What are you listening 2 now?

[André]

Buhr writes in a modern-accessible idiom that reveals openness to many different influences, yet without any feeling of déjà-vu or Ahah! factor. Works are his three Winter Poems (gorgeous stuff), a meaty one-movement viola concerto and three pieces based on Tolkien's The Silmarillion - lots of colour, percussion and the occasional celtic turn of phrase. Amateurs of Leifs, Aho, Sculthorpe will love it. Very good performances and sound recording. An extremely enjoyable disc.

[SonicMan46]

Some new arrivals, both an addition and several replacements:

Balakirev, Mily - Piano Music, V. 6 w/ Nicholas Walker (his output of 6 CDs for Grand Piano available as a box on Amazon USA and assume elsewhere for those interested) - this one includes Islamey which I did not own.

Bach, JS - Flute Sonatas w/ Laurel Zucker on a modern flute - will replace another MI recording; 2-CD set on sale for $12 at Flutistry.

Bartok, Bela - Piano Concertos w/ Zoltan Kocsis; Ivan Fischer, conductor - from the 1980s; yet another replacement.  Dave

   

[Florestan]

Some new arrivals, both an addition and several replacements:

Balakirev, Mily - Piano Music, V. 6 w/ Nicholas Walker (his output of 6 CDs for Grand Piano available as a box on Amazon USA and assume elsewhere for those interested) - this one includes Islamey which I did not own.

This is an excellent set. Balakirev's piano music is heavily indebted to Chopin but in my book this is a firm recommendation.

Heck, am I praising something Russian? Shame on me... 

[Linz]

Bruckner 8 1888 version with Gerd Schaller over discs 13 and 14 and as a filler on the disc 14 is Otto Kitzler Trauermusik

[JBS]

I am curious which you think do this. 

I like Sergio Vartolo's three recordings of the nine Messe Mantovane; the recordings by Pro Cantione Antiqua (under both Mark Brown and Bruno Turner), Marco Longhini's recordings. 

The Vatican choir's recordings are not very good since they use too large a choir and did not represent the kind of vocal sound Palestrina had available to him, which was something like 12 singers.

IIRC the Sistine Choir CDs explicitly state they use the various embellishments and variants that are part of the Vatican performance tradition, and don't claim to be what Palestrina's first audiences heard.

Over and above the masses there are now several recordings, partial or otherwise, of the motets based on the Song of Songs [Canticles]

[Mandryka]

Oh, thanks a lot for that!

I listened with pleasure to his Hyperion mazurka recording this afternoon. I know this music on record reasonably well now, so I'm pretty confident saying his vision is unique and his pianism distinctive. When I first heard it I remember saying that it was a joyful vision, but there's more to it than that: it as also tender.

[classicalgeek]

Glad you enjoyed it as much as I did. 

It's a great recording! Everything I've heard from Markevitch so far as been top-notch (the Beethoven symphonies he recorded are stunning.) Enough that I'm considering one or both of the Markevitch boxes that came out last year!

Sadao Bekku
Viola Concerto
Nobuko Imai, viola
NHK Symphony Orchestra
Tadashi Mori
(on YouTube)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yb606V25Pro

On the whole, this is a really rewarding and engaging piece. Its effectiveness is somewhat hindered by a finale that is its weakest movement. The finale never quite 'got going', so to speak; it built up momentum in several spots, only to have it stall. On the whole, though, there's much to admire here: the long, lyrical lines; the skillful writing for solo viola; the colorful orchestration. I assume this recording is from the premiere, meaning there a more than a few rough spots for both the soloist and orchestra, but these don't take away from the performance at all. I'd love to have a modern recording in great sound - I think the piece at least deserves that much! Bekku's style in this piece is not easy to liken to another composer; I'd encourage those who are interested to hear the work.

[aligreto]

Bantock:





The Witch of Atlas: This work is lyrical and well orchestrated but it is a bit too melodramatic and heavily saccharine coated for my taste. There is a touch of welcome tension and drama dotted here and there, however.

The Sea Rivers: This is a short but engaging work with a good sense of atmosphere in it. I like the brass scoring.

[Karl Henning]

Streaming via Oobuz.

J.S. Bach
Orgelbüchlein, 599-644.
Bram Beekman plays on a Rijkere Organ, Oostkerk, Middelburg.

How do you like Qobuz, Harry?

[Karl Henning]

TD:

CD 7

Symphony № 48 in C, « Maria Theresia » Hob I:48
Symphony № 85 in B^b, « La Reine » Hob I:85

[Florestan]

It's a great recording! Everything I've heard from Markevitch so far as been top-notch

His Tchaikovsky cycle is fabulous.

(Heck, I just praised something Russian, again.  )

[Daverz]

CPE Bach: Double Concerto for Harpsichord and Fortepiano, Wq. 47



What a blast!  How did I miss this one for so long?

And now:



Great tonal 20th Century music.

[Karl Henning]

His Tchaikovsky cycle is fabulous.

(Heck, I just praised something Russian, again.  )

Be kind to yourself.

[listener]

SCJHUBERT:  Symphony no. 4 in c "Tragic" D.417  (the one with the movement that sounds like "I know where I'm going"
                    Symphony in C - orchestrated from the Grand Duo Sonata D.812 by J. Joachim
Failoni Orchestra     Michael Halász, cond.
very suave playing, the joke about the rhythm in the second mvt nicely caught, it takes the repeat to clarify it.
and Johann SCHOBERT: 2 Sonatas for Piano and Violin, 2 Piano Quartets, 2 Piano Trios
Luciano Sgrizzi, pianoforte Fritz (c.1820), Chiara Banchini and Véronique Méjean, violins, Philipp Bosbach, cello

[Carlo Gesualdo]

Dear folks of GMG hello I feel sunny today

So please I beg of you agree whit the following, here my testimony as a lover of Fanco-Flemish music and also first imitator of Italy, I am listening whit joy full in the heart of my Holy Grail well one of them .

1- it's a lyrricod one of the  best if not label of era, any sane old man would agree even Deprofundis at 44 yrs old.
2- Its ensemble Capella Cordina, to my knowledge they cover essential and rare composer , almost all Dufay mass, some Ar's nova, there Josquin is quite  quite good, so are most of there releases.
3- the sleeve has attractive color old school 60'' ishe  t o70''
4-the media is thick so the sound is huge and profound, honnest,. this you will witness if decent sound system

The subject I"m ;listening is rare  cover first Italian Imitator of Franco-flemish school tradition art of polyphony monsieur, let pull a decent tapis rouge for this one , this is so rare that no CD been made of him alone  except an LP on Lyricord, I,m so happy to have this  of joy and appreciation of skill, performance, recording itself, just fascinating and incredible, let's talk of the polyphony itself  wel it balance, the voice are lovely , sound a bilion box I will assest and testified and tell you!


Tet no one contributed to this composer in the composer forum, this make me so sad Mandryka does comment on this Classical composer nor QUE, i find this composer fantastic for what he let us  prolific or not, I'm in love whit this album, it's a lovely light Purple the image is interresting the description accurate, Mister  great soul and musicologist of knowledge and excellent I thank you in the sky if you reach heaven of course if even exist or not let hope it exit he died in 2019 so R.I.P

[Florestan]

Be kind to yourself.

[Linz]

CD3 of Handel Complete Orchestral Works with his Concertos Op.6

[kyjo]

I was rather unimpressed. Quite dull piano music, miles below that of his contemporaries Rachmaninoff, Scriabin and Medtner. I'm not enticed to go any further than that with this set. Decidedly Myaskovsky is a blind spot for me.

I appreciate the honesty, Andrei. I like some works by Myaskovsky, but he's far from a favorite of mine.

[Florestan]

I appreciate the honesty, Andrei. I like some works by Myaskovsky, but he's far from a favorite of mine.

Well, Kyle, tbh, as of today I've struck all Russian composers off my list of favorites. For the time being I can't stand anything Russian any more.

[aligreto]

Prokofiev: Symphony No. 1 [Weller]





I have always enjoyed this work and what he did with it in terms of reinterpreting the Classical style in a then modern way. This is a lithe and bright version in tone but robust in presentation.