What are you listening 2 now?

[Florestan]

I always liked those covers (top one)--very clever!

K

That's Arcimboldo's Spring.

[Linz]

Dmitri Shostakovich Symphony No. 13, Op. 113 "Babi Yar"
Tatarstan National Symphony Orchestra, Alexander Sladkovsky

[Lisztianwagner]

Gustav Holst
The Wandering Scholar

Ingrid Attrot (Alison), Neill Archer (Pierre), Alan Opie (Louis), Donald Maxwell (Father Philippe)
Richard Hickox & Northern Sinfonia

[Todd]

[Linz]

Ottorino Respighi Quartetto dorico, Quartetto in re minore
Quartetto d'archi di Venezia

[Linz]

Anton Bruckner Symphony No. 3 in D Minor, 1873 Original Version Ed. Leopold Nowak
Altomonte Orchester St. Florian, Rémy Ballot

[Symphonic Addict]

Bowen: Piano Sonatas 1-3

Very interesting pieces.

[hopefullytrusting]

Have to get at least a little bit of classical in before the day's end:

Ravel's Sonata for Cello and Violin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqD4KC5gBno

An admirable performance of an admirable piece made less admirable as it stars a violin but made more admirable as that is counterbalanced by including the cello. As with most of the Ravel I've heard, it is well-balanced, so both instruments get their times to shine on their own as well as collaborate. Both players seem passionate about their playing, so that is also something I can add to the admirable column, and the sound is also admirable. In short, there is a lot that is admirable, and, thus, I recommend it. Very tight writing.

[hopefullytrusting]

A perfect piece to end my night listening with:

Ella Kollett playing Ravel's La Vallee des Cloches from Miroirs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-uSk0H92VY

Miroirs might be one of my favorite sets, and I especially like it because each section of the set plays well on its own - each is complete in and of itself, yet still relates hermeneutically to the whole - upending the classic paradox of the part-whole relationships. The pianism is excellent; it feels as if the piece was written for her. The piano sound, lovely, as are the acoustics of the room for the live performance. It is so lush - so much pedal - I love how Ravel draws out each note to its utmost - stretching it almost to hyperextension, and then when it is just about to break blends and blurs that sound into the next. Steiner said that Shakespeare could hear all the overtones and undertones surrounding words - I say the same for Ravel in this piece - he hears all the sounds, and he plucks them from the air with angelic grace warming the ears.

[Symphonic Addict]

Haydn: Mass in C major 'Missa in tempore belli'

Uplifting to the bone, although not without its dark hues here and there. Completely fabulous. I should revisit all of his masses at some point.

[steve ridgway]

Xenakis - Mycenae Alpha

[AnotherSpin]

I always liked those covers (top one)--very clever!

K

I agree, Arcimboldo's works are quite fascinating in their own right, and they can fit the spirit of certain early music pieces rather nicely.

[AnotherSpin]

Tinctoris: Secret Consolations

Le Miroir de Musique, Baptiste Romain

[steve ridgway]

Messiaen - Oiseaux Exotiques

[steve ridgway]

Takemitsu - Toward The Sea For Alto Flute And Guitar

[steve ridgway]

Cowell - Three Anti-Modernist Songs

[AnotherSpin]

[steve ridgway]

Berio - Sequenza XIII For Accordion

[steve ridgway]

Xenakis - Nuits

[AnotherSpin]

Xenakis - Nuits

I had a go at that album a couple of days ago, after you posted it previous time. To be honest, I didn't get very far - Xenakis remains completely impenetrable to me. I managed about 15 or 20 minutes before realising I just couldn't make myself continue. It struck me as music desperately trying to be progressive, yet somehow ending up rather dated. It reminded me of a soundtrack to an early-60s sci-fi film. Perhaps you could give me a tip on how one is meant to listen to it?