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Author Topic: Arthur Honegger (1892-1955)  (Read 69051 times)

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Offline vandermolen

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Arthur Honegger (1892-1955)
« on: August 30, 2007, 11:43:08 PM »
Not much on Honegger so far. He is one of my favourites composers. Last night I heard, on the car radio, what sounded like a great performance of the "Liturgique" Symphony from the Proms in London. Actually I only heard the last movement but the performance (by Maris Jansons and the Bavarian RSO) was wonderful, taken very slowly. The bird-song type epilogue is one of the most moving things I know in classical music.

I like all the symphonies, especially the bleak No 5 as well as the oratorio "Joan of Arc" and also some of the film music on Marco Polo; "L'Idee" and "Les Miserables" in particular. "Pastorale d'ete" is another beautiful, inspiriting score.
« Last Edit: August 30, 2007, 11:45:01 PM by vandermolen »
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"Courage is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm" (Churchill).

'The test of a work of art is, in the end, our affection for it, not our ability to explain why it is good' (Stanley Kubrick).

Harry

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Re: Arthur Honegger (1892-1955)
« Reply #1 on: August 30, 2007, 11:57:38 PM »
His Orchestal works were the first thing for me. Influenced my choosing further benign composers. The Chambermusic came later, and took me a while to digest, but nowadays I could not do without him. For me his music is deeply moving.

A few of the recordings I have.
« Last Edit: August 31, 2007, 02:02:40 AM by Harry »
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Harry

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Re: Arthur Honegger (1892-1955)
« Reply #2 on: August 30, 2007, 11:59:28 PM »
 :)
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Mark

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Re: Arthur Honegger (1892-1955)
« Reply #3 on: August 31, 2007, 12:41:25 AM »
Quote from: vandermolen on August 30, 2007, 11:43:08 PM
Not much on Honegger so far. He is one of my favourites composers. Last night I heard, on the car radio, what sounded like a great performance of the "Liturgique" Symphony from the Proms in London. Actually I only heard the last movement but the performance (by Maris Jansons and the Bavarian RSO) was wonderful, taken very slowly. The bird-song type epilogue is one of the most moving things I know in classical music.

I'll be uploading that Prom concert in full (along with several others) in the next few weeks. Keep your eyes on the Proms thread. ;)
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Offline vandermolen

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Re: Arthur Honegger (1892-1955)
« Reply #4 on: August 31, 2007, 01:55:46 AM »
Thanks Harry and Mark.

Harry,

Can you recommend any chamber music, in particular, as I am largely unfamiliar with it?

Bloch is a composer whose orchestral music led me on to his (very fine) chamber music.
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"Courage is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm" (Churchill).

'The test of a work of art is, in the end, our affection for it, not our ability to explain why it is good' (Stanley Kubrick).

Harry

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Re: Arthur Honegger (1892-1955)
« Reply #5 on: August 31, 2007, 02:02:02 AM »
Quote from: vandermolen on August 31, 2007, 01:55:46 AM
Thanks Harry and Mark.

Harry,

Can you recommend any chamber music, in particular, as I am largely unfamiliar with it?

Bloch is a composer whose orchestral music led me on to his (very fine) chamber music.

You mean from Honegger, or in general?
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Offline vandermolen

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Re: Arthur Honegger (1892-1955)
« Reply #6 on: August 31, 2007, 02:19:08 AM »
Quote from: Harry on August 31, 2007, 02:02:02 AM
You mean from Honegger, or in general?

Honegger please.
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"Courage is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm" (Churchill).

'The test of a work of art is, in the end, our affection for it, not our ability to explain why it is good' (Stanley Kubrick).

Offline Dundonnell

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Re: Arthur Honegger (1892-1955)
« Reply #7 on: August 31, 2007, 05:16:19 AM »
I too admire Honegger's music, especially the 2nd, 3rd and 5th symphonies. I treasure the famous Karajan version of Nos. 2 and 3(which I believe is still hard to beat!) but I also have versions of No.3 "Liturgique" conducted by Michel Plasson, Mario Klemens, Paul Sacher and Takuo Yuasa-all acquired because I was seeking other works by Honegger on the respective discs!

"Jeanne d'Arc" has been mentioned. I would also like to draw attention to Honegger's other interesting choral works like "Le Roi David",
"Cris du Monde", "Les danse du mort" and the beautiful Christmas Cantata. All of these are worth hearing! Try the Mime Symphony "Horace Victorieux" as well!
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Kullervo

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Re: Arthur Honegger (1892-1955)
« Reply #8 on: August 31, 2007, 05:26:13 AM »
Just bought this disc recently and I love it:



I love Honegger. He is quickly becoming one of my favorite composers.
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Offline vandermolen

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Re: Arthur Honegger (1892-1955)
« Reply #9 on: August 31, 2007, 06:42:21 AM »
Quote from: Corey on August 31, 2007, 05:26:13 AM
Just bought this disc recently and I love it:



I love Honegger. He is quickly becoming one of my favorite composers.

That's a very good disc and there is a fine Suppraphon version too.

L'idee is a very unusual and moving animated film score which I'd also recommend:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Honegger-LIdee-Deserteur-Je-tattendrai/dp/B0000045YZ/ref=sr_1_1/203-8357764-4422343?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1188574799&sr=1-1
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"Courage is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm" (Churchill).

'The test of a work of art is, in the end, our affection for it, not our ability to explain why it is good' (Stanley Kubrick).

Kullervo

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Re: Arthur Honegger (1892-1955)
« Reply #10 on: August 31, 2007, 07:29:08 AM »
Thank you. This disc has been on my wish list for some time now:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000004A3T/ref=wl_it_dp/105-2357417-4567604?ie=UTF8&coliid=I17NL7LKWB30NH&colid=10LPC89KWQ50A

I actually have the film L'idee on my computer... need to watch that. :)
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head-case

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Re: Arthur Honegger (1892-1955)
« Reply #11 on: August 31, 2007, 08:31:30 AM »
Jarvi's recording of Honegger 5 on Chandos is remarkable.  The dreary grinding chords of the first movement have just the right feel of strain without harshness, which facilitates the transition the more playfully ironic second movement.  The other version I've recently listened to, the Plasson, fails miserably in my view because the first movement is overdriven, making the second movement seem like a pathetic twittering in the distance.
« Last Edit: August 31, 2007, 09:52:51 AM by head-case »
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Offline The new erato

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Re: Arthur Honegger (1892-1955)
« Reply #12 on: August 31, 2007, 09:34:26 AM »
The jazzy little cello concerto is a gem. I know versions by Milos Sadlo on Supraphon, as well as a version by Slava on the 10 CD Brillian Rostropovich Collection.
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Offline scottscheule

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Re: Arthur Honegger (1892-1955)
« Reply #13 on: August 31, 2007, 10:44:42 AM »
Quote from: Corey on August 31, 2007, 05:26:13 AM
Just bought this disc recently and I love it:




Seconded.
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Offline Brewski

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Re: Arthur Honegger (1892-1955)
« Reply #14 on: August 31, 2007, 10:48:44 AM »
I got this Scherchen version of Pacific 231 recently and like it a lot.  (The Petrushka is good, too, although I'm spoiled by the sparkling sound on Chailly's recording.)



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Kullervo

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Re: Arthur Honegger (1892-1955)
« Reply #15 on: August 31, 2007, 10:53:22 AM »
I'd also recommend Yuasa and New Zealand SO's recording of the 3rd with the three symphonic movements and Pastorale d'Ete. Excellent sound and the best Rugby I've heard.
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Harry

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Re: Arthur Honegger (1892-1955)
« Reply #16 on: August 31, 2007, 11:39:56 AM »
Quote from: vandermolen on August 31, 2007, 02:19:08 AM
Honegger please.

Well a good start are the SQ 1-3.
The Violin Sonates and the Piano Trio.
He has written many small scaled Chamber music, very attractive, but the above mentioned works are in my opinion essential.
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Kullervo

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Re: Arthur Honegger (1892-1955)
« Reply #17 on: August 31, 2007, 11:42:36 AM »
Quote from: Harry on August 30, 2007, 11:57:38 PM
His Orchestal works were the first thing for me. Influenced my choosing further benign composers. The Chambermusic came later, and took me a while to digest, but nowadays I could not do without him. For me his music is deeply moving.

A few of the recordings I have.

As soon as I have the money, that box is MINE!  :D
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uffeviking

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Re: Arthur Honegger (1892-1955)
« Reply #18 on: August 31, 2007, 05:13:50 PM »
Another very fascinating work by Honegger is his Nicolas de Flue, called a 'dramatic legend'

http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/Drilldown?name_id1=5534&name_role1=1&comp_id=74257&bcorder=15&name_id=59658&name_role=3
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Offline scottscheule

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Re: Arthur Honegger (1892-1955)
« Reply #19 on: August 31, 2007, 05:59:53 PM »
Incidentally, on the IMSLP there's been a lot of Honegger postings lately. 

http://imslp.org/wiki/Symphony_No.3%2C_H_186_%28Honegger%2C_Arthur%29

I'm still waiting for Joan at the Stake.
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