What are you listening 2 now?

[foxandpeng]

Edward Elgar
Symphony 1 and 2
Andrew Davis
Philharmonic Orchestra

British core repertoire to meet the small hours and their accompanying insomnia. Again, I find Elgar a wise choice to meet insomnia at times; I have to be in the right mood because it can induce somnolence, otherwise.

Apologies to the Elgarians.

[San Antone]

Indian Ragas & Medieval Songs
Dominique Vellard, Ken Zuckerman, Anindo Chatterjee, Keyvan Chemirani

[Mapman]

Haydn: Symphony #31 "Hornsignal"
Mackerras: St. Luke's

Revisiting this excellent performance of one of my favorite Haydn symphonies. The Hornsignal needs great horn playing, and the horn players of the Orchestra of St. Luke's do a superior job.

[Karl Henning]

Indian Ragas & Medieval Songs
Dominique Vellard, Ken Zuckerman, Anindo Chatterjee, Keyvan Chemirani

Thanks! You've reminded me of someone whose music I should listen to!

[vandermolen]

Haydn: Symphony #31 "Hornsignal"
Mackerras: St. Luke's

Revisiting this excellent performance of one of my favorite Haydn symphonies. The Hornsignal needs great horn playing, and the horn players of the Orchestra of St. Luke's do a superior job.

I have little Haydn in my collection but I really enjoyed that disc.

[Harry]

Beaute Barbare.

Les Musiciens de Saint-Julien, François Lazarevitch.
Josef Žák, Violon.
Amaryllis Billet, Violon.
Diane Chmela, Alto.
Hélène Richaud, Chant et Violoncelle.
Chloé Lucas, Contrebasse & Violone.
Lurie Morar, Cymbalum.
Éric Bellocq, Archiluth & Cistre.
Pierre Rigopoulos, Zarb, Baraban, Davul, Saggattes.
RECORDED from 3 to 6 december 2022 at Ferme de Villefavard.
TT.= 63:00.

A wonderful mix of traditional Folk music and some Telemann. Works for me. Splendid sound and performances, really I enjoyed this very much. Certainly well worth to start the morning with. A new release from this group. I have several CD's of them waiting to be listen too. This one ranks among the finest so far, just wonderful. Sample and be hooked.

Francois Lazarevitch borrowed the title of his latest album for ALPHA CLASSICS from the famous passage in Telemann's third autobiography of 1740, in which he recounts his enthusiasm for Polish folk music during a stay as Kapellmeister to the ruling Imperial Count Erdmann II von Promnitz zu Pleß in Upper Silesia. An equally passionate admirer of folk music whose Serbian roots connect him to those cultures, François Lazarevitch conceived this wildly swirling program that mixes music by Telemann and 18th-century Eastern European Romani music, thanks to a collection of dance tunes from 1730 that he unearthed. "For us as Baroque performers, it's interesting to find in the pieces of 'art music' all that is not written down, namely the energy and the 'swing' of the folk dances. I want the music we play not to sound like early music," says the flutist and founder of Les Musiciens de Saint-Julien, who will be accompanied on this occasion by a cymbalom virtuoso and a variety of percussion instruments.

[vandermolen]

Edgar Bainton.
String Quartet in A major.

Hubert Clifford.
String Quartet in D major.

The Locrian Ensemble.
Recorded in 2005 at St Martin's Church, Newbury Berkshire, by Michael Ponder.
TT.= 54:00.

Both Quartets are in my comfort zone. I love the Orchestral music of both composers, and I consider the SQ as minor orchestral works. They have certainly the dimension in terms of musical content. This slightly of scale otherworldliness is at one moment unsettling, and at other moments immensely comforting. Kind of embracing music, like a warm cuddle it feels. It is absolutely well performed and Micheal Ponder made a good recording of it.

Very nice description Harry. I also appreciate their orchestral work - especially Clifford's 'Triumph against the odds' 'Symphony 1940' and Bainton's 2nd and the very moving 3rd Symphony.

[Harry]

Very nice description Harry. I also appreciate their orchestral work - especially Clifford's 'Triumph against the odds' 'Symphony 1940' and Bainton's 2nd and the very moving 3rd Symphony.

Agreed! I have a weak spot for British composers from this time.

[vandermolen]

Agreed! I have a weak spot for British composers from this time.

Me too Harry - arguably my favourite period for British, and other composers.

TD
New arrival/New release: Shostakovich Symphony No.10
I greatly enjoyed listening to Paavo Jarvi's Cincinnati performance the other day but this is in another league:

PS I like this extract from Harlow Robinson's excellent booklet note:
'In the finale's closing measures the timpani pound out D-S-C-H triumphantly with orchestra roaring, as if to announce [after the end of the Stalinist Terror] : 'I'm still here! I'm still here'.'

The inclusion of Casella's orchestration of Balakirev's 'Islamey' conducted by Kondrashin with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra is an added bonus.

[Mandryka]

This has a following. Paul Jacobs has a following. I may compare this recording with Madge's.

[Harry]

LEUVEN CHANSONNIER.
Volume II.
Sollazzo Ensemble.

Andrew Hallock countertenor.
Jonatan Alvarado tenor.
Lior Leibovici tenor.
Lukas Henning lute.
6-course lute after Gerle, Martin Shepherd (2013)
Jan Van Outryve lute, 6-course lute after Gerle, Carel Huiskamp (2019),Cittern, Ugo Casalonga (2008)
Adrien Reboisson shawm & dulcian.
Treble shawm in C, Alto shawm in F, Fritz Heller.
Bass dulcian, Eric Moulder.
Patrick Denecker Shawm
Alto shawm, John Hanchet.
Tenor shawm, Günter Körber.
Rémi Lécorché sackbut.
Tenor sackbut, Ewald Meinl.
Filipa Meneses vihuela de arco.
Anna Danilevskaia vihuela de arco & direction.
Recorded AMUZ, Antwerpen (Belgium) | 3 August 2020 & 18–20 February 2021
Recording, editing & mastering Olaf Mielke.
TT = 53:00.

The second volume in this series, which I mostly enjoy. The counter tenor is recorded a bit on the foreground, but fortunately not all the compositions are written for him. The choir is well balanced, and perfectly recorded.  But the fact that Anna Danilevskaia has made the decision to use an all male group of singers is a bit marred by the high tessiture of the Alto, I rather have a female in that role.

[Mandryka]

This has a following. Paul Jacobs has a following. I may compare this recording with Madge's.

That was easy because for me it's obvious, Madge better by far, more expressive, more nuanced, less glib.

[Mandryka]

LEUVEN CHANSONNIER.
Volume II.
Sollazzo Ensemble.

Andrew Hallock countertenor.
Jonatan Alvarado tenor.
Lior Leibovici tenor.
Lukas Henning lute.
6-course lute after Gerle, Martin Shepherd (2013)
Jan Van Outryve lute, 6-course lute after Gerle, Carel Huiskamp (2019),Cittern, Ugo Casalonga (2008)
Adrien Reboisson shawm & dulcian.
Treble shawm in C, Alto shawm in F, Fritz Heller.
Bass dulcian, Eric Moulder.
Patrick Denecker Shawm
Alto shawm, John Hanchet.
Tenor shawm, Günter Körber.
Rémi Lécorché sackbut.
Tenor sackbut, Ewald Meinl.
Filipa Meneses vihuela de arco.
Anna Danilevskaia vihuela de arco & direction.
Recorded AMUZ, Antwerpen (Belgium) | 3 August 2020 & 18–20 February 2021
Recording, editing & mastering Olaf Mielke.
TT = 53:00.

The second volume in this series, which I mostly enjoy. The counter tenor is recorded a bit on the foreground, but fortunately not all the compositions are written for him. The choir is well balanced, and perfectly recorded.  But the fact that Anna has made the decision to use an all male group of singers is a bit marred by the high tessiture of the Alto, I rather have a female in that role.

All agreed with, I preferred the first volume, not least because I wasn't keen on all the instrumental music in the second. Do try the early recordings by Sollazzo - and Danilevskaia's recording of early Italian music. I heard them sing  in Utrecht, and I loved it! 

[Harry]

All agreed with, I preferred the first volume, not least because I wasn't keen on all the instrumental music in the second. Do try the early recordings by Sollazzo - and Danilevskaia's recording of early Italian music. I heard them sing  in Utrecht, and I loved it! 

Have them lined up already! Thanks for the thumbs up.

[Harry]

Sir Richard Rodney Bennett (1936–2012).
Orchestral Works, Volume 1.
Celebration (1991) for Orchestra.
Concerto for Marimba and Chamber Orchestra (1987 –88).
Symphony No. 3 (1987), for Orchestra, To Edward Downes.
Summer Music (1982) 10:14, for Flute and Piano.
Arranged 1984 for Small Orchestra by the Composer.
Sinfonietta (1984) for Orchestra.

Colin Currie marimba.
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, John Wilson.
Recording Venue City Halls, Glasgow; 31 May –2 June 2017.
TT.= 63:00. SACD.

My first encounter with the music of Rodney Bennett. I love his idiom, so I am going to explore him further, and see if the enthusiasm works its magic. For as it stands, the modernity of his works appeals to me, at least on this CD. The recording is a work of art.

[foxandpeng]

I really loved the light music section of British composers, it gives so much flair and joi de vivre while listening. Collins was a good one in this respect, and imbues the compositions with urgency of purpose, and lively confrontational melodies in a good sense. I will search for more in that respect. Suggestions are very welcome.   Superb performances throughout and fine sound.

Are you a fan of Curzon or Eric Coates? I've really quite enjoyed both of them over time. Appreciating your posts!

Now playing;

Nicolai Myaskovsky
Symphony 3
Svetlanov
State Academic Symphony Orchestra of Russia

[Harry]

Are you a fan of Curzon or Eric Coates? I've really quite enjoyed both of them over time. Appreciating your posts!

Yes I most emphatically do, and lined them up for listening already.

[Traverso]

Starting (also) today with Busoni

CD 1

24 préludes Op.37
Zwei Tanzstúcke Op.30a
Vierte Ballett - Szene Op. 33a

[foxandpeng]

Yes I most emphatically do, and lined them up for listening already.

I very much enjoy film music when I remember to listen, whether it is folk like Arnold or Alwyn, Christopher Gunning or Shostakovich, or the likes of John Williams or Shore. I do think we have a great tradition of excellent British film music, so posts like yours recently have not only been a great reminder but also a knowledgeable pointer.

[Harry]

I very much enjoy film music when I remember to listen, whether it is folk like Arnold or Alwyn, Christopher Gunning or Shostakovich, or the likes of John Williams or Shore. I do think we have a great tradition of excellent British film music, so posts like yours recently have not only been a great reminder but also a knowledgeable pointer.

I fully agree with this!