Sorabji's Sandcastle

Started by Lethevich, September 11, 2007, 02:35:46 AM

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Lethevich

There looks to be something remarkable on the horizon in Sorabji land: a new Opus Clavicembalisticum recording by Jonathan Powell (who has given some acclaimed live performances while preparing for it), possibly on Altarus records. It may finally put to rest the issues people keep bringing up when recommending a recording of the work (the Madge/BIS in particular gets a lot of mud slung at it). This sort of makes up for Kevin Bowyer having to postpone the organ symphony no.2 premiere/recording due to (I think) ill health.

I am aware that this topic will die very quickly, as a) Sorabji fans are even less cool than Havergal Brian fans and b) unlike Brian, Sorabji doesn't even attract much mockery - just deadly silence :P

Wikipedia Sorabji article
Wikipedia Opus C article

Anyway, some Powell/Sorabji links for anyone interested (live performances):

http://rapidshare.com/files/19708076/Powell_live_Sorabji_Passeggiata_veneziana.mp3
http://rapidshare.com/files/19709640/Powell_live_Sorabji_Tango_Habanera.mp3
http://rapidshare.com/files/19712943/Powell_live_Sorabji_Djami.mp3
http://rapidshare.com/files/19714648/Powell_live_Sorabji_20_Frammenti.mp3
http://rapidshare.com/files/20667201/Powell_live_Sorabji_St_Betrand_de_Comminges.mp3

First part of Opus C posted on his website:

http://rapidshare.com/files/34048592/Sorabji_Opus_Clavicembalisticum_Powell_live_in_NYC_1_Introito.mp3
http://rapidshare.com/files/34052026/Sorabji_Opus_Clavicembalisticum_Powell_live_in_NYC_2_Preludio_Corale.mp3
http://rapidshare.com/files/34056176/Sorabji_Opus_Clavicembalisticum_Powell_live_in_NYC_3_Fuga_I.mp3
http://rapidshare.com/files/34059393/Sorabji_Opus_Clavicembalisticum_Powell_live_in_NYC_4_Fantasia.mp3
http://rapidshare.com/files/34065019/Sorabji_Opus_Clavicembalisticum_Powell_live_in_NYC_5_Fuga_II.mp3
Peanut butter, flour and sugar do not make cookies. They make FIRE.

Josquin des Prez

Links only work for one file.  :-\

karlhenning

Quote from: Lethe on September 11, 2007, 02:35:46 AM
a) Sorabji fans are even less cool than Havergal Brian fans

I'll never believe that!  8)

Drasko

Great, thanks  :-*

Have to admit not really giving much thought to Sorabji so far but this fairly sizable chunk of music looks like an opportunity to rectify that. It'll take some time to get all that from rapidshare but why not.


Lethevich

#4
I've downloaded and listened to all of them since I made the post and must mention that there are a couple of crackles, but considering it's live, the clarity is very nice. I forgot the total strangeness of his sound world a little until they refreshed my memory - I found the OC first part so ridiculous that I had to listen to it two segments. I haven't really encountered anything like it before - not atonal, but dense and initially bewildering in a way comparable to some Schoenberg. The eclectic and eccentric sound world is also a bit like Messiaen, but instead of the spiritual, colourful playfulness of that composer, Sorabji can just be overpowering and occasionally oppressive. The most unusual thing is that it all has some kind of inner logic that keeps me listening. Truly weird...

The recent BIS disc of Etudes may be the best ever way to get into his work. The first quarter of the etudes collection (which would occupy around 7 CDs in total, apparently) are actually short pieces, his only sub-five minute ones that I am aware of (although with so much unperformed, I can hardly say that with confidence).

Quote from: Josquin des Prez on September 13, 2007, 11:40:38 AM
Links only work for one file.  :-\

Hmm, I checked them again and all of them seem to be working okay for me - I can upload a couple somewhere else if you like (perhaps Mediafire)? It'll take a while as I don't have a super fast upload, but it's not bad enough to not want to do it at all.

Edit: Hope you like them too, Drasko.
Peanut butter, flour and sugar do not make cookies. They make FIRE.

Lethevich

Peanut butter, flour and sugar do not make cookies. They make FIRE.

Lethevich

"The quickkey you provided for file download was invalid. This is usually caused because the file is no longer stored on Mediafire. This occurs when the file is removed by the originating user or Mediafire."

Well, I am fricking cursed. I suppose the site thought I was spreading copyrighted material and pressed their Big Red Button. How irritating >:(
Peanut butter, flour and sugar do not make cookies. They make FIRE.

Drasko

#7
Quote from: Lethe on September 14, 2007, 03:49:39 AM
"The quickkey you provided for file download was invalid. This is usually caused because the file is no longer stored on Mediafire. This occurs when the file is removed by the originating user or Mediafire."

Well, I am fricking cursed. I suppose the site thought I was spreading copyrighted material and pressed their Big Red Button. How irritating >:(

Just tried some other mediafire links, none work, so you're not cursed 0:) it seems they have some problems.


edit: it works now

Josquin des Prez

Everything works fine now. How about uploading the rest then?  >:D

Fascinating stuff. Of course, i'm already acquainted with Sorabji but i never heard the OC before. Is he going to record the whole work?

Lethevich

Oh phew, it looks like it was just a blip on MediaFire's part. I wonder why they didn't use a "Under Maintenance" warning rather than "FILES DELETED", it was a bit scary :P I'll up the other three now.

Quote from: Josquin des Prez on September 14, 2007, 07:14:07 AM
Is he going to record the whole work?

Yep, the recent live performances of it are apparently in preperation for a full recording. He's recorded some other Sorabji CDs for Altarus recently (two are very recent - the label looks to be stepping up production or something), so I assume it may appear on there, despite Ogdon's recording also being on that label - I imagine they may be seeking to supercede it, which is very likely given the quality of his interpretations versus Ogdon (plus more modern sound).
Peanut butter, flour and sugar do not make cookies. They make FIRE.

Kullervo

I'd like to listen to him, but I can't even say his name!  :(

greg

so if someone ever asks me "what is the hardest piano piece ever?" it's safe to say "Sorabji's Opus C" right?
(well, of course length is the main factor  ;D )

Lethevich

Quote from: Corey on September 14, 2007, 07:38:36 AM
I'd like to listen to him, but I can't even say his name!  :(

Fortunately I have yet to even try to say it out loud - the joy of ordering CDs online instead of in shops :D (plus very few friends with similar interests, of course)

Quote from: greg on September 14, 2007, 07:44:05 AM
so if someone ever asks me "what is the hardest piano piece ever?" it's safe to say "Sorabji's Opus C" right?
(well, of course length is the main factor  ;D )

I guess so. These things can't really be "proven", as anybody can write a long piece, whether good or bad. The main thing that distinguishes OC as unusually difficult must be that it isn't a minimal or repetetive piece. It's dense as hell AND long.
Peanut butter, flour and sugar do not make cookies. They make FIRE.

Kullervo

He's of Indian descent, so I'm guessing the j in Sorabji is not silent, and therefore should be pronounced "Sor-ahb-jee". Can anyone confirm this?

mikkeljs

I´m starting to explore this composer, and I decided to play one of his unperformed pieces one day! Perhabs the 5th sonata...I will try at least! Does anyone have any Sorabji scores, to make a copy? It´s a bit expensive for me as a student to buy them. 

greg

I have 4 different Sorabji scores, but not the 5th sonata.

mikkeljs

Quote from: Bahamut on June 17, 2009, 02:57:00 PM
I have 4 different Sorabji scores, but not the 5th sonata.

wow  :o Which ones? Is it possible to make a pdf scan? I would be very thankful if I could get them!

greg

I have them all in pdf already- Piano Sonata 1, Opus C, 2 Piano Pieces, and Etudes 1-18 of the 100 Transcendental Etudes. PM if interested.

mikkeljs

I have just got The 5th sonata OPUS ARCHIMAGICUM, and Symphonic nocturne as a copy of the manuscript. Very difficult to read! In the 5th sonata there are up to 7 staffs pr line. I just played the beginning of all the movements, and I was so moved by all of it!  :D This is like the tradition of Liszt, Chopin, Scriabin, brought directly and perfectly into the atonal!

Tomorrow morning, the first thing I will do after break first is to start learning first mvt of the 5th sonata!  :)

Lethevich

Great news! You will also have the honour of becoming one of the (probably less than) 100 people in the world who play Sorabji ;D
Peanut butter, flour and sugar do not make cookies. They make FIRE.