What are you listening 2 now?

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I'm not familiar with his chamber works to be honest. Once I listened to one of his string quartets but I didn't feel it strong enough, at least I didn't on a first listen.

This seems to be the case with much of Alwyn's music for me. I don't really detect a strong musical personality with the exception of the afore mentioned works.

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Debussy - continuing the orchestral works w/ Jean Martinon - excellent; now, on a delightful disc of Orchestral Transcriptions of his piano works; next up two versions of the Debussy-Ravel-Faure Piano Trios, an oft combination - reviews attached of the first two recordings for those interested.  Dave

   

Wonderful stuff, Dave.

[Brian]

Is this any good?? Gardiner's Planets are fun, but I had no idea that this recording existed and never would have expected it.

The gong thwack at the end of Gardiner's Symphonic Dances is the most resounding and explosive I've ever heard. Worth it just for that. Both performances suggest an orchestra that could have done with 10-12 extra players, just to add extra heft, but overall, pretty good CD. Incredible clarity.

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Walton
Henry V & As You Like It Suites
London Philharmonic & Chorus
Carl Davis



SUPERB!

[Brian]

More Modern JEG.

[listener]

an oversize 2-disc set from naive
ROUSSEL: Concerto for Small Orchestra op. 34    Piano Concerto op. 36  Concertino for Cello and orchestra op. 37
HAHN: Quintet for Piano and Strings in f#  String Quintets in a and F
Alexandre Tharaud, piano    Jean-Guihen Queyras, cello      Quatuor Parisii
Ensemble Orchestral of Paris   David Stern, cond,.

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More Walton:

Piano Quartet
The Nash Ensemble



A fabulous work. I remember buying this recording for nothing. Probably gave around $6 (incl. shipping) for it. A fantastic recording. I also love the Paul Nash painting for the cover art.

[vandermolen]

Walton
Henry V & As You Like It Suites
London Philharmonic & Chorus
Carl Davis



SUPERB!

That is a fabulous disc John! One of my favourites of film music. Furthermore the Henry V music uses the Malcolm Sargent arrangement, which includes the opening choral prelude, which does not feature in the better known version. I find it rather moving, in its wartime context, as the camera pans over Shakesperean London to the Globe Theatre. As You Like It has some lovely moments, especially the 'Fountain Scene' and the 'Waterfall Scene' and 'Battle in the Air' from Battle of Britain is another highlight. Great cover art too.

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That is a fabulous disc John! One of my favourites of film music. Furthermore the Henry V music uses the Malcolm Sargent arrangement, which includes the opening choral prelude, which does not feature in the better known version. I find it rather moving, in its wartime context, as the camera pans over Shakesperean London to the Globe Theatre. As You Like It has some lovely moments, especially the 'Fountain Scene' and the 'Waterfall Scene' and 'Battle in the Air' from Battle of Britain is another highlight. Great cover art too.

Indeed, Jeffrey. These were spirited performances and it's nice to have the inclusion of the chorus in Henry V. The other performance I own (Previn I believe) doesn't include it. Yes, to both of those movements from As You Like It. Interesting that we both like the same movements. I also thought especially highly of Touch her soft lips and part from Henry V. Do you know his opera Troilus and Cressida? I'm planning on listening to this work tomorrow night.

[vandermolen]

Indeed, Jeffrey. These were spirited performances and it's nice to have the inclusion of the chorus in Henry V. The other performance I own (Previn I believe) doesn't include it. Yes, to both of those movements from As You Like It. Interesting that we both like the same movements. I also thought especially highly of Touch her soft lips and part from Henry V. Do you know his opera Troilus and Cressida? I'm planning on listening to this work tomorrow night.

No - I'm not a great Opera fan. However, I have an arrangement of extracts from another Chandos CD I think. If I find it I'll post it in a moment.

No it's on Heritage:


This is a marvellous disc as well:

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No - I'm not a great Opera fan. However, I have an arrangement of extracts from another Chandos CD I think. If I find it I'll post it in a moment.

No it's on Heritage:

Ah, but you're correct that the 'symphonic suite' can be found on a Chandos disc as well (which all of the Walton Chandos recordings are worth owning):

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Walton
Violin Sonata
The Nash Ensemble

[San Antone]

Elliott Miles McKinley - String Quartets
The Martinu Quartet

Elliott Miles McKinley (born 1969) is an American composer, improviser, and teacher. His father is the late American composer and jazz pianist William Thomas McKinley. As of 2019, his catalog of work numbers just over 70, and his music has been described as inspired by jazz and yet "thoroughly self-assured as he twists and bends the orchestral idiom into exciting new shapes." A review of his string quartets recorded on the MMC label states that "...the strength of McKinley's music lies in his lively rhythms and elastic melodies, and these impressive works show a composer mastering his medium with consummate craft and a fertile, almost improvisational, imagination." New Music Box's Frank Oteri has noted "...rhythms are invariably skewed into something extraordinary." In general, his music is marked by an economy of expression that may be founded on the works by Anton Webern and other miniaturists, though McKinley's musical grammar is not in a dodecaphonic idiom.  [urlhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elliott_Miles_McKinley]Wikipedia [/url]

A new composer for me - but I like this music, a lot. Very well written; the jazz elements are clearly evident, but McKinley avoids the usual cliches and the jazz is an organic part of a very well put together string quartet.

[bhodges]

The gong thwack at the end of Gardiner's Symphonic Dances is the most resounding and explosive I've ever heard. Worth it just for that. Both performances suggest an orchestra that could have done with 10-12 extra players, just to add extra heft, but overall, pretty good CD. Incredible clarity.

Thanks! Might succumb to that gong (since I love them).

--Bruce

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Possible concert program title: Facing Britain: A Pacifist's Response

Tippett
A Child of Our Time
Willard White (bass), Cynthia Haymon (soprano), Damon Evans (tenor), Cynthia Clarey (alto)
London Symphony Chorus, London Symphony Orchestra
Richard Hickox



-Intermission-

Britten
War Requiem, Op. 66
Philip Langridge (tenor), Heather Harper (soprano), John Shirley-Quirk (bass-baritone), Roderick Elms (organ)
St. Paul's Cathedral Choristers, London Symphony Chorus, London Symphony Orchestra
Richard Hickox



Encore:

Bridge
Oration
Steven Isserlis (cello)
Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin
Hugh Wolff

[SimonNZ]

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"Must the winter come so soon?" from Vanessa:



One of my favorite moments in all of music. I could listen to this aria numerous times in a row and still be left breathless each time. Roberta Alexander sings this better than any other soprano I've heard. One of the reasons for this is there's a purity in her voice (it's not particularly operatic like many others I've heard), but it also displays a certain sadness that suits the text like a glove.

[Ratliff]

Mozart, Piano Concerto No 16, Ashkenazy



I struggle with the prejudice that Mozart's great Piano Concertos start with No 20, but this one is a real winner. The orchestral exposition of the first movement seems bland at first, but when the exposition continues with the piano the simple, open harmonies are filled in with a more daring piano part, instilling fire into the music. The second movement and rondo finale are likewise very engaging. Ashkenazy is a great advocate for this work.

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More Barber:

Violin Concerto, Op. 14
Hahn
Wolff
Saint Paul Chamber Orch.



A Curtis Institute graduate paying tribute to another Curtis graduate. No one has performed this concerto with the same dedication, passion, and virtuosity as Hilary Hahn. My reference for this masterpiece. The support she receives from Wolff and the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra are also the best I've heard on record. These two minds were on the same page and magic happened.

[Daverz]

Mozart, Piano Concerto No 16, Ashkenazy



I struggle with the prejudice that Mozart's great Piano Concertos start with No 20, but this one is a real winner. The orchestral exposition of the first movement seems bland at first, but when the exposition continues with the piano the simple, open harmonies are filled in with a more daring piano part, instilling fire into the music. The second movement and rondo finale are likewise very engaging. Ashkenazy is a great advocate for this work.

For me they strart around 14, though 9 is very good, too.

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