must be spinning in his grave. If he has one. 

[San Antone]

Solemn and sentimental, with some pointless and ugly dynamic variation.  JSB must be spinning in his grave. If he has one.

I don't see your image, which appears to be a youtube clip/list.  But I just copied the link and went to youtube:

J.S. Bach: Organ Sonata No. 4, BWV 528 - 2. Andante [Adagio] (Transcr. by August Stradal) · Víkingur Ólafsson

Nice.

[ritter]

...JSB must be spinning in his grave. If he has one.

Oh, he does have one, in the Thomaskirche in Leipzig:


TBH, there are some doubts about whether JSB's remains are actually here, as initially he was interred in a cemetery, and then transferred in the early 20th to the Johanniskirche (based on an identification by an anatomy professor which some could regard as dubious). After the Johanniskirche was bombed in WW2, the remains were transferred to the Thomaskirche.

[Tsaraslondon]

Argerich's fabulous debut recital must be one of the most thrilling debuts ever recorded. She was but 18 at the time. This issue adds her superb Liszt Sonata from a few years later.

She truly is one of the greats.

[San Antone]

Argerich's fabulous debut recital must be one of the most thrilling debuts ever recorded. She was but 18 at the time. This issue adds her superb Liszt Sonata from a few years later.

She truly is one of the greats.

Yes, Argerich's performance of the Liszt B Minor is one of the best, only slightly bettered by Krystian Zimerman, IMO.

TD



I think Jens Larsen spoke highly of this recording; if so, I agree with him - first rate Bach, IMO.

[Traverso]

Delius

Paris
In a Summer Garden
On hearing the first Cuckoo in Spring
Summer night on the River
Intermezzo from Fennimore and Gerda
Piano Concerto

[vandermolen]

Happy birthday Traverso and Oli!!!

From me too 

[vandermolen]

Rootham - Symphony No.1

[asin]B000R3BRAW[/asin]

Fabulous work IMO.

[André]

[prémont]

https://www.youtube.com/v/6mymWYonUUs

Solemn and sentimental, with some pointless and ugly dynamic variation.  JSB must be spinning in his grave. If he has one.

Can't but agree.

[Maestro267]

Fricker: The Vision of Judgement
Manning (soprano), Tear (tenor)
Leeds Festival Chorus
Royal Liverpool PO/Groves

This work is really growing on me. There are some enormous sounds in this work, including a massive outburst for brass in the dark Part 1, and a glorious climax to the whole work. Easy comparison is Belshazzar's Feast, but unlike that work, this one gets to the exciting parts pretty much immediately.