What are you listening 2 now?

[Symphonic Addict]

Very good work. A different take on the mass for dead with only instruments and no vocal forces.

[Linz]

Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky CD 2
Symphony No. 3 in D Major, Op. 29
Symphony No. 4 in F Minor, Op. 36
USSR State Symphony Orchestra, Evgeny Svetlanov

[Symphonic Addict]

Krenek: Symphony No. 5 and Symphonie 'Pallas Athene'

Notoriously more complex than the previous four, with the 5th getting my interest, unlike the Symphonie 'Pallas Athene' which sounded rather dry and chaotic.

[Der lächelnde Schatten]

Now playing Arnold Symphony No. 1, Op. 22



I might just have to go through the Arnold symphonies again.

[brewski]

Bruckner: Symphony No. 4 (Ormandy/Philadelphia, recorded 1967). Pretty swift, at 63 minutes, which may be a plus for some, though I'd like a little more "stop and smell the roses." In any case, it's probably one of the first Bruckner recordings in stereo, and worth hearing for that reason.

[Der lächelnde Schatten]

Now playing Britten String Quartet in D major



It's been quite some time since I've listened to this early SQ (c. 1933) from Britten. Quite good!

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

R. Strauss: Wind Sonatinas Nos. 1 & 2. Orpheus Chamber Orchestra.

[Der lächelnde Schatten]

Now playing for a first-time listen --- Beethoven Christus am Ölberge, Op. 85

[Karl Henning]

Very good work. A different take on the mass for dead with only instruments and no vocal forces.

Most interesting. 

[Der lächelnde Schatten]

Now playing Berg Violin Concerto, "To the memory of an angel"



A tremendous performance of the oft-recorded Berg VC. I highly recommend this recording to all who love this concerto.

[Der lächelnde Schatten]

Now streaming via Presto Music --- Bartók Duke Bluebeard's Castle, Sz. 48, Op. 11



One of my favorite works of all-time. This newcomer sounds promising so far. Karina Canellakis has already received many accolades for her previous Bartók recording.

[Der lächelnde Schatten]

Now streaming via Presto Music --- Debussy Images, Books I & II

[foxandpeng]

Very good work. A different take on the mass for dead with only instruments and no vocal forces.

Interesting. Haven't seen this.

[steve ridgway]

Messiaen - Les Offrandes Oubliées

[steve ridgway]

Dream House 78'17". La Monte Young invites the listener to sit... or move slowly through the space... and notice how the sound wraps around them, how it merges with the body. The sine waves shift so gradually, it's like the room itself is breathing, changing shape.

It's all precision and detail, less like a piece of music, more like stepping inside a living, acoustic phenomenon.

The first part folds in voices and acoustic instruments with the sine waves... and then the second part lets the listener drift in pure, endless sine.

It's recommended to listen at high volume on a system fully capable of realistically reproducing deep bass.

I've listened to the first 16 minutes, although through headphones. It's what I expected, quite absorbing to relax into it. I'll probably try some more tomorrow morning.

[AnotherSpin]

Yes, it's very slow. And while I almost always prefer slow versions to fast ones, even so—there's really nothing much to say about it. Which, come to think of it, might not be a bad thing.

[Harry]

JOHN JENKINS
Late Chamber Music.
See back cover for details.
The Spirit of the Gambo.
Recorded at the Doopsgezinde Kerk, Haarlem, The Netherlands, 27-29 May 2019.

Fourth rerun.
I must be said that the performance is exemplary and quite out of ordinary. an elevated über performance. First there is the SOTA sound, a true reference, musicians that are deeply involved in this composer, and create a wonderful perspective for the music, rich and lush, detailed and therefore embracing you in a warm glow. I never heard Jenkins music in such details, opening up a world lost to us.
This gets a 100% recommendation from me.

[Harry]

Yes, it's very slow. And while I almost always prefer slow versions to fast ones, even so—there's really nothing much to say about it. Which, come to think of it, might not be a bad thing.

You might get a nice slumber out of it, that's in my book a positive!

[AnotherSpin]

I've listened to the first 16 minutes, although through headphones. It's what I expected, quite absorbing to relax into it. I'll probably try some more tomorrow morning.

I'm not even sure if I've ever actually listened to La Monte Young on headphones.

Whenever I do, though, it seems to spark this vivid memory of the Dream House in Tribeca. They had these towering speakers in the room, stretching all the way up to the ceiling — that looked like something straight out of a Kubrick film, only glowing magenta. The vibrations would wash through every cell of your body, and despite the sheer force of the sound, it never felt overwhelming. It was more like drifting into that hazy, weightless state you get with anesthesia.

[AnotherSpin]

You might get a nice slumber out of it, that's in my book a positive!

I was listening earlier this morning, after a night that, for once, passed without any raids. So I actually slept well  

Funny thing, the Goldberg Variations have never made me feel sleepy. Sure, they can be deeply soothing — no surprise there — but that's something entirely different.