What are you listening 2 now?

[kyjo]

Pounds the table! Falla is such an incredible composer and I think I even forgot to mention him in my "Top 100" favorites list. He deserves to be in my "Top 30" at least.

Falla would easily be in my top 30-50 if only he had written more music. Due to his sheer unprolific-ness, I have to relegate him to the 60-80 zone.

[Traverso]

Kodály

[Florestan]

Falla would easily be in my top 30-50 if only he had written more music. Due to his sheer unprolific-ness, I have to relegate him to the 60-80 zone.

Ummm... quality not quantity? 

[kyjo]

Sibelius

Scenes Historiques I, op.25
Finlandia, op.26
Press Celebrations Music



Yes, I'm aware I'm listening to a lot of the same music twice! Though it's interesting to also hear what Sibelius decided to leave out.

The Scenes Historiques and Press Celebrations Music are two of my favorite lesser-known works by Sibelius. Wholly characteristic stuff.

[kyjo]

Ummm... quality not quantity? 

Sure, but I'm just mad at Falla for not writing more music, so his ranking in my favorites will suffer accordingly.

[Florestan]

Sure, but I'm just mad at Falla for not writing more music, so his ranking in my favorites will suffer accordingly.

Maybe he wrote just the exact amount of music he wanted to write? I don't know, I'm just asking. 

[kyjo]

First listen to:

Ottorino Respighi
La pentola magica

A delightful work based on piano works by various lesser-known Russian composers. Respighi was nothing if not eclectic in the variety of sources he drew influence from across his output!

[kyjo]

Maybe he wrote just the exact amount of music he wanted to write? I don't know, I'm just asking. 

I have no idea. I can admire the sheer amount of effort, craftsmanship, and polish that Falla put into every one of his works. But damn, just a couple more ballets would've been nice, Manuel!

[kyjo]

Johannes Brahms' Symphony No. 4 
    Manfred Honeck, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra

On the whole, I tend to share Britten's view of Brahms ('take it out once a year, just to make sure it really is as bad as I thought it'). But, I rather like the symphonies and this performance pleases these non-Brahmsian ears.

Pounds the table! A glorious performance of the 4th. And that Britten quote is funny - never heard it before (even if I don't quite agree with it)!

[Lisztianwagner]

Arnold Schönberg
String Quartet No.2

Alexander Zemlinsky
String Quartet No.2

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Kodály

Interesting to see that the cover says Stereo. His other album with all Kodaly works (posted by MI) says Mono though some works in the album are stereo and other works are mono. Maybe the former are in your album.

[kyjo]

Two works that fall into the category of "impressed me less now than on first hearing":

Schmidt: Symphony no. 2



It's all beautifully orchestrated, and with
an immense, complex profusion of ideas (especially in the first movement). But is it particularly memorable or emotionally involving? I didn't particularly feel so during this most recent listen, despite the excellent performance and sound. The majestic, chorale-like coda is, IMO, definitely the best part of the work. Schmidt's symphonic cycle is one of the easiest for me to pick out the singular masterpiece of the bunch, and that is, of course, the wonderful 4th Symphony.


Langgaard: Symphony no. 1



I feel this symphony has the opposite case of the Schmidt - the opening is by far the most memorable and compelling part. After that, I feel that the young Langgaard is simply "going through the motions" of late-romantic symphonic writing without having much of a compelling or concise argument. Then again, I certainly couldn't have written a better symphony at the age of 16 (or now!), so maybe I should shut up. But as far as symphonies written by teenagers go, I think the most remarkable ones are Lloyd 2 and 3, Mendelssohn 1, and Schubert 1 and 2.

I noticed that I'm starting to have problems with symphonies that last over an hour, hence my reservations about certain symphonies by Mahler, Shostakovich, Gliere's 3rd, etc. My attention span is getting shorter, I guess! As with Schmidt, unquestionably my favorite symphony by Langgaard is his 4th. I know Cesar will very much disagree with all of this, but that's okay.

[Linz]

Bruckner Symphony No. 3 in D Minor 1889 Version Stanislaw Skrowaczewski

[SonicMan46]

Tárrega, Francisco (1852-1909) - Original Works & Transcriptions w/ Giulio Tampalini - first two discs, the composer's works; last two discs transcriptions of a large number of others - short bio below.  Dave

Francisco Tárrega was a Spanish composer and classical guitarist of the Romantic period. He is known for such pieces as Capricho Árabe and Recuerdos de la Alhambra. Although only 19 original compositions were published in his lifetime, he composed around 80 original pieces and 120 transcriptions – mostly for his own use and that of his students. The exact number has yet to be determined. He is often called "the father of classical guitar" and is considered one of the greatest guitarists of all time. (Source)

 

[Symphonic Addict]

Two works that fall into the category of "impressed me less now than on first hearing":

Schmidt: Symphony no. 2



It's all beautifully orchestrated, and with
an immense, complex profusion of ideas (especially in the first movement). But is it particularly memorable or emotionally involving? I didn't particularly feel so during this most recent listen, despite the excellent performance and sound. The majestic, chorale-like coda is, IMO, definitely the best part of the work. Schmidt's symphonic cycle is one of the easiest for me to pick out the singular masterpiece of the bunch, and that is, of course, the wonderful 4th Symphony.


Langgaard: Symphony no. 1



I feel this symphony has the opposite case of the Schmidt - the opening is by far the most memorable and compelling part. After that, I feel that the young Langgaard is simply "going through the motions" of late-romantic symphonic writing without having much of a compelling or concise argument. Then again, I certainly couldn't have written a better symphony at the age of 16 (or now!), so maybe I should shut up. But as far as symphonies written by teenagers go, I think the most remarkable ones are Lloyd 2 and 3, Mendelssohn 1, and Schubert 1 and 2.

I noticed that I'm starting to have problems with symphonies that last over an hour, hence my reservations about certain symphonies by Mahler, Shostakovich, Gliere's 3rd, etc. My attention span is getting shorter, I guess! As with Schmidt, unquestionably my favorite symphony by Langgaard is his 4th. I know Cesar will very much disagree with all of this, but that's okay.

Actually, I won't disagree with you! The other day I heard Langgaard's First under Segerstam and I did feel it a bit long and discursive, mostly in the 2nd and 5th movements. Is it an ambitious work? Yes, it is. Is it the best first symphony by anyone? No, it isn't, but I do appreciate his talent at writing this colossus. Having said that, my favorite symphonies by him are 4-6, 10 and 13. I realize our tastes change over the time, and it's perfectly fine to disagree when one feels it so, but it's not a healthy behaviour when one does it just for being a trouble maker.

As for Schmidt, it's the 2nd mov. the part that makes it for me. It's gorgeous, mostly the fragment that begins around 7:30 min. mark or so.

[Karl Henning]

US Music Weekend continues with MTT leading the Boston Symphony in Walter Piston's Second Symphony.

[Symphonic Addict]

Shostakovich: Piano Concerto No. 1

His piano concertos are the least troubled and ironic works among his concertante pieces. This PC 1 always puts a smile on my face.

[bhodges]

Shostakovich: Piano Concerto No. 1

His piano concertos are the least troubled and ironic works among his concertante pieces. This PC 1 always puts a smile on my face.

Such a great recording. And yes, hard not to smile when hearing that concerto!

Now listening to Sibelius 7 with Vänskä and Minnesota, after enjoying the Frankfurt SO performance earlier. Glad we don't have to choose, since like many masterpieces, it's worth many interpretations.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wkjjp-pLG3w&t=629s

--Bruce

[Madiel]

The Scenes Historiques and Press Celebrations Music are two of my favorite lesser-known works by Sibelius. Wholly characteristic stuff.

Yes, it's very good. And both of these performances brought across the vigour of the music.

[DavidW]

Haydn's 34th-37th.  All great symphonies but I especially love the haunting 34th in D minor.