2022 Explorations

[Florestan]

Is there any particular composer / era / genre / whatever which you'd like to explore more in-depth this year?

For me it's the 20th Century, especially Russian (including Stravinksy --- go figure, Rafael and Karl...), French, English, Italian and Scandinavian music. Also Martinu, Enescu and Bartok.

[Mirror Image]

Is there any particular composer / era / genre / whatever which you'd like to explore more in-depth this year?

For me it's the 20th Century, especially Russian (including Stravinksy --- go figure, Rafael and Karl...), French, English, Italian and Scandinavian music. Also Martinu, Enescu and Bartok.

An extremely fine list, Andrei. Surprised you haven't explored much Stravinsky, Bartók or Enescu (especially as he's Romania's most internationally renowned composer).

As for my own explorations, César Franck and Saint-Saëns are certainly ones I'm most interested in at the moment, so probably just these two for right now.

[Florestan]

An extremely fine list, Andrei. Surprised you haven't explored much Stravinsky, Bartók or Enescu (especially as he's Romania's most internationally renowned composer).

I'm familiar with some of Enescu's works but truth be told I've never been a musical patriot. 

As for my own explorations, César Franck and Saint-Saëns are certainly ones I'm most interested in at the moment, so probably just these two for right now.

Saint-Saens needs no recommendation but for Franck I'd say the piano trios and the works for piano and orchestra are real gems.

[ritter]

I'll be buying as much Lanner as I can get my hands on.... 

No, seriously, I don't plan ahead for this kind of thing. If something "clicks", I might start an exploration, but I'm not at that point right now...

[Mirror Image]

I'll be buying as much Lanner as I can get my hands on.... 

No, seriously, I don't plan ahead for this kind of thing. If something "clicks", I might start an exploration, but I'm not at that point right now...

Just "go with the flow", I like your style. I'm pretty much the same way. I just threw two names into a hat, but who knows what could happen?

I'm familiar with some of Enescu's works but truth be told I've never been a musical patriot. 

Saint-Saens needs no recommendation but for Franck I'd say the piano trios and the works for piano and orchestra are real gems.

I've actually liked a good bit of what I've heard from him so far, but I will keep your suggestions in mind. I'm familiar with a good bit of Saint-Saens' music, but there's always more to hear since he has a good sized oeuvre.

[Florestan]

I'll be buying as much Lanner as I can get my hands on.... 

No need to, I'll gladly let you have all the Lanner in my library. 

No, seriously, I don't plan ahead for this kind of thing. If something "clicks", I might start an exploration, but I'm not at that point right now...

I planned today but there's absolutely no guarantee that I'll stick to the plan. It's all on the theoretical level.

[foxandpeng]

Yeah, my list will no doubt shift significantly, but I do want to get to grips with...

Weinberg
Myaskovsky
Langgaard

[vandermolen]

Yeah, my list will no doubt shift significantly, but I do want to get to grips with...

Weinberg
Myaskovsky
Langgaard

Three great choices Danny!
Weinberg's 5th Symphony is my favourite of his works, especially in Kondrashin's recording.

I hope to listen to more Enescu this year.

[foxandpeng]

Three great choices Danny!
Weinberg's 5th Symphony is my favourite of his works, especially in Kondrashin's recording.

I hope to listen to more Enescu this year.

Thank you for the recommendation 😁. I'll be looking to your previous posts in the Myaskovsky thread too, no doubt.

I don't know any Enescu, so I should probably add him to the list!

[vandermolen]

Thank you for the recommendation 😁. I'll be looking to your previous posts in the Myaskovsky thread too, no doubt.

I don't know any Enescu, so I should probably add him to the list!

As for NYM, my recommendations are symphonies 3,4,6 (prob. my favourite),15, 16 (great slow movement) 17 (one of the best) 21 (concise, poetic, eloquent) 24, 27 (a movingly valedictory work). 23 on Caucasian themes, is one of the most immediately enjoyable. Many people like No. 5 and No.8 includes another fine slow movement. Also, the Cello Concerto, Cello Sonata No.2 and SQ 13 are other favourites.

PS I like your Tolstoy quote.

[foxandpeng]

As for NYM, my recommendations are symphonies 3,4,6 (prob. my favourite),15, 16 (great slow movement) 17 (one of the best) 21 (concise, poetic, eloquent) 24, 27 (a movingly valedictory work). 23 on Caucasian themes, is one of the most immediately enjoyable. Many people like No. 5 and No.8 includes another fine slow movement. Also, the Cello Concerto, Cello Sonata No.2 and SQ 13 are other favourites.

PS I like your Tolstoy quote.

Ah  that is amazing, thank you. Really appreciate your knowledgeable and thoughtful pointers. I will use these as my entry point. Good to know where to start!

I like the Tolstoy quote very much. It flags up a simplicity and hints at an inner peace that I hope to continue to cultivate.

[The new erato]

No 23 was my intrpduction to Myaskovsky and I immediately fell in love with it.

[Maestro267]

I don't really go into a year with an active plan for music. It depends what money is like each time whether I have it to buy stuff.

That said my first purchase should be here on Monday, the complete symphonies of one Egon Wellesz.

[Symphonic Addict]

Yeah, my list will no doubt shift significantly, but I do want to get to grips with...

Weinberg
Myaskovsky
Langgaard

Three solid composers. My only caveat with Langgaard is that some of his music could be too "traditional" or "anachronistic" for you (I guess), but there is no doubt that he wrote some impressive pieces. Anyway, I hope you'll enjoy these composers' music.

[Artem]

One of the best listening experiences that I had last year was discovering and spending more time with the music of Maurice Ravel. I haven't decided on anything specific for this this year, but maybe a composer close to Ravel or his time period, besides Debussy, could be interesting.

I would like to get more Luigi Nono, but his disks aren't cheap.

[Symphonic Addict]

Personally speaking, I'll be more free, more fluent and dynamic, interchanging composers and works, but now I intend to be more focused on revisiting, reenjoying familiar and great really stuff. Revisiting composers of my deepest affections (Brahms, Nielsen, Sibelius, Shostakovich, Dvorak, Prokofiev, Respighi, Vaughan Williams, Langgaard, Tubin, Holmboe, etc), and putting my toes on some toughest nuts to crack, comprising some important figures (Schönberg, Berg, Carter, Scelsi, Nono, Serialist Stravinsky, Pettersson, et al), or repertoire by composers I like with some heartfeltness, but not completely (Delius, Scriabin, Debussy, Verdi, etc).

[foxandpeng]

Three solid composers. My only caveat with Langgaard is that some of his music could be too "traditional" or "anachronistic" for you (I guess), but there is no doubt that he wrote some impressive pieces. Anyway, I hope you'll enjoy these composers' music.

Ah, I appreciate the heads up. I will have a prod and see!

Thank you 😊

[Mirror Image]

One of the best listening experiences that I had last year was discovering and spending more time with the music of Maurice Ravel. I haven't decided on anything specific for this this year, but maybe a composer close to Ravel or his time period, besides Debussy, could be interesting.

Have you spent any time with Roussel? How about Poulenc, Milhaud or Honegger? Les Six are calling.

[Symphonic Addict]

Have you spent any time with Roussel? How about Poulenc, Milhaud or Honegger? Les Six are calling.

+1 Try those composers, and why not Florent Schmitt, Gabriel Pierné, too [Artem]?.

[Artem]

That's some food for though. Thanks for recommendations.