What are you listening 2 now?

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

GRANADA-(1013-1502)
From the Founding of the kingdom of Granada, the expansion and splendour of al-Andalus, to its incorporation in the kingdom of Castile and Leon and the forced conversion of all the Muslims.

ZIRID PERIOD
1013-Founding of the kingdom of Granada by Zawi ibn Zirid on the ancient site of Garnata al-Yahud, Granada of the Jews.
BERBER PERIOD: THE ALMORAVIDS
1090-The Almoravids cross the Strait of Gibraltar once more and take control of the taifas of al-Andalus.
ALMOHAD PERIOD
1144-Disintegration of the Almoravid dominions in al-Andalus. Second Taifa period.
NASRID PERIOD
1238-Muhammad ibn Nasr al-Ahmar ("the Red"), the first Nasrid sultan of Granada (1238-1273). Building begins on the Alhambra.
THE MUHAMMAD DYNASTY
1362-Muhammad vI travels to Seville with 300 cavalry to urge Peter I of Castile to cease hostilities. Peter murders the Nasrid king in the Tablada, near Seville.
END OF THE NASRID KINGDOM OF GRANADA
1492-Boabdil surrenders to the Catholic Monarchs on 2nd January. End of the Nasrid kingdom and dynasty of Granada (250 years). Boabdil flees to Morocco.
CASTILIAN RULE.
1500-Birth of Charles V.

LA CAPELLA REIAL DE CATALUNYA, HESPÈRION XXI, Jordi Savall.
Waed Bouhassoun · Lior Elmaleh · driss El Maloumi.
Recording made by Radio Nacional de España live 2013, at the Palace of Charles V during the Granada International Festival of Music and Dance.
Recording of pieces 3, 4, 5, 12, 14, 15, and 18 by Manuel Mohino, assisted by Harry Charlier
live on July 15, 2013, at Fontfroide Abbey, Narbonne (France).


Beautiful, a great journey through history, performed by the best in the trade, SOTA recording to boot. To listen to this music is an adventure, through sound and images, almost spiritual.

Ring parable from Andalusia.
The Andalusian city of Granada is a prime example of the fruitful yet conflict-laden encounter between the three monotheistic religions. In a musical portrait of history, Jordi Savall illuminates the 500 years from 1013 to 1526, during which the city was ruled by the Berber and Arab dynasties of the Zirids, Almoravids, Almohads and Nazrids. Their relations with the neighboring Christian kingdoms and the precarious situation of the Jews, who had settled in the area from the earliest times, also find their place in a broadly based tonal fresco, which the great tracker Savall brings to light from historical sources. He is accompanied on this journey through the various cultures by his tried and tested ensembles Hespèrion XXI and La Capella Reial de Catalunya with soloists Waed Bouhassoun, Lior Elmaleh (vocals) and the incomparable master of the Arabic oud lute, Driss El Maloumi. Tolerance among the world's religions, as promoted by Gotthold Ephraim Lessing's (1729-1781) famous "Ring Parable" from his Enlightenment drama "Nathan the Wise", has been a central concern in Jordi Savall's cultural work for decades. Lessing's parable is based on a story told by Sephardic Jews from the Iberian Peninsula.

Looks very interesting. I'm visiting Granada and other cities in Andalusia next year. I will check the recording.

[Todd]

[Que]

Not my recording, bland and flat faced.

Shocking     

Honestly, I think it is (mainly) the music. I did a small comparison with the (also new) Brilliant recording with the Criscuolo brothers (?). Although Galligioni is the better cellist, he rushes the faster movements too much, presumably to instill some energy into these fairly laid back pieces for amateur musicians. He also slurs his notes a lot, which according to the blurb on the Brilliant site is indicated in the (printed) score. Doesn't work musically IMO...

Anyway, the good stuff are the cello sonatas by Vivaldi and Platti! 

[Traverso]

Bach

Ach Herr,Mich Armen Sünder BWV 135

Meine Seele Erhebt Den Herren BWV 10

Ich Ruf Zu Dir Jesu Christ BWV 177

[Harry]

Honestly, I think it is (mainly) the music. I did a small comparison with the (also new) Brilliant recording with the Criscuolo brothers (?). Although Galligioni is the better cellist, he rushes the faster movements too much, presumably to instill some energy into these fairly laid back pieces for amateur musicians. He also slurs his notes a lot, which according to the blurb on the Brilliant site is indicated in the (printed) score. Doesn't work musically IMO...

Anyway, the good stuff are the cello sonatas by Vivaldi and Platti! 

So so true!

[Harry]

Spanish Baroque Dance Music arranged by the Zapico Brothers.
Volume 2.
Forma Antiqva.
Recorded, 2017 at the Estudio Uno, Colmenar Viejo, Spain.

Since the first volume was such great fun, I was prone to play the second volume as well, and boy o boy even more fun plus admiration. what a top ensemble this is, these guys know how to make fun. blimey this is really good entertainment.
It's dance music, "the best dance music", pulsating, and captivating. The Canarios, Folias, Faboritas, Fandangos come joyfully, with great effect. Yes Recommended!

[DavidW]

WTC book 1

[Traverso]

Beethoven

Symphony 5

[Irons]

Moeran: Violin Concerto.

[Linz]

Franz Schube Symphony No. 5 in B flat major D. 485
Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart, Sergiu Celibidache

[Iota]

Boulez: Rituel in memoriam Bruno Maderna
Orchestre National de Lyon, David Robertson

First time hearing this recording of Rituel, and it's very good. The music has a feeling of a Boulez having coming back from a Tibetan trip infused by what he heard, that hadn't struck me quite as starkly before. The dark-hued washes of sound that return ceaselessly in between the mournful striking of gongs and tam-tams, sound in a way unlike any other Boulez, though it's perhaps  less surprising bearing in mind its inspiration. On which point I can't help feeling the extensive use of the oboe might be a nod to Maderna's clear love for the instrument (cf. the poetry and elegance of the three oboe concerti).
Be that as it may, a striking work that leaves a mark.

[Todd]

Wrapping up with string quartet #2.  Overall, the recording probably exceeded sky high expectations slightly.  I will probably do some A/B/Cs between the Pavel Haas, the Panocha, and the Prazak.  I'm hoping the Pavel Haas complete the cycle, but that doesn't seem to be their thing.