What are you listening 2 now?

[Moonfish]

Canzonetta: 16th Century Canzoni & Instrumental Dances
The King's Noyse, David Douglass, Paul O'Dette

Utterly delightful in every way possible...  *deep sigh*

[SymphonicAddict]

Enjoying on this fine disc the not-unlike-Holmboe sounding Third (1948) by Swedish composer Erland von Koch especially:

There are some traces from Nielsen and Hindemith AFAIK. An interesting piece, though to be honest, it's the one I like the least. I personally find the others more alluring.

[SymphonicAddict]

Most enjoyable release. I especially liked the haunting and poetic 'White Night' and 'Night Calls' which were new to me. I was reminded of Einur Englund at times:

I had forgot that Eller release. I hope to be delighted by it.

[SymphonicAddict]

Arguably the most serious and profund work by Françaix. It incorporates several styles. I was mostly reminded of Stravinsky. As others have commented somewhere, the playing of the orchestra leaves much to be desired, even more the singing. It would be a great listen if given a much better performance.

[San Antone]

Wonderful 4 volume Brahms chamber music series with PIERRE FOUCHENNERET and ERIC LE SAGE, and others for the larger works.



Violin Sonatas

Other sets:

   

[Karl Henning]

Barber, Symphony No.1

Nice!

[j winter]

Over the course of the weekend, Bach WTC Book 1 x 3 -- Rousset, Pollini, Jaccottet

I greatly enjoyed all three.  The Jaccottet was a slight favorite; beautiful recorded sound, and her performance seems to flow so naturally.  Pollini also grows on me each time I hear it... Rousset is excellent as well, but I need to give it a few more spins.

[André]

Chamber music for viola and piano / clarinet and piano / clarinet, viola and piano.

[San Antone]

Chamber music for viola and piano / clarinet and piano / clarinet, viola and piano.

The Ensemble Contraste is one of the most interesting chamber groups I've run across.  Their recordings are usually very interesting to me, but might not be for everyone since much of what they do is transcribe music from various periods and genres for their instrumentation.  This Schumann CD looks like something right down my alley.

Here's some information about the group:

The Ensemble Contaste uses four instruments in it's surprisingly experimental musical amalgamations; piano, violin, viola and cello. Following the approach of its founders - altist Arnaud Thorette and pianist Johan Farjot - the Ensemble Contraste places the audience at the heart of its artistic creations, which results in spectacular concerts.

The diversity and spontaneity of the artists who make up this unusual ensemble allow them to offer an original programme, from classical music to tango, musicals, jazz and contemporary creations. The Ensemble Contraste has performed a number of works written specially by composer Karol Beffa. He works with artists from multiple backgrounds, notably Karine Deshayes, Sandrine Piau, Magali Léger, Alain Buet, Sébastien Droy, Isabelle Georges, Albin de la Simone, Emily Loizeau, Rosemary Standley, Raphaël Imbert, André Cécarelli, members of the Ebène Quarter.

The musicians of the Ensemble Contraste when composing their own arrangements are constantly seeking to infuse the repertroire with fresh imagintion. The energy, humour, sensitivity and merging genres of the ensemble are what invite and allow singers to collaborate harmoniously.

They've released programs of Purcell, Bach, Faure, and other classical composers arranged for their group which I find very creative as well as beautiful.

[André]

Yes, 2 of the 5 works here are played in transcriptions.

[Todd]

For decades, I have relied on Boulez in Webern's orchestral music.  Sinopoli curb stomps the cool and comparatively bland Frenchman.  I suppose one could say that Boulez is more detailed, but I'm not so sure.  Sinopoli infuses the music with vitality, theatricality, and passion.  Yes, passion.  Whoda thunk it?  I expected great things, and I got standard-setting things. 

[JBS]

LvB 7 and 8
[asin]B07H657XHV[/asin]
Two of my favorite symphonies done exactly the way they should be.

[Madiel]

I think it might be a Shostakovich afternoon.

First listen to a newly acquired version of Symphony No.1



Surely, someone somewhere has turned this into a ballet.

[SymphonicAddict]

SQs 3-5

Incredibly I can say with conviction that this music impressed me in a very positive way. They have something of Schoenberg, but somehow I felt these quartets were even more satisfying. The 5th one reminded me of the SQ by Lutoslawski. The appeal of the music lies on the intrincacy, it's like if every note or passage was different and that makes the brain try harder to grasp the musical content, and I felt my head a bit 'dense'. As a side effect, after hearing these works, a sense of anxiety invaded my body. And I'm certainly impressed how my tolerance has grown over the years.

[JBS]

SQs 3-5

Incredibly I can say with conviction that this music impressed me in a very positive way.

I rank Carter with Shostakovich as one of the best SQ cycles of the 20th century.
(Yes you did just hear me relegate Bartok and Villa Lobos to second tier status).

TD
[asin]B074KWLDX9[/asin]
I have begun listening to  this. I had the two fer of highlights already.
Currently CD 3, various freeform fugues etc recorded at the Church of Our Lady of Sorrows, Toronto.

[Madiel]

*makes notes to investigate Elliott Carter*

But for now, via streaming: Shostakovich 2 pieces for string octet op.11



Apparently, as well as the 'Prelude' and 'Scherzo', Shostakovich started a 'Fugue' (before the scherzo came into being) but never finished it.

[Moonfish]

His Majesty's Harper
Andrew Lawrence-King

[asin] B00000I9M5[/asin]

[amw]

This just arrived on Naxos Music Library. Time to try.



In the liner notes, Debargue says that his reference point as an interpreter is Scott Ross, and that he's adopted some of Ross' ideas. He adds that only in certain specific sonatas does he find any pianist to be as convincing as Ross is. The booklet also claims that ten of the sonatas in this package have only previously been recorded by Ross, not by anyone else; I'm not sure whether that is believable.

Given that every sonata with a Kirkpatrick number has been recorded at least four times apart from Ross (Pieter-Jan Belder, Richard Lester, Carlo Grante, and a multi-pianist Polish Radio set)—with two ongoing complete cycles for Stradivarius (multiple harpsichordists) and Naxos (multiple pianists)—that seems like a case of booklet writer not doing their research.

[Madiel]

Shostakovich, Piano Sonata No.1



Ferocious. Magnificent. I don't know other recordings, but this one has won some glowing reviews and Chen clearly presents the logic of what could easily sound like a mess of noise.

[Mandryka]

Given that every sonata with a Kirkpatrick number has been recorded at least four times apart from Ross (Pieter-Jan Belder, Richard Lester, Carlo Grante, and a multi-pianist Polish Radio set)—with two ongoing complete cycles for Stradivarius (multiple harpsichordists) and Naxos (multiple pianists)—that seems like a case of booklet writer not doing their research.

I've written to the distributor asking for clarification. The rubato and tempo choices are sometimes bold. If you compare how he plays 247 with Ross and indeed everyone else, you'll see that Debargue is his own man.

what's the "multi-pianist Polish Radio set?"