What are you listening 2 now?

[André]

I can't remember if I posted about this disc 🫨, but after quite a few listenings - some mostly as background music, I must say this pair of discs far exceeded what I was expecting. Henze composes music that is kind of similar to a 'Dowland spiderweb' on LSD or caffeine - or your favourite recreational drug. Whichever one we choose to look at, we know it's a spider's web.





Dowland's music is of course absolutely perfect. The first two notes from « Forlorn Hope Fancy », a delicate downward interval dictate what emotion in music can sound like. Forlorn hope indeed. What Henze achieves in his Royal Winter Music - Sonatas on Shakespearean Character is a portrait - faithful if slightly disorganised and not very mindful of verisimilitude - of a stage character Downland may have been familiar with. Beautiful concept, fine realization. Both discs pass by like a comet.
 

[Linz]

Hector Berlioz Symphonie fantastiique Op, 14, Le Roi Lear Overture op. 4
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Marek Janowski

[Symphonic Addict]

Bloch: Concerto symphonique, for piano and orchestra

I can't get enough of this riveting piece. It's so bold, heavy, hot-blooded, featuring those exotic Middle-Eastern melodies/harmonies, and even though it doesn't possess a proper slow movement, the middle section of the scherzo-like 2nd movement provides lyricism for necessary contrast, section that has an interesting touch of Rachmaninov.

[Mapman]

Bernstein: Symphony #1, Jeremiah
Bernstein: New York

I really like the second movement.

[hopefullytrusting]

Sparked by @Symphonic Addict the album that brought Jenny Lin to my attention: Preludes to a Revolution

[Karl Henning]

Bloch: Concerto symphonique, for piano and orchestra

I can't get enough of this riveting piece. It's so bold, heavy, hot-blooded, featuring those exotic Middle-Eastern melodies/harmonies, and even though it doesn't possess a proper slow movement, the middle section of the scherzo-like 2nd movement provides lyricism for necessary contrast, section that has an interesting touch of Rachmaninov.

Don't know this piece, but I love every note of Bloch's that I've heard. 

[Karl Henning]

Bernstein: Symphony #1, Jeremiah
Bernstein: New York

I really like the second movement.

Classic!

[steve ridgway]

Kagel - Norden

[steve ridgway]

Kagel - Pan

[steve ridgway]

Schoenberg - Das Buch Der Hängenden Gärten

[Que]

Pierre de la Rue: Incessament Review by James Manheim (excerpt)
The German a cappella men's vocal quintet Amarcord, perhaps the latest avatar of the choral spirit of the great old city of Leipzig, has recorded an intriguing variety of music. They've done Billy Joel songs, chant, contemporary choral music, a speculative exegesis on the chorale tune Nun komm der Heiden Heiland, and now this rather wonky but very beautiful performance of Pierre de la Rue's Missa quinque vocum super Incessament, a five-part mass based on a chanson called Incessament mon povre coeur lamente (Incessantly my poor heart laments). The booklet is detailed (it gives you a good idea of why the composer would have wanted to write a mass with these particular resonances), and the presentation is authentic, with the mass cycle separated by chants for the mass Proper sections -- the parts of the mass that change from day to day during the liturgical year. La Rue's original chanson is given, as is a contrafactum motet from later on that became popular in Protestant lands. All this detail is relevant, but the average listener can also leave it aside and luxuriate in purely musical values. Amarcord's neatest trick is to make you forget that you're listening to five singers performing a piece of choral music. The blend is so perfect, and the sound of the individual singers is so pure, that it's just not an issue (the mass is written for a low vocal range). [...] The mass has a musically complex aspect: its two lowest lines are written in canon, and la Rue plays with the canon in the upper lines, alternately disguising it and setting it off. The polyphonic structure is crystal clear in this performance, which would be delightful to hear live in a church with the right acoustics. [...]

[steve ridgway]

Schoenberg - Kammersymphony No. 2

[Spotted Horses]

Don't know this piece, but I love every note of Bloch's that I've heard.

Astonishing virtuoso display in those recordings.

[hopefullytrusting]

Starting off the morning (2:25 AM, here) with

Yon's Requiem: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Scl2YVN44e0
Pilati's Cello Sonata: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6H4cyEDVnw
Romitelli's Professor Bad Trip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EI1G6OdnZ7Y

[Traverso]

Haydn

Symphony No.88



There's a wide selection of recorded performances. Very few complete recordings exist, which is unfortunate, but also understandable given the costs involved if sales figures don't justify them.
Sigiswald Kuijken probably didn't envision recording a complete cycle, but what's available is very refreshing. The ensemble isn't as large as in earlier days, which greatly enhances the musical vibrancy. Marriner, with his Academy, also struck the right note; he took a different path, but as they say, "there are many roads that lead to Rome."
There's much to be found that's definitely worth listening to, but I know my limitations and haven't heard every performer.
My favorites are Hogwood and Frans Brúggen, but I wouldn't want to be without the Marriner recordings; what a luxury...
Pinnock, Harnoncourt, Solomon, Goodman—there's so much to choose from.

[Madiel]

Ravel: Daphnis and Chloe



I also tried watching my next thing on OperaVision, but I was just too tired this afternoon to focus on the screen. Letting Ravel's lush score wash over me was easier.

[Que]

https://laudamusica.com/en/product/joan-pau-pujol-musica-para-el-corpus/

[Madiel]

After nearly 4 months hiatus, dipping back into this set:



And even with short little things like the Menuet sur le nom d'Haydn and a couple of folk song arrangements, finding it very rewarding.

[AnotherSpin]

[Wanderer]