What are you listening 2 now?

[Mirror Image]

Colorful music with Koto harp, Shakuhachi flute, Shamisen banjo, etc. It reminds me of Akira Kurosawa's movies. 

Colorful, but so damn rhythmic. I was actually taken aback a bit (but in a positive way) by the almost "in-your-face" rhythmic aspect of this symphony.

[foxandpeng]

All of Arnold's symphonies are special despite my own preferences.

+1

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Colorful, but so damn rhythmic. I was actually taken aback a bit by almost "in-your-face" rhythmic aspect of this symphony.

Yes it's surprising since, it seems to me, being rhythmic in music is traditionally considered to be vulgar/low-class in Japan. Intelligentsias and upper-class people tend to highly evaluate the music without strong beat. Anyway, it's likable music, and the recording sound is pretty good for 1960s.

You already received the discs? So fast!

[Mirror Image]

First-Listen Monday

Dan
Symphonies Nos. 1 & 2
Wiener Symphoniker
Kazuo Yamada



Quite possibly Japan's foremost symphonist. I'm in love with his music so far. His style owes some allegiance to the West, but his own voice is coming to fore with each passing measure. A unique composer so far. Can't wait to dig into the rest of the set.

[Mirror Image]

Yes it's surprising since, it seems to me, being rhythmic in music is traditionally considered to be vulgar/low-class in Japan. Intelligentsias and upper-class people tend to highly evaluate the music without strong beat. Anyway, it's likable music, and the recording sound is pretty good for 1960s.

You already received the discs? So fast!

That certainly makes sense or well, sort of. Thankfully Ogawa thumbed his nose at these people with this symphony. And, yes, I've already received all of my Amazon Japan and CD Japan orders. I always choose faster shipping methods when I order overseas because of bad experiences with slower methods in the past. It cost a bit more, but at least I'll actually receive what I ordered!

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

That certainly makes sense or well, sort of. Thankfully Ogawa thumbed his nose at these people with this symphony. And, yes, I've already received all of my Amazon Japan and CD Japan orders. I always choose faster shipping methods when I order overseas because of bad experiences with slower methods in the past. It cost a bit more, but at least I'll actually receive what I ordered!

Prudent and money well-spent. I imagine you got the Ifukube discs as well. Enjoy!

[Mirror Image]

Prudent and money well-spent. I imagine you got the Ifukube discs as well. Enjoy!

Yep, all of the Ifukube arrived safe and sound. By the way, what do you think Ikuma Dan?

[aligreto]

Gerald Barry:





∅ For Two Pianos [Barry/Volans] 
Water Parted [Clapton/Edwards]

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Yep, all of the Ifukube arrived safe and sound. By the way, what do you think Ikuma Dan?

Please give me two days. He (or any J composers) is not famous/popular in Japan. Soviet and German-speaking composers are most popular there due to the indoctrination by critics, magazines, industry, etc.

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Yes, it is another one that is very graphic.
That is the cover art from an old 10" vinyl so it is not today or yesterday that it was designed. 

Love the cover art of this recording and the Schubert/Jochum.

[Mirror Image]

Please give me two days. He (or any J composers) is not famous/popular in Japan. Soviet and German-speaking composers are most popular there due to the indoctrination by critics, magazines, industry, etc.

Okay, I'll give you two days and if you don't reply, I'm going to hunt you down. Yeah, I'd imagine Russian and Germanic composers being popular in Japan. Why? Well, they're popular everywhere! Although maybe not Russian composers at the moment, but time will pass and orchestras will feel better about Shostakovich again.

[Linz]

Haydn Quartets CD1 of this set

[Karl Henning]

And now, Harrison Birtwistle in memoriam...

I'm in, Rafael! Maiden-Listen Monday!

[Mirror Image]

I had no idea that Harrison Birtwistle passed away today. Terrible news! I hope Monkey Greg is enjoying the CDs I gifted him of his music. I may end up buying them again. Of course, I'm joking. I'm not terribly fond of his music, but it's always a shame to hear that someone who was as gifted as he was has passed on.

[Todd]

[Mirror Image]

NP:

Yun
Violin Concerto No. 1
Akiko Tatsumi, violin
Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra
Zdeněk Mácal

[Mapman]

Maiden-listen Monday
Malcolm Arnold: Symphony #4 (Chosen because Mirror Image likes it)

I'm still not entirely sure what I think of Arnold. The final movement was fun, and probably my favorite of what I have heard so far. Otherwise, I like some parts, but not as much others (at least yet). I'll probably move on to other stuff for now, but I will definitely return to Arnold at some point in the future.

[Mirror Image]

Maiden-listen Monday
Malcolm Arnold: Symphony #4 (Chosen because Mirror Image likes it)

I'm still not entirely sure what I think of Arnold. The final movement was fun, and probably my favorite of what I have heard so far. Otherwise, I like some parts, but not as much others (at least yet). I'll probably move on to other stuff for now, but I will definitely return to Arnold at some point in the future.

For years, I just didn't like Glazunov. I tried and tried and tried, but then I gave up for a few years. Then, suddenly, one day, I was listening to his 7th symphony and a lightbulb went off. Now, he's one of my favorite composers. Sometimes time away can help.

[kyjo]

Richard Strauss
Taillefer, op. 52
Wandrers Sturmlied, op. 14
Die Tageszeiten, op. 76

Felicity Lott, soprano
Johan Botha, tenor
Michael Volle, baritone
Ernst-Senff Chorus
Dresden Philharmonic
Michel Plasson

This is my first time hearing these R. Strauss symphonic choral works:

TailleferAn extremely militaristic cantata with one rip-snorter of an orchestral battle sequence in the last third of its 18 minutes. Taillefer is a loud clamorous work with full-throated singing and the only solo singing on the recording.

Wandrers Sturmlied
Another full-to-the-hilt orchestrated choral work, although the second half of the 17 minutes affords some overwrought Romantic lyricism following the choral storm. Split into six-part chorus, Wandrers Sturmlied sounds a like an unrelenting, harrowing work for chorus. It brings to mind Brahms' orchestrated choral works such as Triumphlied or Gesang der Parzen.

Die Tageszeiten
This is the jewel of the recording. Written for men's chorus and orchestra, Tageszeiten is the most successful of voice-to-orchestra integration of the three here. At times, the chorus almost becomes an orchestral voice and the two forces receive equal measure texturally. The 2nd movement 'Mittagsruh' had some unexpectedly, emotionally powerful climaxes, despite its more relaxed atmosphere. Richard Strauss evokes the Evening and Night most colorfully, and this 4-movement work really caught me off guard as something quite special.
https://youtu.be/tj-RTRfUV-k?t=232

A fine recording all around, and it was a welcome surprise to my month's focus on R. Strauss' orchestral music. I wasn't familiar with any of these works, and while it might not be music from Strauss that is essential, oh boy, did I enjoy myself! I look forward to living with these for a while.

VS

https://www.youtube.com/v/tj-RTRfUV-k?&ab_channel=LeoMarillier

Most interesting! These works are all but unknown to me. Thanks for the detailed report!

[kyjo]

Indeed. And while talking about Saint-Saëns, I'm now playing this entire recording before signing off for the night:



Interesting! I just found a link between Saint-Saëns and Tubin. There is a motif that occurs halfway (or roundabout) in Saint-Saëns' Marche héroïque that also occurs but in slightly different guise in the first movement of Tubin's Symphony No. 1. This is purely coincidental I'm sure, but when I heard it, I thought "Hey, I heard this in Tubin!"

Anyway, carry on good people.

Only on GMG do folks discuss the connection between Saint-Saëns and Tubin!