What are you listening 2 now?

[Harry]

I have played this box, so all of its CD's 6 times, and I must say my radical no against this composer has turned into yes. Being surrounded by this music taught me one thing, don't reject until you tasted it properly. I did, and can affirm that l like nay love his chamber music, so I will explore the rest of his oeuvre too, apart from the vocal works that is. Any advice about his music and recommendations are welcome.

[Mapman]

Tomorrow is Vaughan Williams' 153rd Birthday! He has a habit of calling to me in autumn, anyway. I'm celebrating by cherry-picking some of my favorites from The Box, starting with Silent Noon: "Oh! clasp we to our hearts, for deathless dower, This close-companioned inarticulate hour, When twofold silence was the song of love..." (I'm ever-astonished at just how articulate this song is in capturing inarticulateness) and the Fifth Symphony. 

I won't have time to join the Vaughan Williams birthday celebration tomorrow, so I'll join it today! I've been meaning to listen to his Oboe Concerto, so that's my choice for now. It's a lovely work!

Vaughan Williams: Oboe Concerto
David Theodore; Thomson: LSO

[Florestan]

Mozart

Serenade in D "Serenata Notturna" KV 239
Divertimento in D KV 334/320b
Eine Kleine Nachtmusik KV 525    As always delightful to listen to 

The other day I listened for the first time to KV 487, from this set:



I was simply blown away: with just two horns to be able to convey such a wide range of emotions and feelings, from melancholy to joy, from dance to elegy, while never failing to be attractively melodious --- this is pure genius.

[Florestan]

Ah well, it depends who your audience is of course and whether they are people who need to know more.

Back in law school I didn't always get the highest marks because I had to learn to explain my reasoning a bit more. One time I went to discuss an exam with a lecturer and she said "oh yes, you're the one who always gets straight to the point".

I should have thought that when it comes to law, getting straight to the point is both desirable and commendable. Heaven forfend verbose legislation! 

[Mister Sharpe]

I won't have time to join the Vaughan Williams birthday celebration tomorrow, so I'll join it today! I've been meaning to listen to his Oboe Concerto, so that's my choice for now. It's a lovely work!
Vaughan Williams: Oboe Concerto
David Theodore; Thomson: LSO

A most commendable, recommendable selection! Adding to my list as well.   

[Mister Sharpe]

I have played this box, so all of its CD's 6 times, and I must say my radical no against this composer has turned into yes. Being surrounded by this music taught me one thing, don't reject until you tasted it properly. I did, and can affirm that l like nay love his chamber music, so I will explore the rest of his oeuvre too, apart from the vocal works that is. Any advice about his music and recommendations are welcome.

How did you like his Chansons Bretonnes? I esteem them highly. 

[Linz]

Anton Bruckner Symphony no. 8 in C Minor, 1890 Version. Ed. Leopold Nowak
Philharmonie Festiva, Gerd Schaller

[Madiel]

I should have thought that when it comes to law, getting straight to the point is both desirable and commendable. Heaven forfend verbose legislation! 

Law exams where you have to explain how you'd win in court are a bit different to legislation where you're telling people what to do.

Using a word like "forfend" in legislation would raise eyebrows.

[Traverso]

The other day I listened for the first time to KV 487, from this set:



I was simply blown away: with just two horns to be able to convey such a wide range of emotions and feelings, from melancholy to joy, from dance to elegy, while never failing to be attractively melodious --- this is pure genius.

Very nice.....

[hopefullytrusting]

Perhaps my only classical of the day, given its length: Jia Shi playing Prokofiev's Piano Sonata No. 8: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e49rji9fC8E

I am already intrigued. This is the first Prokofiev sonata that I needed to put on headphones to hear because it starts off so softly that it is barely perceptible, in fact, I needed to look at the pianist's hands to make sure that I was meant to be hearing sound it was so quiet - one of the blessings of YouTube is there are so many live recorded performances. This is a war horse sonata - over 30 minutes long, and the pianist has no score - that is insane, right off the bat - I mean even Brando kept notes all over the set, if I am recalling correctly.

Of course, Prokofiev cannot refrain from banging and pounding - maybe he and I don't share that many character traits in common. Honestly, I am not on the 8th sonata, and this has been easily one of my most disappointing trips. I only have 7 under my belt, currently working ;on the 8th, and the only sonata so far, that I will return to is No. 6, and even that one might just be for just a single relisten, depending. I just don't find any of what he is doing entertaining or interesting.

It doesn't put me to sleep, but that is because he is making so much noise - like a rude boy pulling pigtails. I also wouldn't complain if this was paired with something else in a concert or on a disc. It is funny or ironic that this sonata is his most different, but I just have very little to say about it. I will definitely return to this pianist, as she is superb. It is also wonderfully filmed and recorded. Just look at how little I have to say - I'm talking about the paratext.

I will say that unlike all the other ones prior - I do hear the sonata in this sonata. The lines are clear and the sections distinct. This definitely feels programmatic. There are definitely hints of irony, but they are clearly hits, almost as if his work was being monitored. This is exactly what I would expect from my students when I want them to demonstrate mastery of the genre - Prokofiev's final test!

Lots of repetition, but no redundancy as near as I cam tell.

I cannot recommend this sonata.

[hopefullytrusting]

Well, there is only one more, so I might as well finish them up today:

Lili Bogdanova playing Prokofiev's PIano Sonata No. 9: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHP7hyHX3yk

Sort of how 6-7 were paired, 8-9 seem to be also working in parallel, and I can appreciate that - soft start, but Prokofiev gets to his banging and pounding much faster here than in 8 - 8 was Prokofiev at his most restrained, but 9 is Prokofiev as his most lyrical and melodic - this is the first of his sonatas in which I would say there is a tune, at least one that is easy to follow and perceptible to even a simpleton like myself.

I can see why pianists like to play Prokofiev. He really does showcase the full package, and his name is famous enough that no one will question his inclusion on a program because you area supposed to like his music, and if you don't - well that's your fault - he is Mozar... Prokofiev after all. How could you not worship him like the lap dog you are?

No score, again, for a piece like this, is very impressive. Oddly, I never cared what the pianist looked like prior to Prokofiev, but because I find the music so lacking - I am now watching as much as I am listening, so outside of 6, I sincerely doubt I will ever listen to these sonatas again, and while I have been disappointed in the music - I have discovered many excellent pianists who I will return to - none that entered my top 10, but all of them, I feel, are in my top 25, so that made the trip worthwhile.

There is very little for me to add beyond what I have already said - it just does nothing for me. It all just cries out, in desperation, for an editor. Easily one of my major disappointments in classical music to date.

I cannot recommend any of the sonatas really save 6.

[Todd]

[Harry]

How did you like his Chansons Bretonnes? I esteem them highly. 

I first started a thorough listen, and tried to classify his music, meaning, and person in the context of his life and what he did or did not do. There is not a single piece that did not intrigue me, or was less interesting. Chansons Bretonnes I remember as excellent, as all the works I listen too, later on I will be more specific about it, but I understand your admiration. The fact that you esteem the work is important for me to know.

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Armin Jordan collection.

[SimonNZ]

[Mister Sharpe]

More from the VW Box : String Quartet in G minor, my favorite key. 

[Symphonic Addict]

Martin: Mass for double choir

One of the most sublime choral pieces I know.

[André]

Poul Ruders has its own GMG thread, a fact I just realized today 🫢. Oh well, never too late, I guess. Ruders has been one of my favourite Danish composers along with Ib Norholm - and ahead of Per Norgärd. I have two of his operas, 2 symphonies and assorted orchestral works. And soon - hopefully - the Bridge set of his 6 symphonies, duplication be damned. And now this, a disc of concertos.

Concerto in Pieces is a fun piece, composed as a pendant to Britten's Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra. Like the Britten, it's a set of orchestral variations on a Purcell tune, lasting about the same time. While not as overtly didactic as the Britten (still tons of fun even after many, many hearings), it is easy to discern the various sections of the rchestra involved in each variation. It has been recorded a few times.

Multiple recordings of his Violin concerto no 1 exist too, a rare feat for a modern work. It's also influenced by a classic of the repertoire, Vivaldi's Four Seasons - albeit as faraway echoes, snippets of themes, never with outright quotation. It's both searching and playful, cerebral yet easy on the ear.

The last work, Monodrama, is a concerto for percussion and orchestra. Thankfully the percussion never jumps out of the speakers to annihilate both orchestra and listener. Every instrument and musical effect are perfectly integrated in the orchestral texture. There is no cataclysmic sonic conflagration, just bracing, dynamic, rythmically exciting music. A very fine disc.

[Linz]

Cantelli CD3
Felix Mendelssohn Symphony No. 4 in A Major, Op. 90, MWV N16 "Italian"
Robert Schumann ,  Symphony No. 4 in D Minor, Op. 120
Alfredo Casella, Paganiniana, Op. 65:
Philharmonia Orchestra/Guido Cantelli

[springrite]

Bach Goldberg Variations (Rousset)