What are you listening 2 now?

[TheGSMoeller]

[Mapman]

Stravinsky: Mass
Ančerl: Czech Philharmonic

Saying that the ensemble used is "double wind quintet" is misleading, as the work uses 2 oboes, English horn, 2 bassoons, 2 trumpets, and 3 trombones.



Arnold: Scottish Dances
US Air Force Band

I downloaded this from the Air Force Band website several years ago. Unfortunately, it is no longer available for download, but can be streamed there or through various streaming services (with different art). I first encountered Arnold by playing the band version of his 1st set of English Dances. I think I like the Scottish Dances slightly better. They are both a lot of fun!

[JBS]

Has a more illustrious line up ever been assembled for a single recording?

I have that same concert on DVD.

TD

CD 2
"Music for the Princesses of France"
With Catherine Courtois violin
Music for violin and clavecin by Duphly, Francœur, Chabran, Mondonville, Le Clair, and Le Blanc, filled out by 8 pieces for solo harpsichord by Duphly.

[Symphonic Addict]

Stravinsky: Mass
Ančerl: Czech Philharmonic

Saying that the ensemble used is "double wind quintet" is misleading, as the work uses 2 oboes, English horn, 2 bassoons, 2 trumpets, and 3 trombones.

This Stravinsky CD looks quite nice, and that is an interesting work.

[Mirror Image]

NP:

Yoshimatsu
Symphony No. 1, Op. 40, "Kamui-Chikap Symphony"
BBC Philharmonic
Sachio Fujioka

[Operafreak]

Bach, Beethoven & Medtner: Lucas Debargue/ Lucas Debargue (piano)

[Mirror Image]

Last works for the night:

Walton
String Quartet in A minor
Emperor Quartet



Dan
Symphony No. 3
Wiener Symphoniker
Dan

[classicalgeek]

Yes, indeed, although I wish I could give you a big YES for Beamish, but I can't. What little I've heard of her music hasn't done anything for me.

I was a little underwhelmed, honestly. There were great moments in the last two pieces (River and Tam Lin), but on the whole they didn't do much for me. I had the same reaction to the music of the late Harrison Birtwistle yesterday (who Beamish cites as an influence) - merely OK, nothing special, sometimes a chore to listen to. Perhaps I'll sample another one of her BIS discs on a streaming service down the road...

NP:

Novák
Moravian-Slovak Suite for Small Orchestra, Op. 32
Brno Philharmonic Orchestra
Karel Šejna



Absolutely exquisite! I'm not sure what my feelings were on this composer in the past, but, right now, I'm looking forward to hearing more of his work. I've got around 4-5 recordings of his music on Supraphon. All of them are OOP and difficult to come by nowadays.

Novak is yet another composer I want to sample further! Something tells me I'd like his music...

My man Takemitsu was quite good with stillness. But, yes, Koechlin is one-of-a-kind and one of my favorites, too. I've enjoyed pretty much everything I've heard from him through the years.

You're absolutely right, of course!

Excellent! I really think the Dvorak's Fifth and Sixth deserve a place alongside the last three symphonies.

QFT.

In fact, I'd go so far as to say I like both Dvorak 5 and 6 better than nos. 7 and 9, masterful as those two later works are. Of course no. 8 is my all-time favorite Dvorak symphony, but I'd rank nos. 5 and 6 next. That clarinet theme that opens the 5th just melts me every time! So gorgeous... And no. 6 is no less beautiful. They're both overflowing with great tunes - a Dvorak specialty!

[Mirror Image]

I was a little underwhelmed, honestly. There were great moments in the last two pieces (River and Tam Lin), but on the whole they didn't do much for me. I had the same reaction to the music of the late Harrison Birtwistle yesterday (who Beamish cites as an influence) - merely OK, nothing special, sometimes a chore to listen to. Perhaps I'll sample another one of her BIS discs on a streaming service down the road...

Novak is yet another composer I want to sample further! Something tells me I'd like his music...

Yeah, I just don't dig Beamish's music nor Birtwistle for that matter. As for Novák, yes, I think you'll enjoy his music. Give a listen to Slovak Suite. If the first movement doesn't hook you, then there's no hope for you.

[Operafreak]

Messa Per Rossini

María José Siri (soprano), Veronica Simeoni (mezzo), Giorgio Berrugi (tenor), Simone Piazzola (baritone), Riccardo Zanellato (bass); Coro e Orchestra del Teatro alla Scala, Riccardo Chailly

[Que]

Morning listening:

[Harry]

Johann christian Bach.

Symphonies opus 9, No 1-3.
Symphony in E flat major, Sieber 1773 Collection, No. 2, & B flat major, No. 1.*
Symphony in E flat major, with Clarinets.*
*First recordings.

The Hanover Band, Anthony Halstead.

The many recordings I have on CPO with this composer are an ongoing pleasure, in performance and in excellent sound. J.C. Bach never disappoints.


Our Johann Christian Bach Edition finds its long-awaited continuation this month with the 3 Symphonies op. 9, which were published in Amsterdam in 1773. Shortly afterwards, the same symphonies were published by a London publisher under the opus number 21: a sign of the incredible popularity of the London Bach, for whose works publishers were virtually scrambling. In the case of these 3 symphonies, the popularity was particularly great
In addition to their obvious charm, it was perhaps the practical wind instrumentation of two oboes and two horns that allowed even smaller court orchestras to realize them with relative ease
Our scholarly consul Ernest Warburton has now established that the Op. 9 symphonies were arrangements of richer and more exotically orchestrated originals - with flutes, bassoons and clarinets.

We have taken the opportunity to record both versions: a fascinating glimpse into the composer's workshop!


Reviews
Fono Forum 5/98: "One can only be enthusiastic about the shaded, always bright and silvery-clear sound, the exciting use of crescendi, the dancing accents, the serenade and the lively Pizzicato and the fine melodies played with a touch of improvisation, here early music sounds historically well-founded, Klassik heute 5/98: "There is no better way to take the Bach's symphonies." Der Standard (Vienna): "Symphonies that bubble over with ideas excellent sound."

[Que]

Johann christian Bach.

Symphonies opus 9, No 1-3.
Symphony in E flat major, Sieber 1773 Collection, No. 2, & B flat major, No. 1.*
Symphony in E flat major, with Clarinets.*
*First recordings.

The Hanover Band, Anthony Halstead.

The many recordings I have on CPO with this composer are an ongoing pleasure, in performance and in excellent sound. J.C. Bach never disappoints.

Love that series! 

[Florestan]

In memoriam



D894 - the most melancholy piano sonata ever penned.

[Harry]

Franz Ignaz Beck.

Symphonies opus 3, Nos. 1,2 & 6.
Overture "La Morte d' Orphee".
First volume.

La Stagione Frankfurt, Michael Schneider.

The recordings by CPO of the Beck Symphonies are the best on the market. Nothing comes near to these performances and recordings. Beck is still a very underrated composer, but to my ears he is one of the best 18th century composers at all.

[Florestan]

In memoriam



D894 - the most melancholy piano sonata ever penned.

Desert island stuff, the whole set.

Now on to something more inspiriting, still Viennese though:

[Operafreak]

Haydn: Piano Sonatas Volume 6- Jean-Efflam Bavouzet (piano)

[vers la flamme]

Franz Schubert: Piano Sonata in A minor, D 845. Radu Lupu

In memoriam. Sad that it took his passing for me to finally listen to this set of Schubert sonatas by Radu Lupu, but it sounds great.

[Harry]

Antonio Bazzini.

String Quartets No. 1 & 3.

Quartetto Bazzini.

These SQ are quit good.

[Operafreak]

Grieg- Lise Davidsen (soprano), Leif Ove Andsnes (piano)