What are you listening 2 now?

[Der lächelnde Schatten]

NP: Glass Symphony No. 6, "Plutonian Ode"



I hear traces of Shostakovich's orchestral song cycles in this work. Quite harrowing.

[Karl Henning]

Dmitri Shostakovich
String Quartet № 2 in A, Op. 68 (1944)
The Pacifica Quartet

[Der lächelnde Schatten]

First-listen to Reich Pulse



Gorgeous piece. I'm about to replay it.

[Der lächelnde Schatten]

NP: Glass Symphony No. 7, "Toltec"



@foxandpeng I know you're a Glass fan, but are you familiar with his symphonies?

[brewski]

Jessie Cox: When You're a Star (2021). His debut release, and a little "homework" before hearing some of his more recent music tomorrow night, performed by the Sun Ra Arkestra and the FLUX Quartet.

Listen on Bandcamp here, with more details on the piece.

[brewski]

Diallo Banks: Shadow and Act (2025) for Hammond organ. Performed in Feb. 2025 at the Yale School of Music.

[Der lächelnde Schatten]

Now playing for a first-listen: Adams Eros Piano



A fascinating piece, which sounds almost like a Duke Ellington late period ballad and Takemitsu filtered through Adams' compositional lens.

[Der lächelnde Schatten]

Now playing for a first-listen: Marshall Fog Tropes



Another fascinating piece. I'm going to have to explore more of Ingram Marshall's music.

[Der lächelnde Schatten]

NP: Adams The Wound-Dresser



Another Adams work that I'm starting to listen to at least once a month. I'm still quite fond of this Sanford Sylvan/Adams performance on Nonesuch.

[AnotherSpin]

Also sprach Zarathustra from this set (Wiener Philharmoniker, 29 March 1942).

The 1942 recording—despite the obvious technical limitations of its time—is something quite special. It stands out for its discipline and clarity, especially when compared to many later, more crowd-pleasing versions that lean into big emotions and cinematic flair. This is a purposeful recording—one that breathes freely, flows without strain, and is surprisingly easy on the ear despite its age. Strauss's own conducting here is all about restraint and structure; there's no indulgence, no drama for drama's sake. Just a clear, purposeful reading. The way he handles the opening fanfare alone—sharp, concise, no frills—sets the tone for the whole piece. Sure, it may not have the lush sound or sweeping sentiment some modern listeners expect, but that's exactly what makes it so compelling. It's honest, focused, and arguably closer to Strauss's original intent than many of the more popular, polished recordings that came later.

[Der lächelnde Schatten]

NP: Carter Cello Sonata

[Que]

Have you ever heard either of Letzbor's recordings (the 1994 I listened to the other night or the one from last year on Pan)?

[re: Biber sonatas 1681]

I haven't. I did have a listen to the his recordings of the Rosary Sonatas, and actually preferred the earlier one.

[Der lächelnde Schatten]

Last work for the night --- Carter ASKO Concerto

[Harry]

Splendeurs de Versailles.
Box with 10 CD'S.
Divers ensembles.

Played this box in the background but loud enough to hear that it is a mixed blessing. Not all performances are up to snuff. Recordings are sometimes shabby, and the mix is rather one-sided. Still it does not hurt.

[Baxcalibur]

Brahms: Ein deutsches Requiem
Genia Kühmeier (soprano), Thomas Hampson (baritone)
Arnold Schoenberg Chor
Wiener Philharmoniker, Nikolaus Harnoncourt



I have no words, I really do.

[Que]

From the shelves:



Music by Huguenot composers, for I have a soft spot. The ensemble chant1450 is no Ludus Modalis, but the performances are nice and the repertoire is rare.

Splendeurs de Versailles.
Box with 10 CD'S.
Divers ensembles.

Played this box in the background but loud enough to hear that it is a mixed blessing. Not all performances are up to snuff. Recordings are sometimes shabby, and the mix is rather one-sided. Still it does not hurt.

Often a bit of an issue with these "collections"! 

[Harry]

From the shelves:



Music by Huguenot composers, for I have a soft spot. The ensemble chant1450 is no Ludus Modalis, but the performances are nice and the repertoire is rare.



Often a bit of an issue with these "collections"! 

True, they mix often recordings that did not do well. For them it is a method of selling them off again, with some excellent recordings in the mix. Not really nice!

[foxandpeng]

NP: Glass Symphony No. 7, "Toltec"



@foxandpeng I know you're a Glass fan, but are you familiar with his symphonies?

I am 🙂. I'm not a massive Bowie fan, but even those symphonies based around his work are really good.

[Que]

True, they mix often recordings that did not do well. For them it is a method of selling them off again, with some excellent recordings in the mix. Not really nice!

But please let me know if there are any (hidden) gems, since I don't know many of those recordings!

[Harry]

But please let me know if there are any (hidden) gems, since I don't know many of those recordings!

I would like to Que, but all of them are on top of their capabilities, but as a performance one can do better elsewhere.
There are some of mediocre calibre, one of them with a counter I dare not name, which is quite horrible. On the whole choir singing is massive, with little or no detail, partly due to the recording and choir discipline. French choirs love massive entrances and we have quite a lot of that. Some decent Harpsichord recordings, but again, you might find that the grass is really greener at your neighbour. As to sound, well I would say decent to good, but further I will not go in that respect. Hope this helps clarify things.....or not