Off the beaten track -- "new" music recommendations

[longears]

After becoming familiar enough with the warhorses of the basic repertoire, many of us begin searching the back alleys and by-ways in hopes of finding less well-known works and composers equally deserving of our attention.  Listing a few such favorites might prove helpful to newcomers (as well as old timers!) eager to explore the vast and somewhat daunting world of classical music. 

I'm not suggesting a competition to list the most obscure and esoteric works so we can bask in the glow of our own exclusive and rarefied taste, but rather a guide to help others branch out in their listening habits.  For instance, those who've enjoyed, say, the Brandenburgs but are concerned about playing them to death might want to explore Zelenka's Trio Sonatas.  Or fans seeking to reach beyond Copland and Barber (is Barber basic repertoire yet?) might give Harris's 3rd symphony or William Schuman's VC a spin.

Care to contribute?

[Harry]

So far I contributed on the listening thread for almost 2 years, the most outlandish and unknown composers around. Many composers forgotten, I brought to the limelight, and I had hopes of people wanting to explore them, and maybe they did.
But is hard to say, if you like this warhorse you might like that unknown composer too.
But oke I give it a try.
If you like Brahms symphonies, you might like Gernsheim's symphonies too.

[Bogey]

TCHEREPNIN, NIKOLAI (1873 - 1945)

From the web:
In style Tcherepnin follows the tradition of Rimsky-Korsakov, in a generally conservative musical language, which is colourful and attractive, Russian tinged with French, lacking the astringency of a Stravinsky.

I caught his Le royaume enchanté Op. 39 on the radio on one of my pre-dawn runs when Mars just happened to be glowing bright and hanging in the western sky.  I immediately knew I needed this piece on the shelf.  Little did I know that the recording was OOP and and it would take some time to track it down.



It can be sampled and purchased here (track 5):
http://www.amazon.com/Enchanted-Kingdom-Pletnev-National-Orchestra/dp/B000001GPM/ref=sr_1_27/104-8680356-1419922?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1189261439&sr=8-27

The entire cd is excellent IMHO, but beware of cdrs.

[Catison]

Those who like Sibelius should check out Atterberg, although he follows more of the early Sibelius sound.

[Drasko]

Those who enjoy piano music of Prokofiev, Scriabin or Schoenberg might find interesting piano music of Mossolov, Feinberg, Roslavetz or perhaps Stanchinsky or Lourie.



Steffen Schleiermacher plays very nice selection on two volumes from HatHut
Also nice selection of preludes is by Jenny Lin on Hanssler
Samuil Feinberg's sonatas had been recorded in complete on two volumes by BIS

[Grazioso]

Fans of the major Czech Romantics like Dvorak and Smetana should head immediately to Fibich, whose symphonies sound like the Dvorak symphonies Dvorak didn't write:



For a slightly later Romantic Czech sound, try Suk and Novak:



(Suk was Dvorak's son-in-law.)

Lovers of Shostakovich need to hear the expansive, brooding, violent symphonies of Pettersson stat:



Like the symphonies of Mozart and Haydn? Try "the Swedish Mozart," Joseph Martin Kraus (who actually calls to mind Haydn more than Mozart):



Fond of the lush late Romanticism of Mahler, Strauss, early Schoenberg, and company? Try Zemlinsky or Korngold:

Or fans seeking to reach beyond Copland and Barber (is Barber basic repertoire yet?) might give Harris's 3rd symphony or William Schuman's VC a spin.

Or the symphonies of Ned Rorem, which sound quintessentially American and call to mind Copland in Americana mode, with a dash of Hindemith and an overall more somber sound:

[jochanaan]

And if you like the mid-Romantics such as Schumann and Mendelssohn, try Fanny Mendelssohn and Clara Schumann.

(Is this the sort of thing you want, longears?  Or did you also want suggestions on composers who really aren't like anyone else, like Edgard Varèse?)

[longears]

That's fine, Jo...I didn't really have any constraints in mind, just thought it might be interesting for me and others to browse a fairly open-ended list of recommendations. 

[Maciek]

Thanks for the piano recommendations, Milos! I've noticed you mention the Jenny Lin disc before.

Actually, thanks for all the recommendations, fellow GMGers - even in the cases where I knew the composer, the similes added an educational "that's right!" element.

[bwv 1080]

Here is Ian Pace playing Pascal Dusapin's Etude #4

Ian has recorded alot of music by contemporary composers outside of the "big names" that have their own threads here

http://www.youtube.com/v/FIwRdAoT-KA

[pjme]

In France, in the late 19th / early 20th century ,other composers than Gabriel Fauré, Maurice Ravel and Claude Debussy were actually active!

Try : Gabriel Pierné : Cydalise et le chèvre-pied (complete ballet,with chorus) - a gem in refined neo-styles.
                             l' An mil (the year 1000) - a large scale symphonic poem with chorus & baritone solo
                             Paysages franciscains - symphonic sketches
Pierné 's oeuvre really forms a bridge between the 19th ( César Franck,his teacher) and the 20th century ( Debussy,Ravel, Milhaud - whom he conducted). His music is full of great melodies, subtle orchestration & clever construction. the mentioned works can be found in very good performances on the Timpani label.

Jean Cras is another composer worth checking out. More overtly influenced by Debussy, his works ( never pompous or bombastic) deserve to be discovered on their own merits. Beautiful harpquintet - "Ames d'enfants" a luminous & exquisite symphonic poem.



And, actually, the entire Timpani catalogue gives you a very broad vision of french music - between late romanticism and the most recent neo tonalists!

http://www.timpani-records.com/2c2088.html
       
       

[Grazioso]

In France, in the late 19th / early 20th century ,other composers than Gabriel Fauré, Maurice Ravel and Claude Debussy were actually active!

Of which, here's a woefully under-appreciated composer who wrote some really powerful and diverse music:

[Fëanor]

After becoming familiar enough with the warhorses of the basic repertoire, many of us begin searching the back alleys and by-ways in hopes of finding less well-known works and composers equally deserving of our attention.  Listing a few such favorites might prove helpful to newcomers (as well as old timers!) eager to explore the vast and somewhat daunting world of classical music. 
...
Care to contribute?

Why not explore the contemporary style?  It might not end up being your favorite but it's worth the effort.  As ever, a piece might need to be auditioned 3-4 before appreciation really sets in.

Below are a few suggestions from me ...

[locrian]

I am happy in the knowledge that there are enough masterpieces worth continuous re-visitation among the "warhorse" composers that I won't have to settle for inferior composers in this lifetime.

[Mark]

Boccherini's Flute Quintets are thoroughly enjoyable, as are Vivaldi's Lute Concerti. If you enjoy the latter of these two, try Francois de Fossa's Guitar Trios. Any if you've not yet heard anything by Gesualdo, try his Sacred Music for Five Voices on Naxos. One more: fans of 19th century cello concerti could do worse than hear Erno Dohnanyi's.

[Kullervo]

I am happy in the knowledge that there are enough masterpieces worth continuous re-visitation among the "warhorse" composers that I won't have to settle for inferior composers in this lifetime.

How do you know they're inferior if you haven't heard them?

[locrian]

How do you know they're inferior if you haven't heard them?

Don't mind me. I'm just being snarky. 

[Lilas Pastia]

In France, in the late 19th / early 20th century ,other composers than Gabriel Fauré, Maurice Ravel and Claude Debussy were actually active!

Try : Gabriel Pierné : Cydalise et le chèvre-pied (complete ballet,with chorus) - a gem in refined neo-styles.
                             l' An mil (the year 1000) - a large scale symphonic poem with chorus & baritone solo
                             Paysages franciscains - symphonic sketches
Pierné 's oeuvre really forms a bridge between the 19th ( César Franck,his teacher) and the 20th century ( Debussy,Ravel, Milhaud - whom he conducted). His music is full of great melodies, subtle orchestration & clever construction. the mentioned works can be found in very good performances on the Timpani label.

Jean Cras is another composer worth checking out. More overtly influenced by Debussy, his works ( never pompous or bombastic) deserve to be discovered on their own merits. Beautiful harpquintet - "Ames d'enfants" a luminous & exquisite symphonic poem.



And, actually, the entire Timpani catalogue gives you a very broad vision of french music - between late romanticism and the most recent neo tonalists!

http://www.timpani-records.com/2c2088.html
       
       

Enthusiastically seconded! 

[Larry Rinkel]

I am happy in the knowledge that there are enough masterpieces worth continuous re-visitation among the "warhorse" composers that I won't have to settle for inferior composers in this lifetime.

How politically incorrect can you get? 

[locrian]

How politically incorrect can you get? 

How low can I go?