What are you listening 2 now?

[Cato]

Arnold Schönberg
Moses und Aron, 1^ act

It has been noted that Schoenberg's two greatest religious works were unfinished, yet do not seem that way!

Also interesting is that an "A" in Die Jakobsleiter is the last note of the work, parallel with the final note "A" which Moses has on the word "fehlt" (is lacking), (while the violins hold an F#).

Although Schoenberg's literary mind had created much more text for both works, his musical instincts told him otherwise.  Yearning for theosophic revelations, it would seem, symbolized by the lonely note "A" fading away slowly (A-F# in Moses und Aron), is the connection between the works.

[vandermolen]

Catching up with some late 4th of July listening as that particular day I wasn't really in the mood to listen to much music so...

NP:

Ives
Symphony No. 4
Dallas SO & Chorus
Litton



Next up:

Copland
Billy the Kid
San Francisco SO
MTT



And then:

Diamond
Symphony No. 3
Seattle Symphony
Schwarz

Diamond's No.3 is one of the great American 3rd symphonies, alongside ones by Harris, Copland, Hanson and Schuman.

[Mirror Image]

Diamond's No.3 is one of the great American 3rd symphonies, alongside ones by Harris, Copland, Hanson and Schuman.

I love it, Jeffrey. Haven't yet come to terms with Roy Harris. I know he's highly regarded, but I should revisit the Bernstein recording on Columbia to see if I've changed my mind. Agreed about Copland, Hanson and Schuman.

[DavidW]

Jumping on the Telemann bandwagon!

[Todd]

Time for my once every few years accordion listening session.

[SonicMan46]

Jumping on the Telemann bandwagon!

Hi David - still listening to the Wind Concertos, but I have about a half dozen of those Wallfisch recordings -    Dave

[Que]

Jumping on the Telemann bandwagon!

Hi David - still listening to the Wind Concertos, but I have about a half dozen of those Wallfisch recordings -    Dave

I didn't like that series nearly as much as the ones by La Stagione under Schneider.
Wallfisch doesn't have the Telemann knack IMO.

[DavidW]

I didn't like that series nearly as much as the ones by La Stagione under Schneider.
Wallfisch doesn't have the Telemann knack IMO.

I almost went with Schneider.  I'll check out the other series.

[Symphonic Addict]

Excellent to hear! I am enjoying this much more than I had anticipated.

Have you heard the Bryden Thomson cycle on Chandos? It was once recommended to me ages ago, but I went with Blomstedt, although I was slow getting there.

VS

I have heard the Thomson's cycle and I think it's rather competitive, wonderfully recorded and greatly played overall. Keep enjoying the journey!

[classicalgeek]

Catching up with some late 4th of July listening as that particular day I wasn't really in the mood to listen to much music so...

NP:

Ives
Symphony No. 4
Dallas SO & Chorus
Litton

I just ordered the Litton Ives Symphonies from Berkshire Record Outlet - what's your opinion of them? They've generally been well-received.

TD:
Otto Klemperer
Symphony no. 1
Symphony no. 2
Four Symphonic Works
Rheinland-Pfalz Philharmonic Orchestra
Alun Francis
(on Spotify)



Some conductors are equally brilliant composers: Mahler, Bernstein, and Esa-Pekka Salonen come to mind. And then there are some who are better at conducting; Klemperer is part of this group. His composing style is rather... clunky? I don't know the right term to describe it. I didn't find it appealing to say the least.

[VonStupp]

I have heard the Thomson's cycle and I think it's rather competitive, wonderfully recorded and greatly played overall. Keep enjoying the journey!

Thanks! Will do:

Carl Nielsen
Symphony 3 'Sinfonia Espansiva', op. 27

Nancy Wait Kromm, soprano
Kevin McMillan, baritone
San Francisco SO - Herbert Blomstedt

[Mirror Image]

I just ordered the Litton Ives Symphonies from Berkshire Record Outlet - what's your opinion of them? They've generally been well-received.

They're excellent performances, James. I can find no fault with them. My only wish was that Litton recorded the Holidays Symphony, The Unanswered Question and the Orchestral Sets with the same forces for Hyperion.

[Mirror Image]

NP:

Weinberg
String Quartets Nos. 2, 3 & 4
Silesian Quartet

[SonicMan46]

I didn't like that series nearly as much as the ones by La Stagione under Schneider.
Wallfisch doesn't have the Telemann knack IMO.

I almost went with Schneider.  I'll check out the other series.

Well, I've collected the first 5 volumes of Wallfisch's Violin Concertos (mainly BRO bargains) and enjoy - also greatly liked in the Fanfare reviews (just one ending quote below) - BUT, I also own the 6 & 8 disc boxes of Schneider-La Stagione which I love and recommend! Also keep in mind that in Telemann's Orchestral Music (TWV 50-55) catalog that the Violin Concertos do not overlap the La Stagione performances, so I'm not sure if there are 'full' alternatives to the works recorded by Wallfisch (attached is a portion on my Google Docs list of Telemann works owned which show Schneider vs. Wallfisch for those who can figure out my notations -  ).  Dave

Those who admire Telemann's compositional versatility and the elegance of his musical language should consider the sixth volume—and, in fact, the entire collection—indispensable not only as a simple addition to their libraries but, more importantly, as highly rewarding listening. Sure, it's Johann Sebastian Bach and Georg Philipp Telemann, but in what order? Urgently recommended for repertoire, performances, and recorded sound. Robert Maxham - appeared in Issue 40:2 (Nov/Dec 2016) of Fanfare Magazine.

[DavidW]

Dave, that blows my mind that those two big sets don't overlap!  Telemann and Vivaldi could easily fill up a collection just in orchestral music.

[Symphonic Addict]

Gino Marinuzzi: Symphony in A

A little-known work that is well-worth hearing.

[classicalgeek]

Otakar Ostrcil
Sinfonietta
Impromptu for large orchestra
Prague Symphony Orchestra
Jiri Belohlavek
(on Spotify)



There's nothing 'etta' about the Sinfonietta - this is a full-fledged symphony, 37 minutes in length, in five movements. It's wonderfully orchestrated, in a sumptuous late-Romantic tonal style. Both pieces are, as I've put it, "right up my alley" - wonderful stuff!

[Symphonic Addict]

Braga Santos: Sinfonietta for strings

The composer at the height of his powers, stunning! The folksy combined with the gnarly.




Arnold: Trio for viola, flute and bassoon

How not enjoy this piece. Wit aplenty!

[Mapman]

Schoenberg: 5 Pieces for Orchestra
Boulez: BBC

[Mirror Image]

Otakar Ostrcil
Sinfonietta
Impromptu for large orchestra
Prague Symphony Orchestra
Jiri Belohlavek
(on Spotify)



There's nothing 'etta' about the Sinfonietta - this is a full-fledged symphony, 37 minutes in length, in five movements. It's wonderfully orchestrated, in a sumptuous late-Romantic tonal style. Both pieces are, as I've put it, "right up my alley" - wonderful stuff!

Speaking of Sinfoniettas...

NP:

Zemlinsky
Sinfonietta, Op. 23
Gürzenich Orchestra Cologne
Conlon