What are you listening 2 now?

[SonicMan46]

Bach, JS - Goldberg Variations w/ Kurt Rodarmer on multiple specially made guitars w/ overdubbing - more on the guitars HERE - a recommendation from Mandryka - thanks; arrived today and now listening; review attached.  Dave

CORRECTION:  the recommendation was from Bachtoven, I believe - sorry! 

 

[Karl Henning]

CD 9

Vítězslav Novák
Pan, Op. 43

Musorgsky
Songs and Dances of Death (orch. Otokar Jeremiáš

CD 10

Debussy
La mer
3 Nocturnes

Ravel
Shéhérazade
Rapsodie espagnole

[aligreto]

Bach, JS - Goldberg Variations w/ Kurt Rodarmer on multiple specially made guitars w/ overdubbing - more on the guitars HERE - a recommendation from Mandryka - thanks; arrived today and now listening; review attached.  Dave

 

Interesting guitars.

[classicalgeek]

More of the Japanese composers' series:

Kunihiko Hashimoto
Symphony no. 1
Symphonic Suite 'Heavenly Maiden and Fisherman'
Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra
Ryusuke Numajiri
(on Spotify)



I really enjoyed Heavenly Maiden and Fisherman - a colorful, tuneful suite drawn from a ballet. Lots of original touches, and brilliantly orchestrated. I was less fond of the symphony, which seems heavily influenced by Mahler; the first movement did have its moments, though, and the second movement started out promisingly, but ultimately was done in by its monotony. The third movement is a theme and variations, on a theme related to the first movement's main subject. There are some beautiful touches, and the whole piece ends heroically, but I was underwhelmed overall. Perhaps with a shorter second movement with a contrasting section, and a true slow movement, this piece might work for me.

Kunihiko Hashimoto
Symphony no. 2
Scherzo con sentimento
*Three Wasan
*Akiya Fukushima, bartione
Tokyo Geidai Philharmonia
Takuo Yuasa
(couldn't find it on Spotify, but it was on YouTube)



Once again, the non-Symphony works were stronger and more original, at least in my opinion. The Scherzo con sentimento was great fun, and brilliantly orchestrated, and the Three Wasan were poignant and moving, and beautifully sung as well. The Second Symphony is more harmonically conservative than the first; it's punctuated by a motto theme (which returns to cap off the whole symphony), that while very pretty, wears itself out with repetition; I'm thinking this movement could have worked at half its over-20-minute length. The Finale (the Second is in two movements) appears to be another theme and variations, which starts out introspectively, but becomes ever more celebratory, until the final variation bursts in with its march rhythms and pealing bells and its general exuberance. This Symphony was commissioned to mark Japan's new post-WWII Constitution, and I'm sure the audience for its premiere must have loved it.

[Linz]

Bruckner Symphony No.6 Gerd Schaller CD 11 of this set

[JBS]

NP:

Penderecki
Sextet
Bruno Pasquier (viola), Michel Lethiec (clarinet), Regis Pasquier (violin)
Arto Noras (cello), Markus Maskuniitty (horn), Juhani Lagerspetz (piano)

Pounds the table.
TBH one of the few Penderecki works (I like all the works on that CD in fact) I enjoy.

TD
Elgar
Symphony 1
Pomp and Circumstance Marches 1 and 5
Philharmonia Orchestra
Sir John Barbirolli conductor
CD 45 of The Box

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

More of the Japanese composers' series:


Kunihiko Hashimoto
Symphony no. 2
Scherzo con sentimento
*Three Wasan
*Akiya Fukushima, bartione
Tokyo Geidai Philharmonia
Takuo Yuasa
(couldn't find it on Spotify, but it was on YouTube)



Once again, the non-Symphony works were stronger and more original, at least in my opinion. The Scherzo con sentimento was great fun, and brilliantly orchestrated, and the Three Wasan were poignant and moving, and beautifully sung as well. The Second Symphony is more harmonically conservative than the first; it's punctuated by a motto theme (which returns to cap off the whole symphony), that while very pretty, wears itself out with repetition; I'm thinking this movement could have worked at half its over-20-minute length. The Finale (the Second is in two movements) appears to be another theme and variations, which starts out introspectively, but becomes ever more celebratory, until the final variation bursts in with its march rhythms and pealing bells and its general exuberance. This Symphony was commissioned to mark Japan's new post-WWII Constitution, and I'm sure the audience for its premiere must have loved it.

That's a student orchestra of Tokyo Geidai (Tokyo Geijutsu Daigaku, Tokyo University of Arts)- the most prestigious art school in Japan.

[SonicMan46]

Interesting guitars.

Hi Fergus - yes, the liner notes are by Rodarmer who goes into much more detail - fascinating and enjoyable recording.  Dave

P.S. made a recommendation correction in my post - Bachtoven suggested the recording.

[Todd]

[Mirror Image]

Pounds the table.
TBH one of the few Penderecki works (I like all the works on that CD in fact) I enjoy.

Over the past year, I've become a rather big fan of this composer's music and I do agree that the Sextet is a fine piece, but I love his chamber music in general. Oh hell, I love all aspects of this composer's oeuvre!

[kyjo]

Malcolm Arnold: Cello Concerto
Raphael Wallfisch (cello), NCO, Nicholas Ward (cond.)


Thus far I've never found Arnold less than interesting/intriguing and likeable, and so it remains with this cello concerto. Whether serious or light, his music seems always full of ideas and integrity, and very easy to spend time with.

Dabblings in neoclassical quirkiness in the first movement, elegiac heartstring tugs in the second, and a child running round in a garden exploring its Florestan and Eusebius sides in the third, all offered up with an uncluttered breezy, ease. Very enjoyable.

Thanks for posting this - you've encouraged me to revisit this piece which, upon first hearing, didn't strike me as one of Arnold's more inspired works.

[kyjo]

More of the Japanese composers' series:

Kunihiko Hashimoto
Symphony no. 1
Symphonic Suite 'Heavenly Maiden and Fisherman'
Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra
Ryusuke Numajiri
(on Spotify)



I really enjoyed Heavenly Maiden and Fisherman - a colorful, tuneful suite drawn from a ballet. Lots of original touches, and brilliantly orchestrated. I was less fond of the symphony, which seems heavily influenced by Mahler; the first movement did have its moments, though, and the second movement started out promisingly, but ultimately was done in by its monotony. The third movement is a theme and variations, on a theme related to the first movement's main subject. There are some beautiful touches, and the whole piece ends heroically, but I was underwhelmed overall. Perhaps with a shorter second movement with a contrasting section, and a true slow movement, this piece might work for me.

Kunihiko Hashimoto
Symphony no. 2
Scherzo con sentimento
*Three Wasan
*Akiya Fukushima, bartione
Tokyo Geidai Philharmonia
Takuo Yuasa
(couldn't find it on Spotify, but it was on YouTube)



Once again, the non-Symphony works were stronger and more original, at least in my opinion. The Scherzo con sentimento was great fun, and brilliantly orchestrated, and the Three Wasan were poignant and moving, and beautifully sung as well. The Second Symphony is more harmonically conservative than the first; it's punctuated by a motto theme (which returns to cap off the whole symphony), that while very pretty, wears itself out with repetition; I'm thinking this movement could have worked at half its over-20-minute length. The Finale (the Second is in two movements) appears to be another theme and variations, which starts out introspectively, but becomes ever more celebratory, until the final variation bursts in with its march rhythms and pealing bells and its general exuberance. This Symphony was commissioned to mark Japan's new post-WWII Constitution, and I'm sure the audience for its premiere must have loved it.

Yeah, Hashimoto's two symphonies are a bit short of real "symphonic" substance and direction, but I still enjoy them for their unabashed tunefulness and occasional "Japanese" coloring. I agree that the Three Wasan are a real standout - some truly gorgeous vocal music!

[classicalgeek]

That's a student orchestra of Tokyo Geidai (Tokyo Geijutsu Daigaku, Tokyo University of Arts)- the most prestigious art school in Japan.

That's a good bit of information to know! They certainly sounded professional and accomplished.

Yeah, Hashimoto's two symphonies are a bit short of real "symphonic" substance and direction, but I still enjoy them for their unabashed tunefulness and occasional "Japanese" coloring. I agree that the Three Wasan are a real standout - some truly gorgeous vocal music!

They really are tuneful, especially the Second! It says something that I can still remember that motto theme even several hours after hearing it. Agreed, the Three Wasan were stunning, and I really enjoyed the Heavenly Maiden and Fisherman suite!

TD: when on YouTube to listen to the second Hashimoto disc, I was intrigued by this:

Akira Ifukube
Salome (complete ballet)
Japan Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra
Jyunichi Hirokami
(on YouTube)



Wow, was this a lot of fun to listen to! Colorful and vibrant music, brilliantly orchestrated (there's a solo alto flute that pops up in a couple of spots; it's a touch of genius, perfect for this kind of music.) Yes, it makes liberal use of 'exotic' (*cringes*) harmonies, particularly the flat 2nd/sharp 3rd, but so does Strauss in his opera on the same subject. Great writing for percussion too. All in all, one of my favorite pieces in my exploration of Japanese composers so far.

[André]

Coincidentally I've been listening to some Ifukube, including the Tapkaara Symphony everybody plays these days 

..

Playing scrabble online at the strains of Mothra vs Godzilla has proved a rather strange affair indeed.

[kyjo]

Akira Ifukube
Salome (complete ballet)
Japan Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra
Jyunichi Hirokami
(on YouTube)



Wow, was this a lot of fun to listen to! Colorful and vibrant music, brilliantly orchestrated (there's a solo alto flute that pops up in a couple of spots; it's a touch of genius, perfect for this kind of music.) Yes, it makes liberal use of 'exotic' (*cringes*) harmonies, particularly the flat 2nd/sharp 3rd, but so does Strauss in his opera on the same subject. Great writing for percussion too. All in all, one of my favorite pieces in my exploration of Japanese composers so far.

Sounds most enticing! Thanks for drawing my attention to this!

[JBS]

The last segment of this box consists of live recordings. CD 47 contains three concertante works. In all three the orchestra is Orchestre National de la RTF
Franck Variations Symphoniques
Andre Cluytens conducting. 1953. No precise date or place
Schumann Piano Concerto
Charles Munch conducting. Montreux 17 September 1957
Prokofiev Piano Concerto 5
Lorin Maazel conducting. Besancon 12 September 1958

Haven't gotten to the Prokofiev yet. The Schumann is quite good. The Franck is meh--but I have yet to hear a recording of the work that does not make me meh.

BTW, my mental image of Maazel makes him much younger than he really is. It didn't occur to me that he was already conducting the year before my birth, as he was here.

All three recordings are in mono.

Edit: the Prokofiev has started, and it's immediately obvious the recording mike was placed immediately next to the piano.

[Klavier1]

Very powerful and moving. I'm looking forward to Vol.3's release on March 4th.

[JBS]

The Prokofiev was quite good.
Now moving back to the Barbirolli box

This is a fairly new remastering (2020).
Other than that, res ipsa loquitor.

[bhodges]

Mahler: Symphony No. 8 (National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain / Sir Simon Rattle, conductor) - Recorded live at the 2002 Proms, and well worth a listen. I'm hearing this piece live in June in Minneapolis, and can't wait.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6WZS_mMkHA

--Bruce

[Todd]