What are you listening 2 now?

[foxandpeng]

Curious about your experiences with all of her symphonies. The Second is one-movement and also in this respect differs from the other four, which are all four-movement and possess more "symphonic drama." The Second seems to stem from a unique, personal experience, a kind of diary, in other words. 

Happy to post my thoughts as I go. I probably need to listen a couple of times each, though 😊

I've been a little surprised by the effusion of praise that I've seen here for her her music, so probably need to get my oars in the water to see what the fuss is about!

[Mapman]

Saint-Saëns: Africa, Op. 89
Hough; Oramo: CBSO

I'm not sure exactly what is "African" about this, but it's an incredibly fun work!

[Christo]

Happy to post my thoughts as I go. I probably need to listen a couple of times each, though 😊

I've been a little surprised by the effusion of praise that I've seen here for her her music, so probably need to get my oars in the water to see what the fuss is about!

Me too, even very much so. For me, Gipps is one of the typically lyrical, melodic symphonists of the past century. In her "category," I think of such composers as Madetoja, Melartin, Englund, Tubin, Alfvén, Alwyn, Groven, Andreae, Rota, Kinsella, Sauguet, Damase, Braga Santos, Diamond, Villa-Lobos. For me, in their midst she has a unique, distinct sound, and her five symphonies in particular I think are among the best in the field. That some people hear otherwise totally amazes me. As if her distinctive lyricism does not touch everyone (I notice a similar disdain sometimes with Respighi or Vaughan Williams). 

[Karl Henning]

Cross-post:

[foxandpeng]

Me too, even very much so. For me, Gipps is one of the typically lyrical, melodic symphonists of the past century. In her "category," I think of such composers as Madetoja, Melartin, Englund, Tubin, Alfvén, Alwyn, Groven, Andreae, Rota, Kinsella, Sauguet, Damase, Braga Santos, Diamond, Villa-Lobos. For me, in their midst she has a unique, distinct sound, and her five symphonies in particular I think are among the best in the field. That some people hear otherwise totally amazes me. As if her distinctive lyricism does not touch everyone (I notice a similar disdain sometimes with Respighi or Vaughan Williams). 

Considering the impressive field of comparison, this is high praise. All the more reason to test out my taste buds 😁

[Karl Henning]

A first listen:

[Que]

[Linz]

Antonin Dvorak Symphony No 7 in D Minor, Op. 70
Cleveland Orchestra, Christoph von Dohnanyi

[Symphonic Addict]

There is. Heard it live in Amsterdam in December, paired with Dona Nobis Pacem by Vaughan Williams. On that occasion I had plenty of time to peruse Tippett's own lyrics more seriously, and I didn't find it easy: suggestive drivel, if you will. Thus the whole piece, typically Tippett, hangs together from associations. By comparison, Vaughan Williams won on all fronts. With Tippett I especially appreciate the four symphonies, also often associative but in symphonic form I can appreciate that. 

That is the kind of programs that concert halls should do more often. What I like about the Tippett the most is the blend of negro spirituals with the English choral style. Quite effective and cool to my ears. I love Tippett's symphonies too, except the 3rd where the soprano solo turns out to be quite grating.

[Symphonic Addict]

And for good reason, Karajan is superb in it. My favourite rendition by far.

That gorgeous recording definitely opened my ears to that enchanting score.

[Symphonic Addict]

I must listen to his cycle at some point!

I've been enjoying the journey so far, something I wasn't expecting given my "revulsion" towards his sort of impenetrable musical language.

[Symphonic Addict]

Pedro Sanjuán: Castilla - Symphonic poem

[Symphonic Addict]

Continuing with more symphonic poems...

Loeffler: La Mort de Tintagiles

Absolutely spectacular. This is really good late-Romantic music. Soaring melodies appear in the most endearing passages (for instance, at 5:14), just like a strong sense of heroism (for the most part) and, eventually, tragedy closing the work.

[JBS]

Considering the impressive field of comparison, this is high praise. All the more reason to test out my taste buds 😁

I just want to interject that the Horn and Violin Concertos impressed me more than the symphonies with which their respective CDs couple them.

That does not mean the symphonies themselves are not worth hearing!

[JBS]

I don't remember hearing anything by Sierra that didn't strike me as worthwhile.  This CD is continuing that streak.


The program

Six Intervening Periods of Time for clarinet, viola, and piano (2019)
Piezas Cortas for piano (2018)
Sonata for Violin and Piano (2010)
Piezas Intimas for piano (2017)
Sonata No. 1 for Viola and Piano (2016)
Fuego de ángel for violin, viola,  cello, and piano (2011)

Piezas Intimas is the only work for which this is not the first recording.

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Fritz Kreisler: The Complete Recordings, Vol. 8.

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

William Walton 5 Bagatelles, etc. Sharon Isbin.

[Der lächelnde Schatten]

Now playing Tabakova Cello Concerto



A winning concerto in my book. The last movement is my least favorite, but the middle movement Longing is utterly gorgeous and heart-rending.

[Der lächelnde Schatten]

Now playing Dvořák Symphony No. 8 In G, Op. 88, B 163

[Madiel]

Bach: BWV 112, Der Herr ist mein getreuer Hirt (Psalm 23)



...listening to an entire CD sometimes takes me months.