What are you listening 2 now?

[ritter]

Did he write piano music? 

No (thank God!) 

Mahler recorded Weslte-Mignon rolls of piano reductions (his own, I presume) of a couple of his lieder, the fourth movement of the Fourth Symphony, and the first of the Fifth. That was it, AFAIK.

[Mandryka]

Morning listening - a new arrival:



Wonderful, interested parties needn't hesitate.

http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2021/Oct/Regnart-masses-CDA68369.htm

https://earlymusicreview.com/regnart-missa-christ-ist-erstanden/

https://www.gramophone.co.uk/review/regnart-missa-christ-ist-erstanden-and-other-works

Yes, jolly good - just got hold of it and it's jolly good.

[Florestan]

No (thank God!) 

Mahler recorded Weslte-Mignon rolls of piano reductions (his own, I presume) of a couple of his lieder, the fourth movement of the Fourth Symphony, and the first of the Fifth. That was it, AFAIK.

I see. Now I have another question: how profficient was he at playing the piano? 

[ritter]

I see. Now I have another question: how profficient was he at playing the piano? 

What a question! 

Do you think that Saint Gustav, the greatest composer who ever lived, the greatest conductor who ever led an orchestra, the greatest man to have rescored Schumann's and Beethoven's symphonies, the man who foresaw the future.....wouldn't be the greatest pianist the world has ever known? 

See for yourself: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PScJkkQPwwE

[Florestan]

What a question! 

Do you think that Saint Gustav, the greatest composer who ever lived, the greatest conductor who ever led an orchestra, the greatest man to have rescored Schumann's and Beethoven's symphonies, the man who foresaw the future.....wouldn't be the greatest pianist the world has ever known? 

Hah!

See for yourself: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PScJkkQPwwE

Well, I think he firmly belonged to the piano-as-sewing-machine school of thought. 

[VonStupp]

Since this isn't a long piece, I may do some comparative listening. I suspect that modern choral ensembles (ones with less vibrato than BBC's symphonic largesse) may push the innate beauty forth, and might buff some of the edges that I hear in this older Boulez performance.

As I suspected, modern choirs approach this music with smooth beauty. They are quite appealing and approachable, but I miss some of the sharper edges Boulez and the BBC Singers imbue. It might come down to vibrato and how much one prefers too.

Beautiful music regardless!

VS

Arnold Schoenberg
Friede auf Erden, op. 13
Tenebrae - Nigel Short

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h77tZ3wK6UM
https://www.youtube.com/v/h77tZ3wK6UM&ab_channel=Tenebrae-Topic

Arnold Schoenberg
Friede auf Erden, op. 13
Accentus - Laurence Equilbey

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptXLXeXyq6E
https://www.youtube.com/v/ptXLXeXyq6E&ab_channel=LaurenceEquilbey-Topic

[Mandryka]

https://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/dc.asp?dc=D_CDA68349

The best Heinrich Isaac ever! It's only 5 minutes, but what 5 minutes!

[foxandpeng]

Krzysztof Penderecki
Viola Concerto
Cello Concerto #2
Warsaw PO
Antoni Wit

[vandermolen]

Vaughan Williams: 6th Symphony.

Recorded live at the BBC Proms on 16th August 1972.

A tour de force of epic proportions. The Scherzo is positively satanic. It would be impossible to replicate the Epilogue of Boult's studio recording but the feeling of standing in a wasteland of devastation is the same. Sir Adrian is the man for this symphony of that I'm convinced.

Very much agree - especially with your last point Lol.

[foxandpeng]

Very much agree - especially with your last point Lol.

Clearly, I need to visit RVW with Boult. I've been listening to lots this week (alongside Simpson and some Penderecki), but no Boult...

[vandermolen]

Clearly, I need to visit RVW with Boult. I've been listening to lots this week (alongside Simpson and some Penderecki), but no Boult...

There are several recordings of the 6th Symphony conducted by Boult (none with babies on the front cover  ). My favourite is the one from 1953 with the LPO made with the composer in the studio (he makes a speech at the end). You can get it as a download from the Chandos site. There's an earlier LSO recording and a later EMI one with the New Philharmonia Orchestra plus one or two live performances (as posted above):
This Decca Eclipse LP had more impact on my 17 year old self (in 1972 - the year of the VW Centenary) than any other recording:

Now playing: Elgar Cello Concerto. I bought this CD for the Bridge but it seems to be a wonderful recording of the Elgar Cello Concerto:

[Karl Henning]

A first listen:

Alkan
Alleluia, Op. 25

[foxandpeng]

There are several recordings of the 6th Symphony conducted by Boult (none with babies on the front cover  ). My favourite is the one from 1953 with the LPO made with the composer in the studio (he makes a speech at the end). You can get it as a download from the Chandos site. There's an earlier LSO recording and a later EMI one with the New Philharmonia Orchestra plus one or two live performances (as posted above):
This Decca Eclipse LP had more impact on my 17 year old self (in 1972 - the year of the VW Centenary) than any other recording:

Now playing: Elgar Cello Concerto. I bought this CD for the Bridge but it seems to be a wonderful recording of the Elgar Cello Concerto:

Thank you 🙂. Listening to this Boult version of RVW Symphony #6 on EMI now. I do have a strong preference for more modern recording approaches that put the listener right in the midst of the music, but there is no denying that Sir Adrian Boult brought out top notch RVW.

Am I also allowed to confess a soft spot for Manze's slightly quicker take on #6?

I also spent some time with #1 yesterday (my least favourite of the RVW symphonies) with Manze and the RLPO and thoroughly enjoyed it. I'm not always a fan of secular choral music, but this was positive.

[vandermolen]

Thank you 🙂. Listening to this Boult version of RVW Symphony #6 on EMI now. I do have a strong preference for more modern recording approaches that put the listener right in the midst of the music, but there is no denying that Sir Adrian Boult brought out top notch RVW.

Am I also allowed to confess a soft spot for Manze's slightly quicker take on #6?

I also spent some time with #1 yesterday (my least favourite of the RVW symphonies) with Manze and the RLPO and thoroughly enjoyed it. I'm not always a fan of secular choral music, but this was positive.

As for more recent performances I am not keen on Manze's recording although Elder's is even worse.
I do like Berglund's rather Sibelian recording with the Bournemouth SO. I think that No.6 is very difficult to get right on disc, especially the last movement. You can't go wrong with your EMI/Warner boxed set.

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

[Karl Henning]

Listening to the 1920 version of A London Symphony in piano duet arrangement, which has been burning up the wires over at the Veranda

[Symphonic Addict]

Röntgen: Symphony No. 23 in C minor

Röntgen was such a fine composer. This is a rather compelling miniature symphony (16:38 min. long).





Bantock: Serenade for strings 'In the Far West'

A formidable release from CPO. I adore the density of the strings here.





Vladigerov: Jewish Poem

An attractive and pensive piece. Worth a listen. I think DBK could enjoy it as well.

https://www.youtube.com/v/9hRKZIEQkwk

[Karl Henning]

RVW
A London Symphony
London Phil
Boult

[Symphonic Addict]

Listening to the 1920 version of A London Symphony in piano duet arrangement, which has been burning up the wires over at the Veranda hype

Fixed. 

[T. D.]

The early discs from L'Oeuvre Musicale box

[Karl Henning]

Fixed. 

Tough crowd